Though he'd opted to have Renner Cassian-Lorne serve as the bodyguard for Valdis and Amicia, that didn't mean Rumple would just blindly let him go about it. Rumple may have known Renner to be capable, but it would take years before he even remotely came to trust the pantherian. That was why he'd taken a drop of Renner's blood; if he ran, Rumple would find him, if he hurt the girls or let somebody else do so, he'd use that blood to make Renner die in excruciating agony. Some may have seen it as swapping one master for another, but Rumple preferred to think of it more as an insurance policy. As long as Renner fulfilled the job assigned to him then Renner was free to live as he pleased. There would be no sudden orders to travel to a random city and kill somebody, nobody would refuse him a personal life or friends, and certainly no one would object to who Renner chose to love. If he did a good enough job, Rumple would give Renner the choice when it came time to return to the Enchanted Forest, the choice to remain and forge a new life for himself or to accompany them.

While Phria and Rumple had been indulging in one another the previous night, Belle had escorted Renner to the sleeping quarters she and the rest of her steadily growing family had been sequestered away in by Demeer. She'd found an empty room only a handful of doors away from the girls' rooms, and, since the hour was so late, had provided the basin and water jug from her own room to him so he could wash his grubby face. Belle's genuine kindness had surprised Renner, it wasn't something he often saw. She'd gently explained that, while the Dark One and unimaginably powerful, Rumple had always been a fair man who refused to break his deals. As long as Renner upheld his end of the bargain then so would Rumple. Once he'd begun to wash, Belle had politely excused herself after telling Renner that he should get some sleep and Rumple would assuredly explain his duties and introduce him to Amicia and Valdis in the morning.

Renner had just stared at the dark but cosy room; for a man who'd grown all too used to sleeping out in the open or on cave floors, a real bed was quite the luxury. He finished washing his face, amazed by just how much sweat and grime came away, then reached a slightly damp hand up to trace where the bespelled poison vial had been implanted not even an hour earlier. The Dark One had removed it, just taken it out as though it were nothing, and all he'd asked in return was that Renner protect some children. As a man who'd grown up with the House of Red Coats, an organization many naïvely believed to be little more than a scary story, he was fully willing to accept the Dark One not only existed but had returned to Dreymyr. However, Captain Federlord and the beauty who'd introduced herself as Belle, had both seemed so at ease around him. Belle had gone out of her way to point out his good traits and both had consented to becoming his wife. Renner had always known never to judge a book by its cover, so he'd work for Rumpelstiltskin and dutifully be the bodyguard of his children; it was what Aidan would have wanted.

A sigh escaped the dark-eared pantherian as he pushed his chamber window open. He'd not been forbade from leaving the room or the University for that matter, but Renner didn't want someone to come check on him, find Renner gone and assume he'd fled. Still, sweet Belle had told him to get some sleep so wasn't likely to return that night. Seemed unlikely Rumple nor Phria would appear either since Renner had been able to smell how desperate they'd been for one another; most likely because Rumple had almost lost her.

"Should be safe." He mumbled to himself. "If I'm quick."

Decision made, Renner used his light magic to turn invisible then absconded out the window and off to the outskirts of Bichelberger to fulfil his promise to return.

~X~

At a much more reasonable time, once everybody had gotten some sleep and the girls had been woken and dressed, Belle returned to Renner's room. She'd knocked of course but, when no answer had come, she'd poked her head inside to find his green cloak sat in a sloppy ball on a chair while Renner lay shirtless and face down in his bed; give the man a comfy bed and he slept like a starfish apparently. The sight had Belle smile instantly but she was jostled aside when Azzy shoved his way into the room, marched directly to the crumpled cloak and began to growl. In an instant Renner had snapped to full attention and launched between cloak and waheela with daggers drawn; had Belle not been so startled she'd have quietly paused to admire Renner's muscular chest spattered with dark gray hair.

