Dani stepped into her room, fidgeting with her chatelaine as she glanced around. Reshi was still there, but Raycor and Therija were nowhere to be seen. She already knew Azra had gone to study with the princesses, perhaps Raycor and Therija had found the kitchens. She couldn’t see Gull, but was sure that the woman was somewhere nearby, taking her guard duties seriously, even in the palace.

  “Where’s Therija and Raycor?” Dani asked, trying to ignore how Reshi’s gaze went immediately to Alastar, towering behind her in the doorway. She was starting to feel short, and she didn’t much care for it.

  “They went to find the kitchen.” Reshi stood up, setting aside the piece of wood he had been carving, although not the knife he had been using. “Who is this ya brought back?”

  Straight to the point, good ol’ Reshi. Dani looked around for a bottle of whiskey, sure that Reshi and Raycor would have one stashed nearby. She needed a good drunk to deal with everything that had happened so far. But she also needed to keep her head clear for the meeting later on, talking about the Rat’s Nest. She let out a resigned sigh, stepping aside to give Reshi a clear view of Alastar. “This is Alastar. My-” She paused, the word caught in her throat for a moment, feeling awkward and strange. “My brother. Alastar, this is my father, Reshi.”

  Reshi rubbed the smooth wooden hilt of his knife, the well cared for metal blade catching the light as he looked Alastar up and down. Neither man was dressed fancy, each wearing perfectly serviceable pants and shirts, but where Reshi’s clothes were worn and mended, Alastar’s looked practically new, only showing dirt from where he had hit the ground earlier. There was also a noticable difference in the quality of fabrics their clothing used, Dani could spot the finer weave in Alastar’s clothing, the deeper, richer colors in the dyes. Reshi’s clothes were plain earth tones, useful for lurking in the forest in wait for prey.

  She had rather more time than was comfortable to study the differences in their clothes, and the similarities in their postures. It was like watching two bears staring each other down.

  “A pleasure to meet you sir.” Alastar finally said and bowed very slightly to the older man. “I owe you a great debt for your care of my sister.”

  “Ya don’t owe me shit.” Reshi snorted. “An’ ya better not be bringin’ trouble to my daughter.”

  Dani moved to the small table next to the garden door, pouring herself a glass of fruit juice and wishing that it was something stronger. She had no desire to be between the two men, especially if it came to blows.

  “I do not bring trouble. If anything, I plan to bring her more safety and comfort than she’s had recently.”

  Dani closed her eyes for a moment, practically feeling the icy chill in Reshi’s voice as he spoke. “Are ya sayin’ I can’t give ‘er safety and comfort?”

  Wasn’t this guy a king? He had to have known that would hit a nerve! That would have hit a nerve with anyone, but especially someone’s father. Adopted or not. But maybe that was the point, sometimes people just had to poke the hornets' nest, even when they knew they’d get stung.

  “Not at all. Only that I can provide guards, resources to help her and the rest of your family comfortable and prosperous. Our kingdom may not be as rich as Cresenvasht, but you have raised and cared for one of our princesses, and we are grateful.”

  “Grateful is it.” Reshi sneered, still running his thumb along the hilt of his knife. “She’s got guards, an’ she’s more’n capable of takin’ care of herself. She’s a lady now, got that way without bein’ born ta it. An’ she’s got big ambitions. Gunna fix up the Rat’s Nest, make it a nice place fer the folks that live there.”

  Dani’s head came up, and she stared at Reshi. He had been so adamant about her leaving the city for her own safety, and now he was talking like he was proud of her? Like she was going to make big changes, all by herself. Like she hadn’t just fallen into some twisted luck after taking a stupid risk.

  “The palace guards? Those aren’t truly hers, they answer to the royal family of Cresenvasht, she should have her own guards, independent of Cresenvasht. Especially with such ambitions. She’s sure to make some people upset with the changes she plans to make.” Alastar smiled though, pride glinting in his own eyes. “Not that I’m surprised at her ambitions, she is a princess of Hesiodos.”

  “She has her own guards.” The voice came from behind Alastar, and Dani grinned as the big man spun around, staring into the shadows by the door. Gull stood there, grinning wide. “Boo.”

  “I see.” Alastar said, his eyebrows raising. “You said guards, plural. Where are the others?”

  “Well, we ain’t gotten the others into the palace yet.” Gull said, wrinkling her nose. “I’m the sneakiest, so I’ve been guardin’ her when Reshi ain’t around.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “I shouldn’t need that much guarding in the palace anyways. And last time I wanted to go out, no one would let me.” Dani settled down into one of the chairs at the table, letting the sun warm her back.

  “Well ya should be okay ta go out now.” Reshi said with clear reluctance. “We took care of Bear.” He slid his knife into it’s sheath, watching Alastar, tracking his movements as if he were hunting him.

  “Who is Bear?” Alastar growled, latching onto the name. “And why did she need to stay at the palace because of him?”

  “Bear was the man that- was one of the men that took me. That... tortured me.” Dani felt her stomach turn with the admission, as if it were somehow her fault that it had happened. She downed her fruit juice, wishing that the wine and snacks that Wulfram had promised would show up. Had he forgotten? He still owed her wine after throwing away that stuff down in the underground!

  “Was.” Reshi growled.

