Dinner had been blessedly normal, the awful tension of her talk with Raycor and Reshi diffused. Therija had given her a few looks, but didn’t say anything, and Azra was her cheerful self. Perhaps she didn’t know what had happened, or maybe Therija had told her not to talk about it. Either way Dani was grateful, she didn’t want to talk about it right now. Especially not the bracelet! Whatever magic it had seemed to be laying dormant for now.

She didn’t stay up after dinner, going to bed at the same time Azra did. That reminded her of one of the reasons she had wanted her own place so badly.

Azra was a kicker.

And so it was a sore and cranky Dani that Reshi woke up the next morning. She opened her eyes to the dim sunlight, and let out a growl. “Reshi? What time is it? The sun ain’t even up!”

“Sun’s been up half an hour, or ya wouldn’t be able ta see. Get up.” He tossed a bundle of clothes at her. “The others already went ta work, it’s yer turn.”

“Work?” Her mind struggled to process what he was talking about. He didn’t want her stealing anymore, and it was too early for the market to really be hopping anyways. She sat up, letting out a hiss of pain. She swore Azra had added to the bruises last night.

“Aye, work.” Reshi smirked. “Ye start at Mrs. Haversaun’s today. Hurry up an’ get dressed, or ye’ll have ta skip breakfast.”

Dani’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at his retreating back until the curtain concealed it. She was starting today? She looked at the bundle of clothes Reshi had brought, picking up one of the garments.

A dress.

When the hell had been the last time she had worn a dress? She couldn’t climb buildings in a damn dress! Of course, she wasn’t sure she could climb a building right now even if she was wearing trousers. “Damnit.”

There was no help for it, she didn’t have any other clothes here so the dress would have to do. It wasn’t that she hated them, they just weren’t very practical for her chosen field. Maybe it would be more practical for the one she was being strong-armed into. She highly doubted dressmakers had much reason to climb buildings. With a sigh, she got dressed, knowing damn well that if she went back to bed Reshi would do something awful, like splash water on her. Then he’d make her hang the mattress and bed clothes out to dry.

Reshi was in the main room when she stepped out, adjusting the long sleeves of the dress to cover the bracelet. She didn’t want to attract attention, and she was sure that around here, that bracelet would do it. He nodded in approval, mouth quirking up in a smile as he looked her over. “There ya go. Ya look a fair bit different than when yer in yer trousers, hopefully it’ll be ‘nough. But maybe we oughta dye yer hair too.”

“Dye my hair? Dye my hair what?” Dani touched her hair self-consciously, her eyes widening at the thought. She happened to like her hair!

“Red would be easiest, but might be too close ta yer natural color. Could make ya blonde.” Reshi handed her one of the pasties from yesterday and slid another into a pack, which he gave to her. Then he grabbed one for himself and headed out the door. “C’mon lass, get movin’.”

“Blonde?” She squeaked, and hurried after him. “I don’t want to be blonde!”

“Then ya shouldn’t’ve pulled a stunt where ya might be recognized by the whole damn city!” Reshi snapped. “Eat yer pastie, an’ keep an eye out. Ya see any guards, duck into an alley or hide.”

“Shit Reshi, Wulf isn’t going to send the guards after me.” At least she didn’t think he would. He had claimed that she had saved his life, surely he wouldn’t go back on that statement, right?

“Oh-ho! It’s Wulf now, is it?”

“Well I can’t really call him by his full name out here, can I?” Dani lowered her voice to a hiss, hurrying to keep up with Reshi. Why did he have to walk so fast? It made her leg ache all the worse, and made it hard for her to eat her pastie.

Reshi had no problem eating his though. He nodded thoughtfully. “Aye, I s’pose yer right.”

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“Dani! Hey Dani!” A familiar voice called from one of the rooftops. She looked up and waved at the young man with sandy hair, but Reshi gave no hint of stopping. She let out a breath, and hurried after him.

“Reshi, what’s the hurry?”

“The less time yer on the streets the better. Ye can talk to yer friends later, but not out ‘ere.” Reshi paused where the narrow side street met Trade Road, looking back and forth with narrowed eyes. Dani was finally able to get a few bites of her pastie in, no less delicious than last night, as he scanned the road for gods only knew what. Probably guards. She supposed that she couldn’t blame him for being cautious.

After a few minutes he nodded, and gestured for her to follow him. “Keep up, there’s bound ta be more guards out after that stunt. Whether yer Wulf is going ta send them after ya or not don’t mean shit if they spot ya walkin’ ‘round without a care in the world.”

