"I am willing to pay whatever you require as compensation," Anton assured her. "Such supplies are in high demand, I am quite sure. I can afford to pay higher prices to meet the need." Many of the kedan had paid in favours or materials, but more than enough had paid in juulan for Anton to be quite well-off at the moment.

"Closely tied, yes," Anton said, picking up his spoon again, "though not by magic, explicitly. I built it a little under one-hundred-and-thirty years ago. I developed its wards and boundaries, and invented its manner of travel. Ordinarily, it travels along the leys to specific locations on land. I would have imagined even a turtle's back would contain some corollary, but I believe the Hotel is not truly here--not in a manner enough for me to use its time-related wards."