[[ Will you be sticking around for the Festival of Stars? You and Veronica? ]] her mother asked, digging her elbow into her husband before he could attempt to object. [[ Of course, the rest of your team is welcome to stay as well. ]]

[[ Mom . . . ]] Eliza started to whine.

[[ It's only a few weeks away, ]] Evlidone said, [[ and you've missed the last fifty of them. It would mean the world to your mother . . . and me . . .if you would attend. ]]

Eliza wondered what was up. The Festival of Stars was a ceremonial affair that signified the...