“Do you really think it’s that serious?” Dani asked, scanning the street herself. This early there weren’t many people out yet, even guards. And those that were out were easy enough to spot. But it did make the route to Mrs. Haversaun’s a bit wonky. They had to duck into side streets more than once to avoid the guards, and Reshi even detoured at times when she didn’t notice anyone suspicious! Paranoid... the old man was getting paranoid.

“Aye, that I do.” He looked at her with a dark scowl. “An’ ye should take it serious too. That stunt got ya attention from the guards an’ the thieves guild. The thieves guild I got ta lay off fer now, but they gonna be wantin’ ta talk to ya. Might want ya ta pay a fee at least.”

“Pay a fee? For failing to do something?” Well, only half failing but that wasn’t going to matter to the thieves guild.

“Aye, you brought attention on the Tangle that we ain’t need! Ya din’ think o’ what tryin’ something so risky and public would do to others, did ye?” Reshi paused to face her fully, looming over her. Dani took an automatic step back, her face turning red.

“I- I didn’t think anyone would notice until after they got back to the palace! And even then he could have lost it anywhere....”

“It ain’t some trinket that could be lost and replaced!” Reshi growled. He glanced back towards the Trade Road, then lowered his voice. “It’s the damn ancestral crown you little idiot! Dani I ain’t sure how ta explain how badly ya screwed up, an’ how much danger yer in if someone recognizes ya. Even if yer prince ain’t after puttin’ ya in the dungeon, there’s others might want ya there! An’ others might try ta make ya disappear fer drawin’ attention to their operations.”

Dani paled, staring at Reshi with wide eyes. Make her disappear? She hadn’t done anything that bad!

But she thought about Wulfram’s interest in the tunnels, and how many people had probably seen her try to steal the crown. Either one of those things could make people upset, but the tunnels... if the smugglers decided she knew too much about them and was sharing what she knew, they would make sure she disappeared. Shit.

“Maybe I should dye my hair....” She whispered, staring down at the ground.

“Aye. I think ye should. Mrs. Haversaun might be able ta help ya with it.” Reshi turned around, starting back down Trade Road.

Neither one of them said another word until they reached Mrs. Haversauns.

Reshi headed straight up to the large door with its glass window, not bothering to knock as he entered. “Good mornin’ Lettie. I’ve brought yer new ‘prentice.”

Mrs. Haversaun looked up from dusting off countertops, a cast iron teapot already hanging over the fire, heating water for tea. She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling, showing wrinkles in defiance of the makeup she wore. “Reshi! You rascal, it has been too long.” She set down her dusting rag and moved around the counter to embrace him in a hug.

Reshi chuckled, some of the tension that had built on the way through the city melting away as he returned the hug. “Aye, that it has. Ye look as beautiful as ever.”

Dani closed the door to the street and looked around the interior of the shop. She hadn’t been in here since before Therija’s mother Najia died. The place hadn’t changed much except for the fashions that decorated the mannequins. There were still fancy fabrics everywhere, and marked measuring tapes hung behind the counter, clients names written on them in Mrs. Haversaun’s careful, swirly handwriting. It still smelled of flowers and tea, and the sun still spilled in past the sample garments in the windows.

Dani smiled, just a little letting nostalgia flow over her. When her and Therija were really little they would always spend their days either here with Mrs. Haversaun and Najia, or in the bakery with Raycor. They would play with dolls made of scrap fabrics, and learn how to sew or bake. They were simpler times, and their loss left an ache in her heart that had at least lessened over the years since Najia’s death.

Then she heard her name, and the peace that had settled over her was broken. “Dani, I’ll be leavin’ ya in Mrs. Haversaun’s capable hands. I’ll come pick ye up after closin’.”

“I don’t need an escort home Reshi, I know the way.”

“Ya do with the trouble ya caused.” Reshi growled, pinning her with a stern stare. “I’ll be tryin’ ta keep the thieves guild off yer ass as it is. Yer just lucky the current leader is an old friend.”

Dani looked away, her face turning red again. She knew better than to argue with him when he was in one of his moods, especially after she had screwed up so badly.

Reshi snorted and looked to Mrs. Haversaun. “I leave her in yer hands Lettie. Don’t let her go wandering ‘round the city.” And with that, Reshi left, only briefly patting Dani’s head as he walked by.

Dani looked nervously at Mrs. Haversaun, meeting her gaze over the older womans half-rim spectacles. “...Good morning Mrs. Haversaun.” She said nervously, forcing a smile.

“Good morning Daniella. Let’s get you dressed properly, then we can get started.”