"Azadanes, that's quite enough. Calm down." She patted her leg to encourage the waheela back but, though he did cease snarling, Azzy remained fixated on the cloak. Belle's blue eyes found Renner's amber ones. "Azzy won't hurt you, I promise, so please put the knives away." After a moment to think about it, Renner did just that. "Thank you. Now, what is it you have in that cloak?"

Belle did her best to pull Azzy away once she'd crossed the room, just enough for Renner to scoop up his cloak which caused a furry black head to poke out. Belle gasped, the overwhelming cuteness had almost caused her to pass out. There, nestled in Renner's green cloak and arms, was a tree cat cub of slate fur with golden eyes and paws yet to be grown into.

Renner answered her unspoken question. "I found him a few months back, teratect got his mother. Aidan loved cats so I … just took him with me."

Belle smiled; Renner may have had a scruffy and grumpy outward appearance but he was in reality a softy. The tree cat cub meowed unsure of what to make of Azzy, then snuggled into Renner's bare chest for comfort; poor thing probably assumed Renner was his father, then again their black ears were vaguely similar.

"You protected him, that is to be admired. I'm a tamer, that's why Azzy is here, so I can sense bonds between animals and people. You and he have a strong one. When he's a little older, I'll help you form a contract with him, if you'd like."

He seemed surprised Belle would be willing to do such a thing. Anybody offering Renner kindness had always felt strange and as though it were secretly laced with alterer motives. However, the Dark One was his master now and such deceptions would have been pointless.

"… I'd like that." He nodded.

"Excellent." Belle peeked into the cloak to better see the baby tree cat. "What's his name?"

"Demiurge."

"Oh," Belle marveled. "A bit of a mouthful. Maybe Dem for short?" Renner shrugged, he had no objection to that. Belle's brow furrowed. "Has he been in your cloak all this time?"

Renner shook his head which caused his scruffy dark-gray hair to further cover his eyes.

"I hid him when I came here. Promised to go back though, so I sneaked away to retrieve him. I made sure to be back before dawn was through yawning."

That comment made Belle smile as she cautiously stretched out a finger to tickle Demiurge's little speckled forehead a moment or two. They had Azzy with them so allowing Demiurge to remain with Renner wouldn't be an issue in the slightest.

The second the penny dropped that Belle, fiancée to the Dark One, was less than a hair's breath away from a shirtless and rugged man who was not her fiancé, she backed away to a respectful distance to clear her throat; didn't matter he had no interest in women, she was still a princess. She informed Renner that breakfast would be served in about fifteen minutes and that, once dressed, he and Demiurge should make their way to the Grand Mages' private dining room. He'd been comforted to learn Demeer wouldn't be present. With that, Belle had excused herself with Azzy who'd finally quit his glaring at the cub.

Belle's smile lasted all the way to the dining room where she found Rumple had already gotten their two girls settled and awaiting breakfast. Ultimately, Renner was just a socially-awkward man with a kitten. Azzy collapsed by one of the vast glass doors which led out onto a small terrace area with such a level of drama that Rumple cocked an eyebrow.

"What's wrong with that wolf of yours now?"

Belle took her seat wile the girls giggled quietly to themselves – one would have found it hard to believe they'd not been sisters all their lives. A cup of tea was poured then indulgently sipped before Belle deemed to answer.

"It would seem Renner has a friend of the tree cat kitten variety. An adorable little thing that Azzy is worried will out-fluff him." Phria entered then to assume her seat to Rumple's left. "Good morning, Phria."

"Morning, Belle." She reached to get herself some tea. "I believe everything is almost in place for our departure. Scarlette is perfectly capable and the Grand Mage says that he intends to look into how King Maurice could have been bespelled. Apparently our meeting before Jefferson's departure sparked some real concern about that for him."

"It's something I've given much thought to myself." Mused Rumple from behind his cup while he watched the girls. "There has to be some kind of magic tool in play to sustain a spell that powerful for this long."

