Dani stayed up late, waiting for Reshi and Raycor to return with no luck. Whatever they were doing, it wasn’t going to be a quick process to get rid of Bear. Hopefully they would be successful, hopefully whoever was behind Bear wouldn’t come after her father and uncle in retaliation.

  Hopefully they’d come back safe and sound.

  “Dani, frettin’ won’t bring ‘em back any sooner, it’s gettin’ late.” Therija said from the bed, where Azra was already asleep.

  They had spent the day in her rooms, chatting like old times. Therija was set to marry her blacksmith during the harvest festival, and she already had babies on the brain. Azra was doing well with the bakery, and was likely to join her sister in running it when she got older. For right now she had learned her numbers, and was working on learning to write. Apparently she loved to write, and Therjia was going to make sure she got her own blank book, complete with a pen and ink.

  Dani lounged back on the small mountain of pillows, her eyelids growing heavy as the evening wore on. It must be nice to be so certain of where your life was going. She couldn’t help feeling a little bit jealous of them. They had the bakery, and simple goals for a peaceful life.

  She had no idea what she had, but whatever it was it sure as hell wasn’t simple or peaceful.

  Therija smiled and patted Dani’s hand lightly. “Yer still recoverin’, go on an’ get in yer nightgown. I don’t think pa and Reshi are comin’ back tonight.”

  “I should go after them, what if they got in over their heads?” Dani frowned, but stood up and started stripping down. She carefully hung the dress and undergarments back up, setting the corset back in it’s drawer. She hadn’t exactly done much to get them dirty, and the clothes were too fine to just toss on a chair.

  “Then ya won’t be any help anyways.” Therija said firmly. “Ya would just get yerself in trouble, again.”

  Dani wrinkled her nose, wishing she could argue with Therija. But she had a point, if Reshi and Raycor ran into something they couldn’t handle, then she wasn’t going to be any help either. Sure she could try to bring in the guards, but she wasn’t even sure they would listen to her. When everything was said and done, she was still a commoner thief.

  No matter who Reshi thought her birth parents were.

  “Yer face’ll stick like that if ya keep it up.” Therija said mildly, and Dani let out a snort of laughter. She picked up the brush from her vanity, pausing to stare in the mirror. No physical trace of the trauma she had been through, and she had plumped out a little bit from eating well. She wasn’t sure she even recognized herself anymore.

  “Or maybe I’ll start breathing smoke again.” Dani teased as she started to pull the brush through her hair.

  “Maybe ya will. Come ‘ere, I’ll do that for ya.”

  Dani felt a lurch in her stomach, remembering when Najia had brushed their hair before bed, and the soft songs she used to sing. She headed over to sit on the bed, glancing at Azra, curled up like a kitten, far too young to remember the mother she had lost. “You’ll make a good momma. You already are one in a way.”

  Therija took the brush and started to run it through Dani’s hair, letting out a soft laugh. “Well, someone ‘ad ta be the momma, Azra an’ ya both needed one.”

  “We’re the same age! Or at least close enough that I don’t need you to be my momma.”

  “Aye, that we are.” There was amusement in Therija’s voice, and a patience that Dani herself could never quite master. Therija took after her mother in that regard, even when the guard brought her home after getting caught stealing, Najia was always patient, she had never once raised her voice at either of them.

  “I don’t need you to be my momma, really. I’d rather have you be my sister.”

  “I’ll always be yer sister.” Therija gave Dani a tight hug from behind. “But ya tend ta do crazy things, an’ that’s what makes me think ya need me ta be yer momma sometimes too.” She set the brush on the bedside table, letting out a sigh. “Lets go ta sleep now, I’ll bet ya Reshi an Pa will be back in the mornin’.”

  “I hope so. I’m sorry about all this.” Dani flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the false sky made by dozens of glowstones. “I fucked all our lives up.”

  Therija laughed and squirmed beneath the blankets, tossing a corner of the top one over Azra and Dani. “Oh aye, tis such a trial ta be stayin’ in the palace.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.” Dani grumbled and crawled beneath the blankets as well, leaving the top one for Azra. “And you know what I mean. We were attacked, the house and bakery were wrecked if Gull isn’t exaggerating, and there’s an asshole after all of us.”

  “True ‘nough.” Therija said as she made herself comfortable. “But fer right now, we’re safe. As fer the bakery an’ house... well, things can be replaced. People can’t.”

  That was small comfort considering that Reshi and Raycor were even now out hunting the man that had taken her. But Dani sighed and let it go, there was no point in upsetting Therija if she didn’t have to.

  But Dani still worried, staring up at the ceiling and its false stars. Gradually though, her eyes grew heavy, the comforting familiarity of sharing a bed with Therija and Azra lulling her into a feeling of safety as she dozed off. She barely heard Reshi and Raycor return, their voices a quiet comfort as they spoke with the guard and Gull.

  Perhaps Therija was right to not worry. She smiled faintly and let the familiar sound of the brothers' voices carry her into a deep sleep.

