Reshi and Alodia wasted no time after the men took Dani. Reshi bundled Azra up, reminded forcibly of another little girl he had bundled up and whisked away years ago. Would he have done the same thing if he knew how much trouble she’d be?

He paused outside the door to their little home, looking around for signs of the men that had taken Dani. But they were gone, at least for now. He met Alodia’s gaze, and nodded. Of course he would have.

“We’ll go to my personal residence. Gull can take the child, you go get Therija and Raycor.” Alodia looked both ways down the street, the sun nearly directly overhead, banishing the shadows that usually cast the street in shade. The bastards had come in broad daylight. Of course it wasn’t like there were guards in the Rats Nest.

“And if they follow us there?” Reshi handed Azra to Gull, trusting the young woman with the child. He knew that Gull was one of Dani’s friends, they had grown up together on this very street, exploring the underground and stealing coins for sweets.

“Then my guards will handle them. I pay them too well to be bribed.” Alodia narrowed her eyes slightly. “Of course I didn’t think Bear would turn coat so easily, but he’s always been a brute. He’ll pay for his role in this.”

“He’s one of yours, ain’t he? Do ya know where he might be takin’ Dani?” Reshi wiped some blood from his face, and checked his hunting knife. It wasn’t meant for hunting people, but it could gut a man as easily as a deer.

“I don’t, but we’ll find out. For now get the rest of your family, we don’t want anyone else to be taken. In the meantime, I’m going to put out some feelers. Someone paid him to do this, I’ll find out who, and why.”

“An’ if she comes back an’ there ain’t no one home?” Reshi asked. He watched as Gull carried Azra away, the little girl out cold, thank the gods. Little girls shouldn’t see such bloodshed.

“Then your neighbors will make sure we get word, and we’ll come to her. Have a little faith Reshi. I am not one of the leaders of the guild for nothing.” Alodia rested a hand on his arm. “We will find her.”

Reshi nodded, but he found it hard to have faith in thieves. He had been one after all, and the so called honor amongst thieves only went so far. But if anyone could mobilize the thieves of the city, it was Alodia. He let out a snort. “Be careful.”

“You as well, old man.” Alodia flashed him a smile, and started down the street. Reshi headed the other way, through the twisting roads and alleys to Raycor’s little bakery. Hopefully they would both be there, Raycor had been letting Therija handle more and more of the bakery chores while he traded for more exotic ingredients. But surely today he’d be at the bakery! Otherwise he would be home taking care of Azra, and there would have been two of them to protect the girls.

Reshi clenched his fists, a growl rising in his throat. He had just let them take her! He should have fought harder for her, or had her hide, or killed the man that had held her, something!

Anything.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, wishing he had something to hit. But he was far too old to break his hand punching a damn wall.

Raycor’s bakery was packed when he arrived, people getting their midday sweets or lunch and hurrying back to their stalls or jobs. The few nearest the door stared at Reshi as he came in, blood splattered and furious. He growled, not caring what they thought. “Go find somewhere else ta get yer bread. We’re closed.”

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“Reshi?” Therija stepped from behind the counter, her eyes darting over him, pausing on the blood splatters, freezing at the look in his eyes. She paled slightly and hurried back around the counter. “Seena, I want ya ta take what ya can an’ pass it out. A’ight? Don’t worry ‘bout gettin’ money for it just make sure it gets ta folks that need it.”

The older woman that she spoke to nodded, and started to load up a basket with baked goods. Reshi stomped behind the counter and began handing out bread. There was no sense it going to waste, and there was no telling when they would open back up. Better the people got it than the rats. “Where’s yer pa?”

“Out back.” Therija looked at Reshi again and took in a shuddering breath. “Is Azra...?”

“She’s fine. Close up fast as ya can.” Reshi shoved an armful of bread into a young woman’s arms. “I gotta talk ta Raycor.”

He turned to squeeze past the ovens that were stacked at the back of the shop, into the small courtyard they had built up over years with rubble from nearby buildings. Raycor was there, kneading a loaf of bread that smelled of spices and honey.

When they had been boys, Reshi had always thought of baking as women’s work. But Raycor had a talent for it, and after helping him knead huge batches of bread, Reshi gained a new respect for the profession. His arms and back had ached for days after that. “Raycor, we gotta go.”

“Go where?” Raycor rolled the dough into a log, pausing to taste the dough and stare into space thoughtfully.

“I’ll tell ya on the way.” Reshi stood in front of the table, putting his hands on his hips as he scowled at his brother. “But we gotta be goin’ now.”

“Weren’t ya an’ Dani ‘eaded out o’ the city to... day....” Raycor trailed off as he finally looked at Reshi, and his eyes widened, taking in the blood and bruises that were already turning purple. His face paled slightly, and he met Reshi’s eyes, all humor gone from his voice. “Where’s Azra an’ Dani?”

“Azra’s safe, we’re goin’ ta meet ‘er at Alodia’s. I got Therija closin’ up the shop.”

Raycor nodded slightly. He looked around at the baking goods around him and started to put them away. “Close up the flour an’ put it in ‘ere. Where’s Dani?”

“Some men took ‘er. Alodia’s got ‘er people on it. But we ain’t takin’ any chances with the girls.” Reshi closed the giant bag of flour, shoving it in a cupboard and closing it up. “They already threatened us.”

Raycor threw a towel over his bread, looking at it regretfully for only a moment. “Do ya know who sent ‘em?” He reached beneath the table, pulling a sheathed dagger out that he strapped to his waist.

“Not yet.” Reshi said grimly, and headed back into the main shop. He felt a wave of relief wash over him when he saw Therija still there, safe and sound. “C’mon.”

“What’s goin’ on?” Therija asked, packing some cookies into a basket and draping a towel over them. Raycor squeezed through between the ovens and rested a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t fret, Dani just... got in a wee bit o’ trouble. Let’s do as Reshi says an’ go. Ya still got yer knife?” Raycor looked around the shop as Reshi ducked out into the street.

“A bit o’ trouble? What kind of trouble that we ‘ave ta close up shop?” Therija’s voice was pitching towards panic, and Raycor gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

“C’mon Therija.” He ushered her through the door, and fell into step behind Reshi. “We’re gunna be stayin’ wit’ an ol’ friend. She’s already lookin’ fer Dani.”

“Lookin’ fer Dani?” Therija repeated and looked up at her father, looking sickly pale. “What ‘appened? Uncle Reshi?” Not finding the answers she was looking for in Raycor, she turned her gaze to Reshi, clutching her basket in white-knuckled hands.

“I’ll tell ya ‘bout it when we get ta Alodia’s.” Reshi said firmly. He eyed a group of guards as they passed, but kept moving. None of them were the ones that had taken Dani. But most of the men that had come for Dani had had the look of guards to them, even if they had been smart enough not to wear their uniforms.

Therija clutched her basket tighter, looking around the street as if expecting wolves to jump out of the shadows.

But they reached Alodia’s modest house safely, her guards letting them in with a slight bow. They went to check on Azra first, finding her sleeping peacefully, her fever much improved from this morning. Then they gathered in the sitting room, and Reshi began to tell them the whole story.