Wulfram had left the palace early, the crystal pendant engraved with the locator spell dangling from a simple white ribbon. He had taken a carriage today, just in case he had to haul Dani back to the palace in it. He swore if he found the woman sleeping in the crypts or on a roof he’d throw her over his shoulder, wounds be damned.

“You look cranky today your Highness.” Ben said, amusement in his voice. Wulfram glanced up at his friend with a scowl.

“Yes, well I didn’t sleep much last night.” Wulfram sighed and ran a hand across his face. “We missed the discussion in the meeting about the tunnels and the Tangle, I would have liked to be part of that conversation. But at least I know Mother is on the peoples side. Lord Roderick would just as soon run them all out of the Tangle if they were in his way.”

“You’re not wrong there.” Ben nodded somberly, and looked at the crystal pendant. It had been steadily leading them down Trade Road towards the Tangle, which had been expected. But all of a sudden it had just changed direction, floating back towards the palace. “I think we passed her.”

Wulfram looked out the window, scanning the streets with a frown. They were at the high end of Trade Road, where the rich merchants and lower-ranked nobles shopped. There were a variety of clothing stores, stalls selling freshly made sweets and coffee, rugs, furniture, and anything a well-to-do family would need to furnish their home. If she was up here, she was likely stealing again already. He had hoped she learned her lesson. But perhaps she didn’t have any other prospects.

He frowned at the pendant, steadily pointing back the way they came. Perhaps a guard had picked her up? “Pull over.”

He called to the driver. To give him credit he waited until they stopped to hop out of the carriage, scanning the streets again in search of his little mouse. Ben stepped out of the carriage after him, looking around as well. “Well, this isn’t the crypts at least. Perhaps she’s on one of the rooftops?”

“Perhaps.” Wulfram held up the pendant, turning until it was pulling away from him. “But I have to admit to being hesitant about climbing a building right now.”

Ben laughed, following Wulfram as he started back down the street, the carriage slowly turning to follow them. “You know you could have sent someone else to do this.”

“I could have.” Wulfram nodded. “But that would have only served to scare her. I don’t want to scare her right now, our conversation is already going to be difficult enough.”

“I suppose you’re right. Perhaps if we find someplace to eat we can lure your little mouse out with food.” Ben smirked, pausing to look into a dressmakers shop. “She seemed awfully skinny.”

“Ha ha.” Wulfram said dryly, pausing as well. The pendant was spinning on its ribbon now, light reflecting off of it in rainbows. They had to be very close for it to just spin like that.

He was so intent on the crystal that he didn’t even notice the door to the dressmakers shop swing open until it hit him right on the nose, sending him stumbling backwards in shock. “What the hell?!”

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“Your Highness!” At least Ben wasn’t laughing his ass off. That would surely come later. “Madame, can’t you watch what you’re doing?!” He reached out a hand to steady Wulfram.

“Oh shi- I mean- I’m sorry! I didn’t see you- Oh shit.” The woman stared at him, hands covering her mouth. The wooden easel she had been carrying lay half in the shop, half tangled around her feet.

Wulfram met her eyes, and froze before any scolding could escape his lips.

His little thief had gotten a dress.

It was her, he was sure it was her. But she was wearing a dress! A lovely dress that perfectly matched the color of her eyes and accentuated the curves that her other clothes had hidden. She was still too skinny, but now she didn’t look scrawny, just a little underfed. He knew some of the ladies at the court would favor her tiny waist, but he knew that in her case it was because of lack of food, not a corset or her natural form.

“Dani....” He said dumbly.

“Shit, you’re bleeding.” Dani fished in her skirt, pulling out a shockingly dainty handkerchief, which she offered him.

“It’s nothing.” He took the handkerchief though, gently dabbing his nose. “I have some of the worst luck around you it seems.”

“This is Dani?” Ben looked at the woman in disbelief. “You... clean up nicely. May we come in?”

“Oh! Y-yeah, sure. I’ll just- uhm... I’ll just set this up.” Dani looked around the street anxiously, as if she were expecting guards to jump out from around the corner, or to pile out of the carriage like some silly magician’s trick. She knelt down to retrieve the easel, awkwardly propping it up against the shop and placing a large ornate open sign onto it. “I’ll get you some tea.”

“Tha’s ‘eally no’ necessary. We ‘eed to ‘alk.” Wulfram followed her into the shop, holding the handkerchief to his nose. It was rapidly getting soaked, and his voice sounded funny.

“Welcome gentlemen.” An older woman said behind the counter, and then paused, looking at them closely. Her eyes widened slightly, and she hurried around the counter. “Your Highness! What in the world happened?”

“I... might have hit him with the door. On accident! It was on accident!” Dani was quick to clarify, her face turning red. “Do you have anything other than those dainty handkerchiefs ya gave me?”

“Of course. Oh dear, you two seem to get into all sorts of trouble together, don’t you?” Mrs. Haversaun pulled a large scrap of plain tan fabric from beneath the counter, the cheap stuff she usually used for toiles, and handed it to Wulf.

“We don’t! I mean- wait, you know about that?”

Wulfram took the fabric, pressing it against his nose gently. It wasn’t broken, but he was likely to have a bruise to add to those he already had. He couldn’t help smiling a bit at how flustered she was. “This is a bi’ ‘etter than fallin’ through the ‘oof.”

Ben looked away, trying his damnedest to keep the smile off his face. “What his Highness means to say is he’ll be fine. But he needs to talk to Lady Dani at her earliest convenience.”

“She won’t be talkin’ to ya.” A growling voice cut through the conversation, and Dani jumped slightly, eyes snapping to the man that lurked in the doorway.

“Reshi!”

Wulfram turned to look at the man, his own eyes hardening as he studied him. He was as tall as Wulfram was, but twice as wide, his face bearing a set of deep scars across one side that left lines in his beard. He stared at Wulfram with hard brown eyes, arms crossed over his barrel chest. Wulfram stiffened immediately, who was this man to talk to him like that?

“I don’t believe this concerns you.” Wulfram said coldly. His voice was still a little nasaly, and he was sure he looked awful, but he stood to his full height, resting a hand on his sword.

“As ‘er father is sure as hell concerns me. She’s got work ta do, an’ yer just bringin’ attention to ‘er she don’t need, yer ‘ighness.” Reshi didn’t back down. He didn’t even glance at Wulfram’s sword, it was as if it wasn’t worth his attention. Which irked Wulfram as much as how he was talking to him! It was one thing coming from Dani, but this man had no place talking to him in such a disrespectful fashion.

“If you know who I am, you know I can insist on the discussion. It’s just a matter of where it will take place: here, or at the palace.”