  Dani woke to the sun streaming through open doors, birdsong a soft accompaniment to the familiar voices that filled her room. Damn early risers. She peeled her eyes open, looking blurrily around the room. As usual, she was the last one awake in the morning. The table had been moved out into the garden, and the smell of fresh eggs, bacon and pancakes wafted in on the light ocean breeze.

  Groggily, Dani crawled out of bed and shuffled over to the table. She paused when a maid hurried up to her with a robe, only making the barest grumble as she let the tall woman help her put it on. “You wouldn’t want to catch cold Milady.” The maid said with a soft smile, making sure to tie the robe shut in the front.

  Reshi looked up from his pile of bacon and eggs with a smirk, one eye swollen shut. “Aye, an’ that would be jus’ what ya need. A cold.”

  “Nice shiner old man.” And that was about as much as Dani was willing to say before breakfast. She dropped down into the only empty chair left and started to scoop eggs onto her plate. The maid busied herself adding bacon, fruit and pancakes, even pouring Dani a glass of chilled milk. Dani stared at the milk for a moment, before picking up the glass and taking a nice big appreciative gulp.

  “Ya should see the other guy.” Reshi grinned, and Dani noticed his split lip. Raycor was no better off, his fists bruised, and one of his teeth missing. “We’re workin’ with Alodia an’ the guards ta make sure it’s safe ta go back home, but ‘til we find the folks behind Bear, we ain’t gunna risk it.”

  Dani let out a soft snort, her eyes on her breakfast as she poured warm syrup over the pancakes. “It was a noble. He didn’t say which one?”

  “Naw, an’ we weren’t gentle wit’ our questions.” Raycor said. He took a bite of the pancakes, and gave his nod of approval. “We got others lookin’ into it, an’ the palace guards are lookin’ into it in their way.”

  “Hopefully that won’t draw too much attention.” Dani said. She frowned a little as she started to eat, thinking about guards down in the Rat’s Nest. Alodia probably wasn’t going to be happy with their increased presence, but it was going to be necessary. Not just for their family, but for everyone down there. Sure they had gotten along fine enough without guards before, but Dani wasn’t dumb enough to think there hadn’t been more crime in the Rat’s Nest than elsewhere in the city. People knew the guards didn’t like to go in there, and even though it’s people were poor, they were the target of all sorts of assholes.

  “It won’t. There’s already been folks nosin’ around from outside, the guards are just one more group. Folks assume they’re out there watchin’ over the scholars and mages.” Reshi let out a snort, his good eye sparkling. “Let ‘em think what they will.”

  “Right. They’re going to have to get used to more guards anyways. Maybe we can get some of the enforcers to join up, they know the Rat’s Nest better than the city guard.” Gods it was too early for this talk. She wasn’t even dressed yet! And she should be getting back to Mrs. Haversaun’s now that she was feeling better. She had work to do!

  “Aye, maybe.” Reshi said carefully, narrowing his eyes slightly. “But what worry is that of ours, eh?”

  “It’s my worry. I’m supposed to be the lady of Rat’s Nest? Fine, I’m going to make it a safer place for everyone. What happened to use would never have happened to someone in the upper city.” Dani stabbed at her eggs viciously, spearing a clump.

  There was a moment of silence at the table, and Dani glanced up, studying the faces of her family. Unsurprisingly, Reshi was frowning, worrying at what remained of his own eggs. But Azra was looking at Dani with a touch of hero-worship, and there were traces of approval in both Therija and Raycor.

  She hadn’t expected that. She had been sure that Raycor would side with Reshi, and want her to run. Azra was a kid, she just thought this whole thing was amazing, and Therija, well, Therija took after Najia, and Dani had a feeling Najia would have approved too.

  It was the maid who finally broke the silence, speaking to Azra. “Little Miss, would you like to go attend lessons with Cressida and Mireya? They’ll be working on their writing and reading, and later in the day they’ll be practicing horseback riding.”

  Azra shot to her feet with wide eyes and a bright grin. “Horseback riding?” She looked to Therija and Raycor, practically quivering with excitement. “Can I? Can I go? I’ll be good!”

  Raycor chuckled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Aye, go ‘ave some fun.”

  Azra let out a happy little squeal and ran around the table to the maid, where she stood bouncing on her toes. “Thank ya Pa!”

  “With your leave Milady.” The maid curtsied, suppressing a giggle as she took Azra’s hand and led her out the door. “Perhaps we will see the horses from Hesiodos this afternoon as well.” Her voice faded as they walked down the hall, the door shutting gently behind them.

  Reshi’s head snapped up, and he stared at the closed door. “Hesiodos horses?” He stood up, giving a nod to Raycor. “Ye stay here an’ keep an eye on the girls. I need ta check somethin’.”

  “Aye. Be careful.” Raycor nodded slightly, but Reshi was already heading out the door.

  Dani let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment before returning to her breakfast. She supposed she would find out what that was all about soon enough.