"I don't know what it could be." Belle admitted. "Tvon and Gaston took control of him right after Lorrimer's birthday. It was instantaneous; one moment he was my loving papa and the next he was a mindless puppet who just went along with whatever Gaston said."

"Could it be something to do with Halinox?" Phria questioned with her brow furrowed. "He prided himself on being a puppeteer, yes? So maybe it is one of the magical tools he fashioned for just that."

Rumple sighed internally. Each time he learned something new about his three fellow demon lords he found it worse than the last piece of information he'd stumbled across. Halinox and Ivosanch were both dead though, so technically he only had one fellow demon lord remaining in the form of the Little Disaster.

"Probably a logical place to begin, darling, but Demeer has taken up the task of finding out for us. For now, we are dealing with Renner and then King Artem."

The girls finally ceased their giggling then as food was brought in and all tucked in, save for Rumple who continued to sip at his tea. After a moment, Amicia turned to her papa curiously.

"Papa, who is Renner?"

"I am."

All eyes snapped to the doorway to find the former assassin had finally appeared. He'd dressed of course and washed, but his hair still hung lazily in his eyes; apparently 'scruffy and rugged' would forever be the most accurate description of the man. Atop his shoulder, awkwardly perched inside the large hood of his cloak, was Demiurge who made sure to locate Azzy quickly. The instant the children spotted the cub adoring sounds escaped them and their breakfast was all but forgotten about.

"Please take a seat, Renner, you must be hungry." Belle gestured to a seat at the opposite end of the table to Rumple which soon had Renner's amber eyes widen. A bodyguard, that was his duty, they didn't break their fast with their employers – especially when that employer was the fucking Dark One. "Please, Renner, we insist. Sit down and eat."

Since he doubted it was wise to refuse the future primary wife of a demon lord, the food did smell wonderful and because Rumple hadn't objected, Renner strode around the table to his seat. Demiurge jumped down into his lap and happily accepted a bit of bacon.

Both Amicia and Valdis opened their mouths to launch a litany of questions regarding the fluffy cub but Rumple cut them off before they'd even begun. Meanwhile, Renner tried to not focus on the bat wings neatly folded and half concealed by long black hair belonging to Rumple's youngest, or why the blonde girl had chosen to wear a headdress that gave her horns.

"Renner Cassian-Lorne, these are my daughters Amicia and Valdis. Girls, this man is to be your new bodyguard. He will always be by your side from now on to protect and watch over you."

When Belle figured out that was all Rumple intended to say on the matter, Belle rolled her eyes and continued for him.

"Renner isn't your servant, okay? He's a bodyguard so you should respect him as one. And, while little Dem is adorable and we all wish to pet him, he is still a tree cat rather than your plaything."

Both girls replied with a slightly less than enthusiastic 'yes, mama' because who wouldn't wish to pamper the tiny kitten? Still, the dark-eared man seemed like he could be scary when he wanted to be so they silently agreed not to push their limits.

"Papa, do we really need a bodyguard?"

Before Rumple could even open his mouth Renner had nodded unequivocally. "You and your little sister are daughters of the Dark One, my Lady. Your protection is of paramount importance. My Lord has seen fit to appoint me and I will do my duty as best I am able. I swear it on Aidan's grave."

Valdis' head cocked to the side. "Aidan?"

"Someone special to Renner who passed." Phria answered. "Now, finish your breakfast."

That was what they all did. Breakfast was eaten and tea was drunk while conversation mostly passed between Rumple and his two future wives. Renner had almost choked when he'd discovered Belle was actually Princess Belle, eldest child of King Maurice and heir apparent to the throne of Avonlea. All of that and he'd called her woman the previous night like she were just some common wench. Something told Renner than, when Rumple had warned him to show her some respect, it had been a bigger threat than he'd understood. While, logically speaking, Renner had quickly determined Belle, Phria nor Rumple could have been either girl's biological parent, they had been given the status of the Dark One's daughters meaning that, for all intents and purposes, Amicia and Valdis were princesses. Renner hadn't just been appointed a glorified babysitter, not when these girls would likely always be in danger from people like the church priests. Renner realized he'd actually been given a monumentally important task and, for both Aidan and his own conscience, Renner would devote himself to it.

