A Dark and Starless Night

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Rik

Rik's leg bounced on the ground, making the table tremble ever so slightly. He looked over the cards in his hand for the fifth time, not really seeing what he had. He blew out a long breath through his nose, clenching his jaw as Hal laughed.

"I can't decide if you're really nervous about your hand or if this is some kind of bluff," he said, shaking his head as he placed a card down on the table.

Rik was spared from making his own move, Hal's companions leaning in, when the door swung inwards and Eve was dragged in. Covered in blood.

He was on his feet in seconds, moving towards her as someone cried out in shock. He felt each thundering heartbeat in his chest as his eyes scanned for a wound. She was trembling and her face was paler than he'd ever seen it before, like the sun had been drained from it. Blood was spattered on her face and in her hair. When she looked at him, she didn't seem to recognise him, or register the questions he was all but yelling at her. He gripped her by the shoulders as the guard who had brought her explained.

"Are you serious?" Rik demanded, feeling all but breathless at what had happened. The guard nodded, his face grim.

His mouth dried and he locked eyes with Ali. Her hand covered her mouth, her eyes watering.

"She's in shock," Fin said, pulling both of their attention. "She needs a bath to clean her and warm her up."

Both of them looked to Ali, who nodded firmly.

"With how despondent she is," she said, looking at Eve, "I'll need help getting her in." The innkeeper had anticipated that a bath would be needed to Ali and Rik moved to the room where the bath was kept. Eve's stilted movement was difficult to navigate with, so he scooped her into his arms, ignoring the stains of blood that were transferring onto him.

"Just put her straight in," Ali said, after closing the door firmly and rolling up her sleeves. "Let's not worry about undressing her."

Rik was grateful for that at least. The water wasn't overly warm, but he knew enough about shock to know that they needed to gradually warm Eve up. She still trembled as Ali began to scrub her arms. He washed his own arms and hands quickly in a basin of water in the room. He was shaking, his mind racing.

Murdered. Right there in the streets. And Eve had been there. She had been so close to a murderer yet again. He said a quick prayer to whatever god was watching over her.

"Don't fall asleep," Ali quickly said, panic in her voice.

"I'm so tired," Eve whispered, her voice hoarse.

Rik turned, looking at her face. She did look tired and small, so small.

He should have been there. He should have been with her. He should have protected her.

"Rik," Ali snapped and his attention moved to her. "I asked you to help me get her upstairs."

"Of course," he said, picking up a large towel and scooping Eve out. Ali lead the way and they moved upstairs with the eyes of everyone on them. He noticed an absence of Hal and his companions, relieved.

Fin followed them closely up the stairs. Rik deposited Eve in the middle of her shared room, and Ali steadied her.

"I'll manage from here," she said, adjusting the towel around Eve's shoulders. They sagged under the weight of her wet clothes and perhaps more. Rik's heart wrenched at the sight of it.

"Hal left not long after he realised we weren't leaving today," Fin said as they stepped into their room.

Rik ran his hand over his face nodding at the guards now posted outside both doors as he closed the door. He changed from his wet clothes quickly and dropped heavily onto the bed.

"Stop it," Fin said, perching on his own bed.

"Stop what?"

"Blaming yourself. Feeling responsible. She's fine."

"Fine? You call that fine? She was practically falling apart."

"That's what shock will do," Fin said, kicking off his boots. "She'll be back to herself before long."

"I hope so."

Rik lay down against the pillows on his bed, wishing the day was over already. He had never felt so exhausted in his whole life. One thing had at least come of this. His resolve that Don was innocent. Why else would someone butcher a man in broad daylight just after he had agreed to testify to that fact?

He would speak to his father the moment they returned, would explain it all. He would make him believe him. His stomach rolled, knowing that even if he managed to convince the king of the truth, he wouldn't intervene. Would the courts believe him? That was the question. The question he knew depended on so much that he couldn't control. Even as crown prince.

"What's the point?" he muttered, throwing an arm across his eyes to block out the light pouring through the windows.

"The point of what?"

"Being a prince when I can do fuck all for the people I care about."

"It's unfortunate, Rik. It really is. But if you intervene now you just solidify the opinion that nobles are untouchable."

"Innocent ones should be," he snapped, fisting his fingers in his hair and pulling. "If he was a peasant-"

"Well, he's not," Fin snapped back, sitting upright. "He's a nobleman who spent his youth toeing the line of the law. And now it looks to all the world like he butchered two common born women and a noble born boy. Short of finding the real culprits and getting them to confess, there's nothing to be done. Except urging for leniency."

"Life in prison?" Rik asked, letting his head fall to side. He let a sigh pour out of him. The thought had occurred to him before. Asking the courts to grant an indefinite stay of execution, as thanks for all the positive contributions that Don had gifted Teryon and Zyrna. It helped, he knew, that the two courtesans had no family here that could argue for death on their behalf, but Eli's family...

"I'd need to convince the Hudderson family."

"Then get convincing," Fin said, shrugging and settling back on his bed. "But I would appreciate it if you'd stop getting snappy with me when you're feeling helpless."

"I'm sorry," he grumbled, feeling his face flush. "You're always here for me. I shouldn't take it out on you."

"Remember that."

Rik exhaled, and closed his eyes. He would convince the Hudderson family. If he couldn't, he didn't deserve to be king.