“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.”

Inside Dani was panicking, looking at the pair of men that seemed hell-bent on being pissy to each other. Reshi was his usual cantankerous self, except far more growly, placing himself between her and Wulfram. Wulfram had blood speckled on his face and shirt from the nose bleed, but he at least seemed a bit better now. Better enough to be posturing just as badly as Reshi! At this rate they were going to start a brawl in Mrs. Haversaun’s shop! And then what? Would she have to pay for damages? She was already in the hole for this damn dress!

Although she had to admit it was very pretty, and the skirts felt like having sheets over her legs rather than actual clothing. And the fabric was so soft. But it made it hard to insert herself between the two men. She stepped in front of Reshi and set a hand on each of their chests. “Okay, that’s enough! Reshi, I can talk to who I want to. Wulf, I’m working, can’t this wait for later? And you don’t have any right to insist I talk to you anyways!”

Ben raised a finger hesitantly. “Actually-”

She turned a steely gaze on Ben, her heart pounding. “No right to insist I talk to anyone!”

Ben raised both hands and took a step back, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Pardon me, I suppose I was mistaken.”

Wulfram took in a slow breath, visibly calming himself. His amber eyes darted back to Reshi, hard as stone. But they softened slightly when he looked back at Dani. “I’m sorry, it really can’t. This is very important, and could affect your safety. If you’d return to the palace with me I can at least keep you safe.”

“She’s got people ta keep ‘er safe.” Reshi growled. “And she ain’t goin’ anywhere with you.”

“Reshi, I don’t need you growling at him right now. Just... Mrs. Haversaun can we use the upstairs for a little bit?” Dani rubbed her head, which had decided to start pounding. Could it be a delayed hangover? No, it was probably just the stress of dealing with two hardheaded men.

“Of course dear. But I hope you’ll tell me all about it later.” Mrs. Haversaun looked Wulfram up and down, and smiled as if she knew a secret. “And give me a proper introduction.”

“Of course.” Dani said dryly, and started up the stairs. “Come on. All of you lot. I’d rather not do this where just anyone could walk in, or look in and see who I’m talkin’ to. Reshi is right about the danger.”

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Wulfram fell into step behind Reshi, glaring at the older mans back, and Ben fell into step after him up the narrow stairs, still trying not to smile. Apparently he thought she was funny, or maybe thought this whole situation was funny. She couldn’t help thinking it was going to wind up with her dead or locked up. If the thieves guild caught her talking to him....

But she shook her head, dismissing that thought. No, the thieves guild wouldn’t be around here, right? Bad enough Reshi had obviously been spying on her! How else would he know to come back just when he did? Didn’t he have better things to do?

The top floor of Mrs. Haversaun’s shop was divided into two rooms: her bedroom, and everything else. She was one of the fortunate few to have a sink with running water, the magic runes engraved in the faucet conjuring the water from the cistern beneath the city, but that was the most luxury she gave herself. She didn’t believe she needed more. Dani would have at least tried to get a bath if she could afford it. One of those fancy ones that even heated the water! That would have been so nice right now... but no, instead she had to deal with these men and whatever Wulfram had to say to her. She sat down on a pile of fabric, turning to frown at him. Reshi took his place at her shoulder, a cranky guard, but welcome support nonetheless. At least no matter how pissed he was at her, he had her back. And he had even called himself her father! That was a rare occurrence... he must be worried.

“Alright, what do we need to talk about? You said you weren’t gonna throw me in the dungeon. And you said I would get to keep half my prize. Seems to me the bracelet is half the price, eve if I can’t get it off to sell it.”

Wulfram looked around for an appropriate place to sit. Finally, he sat on a pile of fabric across from her and let out a weary sigh. “It is exactly the bracelet we need to talk about. I might have made a... mistake... using it like I did.”

Ben took up his position beside Wulfram, a less cranky mirror of Reshi. Dani glanced at the other man, then back to Wulfram. “What do ya mean?”

Wulfram hesitated, touching his nose gingerly. He glanced at Reshi, and cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology in this instance as well, since you’re apparently her father. Please know that I meant no offense, and I plan to do what’s right of course.”

“And what is that?” There was a dangerous note to Reshi’s voice, one that made a shiver run down Dani’s spine. That was not a tone she had heard from Reshi often, and it never boded well.

“Well- you see the bracelet- the bracelet.” Wulfram stood up, clearing his throat and tugging his clothes into order. Dani had only known him a short time but she knew this behavior wasn’t usual for Wulfram. Her own heart started to pound with his anxiety, and she touched the bracelet carefully. Yes, she could feel the anxiety seeping through it. Damnit, why couldn’t he just say what he planned to say?!

“Spit it out lad.” Reshi snarled.

Wulfram cleared his throat once more, folding his hands behind his back as he took on a formal pose, his back stiff and face serious. He met Dani’s eyes squarely, his gaze gentle, a stark contrast to the formality of his pose. “The bracelets, the ancestral crown, is most often used to bind two people in marriage. Essentially, we are married.”

Dani’s mouth dropped open, but she had no time to properly react before Reshi’s fist pummeled into Wulfram’s face, laying the younger man out on the floor.