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Handing them to Llandry, she
turned to the admiration of her new ring, sliding it onto one of
her long white fingers.
    'There. That is
quite my favourite purchase of this moon's market.' She smiled at
Llandry, then looked at Ynara.
    'Why don't you
visit me sometime soon, Ynara? Bring your daughter. I'd love to
visit you, of course, but the light of Glinnery would probably kill
me.'
    Ynara chuckled.
'We'd love to visit, Eva. Soon, certainly.'
    Lady Glostrum
nodded and left the stall, leaving a quick, gracious smile as she
turned away. Llandry let out a long breath, feeling weak and
drained.
    'That's enough,
Ma. I can't bear any more.' She quickly packed away the few items
that remained, ignoring the mutters of those still trying to shop.
'Who was that, exactly?'
    'Eva Glostrum.
High Summoner in Glour. She's a friend, though I haven't seen her
for a few years.'
    'I sometimes
think you know everyone, Ma.'
    'I meet most of
them through the Council.'
    'I suppose you
would.'
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Images flickered
across the bulletin board in the centre of Glour City, headlines
repeating themselves on a rotating schedule. Eva Glostrum browsed
through to the society pages, seeking her own name. She didn't have
to search long: the story was the first to flash up onto the
board.
     
    This
Author has often remarked on the inability of any Gentleman to
capture the lasting interest of the celebrated Lady Glostrum. The
High Summoner's independent status is to come to an end at last,
however, as it has just been confirmed that she is to wed Lord Vale
on the eleventh of the Seventh Moon of the year! Lord Vale also
revealed his intention to resign as Chief Investigator immediately
after the wedding. Speculation is rife as to who will take over the
coveted role...
     
    The article was
accompanied by portraits of the couple. Eyde's was respectable
enough, but Eva winced when she caught sight of hers. It was not
particularly flattering. Her hair was a little disordered and
shadows smudged the pale skin beneath her eyes. When had that image
been taken? She hadn't noticed anybody with an image-capture in the
last day or two. The bulletin team was getting very good. If only
they had used an image from last night's ball, she would have been
rather happier with the report.
    The article had a
great deal more to say about the matter, not resisting a comment or
two about Lady Glostrum's 'reputation' and the suitability of the
match. Eva smiled to herself. Yes, it was a highly suitable match;
she had made sure of that.
    'What an unusual
picture.' Eva's friend Meesa Wrobsley stood at her shoulder,
studying the board with the closest attention. 'Wherever did they
get that?'
    Eva shrugged one
slim shoulder carelessly. 'Probably somebody caught me on my way
home the night before last. I was a little tired.'
    'More
importantly, you were disordered . I'm sure there's at least
one hair out of place in that picture. Maybe more.'
    Eva gave a mock
shudder. 'I know. Unthinkable. I'll have to make up for this lapse
somehow.'
    'Don't get too
much more perfect, I beg you. An occasional lapse in you is
comforting for the rest of us.'
    'Perfect?
Nonsense. I just like things to be in their proper places, that's
all.'
    'I know it well.
That's why I'm surprised you let that pretty ring out of your
sight. Its proper place was firmly on your finger, I
thought.'
    Eva glanced down
at her slender white hand, bare of jewellery. 'It had to be
resized. It kept sliding off my finger.'
    'But you lost the
ring anyway.'
    'How could I know
that the jeweller would be robbed?' Eva turned and began to walk
slowly back towards the carriage that awaited her nearby. The theft
of her ring had disheartened her more than she was prepared to
admit. More than that, it troubled her. She had left the ring with
the jeweller overnight, and by the time the Night Cloak lifted at
moonrise, the ring was gone. The jeweller, poor man, knew himself
to be the obvious suspect, but the sight of his