Chapter 2

The stew bubbles on the stove, but I can't focus on the fact we're going to have hot food tonight. I'm too busy biting the skin of my fingers and trying to work out what could have happened to our money. We need it in order to live, and I don't know what we're going to do now it's gone. Bastian has his job, and I do a lot of fixing and mending of clothes for those too busy to do it themselves but are in possession of a little coin, but it's going to take more than we make to replenish our resources.

And I just know Bastian is going to blame me for losing it.

The door opens and Pip raises her head, but doesn't rush over to the door like she does to greet me.

A crash of lightning lights up the doorway and Bastian standing there with a couple of boxes in his hands. The rain is coming down faster than before, the storm well and truly underway, and it looks darker than it should be given that it's still only early evening.

"Sister," he says.

"You should take off your jacket and dry it by the fire," I tell him, going over to take the boxes from him.

He nods and shrugs it off, throwing it over the washing line without bothering to unfold it properly. He kicks off his shoes and leaves them haphazardly in front of the hearth. I bite my tongue and don't tell him that he should take more care of his belongings if he wants them to be dry in time for work tomorrow, but I know he'll just get at me for nagging.

I place the boxes down on the table and give the stew a stir.

"How was work?" I ask.

"It was work," he responds. "I'm going to quit tomorrow."

"You can't." Some of the stew splashes over the top of the pot and onto the floor.

Pip is out of her bed in an instant, sniffing at the spilt piece of carrot as if it's a gourmet meal.

"Of course I can. It won't take me more than a week to find something new," Bastian responds.

I bite my lip and consider whether I want to tell him about the missing money. I know I have to, but it's whether now is the time.

"Bastian..." I take a deep breath. "You can't quit your job, and I'm going to have to do more mending. Our money is gone."

"Of course it's gone," he responds. "That's what happens when you spend it."

I blink a few times, trying to work out precisely what's happening. "We spent it?"

"Well, I spent it." He waves towards the boxes.

"On what?" My voice comes out as barely more of a squeak as I try to work out precisely what's going through his head for him to think that was a good idea. The money was supposed to be our safety net, it's all that was left after Da died.

"A dress for you, and a suit for me. Fine clothes, none of these rags." He plucks at his shirt.

"You did what?" I stare at my brother, trying to work out why he would want to do something like this.

"We can't turn up to the Golden Moon wearing these clothes," he points out.

"We shouldn't be going to the Golden Moon at all," I counter.

"What do you know of it?" Bastian leans back in his chair, seeming not to care in the slightest that he's put us in a strenuous position.

"Just that people say it's dangerous and not to go."

"Those people are fools," my brother spits out. "And they just want to keep us poor so we're there to build their walls and mend their socks."

I stand there, not really knowing what to say.

"The Golden Moon will give us an opportunity to finally take our places in the world. Places we deserve." The way the firelight dances across his face makes his statement somewhat more sinister than they should be. "You should look at your dress," he says.

I hesitate but end up making my way over to lift the lid off the box. And not just because Bastian expects me to look, I'm also curious about what's inside. A deep red gown with black lace sits within. It's far fancier than anything I've ever worn before, but I'm not entirely sure I would have chosen it for myself.

"So?" Bastian prompts. "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," I say. "I'm just still not sure what the Golden Moon is or how it's going to help us when we have no money."

"I wouldn't concern yourself with that, sister," he responds. "Just focus on keeping the house and returning any of the mending projects you have. I don't plan on us coming back here after the Golden Moon."

I frown. "But this is our home." I put the lid back on the box. I'm half tempted to peek into the other one to see what he got for himself, but I think better of it.

"Think of it, Beatrice. There'll be no more of that awful vegetable stew. We'll be able to eat roasted meat and freshly baked bread."

I glance at the bubbling pot of food, feeling awful that it's what I'm going to have to serve him. It's often bland and boring, but I don't think it's awful.

"What do we have to do for the Golden Moon?" I ask as I spoon some of the stew into bowls and give one to him. He may have a distaste for it, but if he wants to eat tonight, then that's what he's going to have to have.

"We're to go up to the castle as guests," he responds. "That's all."

"And that's going to solve all of our money problems?" I ask.

" All of our problems," he responds. "They'll go away overnight and we'll have everything that we're due."

I frown, not really seeing how any of that is possible, but sensing that he believes it. I don't ask any other questions, mostly because I don't believe Bastian even has the answers, never mind that he's going to give them to me if I ask.

I take my own bowl of stew and sit in one of the chairs. Pip scampers over and lies down at my feet, a warm fluffy reminder that I always have someone beside me.

The two of us eat in silence, but that does nothing to stop the questions racing through my mind. I have no idea what Bastian has gotten us into by saying we'll attend the Golden Moon, but I suppose it's too late to worry too much about it. We're going to find out either way.