~X~

While his new master and Captain Federlord had gone to deal with the final preparations for their departure to Ranga – which had surprised Renner because it was the first he'd heard about it – he, Belle and the children had headed into town with a shrunk Azzy and Demiurge on Renner's shoulder half concealed in his large hood. He felt uncomfortable among so many people, all of them able to see him, to judge him. He was there to guard the two little girls though, and, by extension, the Princess, so he'd made sure to shove away his urge to flee back into the shadows; especially once he'd learned it was Valdis' first time beyond the Arcane University's grounds. Her cloak was black embroidered with golden thread – a gift from her wonderful papa according to her – that hid her folded winds expertly. Yanhil may have been a tolerant kingdom with Bichelberger as its most diverse city, but Renner knew without a doubt that the locals' mood would instantly change towards her if they learned the girl's true nature. Humans never reacted well to those who were different.

Borobello Market filled almost the entirety of Bichelberger's shopping district and, with the way the mass of stalls folded back on themselves, open air areas suddenly found themselves squashed between tall buildings and pathways abruptly turned or came to a dead end, bazaar might have been a better term than market. The place was loud, crowded, smelt of everything from food and spices to leather and hay – a hellhole if one was to ask Renner. However, the outskirts had wider walkways and less dodgy vendors. Borobello Market and wells had something in common: the deeper one went, the darker it got and the harder escape would be. All that said, a relatively safe area was Borobello Market and Belle had come to know which spots to avoid, so the women looked around while Renner trailed along behind in a daze because he still couldn't quite believe Rumpelstiltskin – the fucking Dark One – had allowed him to live.

A chubby half-grasswalker bumped into Amicia then and Renner had already had his knives coated in dwarf's breath half out their sheaths before the two had apologized to one another and continued on their respective ways. Renner hadn't been this on edge since before Aidan had died. Aidan, his sweet, caring and beautiful Aidan was the reason Renner had gone along with Rumple's deal. The younger man had always had a dream that they'd escape the House of Red Coats' clutches and make an honest life for themselves and, while nobody could have seen the Dark One bit coming, being a bodyguard to two little girls did seem like an honest life. Aidan had always been a gentle soul not cut out for killing, frankly Princess Belle reminded Renner of his lost love; especially with those chestnut locks of hers.

"… all right, Renner?"

The pantherian with black ears and a tail so sleek it looked like a blade of shadows, snapped his head to the short princess. Her expression was one of genuine concern – 'like Aidan indeed'.

"I'm fine, my Lady."

"I doubt that highly." Yeah, a grumbled affirmation hadn't ever gone very far to convince Aidan either. "I know we don't know one another very well yet, and Rumple did dump a lot of responsibility on you out of nowhere, but you are one of us now, Renner. I hope we can be friends, and please know you can talk to me if you want to. Oh, and friends call me Belle."

Friends? A princess, the future primary wife of the True Demon Lord, wanted to be his friend? He was a nobody, just a brute with no real skills other than killing and wallowing in grief for the man he loved. Renner had been born in Whitrow's slums to a horrid father, he'd literally been born amongst sewage, crime and lowlifes then carted off to serve the assassins guild, yet there was a noble born lady offering him friendship. Demiurge snuggled into Renner's cheek then and he stretched up a finger to tickle him behind his ears. Aidan was the one who'd deserved this, not him.

"You're very kind … Lady Belle." Renner hadn't been able to bring himself to drop all formality, but it seemed to amuse Belle more than anything.

"I suppose that is a start."

