A Dark and Starless Night

Chapter Sixteen

Eve

Eve felt... normal to be sitting in the Moon's Den with her friends. They talked about the things that they usually talked about; the races, parties, gossip. Ali ordered a round of alcoholic drinks, a rare occasion for the group on a weekday.

"Is there a special occasion for this lovely wine?" May asked, taking a sip. Her cheeks were already flushed from the few mouthfuls she'd already had.

"I just thought it would be a good idea considering," Ali said, looking around the group until settling on Eve. "Oh, gods. You haven't heard."

"Haven't heard what?" Her heart thundered. What has she missed now? Another murder?

"Luc and Yva are in the city," Rik said, shifting in his seat. "They arrived yesterday evening."

"What in the world are they doing here?" she asked, sitting back in her chair.

"Formalities, I think," Rik said, handling his cup carefully.

Eve picked up her own cup and downed it. She loved her mother. Or rather, she wanted too. But it was hard to love the woman Yvanna Mintarryl had become. She had thrown herself into this life, much quicker than Eve had. Luc spoiled Yva. Literally. She had become a judgemental gossip and a cold mother. She wasn't interested in being a parent any more, and yet she had wanted to control who and when she married. It was the reason she had left the Mintarryl Estate and moved in with Don. She hadn't spoken to her mother since. Which was probably why she didn't know they were in town.

It didn't take long for her to excuse herself from lunch, heading to find Don at the courts. She caught him as he was leaving, probably on his way to grab something to eat.

"I'm guessing you heard the news," he said, as Eve fell into step beside him.

"Why are they here?" she asked, her voice hard.

"Luc is here to sign a bill that will increase military spending."

"Stars above, when will they decide enough is enough with that?"

He smirked. "Excellent question. But I counter it with the pirates that are getting bolder every day. We need to make sure we're defensible if they decide to do worse that raid a few passenger ships. There're rumours that the ship that wrecked may have been sunk by pirates."

"Do you believe that?"

"I believe that the people will find that easy to believe," he said, shrugging lightly.

"That money should be spent on increasing the resources sent to the Isle."

"And how do we get those resources there if the pirates run rampant?"

"Honestly, Don," she snapped, "this is besides the point. If you knew they were coming you could have warned me. I could've found a reason to leave the city while they're here."

"Don't get ratty with me, Eve," he said, using his firm voice. "The reason I didn't tell you is because you seem stressed."

"That's a cop out," she said, but he caught her arm and drew her to a stop.

"Eve. I know you're probably still worried about the murdered girls, but stop and realise what this is."

"Oh? What is it?"

"It's an opportunity for you to reconcile with your mother."

She scoffed, crossing her arms, and rolling her eyes. "Why would I-"

"Because, before you know it, it'll be too late. There's nothing I regret more than not being able to fix things between myself and my own mother before she passed."