Page 70 of Heartless Enemy
It had been almost a week now since we came back from Helspire, which meant that White should be returning to his castle any day now to find some of his people dead and his healer missing. I had pulled the guards I usually kept stationed out in the open, and instead instructed my people to stay inside the Court as much as possible. At least until White made his first move.
“And that’s the only dancing you will get out of me, you deviants,” the old man continued with a chuckle. Then he raised the contract and shook it in the air. “Because I have an announcement for you.”
The room immediately quieted down, surprise blowing across several faces.
He beamed as he waved the document again. “I’m retiring!”
“Nooo!” his patrons moaned.
“Oi!” He stomped his foot in a show of mock outrage. “You’re supposed to be happy for me, you cretins.”
Some people laughed while others instead called, “Yay! We’re so happy for you.”
“That’s more like it.” He grinned at them. “And besides, you’re in good hands. The one who will be taking over for me is this young lady here.” He pointed down at Eve. “Eve Sterling.”
Most of the crowd clapped and whistled excitedly. Eve flushed a deep shade of red before recovering enough to smile and wave at them.
“Wait!” someone called from the back of the room.
I turned to find an old man sitting at a table by the wall. His wrinkled face was scrunched up in thought as he squinted at Eve.
“Eve Sterling,” he said. “Are you… Dan’s daughter?”
A hush swept through the tavern as everyone looked between him and Eve. He must have been a regular at this tavern for decades. And as I scanned the room, I noticed more people who looked like they were old patrons cocking their heads and watching Eve with curious eyes.
“Yes, I am,” she replied, keeping her spine straight and her chin up.
The older gentleman kept watching her through narrowed eyes. “I thought you were a white boot.”
“I was.”
Inside the room, the silence suddenly grew so loud that I could almost hear it beating against my eardrums.
A villainous smile curled Eve’s lips as she gave them all a quick rise and fall of her eyebrows. “Well,theythought I was, anyway.” She lifted one shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve been sabotaging them from the inside for years. Making investigations go away. Helping southsiders get out of trouble. Things like that.”
Lots of eyebrows rose.
I had to fight the urge to shake my head at her in disbelief. She really was an excellent liar. Even I, who knew without a doubt that she was making this up, couldn’t detect the lies in her words.
Eve jerked her chin towards me. “How do you think all of his battle mages miraculously escaped prison earlier?”
Clothes rustled as everyone turned to look at me. I nodded in confirmation.
“I’ve been working for him for years,” she lied effortlessly.
“And your captain never found out?” someone asked.
A conspiratorial grin slid home on her lips. “Oh, Captain Smith knewexactlywho I was the whole time.” She lifted her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “But unfortunately, the Chief Constable has found out now. So…” She spread her hands helplessly. “Cover blown.”
For a moment, the entire tavern was silent.
Then, the sound of a chair scraping against the floorboards filled the warm room. We all turned to find the old gentleman who had first recognized Eve now standing by his table instead.
“Well, then.” There was a smile on his face as he raised his mug of ale in a salute. “Welcome home, Miss Sterling.”
“Welcome home!” everyone else echoed, raising their drinks as well.
Eve grinned back at them.