  “Was? Am I correct in assuming he’s dead then?” Smoke curled up from Alastar’s nostrils, and Dani watched in wonder. She remembered Therija saying there had been smoke curling up out of her own mouth yesterday. Maybe it was some weird family thing? Except it had never happened before. Why would it happen now?

  “Yes.” Reshi grinned viciously, and picked up his carving. “She might be yer princess, but she’s my daughter, an’ I ain’t gonna let anyone get away with hurtin’ her.” He said the last like a threat, pulling out his knife and settling back down to work on his carving.

  “I would have liked to question him. Dani said he was one of the men that took her, and I had heard there was a noble involved. He could have given us information on who he was working for. But at least she doesn’t have to worry about one of them anymore.” Alastar said, frowning.

  “We’ll find out who they were.” Reshi said, carving a sliver of wood off of the thick branch he had found. “An’ then deal wit’ ‘em.”

  “Yes, we will.” Alastar looked at Dani, gesturing to a chair. “May I sit?”

  “Sure.” Dani shrugged. She poured another glass of juice for herself, and one for Alastar. Reshi wasn’t one for sweet drinks, so she didn’t bother pouring him one. “If I didn’t have that meeting this afternoon I would go to the Rat’s Nest now. See how things are, see who’s poking around down there. Maybe talk to Mrs. Haversaun, she’s gotta be pissed that I haven’t been in to work for a while. Especially since it’s my fault she’s got so much work to do. Or no, it’s Wulf’s fault. Yeah, he’s the one that sprung that ball idea on everyone. Bet he has no idea how long it takes to actually make a dress.”

  Alastar stared at Dani, his eyebrows raising. “You know a lot about how long it takes to make a dress?”

  Reshi chuckled, his grin getting a little less feral, his posture relaxing slightly. “Aye, she knows more’n most. An’ is pretty damn good at it. Better at makin’ dresses than thievin’.”

  Dani winced. She hadn’t intended to tell Alastar about her less than legal activities. She wasn’t exactly ashamed of what she had done, it had been better than a lot of options she had given her background, but she still wanted to look good. Wanted Reshi to look good. He had saved her and raised her like his own flesh and blood, she didn’t want to make him look bad.

  “Thievin’? Stealing?” Alastar was silent for a moment, watching the pair of them. Then he took a long drink from his juice. His face scrunched up slightly, and he set the glass down. “Well, you won’t have to do that anymore. Any of you.”

  Alastar turned to Reshi, straightening and smoothing his face, his voice taking on a formal tone. “Sir Reshi, for your service to the lands of Hesiodos and the high clan, I appoint the rank of Clan Chief. May you and your family be welcome and honored in the lands of Hesiodos.”

  Reshi stared at Alastar, his knife resting against his carving, momentarily forgotten. Dani felt a bubble of laughter threatening to escape at the look on his face, and the absurdity of the proclamation. Well, it was about time the old man got thrown for a loop of his own. Although she had to wonder if nobles were always so free with giving out titles. They couldn’t possibly be, or else everyone would be a lord, lady, or Clan Chief! Whatever that was. It sounded like some kind of ruler.

  “Dani, I would like you to consider space for an Hesiodos embassy in the...” Alastar paused, uncertainty flashing across his face as he frowned. “Is it really called the Rat’s Nest? Didn’t Prince Wulfram call it something else?”

  “The Tangle. But we always just called it Rats Nest.” Dani shrugged slightly. She supposed she’d have to stop calling it the Rat’s Nest, since they were going to be fixing it up.

  “Why?” Alastar asked, confusion evident on his face.

  “Oh, couple reasons. Partly because of the rats, mostly because it’s full of people that lots of folks call street rats.” Dani’s grip tightened on her glass, her hand shaking a little as she flashed back to the dark cellar, and the damn noble that insisted she call herself street rat. She should have spit in his face when she had the chance!

  “Ah. If you don’t mind a bit of advice, it may be best to call it the Tangle, or at least anything other than Rat’s Nest. No one wants to live in a place named after rats. Unless the people of Cresenvasht do?” Alastar asked cautiously.

  Dani and Reshi looked at each other, and Dani let out a laugh, the image of the dark cellar fading away. “No, people don’t much care for rats here either. The Tangle is a fine enough name, don’t want to change things too much. It’s still gonna be home for us, just safer and less of a mess.” She straightened suddenly, and grinned. “Hey, if you really want ta give advice, then you can help me prepare for this meeting thing. Wulf was talking about healers hall, parks and a Quietus temple, but I need to figure out what the area will need beyond all that.”

  “Parks?” Alastar said blankly.

  “Public gardens.” Reshi said. He set aside his carving, fetching pen and paper from the desk. “It ain’t a bad idea, better if they grow more’n just pretty things though.”

  “Ah. People may like a public garden, if it’s safe.” Alastar nodded thoughtfully. “And it’s good to have a healers hall nearby. Quietus is the Cresenvasht goddess of death, correct? Why does he want a temple to her in the Tangle?”

  “To stop the body brokers I think. It ain’t a bad idea. So, healer’s hall, Quietus temple, a park with some nice trees. It’s right up against the Trade Road, but a little market square ain’t a bad idea.” Dani took the pen and paper, starting to jot down notes as they discussed what a community needed, and what the Tangle already had.