Chapter 334 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 1 - The Return to Rouke Island (I) (2/2)

”Yes, you mentioned that once or twice,” Rassa said, ”Our path is that of Gluttony, by denying that path we deny what and who we are. To kill is not a bad thing. Not for us”.

Ebony paused. She had heard this plenty of times since Rassa had turned her. But it had never overwritten her human morals. She'd taken her first life as a human, but that had been self-defense. Either her or them. This wasn't. This was practically a boot stepping on an ant. She had all the power, all the time. She didn't need things like self-defense anymore. At least against anyone except Rassa and Aegin, but she was pretty confident they would never hurt her.

”I get it,” Ebony said, a little sullen, ”I will get it”.

Rassa wasn't so sure, though he didn't voice his opinion. He had a feeling that just like himself, Ebony would need to fall to understand just how high she could climb…and the price of climbing always had to be paid.

”Let's go. Talo should be close to Port Leis by now,” said Rassa.

***

The Moon Voyager was quite the sight amongst the docks of Port Leis. It was obvious the ship was still relatively new from the shine of its timbers, but it wasn't the ship itself that drew attention. No, what drew attention was the deep red sails, and the white symbol on the main sail that everyone on the Island of Rouke would be able to name in a heartbeat.

The Crescent Moon inside a Full Moon. The symbol of the renowned Moonshadow Trading Company. But Moonshadow didn't have its own fleet of sh.i.p.s…did it? It certainly must have been rich enough by now. Anyone could see the success of that business plainly, and not just those at Moonshadow, but anyone along Charm Street.

Word of the ship had travelled rapidly through the Port, so quickly in fact that by the time Iah heard word of it at breakfast, it had barely been docked.

”There's a ship with the Moonshadow symbol on it's main sail?” asked Iah as she looked over at Mathius, the man whom she had hired several months ago to be her assistant. He had shown a lot of promise, and was more than capable of living up to her expectations. The staff adored him as he always took their needs into account, and their clients were quite accommodating whenever Mathius served them tea or addressed them with the manners he would a high noble. He was an older man in his fifties, but he still had the energy of one in his twenties.

”Aye, Lady Moonshadow,” Mathius nodded, ”That is what I've heard. I sent someone to investigate right away. We can't have someone parading as the Moonshadow Trading Company”.

Iah frowned, ”No…”

She reached into her pocket, clutching the Tracking Charm in her hand. It had been over a fortnight since she'd last held it, but the lines leading to Ebony and Rassa were now far brighter that even Falla's. They had to be in the Port, likely on that very ship if the southern direction of the line was any indication.

”I'd hold off on any hostilities, Mathius,” Iah smiled, ”What is the progress on the Moonshadow Apartments?”

”Three of the five buildings have been fully completed and occupied, my Lady. The fourth still has half of its apartments without tenants and the fifth is just a few days from completion,” stated Mathius proudly, ”Though I have not yet advertised it as you requested”.

”Good, have the key on my desk momentarily, I'll shall be needing it later today,” stated Iah.

”Later today…My lady, your schedule is still fully booked with appointments for the day,” stated Mathius. Iah just waved him off as she rose up, ”If it's important, reschedule, if not, put in an apology. I have other matters to attend to today”.

”My lady, you had a dinner appointment with the other business owners of Charm Street at the Willow's Bend Restaurant,” stated Mathius.

”Oh,” stated Iah, pausing in thought, ”Add two more seats then”.

”Are Lady Startree and Mr Trevor joining you?” asked Mathius.

”No, no,” Iah replied, ”Just add the two seats, the rest will be explained later”.

”Ah, yes, my lady,” replied Mathius, clearly confused as to who these two extra guests would be.

Iah crossed briskly to her study, throwing open the door and bee-lining her way to the safe where she kept the business reports that she had dedicated herself to compiling under lock and key.

Iah retrieved them and placed them neatly on the desk before she gave a relieved smile.

Finally, she could show Rassa all she had done in his absence, all she had achieved without his help. She spared a small thought for her sister who had not been so confident in her own abilities, then she paused. Was this it?

After everything she'd done for nearly three years, was this all that would become of her? To pass over the business like a good little servant? It felt so underwhelming. So, insulting to all of her efforts. She'd always known that Rassa was the true owner, but his absence, and supposed death, had meant that nearly all of the staff at Moonshadow believed that she was the owner. Mathius included. How would they take the shift in leadership? Because surely Rassa wouldn't just let her continue in the role she had been doing.

Suddenly unsure of her purpose, Iah sat back in her chair behind the desk and stared at the reports before her.