It was late afternoon by the time they finished assembling the pasties, and Dani felt like shit. Her whole body ached, and she was exhausted even though she hadn’t done anything particularly taxing today.

With a thunk, Reshi set a bottle of dark liquor in front of her. “Drink.”

Dani jumped a little, her eyes focusing on the bottle. How long had she been staring into space? “Huh?”

“Drink,” Reshi repeated, then added just a touch more gently. “It’ll help with the pain.”

And that gentleness was what really unnerved her. Reshi was not a gentle sort, especially not when she had screwed things up so badly. She hesitated, staring at him for a moment until his face darkened into a scowl. “Hurry up, don’t know what yer waitin’ for, an engraved invitation?”

“Sorry!” Dani picked up the bottle, taking a hasty drink. The dark liquid burned its way down her throat, and she set the bottle down hard. She managed to hold in the coughing, but her face turned red and her eyes watered. It was a far cry from the wine that she had found in the underground! But it also wasn’t like she hadn’t drunk her fair share of rotgut in the past. A single cough escaped as she set the bottle down, and Reshi let out a snort.

“Don’t tell me ya can’t hold yer liqour! Been drinkin’ watered-down shit, ain’t ya?”

“Liqour ain’t cheap Reshi! I can handle it fine though.” She was not going to give him another thing to get on her case about. She was in enough trouble with things she had actually done.

Raycor set a hand on her shoulder. “He jus’ be worried ‘bout ya. Ya know he loves ya. Go lay down, we’ll wake ya when the girls get back fer dinner.”

“I just got up!” But the protest was half-hearted at best. She was sore and exhausted, and nothing sounded better than laying back down for a bit.

“Do what yer uncle says. Yer in ‘nough trouble right now.” Reshi snapped.

Shit, at this rate he was going to remind her that she was his daughter in all but blood! Dani stood up, unable to keep the scowl off her face as she turned and headed back into the bedroom. “I ain’t a child.” She muttered softly to herself.

Unfortunately she was not quiet enough.

Reshi smacked her on the head with a snarl. “Ye’ll watch yer tounge! I I mighta raised an idiot, but din’ think I raised an ungrateful one! I called in a big favor ta get ya out of that scrape, an’ there’s gonna be more trouble ta come, I gurantee it. We’re damn lucky ain’t no guards come knockin’ on our door already!”

Dani stumbled and her eyes widened as she looked at Reshi. “I- I didn’t meant that! I am grateful!”

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“Then show it, now go to bed, ya need yer rest.” Reshi turned his back on her, snatching the bottle off the table. Dani stared at his back for a moment, then just shook her head and ducked into the bedroom.

Would the guards be looking for her? She looked down at the bracelet, its amber gem glowing faintly in the warm light of the sun. Obviously Reshi hadn’t told Wulfram where he had taken her. Would the prince bother looking for her? It seemed silly to try, and he had told the guards that she had saved his life, so they shouldn’t be looking for her. The thieves guild might wind up being a problem, but-

“Are you alright?”

“What?” Dani looked around the room, trying to find the source of the voice. It hadn’t been Reshi or Raycor, it hadn’t even been Azra or Therija!

“Dani, can you hear me? Are you alright?” The voice took on an air of command, and she froze, eyes opening wide.

“Wulf?” She whispered. There was no way he was here! She limped over to the window, looking out past the curtain, searching the dusty street below for him. But all she saw were a couple of kids playing, and an older man shuffling down the street towards the market.

“Dani! Good, you can hear me. Tell me where you are.” Tell him where she was? She could only imagine the trouble that would follow! If he sent people here....

“I’m fine, what are you worried about anyways?” She whispered, and glanced up in case he was on the roof. “Where the hell are you? Wait, don’t you know where I am? Aren’t you here... somewhere?”

“I’m not there, the bracelet- listen, I need to talk to you, in person.”

“No way! Listen, I’m already in enough trouble, I’m fine, sounds like you’re fine. That should be it.” She sat down on the bed, glancing nervously at the curtain that covered the door. The bracelet? Did he want it back? Well she couldn’t blame him she supposed.

“Dani this is important! We need to talk.”

“We need to talk?” Dani scoffed, staring off into space. “Well it sure as hell isn’t going to be right now. I don’t want people thinking I’ve gone nuts and I need to get some sleep.”

“Who ya talkin’ ta?” Reshi pulled open the curtain to the room, looking around for possible intruders.

“No one! I... I was just talking to myself.” Shit. She put a hand to her face, closing her eyes. She didn’t need Reshi thinking she had gotten touched in the head. “Sorry, guess I have become a bit of a lightweight.”

Reshi frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. But he nodded and let out his own sigh. “...Go to sleep lass.” With a shake of his head Reshi turned and let the curtain drop back into place.

Dani laid down and pulled the covers over her, whispering as softly as she could. “Listen Wulf, I ain’t got anything against you but yer a noble. I don’t know what you’d have to talk to me about.”

“It’s complicated, please tell me where you are. This magic can’t hold for much longer.” There was an almost desperate tone to his voice, which made Dani raise an eyebrow. Why was he so desperate to talk in person? How was he talking to her like this? Maybe she really was touched in the head.

“No, I don’t want you coming here! You have any idea what that would do to my family? People seein’ the prince and his guards out here? Get some sleep yerself.” Dani closed here eyes and covered her ears, trying to block out the voice. Maybe the voice was a side-effect of Reshi’s damn rotgut? Maybe she was going crazy?

Or maybe it really was him....

“Dani-”

“No, listen... if you’re really Wulfram let me get some damn sleep. We can work a meeting out when my father and uncle aren’t in the next damn room.”

“...Alright Dani. I’ll... I’ll contact you again later.”

“Thank the gods.” Dani sighed. She rolled over so that she wasn’t putting pressure on her stitches and yanked the covers up over her head. Sleep came blessedly quickly and dreamless.