Valdis came to a sudden stop then, it had been so abrupt that Renner had almost walked into the back of her. A finger tipped with a tiny black claw shot out to one vendor up a narrow set of steps to their left, her black eyes big.

"That! Can we eat that, Mama Belle?"

Belle nodded. It was a little passed lunch time and they weren't on any kind of schedule, if Rumple needed them he'd simply fetch them, and the girls did look rather eager for something tasty. They second they'd gotten confirmation, Amicia had grabbed her little sister's hand and started to tug her towards the stall while the two adults followed; one smiling sweetly, the other emotionally blank as always. Two minutes later they each had a bread dumpling roughly the size of Belle's fist, filled with chicken and a creamy sauce. Renner had simply stared at his when Amicia had offered it up to him with a cheery smile. All his life he'd had to steal and bargain for food, but there the Dark One's eldest daughter was just giving it away to him happily.

"Em, thanks."

Was a bodyguard allowed to eat with their charges? He'd had breakfast with them, actually sat at the table like he was part of the family, so standing in Borobello Market to eat a dumpling shouldn't have bubbled up so much uncertainty inside Renner, but Belle decided to save him.

"Eat while it's still hot, Renner."

So he did if for no other reason than he didn't know what else to do. The children hummed and giggled as they ate, each sat on the steps in front of him with Princess Belle at his side. He'd assassinated a noble a handful of years back, a viscount by the name of Johann Albright. Renner had watched him a few hours before he'd sunk the blade into the man's throat. As far as Renner had been able to tell, Viscount Albright had been an okay person – of course Renner hadn't known why his death had been commissioned, but he never knew that about anybody. In those few hours though, he'd seen Viscount Albright interact with his servants and the black man had treated them like just that, servants; wasn't rude but hadn't gone out of his way to be overly nice either. In Renner's mind the Viscount had been the kinder form of a noble, but Belle had blown that out of the water. She had no qualms walking around Borobello Market with commoners and former assassins like him. Belle saw people as people rather than ranks; Ladies Amicia and Valdis seemed inclined to think along similar lines so maybe, just maybe, there was hope for the world yet.

"Did you like it?" Amicia suddenly asked after she'd wiped her face on the back of her hand, an act which had Belle roll her eyes and offer a blue handkerchief.

Renner nodded. "Yeah. It was good, Lady Amicia."

Pleased with his answer, Amicia used the handkerchief to wipe the dumpling sauce from her sister's cheek – Amicia took her role as an older sister very seriously.

Once lunch had ended the four returned to their stroll through the marketplace with the two girls just ahead of them with Azzy while Renner and Belle walked mostly side by side. The hubbub proved itself almost overpowering in some places; Renner hated noise, but he managed to tune the majority of it out and focus on the women he had been trusted to guard. Although, none of that stopped kind-hearted Belle from trying to be friendly.

"Cassian isn't a pantherian name." She began out of the blue. "And I've never heard of pantherians hyphening their surnames either. Do you mind if I ask how you came about your name, Renner?"

He shrugged and absent-mindedly tickled Demiurge who seemed quite eager to glance around at the chaotic market as long as he didn't have to leave the hood. He supposed no part of him was really closed off to those he served now, but Belle had actually asked rather than demanded. 'Guess I can tell her. It's not exactly a secret.'

"Cassian was Aidan's name, Lorne is mine. We … wanted to be together so – so we just put them together."

Belle's steps faltered a second because she'd never heard anything quite so sweetly heartbreaking. A husband rather than just a lover. The Church of Drazva had strict rules against two people of the same sex marring, but demi-humans and elves had no such love bans. Renner hadn't been concerned about telling a fellow pantherian, half-elf and demon about Aidan back in Phria's office since none of them were humans but, out in the open, he'd turned shy. Belle had just assumed Aidan to have been another pantherian, but Cassian was a human name and she'd realized her short-sightedness.

"I'm sorry, Renner, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He shrugged again. "No problem, Lady Belle. You were just curious."

