A Wolf Among Sheep

"Mara's mercy Cas, stop waving that thing around," said Serenity, shaking her head and covering her face with her hands. She was nursing a rather intense hangover, yet Cas still insisted on dragging her out to the marketplace.

Cas laughed and put down the wind chime. "It's not my fault you drank too much last night. You agreed days ago to come shopping with me today, so deal with it. Toughen up and be bold, as the proud Breton of Daggerfall you are!" she said, raising a fist and flexing her biceps comically.

Serenity laughed, shielding her eyes from the morning sun.

"You're insufferable, but you do make me laugh."

"It's true. Now, what shall I buy you? How about some new perfume, or Elsweyr chocolate? How about a new dress to replace the one you ruined yesterday?" Cas tapped her fingers lightly on the table of one of the stalls.

"Oh, thank you, but you don't have to buy me anything," Serenity said kindly.

"I should. I feel awful about what happened last night, and I didn't want to make you feel worse. I worry about you, you know. I don't want you ruining your life on a whim."

Serenity tilted her head and gave Cas an understanding smile. "I don't mean to worry you, and I'd never ruin my life. I just want to find my happiness, and my life to be my own."

Serenity pulled at the strings dangling from her pretty, long-sleeved tunic. She gazed around the marketplace hopefully.

"Oh no, Ren. You aren't still thinking about them, are you? Y'ffre, have mercy on me, would you?"

"I'm not. I'm… oh fine. Don't be mad though."

"I'm not mad, I'm just bloody…" Cas held her hands up by her face and shook them like she was trying to crush the air. She took a deep breath, turning back to Serenity and waving a finger. "If you do get involved with him, you know, he'll break your heart."

Serenity giggled.

"No, I'm serious. He'll be done with you so fast your head will spin. You'll watch him set sail into the sunset with his bucko crew and then you'll come crying back to none other than me, who'll have to pick up the pieces."

Serenity lifted herself up onto the concrete wall of the bridge next to the markets, squinting down at Cas and smiling with her eyes.

"Oh, no no no, don't you give me that look. You know as well as I do about the sort of people we get around here. We see it all the time, women crying at the overlook as the ships sail out. The men come in, romance the ladies, and then be on their merry way. Half of them have families back home, I'd wager."

"You think he has a family?"

"Well, probably not, but I doubt he'd stick around. His type never does. I guarantee that group is here for work, and hopefully the legal kind, mind you."

Serenity sighed. "I'd love to see him again, even if it's one more time."

"See who again?" said a voice from behind them.

Serenity turned her head to see Addison Brenner and two other guards crossing the bridge. He smiled fondly at Serenity. "Hello, there. Be careful on that wall. I don't particularly feel like diving into the river after anyone this morning, even if it is for you."

Cas beamed at him. "Ah, Addison! Maybe you can talk some sense into Ren for me."

Serenity shot her a look "Stop!" she mouthed silently.

Addison looked at them over his shoulder as he walked away, smiling and crinkling one side of his nose. "Sorry girls. Would love to stay and chat, but there's some drama involving Prince Qiaren this morning. I'll see you around."

They watched the guards as they disappeared into the crowd. One of them turned around and stared back at Serenity. She hadn't seen him before. She narrowed her eyes at him until he became obscured by an impossibly large Orc lady, who was wearing a dress the size of a king-sized bed quilt. He must be new, she thought. She was sure Addison would fill her in later.

"My, that did sound serious," Cas said as she cocked her head. "I wonder what's amiss?"

Serenity crossed her arms and sprawled her legs out in front of her sulkily. "Qiaren is always getting himself into trouble."

Cas laughed. "Aw. Are we sad that Addison isn't giving you his undivided attention?"

"Maybe."

"Hah. Well, you do have a point about Qiaren, but I doubt we have much to worry about. The Prince has probably just bedded yet another man's wife. Nasty habit, that. You'll have Addison back to yourself in no time. Now let's visit the stores to see if we can find you some new trousers, something that'll fit your ridiculously long legs. Gods, how I've wished mine were that long."

When they were done at the markets, Cas and Serenity made their way across the city. They were meeting Serenity's family at The Devil's Rascal, an inn owned by a childhood friend of Mattias. Serenity had recovered from her hangover and was feeling much better. As they entered the inn, Serenity gazed around at the familiar surroundings. The place was filled with decor consisting of statues, mounted heads of game, and various paintings of High Rock's many landmarks. The inn's success had grown exponentially over the years and had garnered heightened popularity with visitors to Daggerfall.

Salazar saw them first and nodded his head in greeting. "Ah, it's about time you got here. Why women have to spend the whole day shopping is beyond me. It'd take me barely an hour to buy all the things I need, and that's me done for the year."

"That's because you recycle the same three items of clothing," Serenity said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she sat down.

"So what if I do?" he replied.

Serenity showed Rosalie what they had bought. Rosalie was tough to shop for and, since The New Life Festival was coming up, she wanted to fish for gift ideas. She did seem to appreciate a new set of manchester and foreign confectionery.

"Hey, Father?" Serenity leaned over the table towards Mattias, who was being strangely quiet. "Where is, ah, Balir and his family?"

Rosalie elbowed him, and he looked over. "Oh, um… they left soon after you did this morning. Returning to Cheydinhal."

"Did they say much?"

"No. Just that they'll be in touch about business arrangements, and to send you their best."

"That's all?"

"It is. Why? Is there something I should know?"

Serenity rested her head in her hands, pouting her lips and dragging them to one side. "I just thought Balir was going to work under you for a bit, that's all."

"Yes, that was originally going to happen, but they decided to send one of their accountants in his place. Balir will be joining you in Wayrest instead of working here with me in Daggerfall." He curtly nodded and went back to his meal.

Serenity turned to Cas and pulled a face. Cas shook her head and shrugged in response.

The day was coming to an end, and the sun had nearly completed its descent over the Eltheric Ocean. Serenity's mood had improved, but she still felt that something was off. She had this strange feeling that change was coming. She looked at the sunset and saw a bright star low on the horizon.

"That's odd," said Cas, musing as she rubbed her chin with her hand.

"What is?" Serenity asked.

"I believe that's the Twilight Star, but I've never seen it so… bright before. Especially not in the evening."

"What's the Twilight Star?"

Cas promptly turned around and started to walk towards the manor. "Nothing we need to worry about. Come on."

There was a gathering of people outside Hearthhart Hall. They were talking among themselves, staring at the manor and shaking their heads. Just as Serenity and her family arrived at the front doors, they opened and Addison walked out. His face was pale and he looked as if he was about to be sick.

He addressed Serenity's father. "Mr. Hearthhart, y-you're…" he stammered, frowning and looking at the ground as if he couldn't believe what he was saying.

Another guard, the one who Serenity saw accompanying the patrol earlier, stepped out from behind Addison.

He put a hand on the hilt of his sword as he approached Mattias. "You are under arrest for the murder of Prince Qiaren."