"It's a lovely name. Sometimes I wish I could have chosen mine."

Bless her for moving the conversation on without doing a total one-eighty and pretending the subject had never come up. Her comment had Renner pause though because what could possibly been wrong with an elegant name which meant beauty?

"You don't like yours?"

"Oh, no. I like my name just fine, it is the length which bothers me. For some strange reason royals all think our names should go on for an hour and a half. Belle Larissa Angelique Margaux Giselle Vivienne Rochefort du Marchand. Long, right?"

Long might have been something of an understatement, he saw why she preferred Belle. However, Belle always thought she'd gotten off lightly, Lorrimer's was longer than hers and so was their father's. There was something to be said for simplicity.

When wandering the market had finally grown boring for Valdis' first trip out, they'd all headed to Brass Book Lane not too far away, and a bookshop owned by a fairly pleasant demon named Donatello Sixpence; an older demon with little horns and a white goatee. A chatterbox mostly but, fortunately for Renner, Sixpence kept his focus on Belle during their visit. The bookshop was quiet at least, only a couple of people dotted through the whole place, all absorbed in their tomes. Sixpence's shop itself appeared to have been built out of an old tavern, so there were two floors all with bookshelves placed back to back to form a surprisingly well-lit network of walkways. There were even little reading areas by a few of the larger windows. Some sections of the shop had tables laden with range of stationery; notebooks, quills, ink and such.

Renner hadn't ever been big on reading – of course he could read, he'd just never felt a real need to outside of herbalism and toxicology, he was an assassin after all. Even if he had felt a need to read, he doubted anybody could rival Belle's thirst for books. While she and Mister Sixpence chatted about – whatever they chatted about, Renner hadn't really been listening – he and the girls headed up stairs to a small children's section for a rummage. Thankfully, the upper floor was more of a mezzanine than a true second floor, so he could perfectly keep an eye on the Princess and the girls. For twenty minutes nothing of note occurred; Belle continued her conversation with Mister Sixpence, the girls looked at books and Amicia would occasionally correct Valdis when she pronounced a word wrong, all while Renner watched over the three of them and tickled a sleepy Demiurge. Azzy looked worn out as well, the animals had decided it was time for a nap apparently.

"Renner?" He glanced down to see Valdis tugging on his green cloak. "Want that one."

A clawed finger pointed to one of the upper shelves where a book bound in red leather sat. Amicia had stretched up on her tip-toes but still couldn't reach it. The idea of flying up to it either hadn't occurred to Valdis or she'd thought better of it; almost certainly the former. Without hesitation he grabbed the book. Mysteries of Ja'carna the book was called, clearly a simplified version of the myth kids could understand. Renner just thanked his lucky stars that she'd not insisted on the black one beside it because that one had the title of Antosha's Merry Adventures, Rumple and Phria had given him a quick run down of what Valdis was so he'd be better prepared to guard her, and that was where he'd learned of who her biological mother and father were. Had she asked for that book, it would have been a blow-by-blow of her mother's murder – not that anybody seemed to be all that sure if Valdis was aware Rumple wasn't actually her father.

In the end they left with eight new books and a set of inks which Renner ended up caring because it felt weird and oddly wrong to allow a princess to haul all of that back to the Arcane University. 'A bodyguard not a servant' she'd told him but that hadn't gotten his brain to relent. They'd paused to pick up some candy then returned to the University to find everything had been prepared for their departure in their absence. Of course Renner hadn't been made privy to all the plans going on around him, he knew where they were going, when they'd leave and what his duty was, but the reason why they had to return to Dorovoth had been left out and Renner was fine with that. The Dark One wasn't a monster, not in the way the House of Red Coats or the Knightly Order were, so Renner doubted Rumple would suddenly take over the realm or slaughter millions for some sadistic pleasure. There was, however, a lingering feeling of urgency to everybody's mood which had Renner's hands itch for his knives.