The bodyguard entered the office without knocking. "Harod! We've got a problem!"

Harod looked at the newcomer with a puzzled expression. It was unusual for a bodyguard to burst in like this. "What happened?" he asked, rising from his chair.

"Guifols broke into Tharoden's inn while Ebony, Siss, and Dina were with clients."

Harod moved around the desk. "Were they hurt?"

"Siss is fine, but she didn't get paid. She says the client was killed."

At that moment, the two women arrived, looking quite dishevelled. Ebony's beautiful black skin was stained with blood, and she was trembling and sobbing. Siss looked slightly less distressed; she was trying to comfort and calm the loudly crying woman.

Harod watched, dumbfounded, as the red-haired courtesan seated the other woman.

"Did you at least pickpocket him?"

Siss took a moment to realise Harod was asking her. "For heaven's sake, I saved my life!" she snapped at the half-blood, then bent back towards the brown-skinned girl.

The bodyguard continued. "She says she saw the Guifols impaling the client right before her eyes. She wasn't hurt, but as you can see, she's in shock."

Harod nodded. "Siss, take Ebony and stay with her. Prepare a bath for her. Someone should always be with her, and if she falls back into this state, comfort her... you know what I mean."

Siss didn't argue and helped the sobbing woman out of the room.

"Thank heavens they weren't harmed!" Harod sighed, running his hand through his hair, but his motion suddenly halted. He shot a glance at the bodyguard. "And Dina?"

The man averted his eyes. "She... is missing."

"Missing?!"

The burly, black-clad man took a step back. "We couldn't find her anywhere. She wasn't among the dead, so she's still..."

"Among the dead? Are you out of your mind?! And what do you mean missing?! What do you mean you couldn't find her?! Damn it, that scoundrel must have kidnapped her! I knew it, I knew he was after her! That damned wizard, he must have colluded with the attackers and seized the opportunity to take the girl! May he rot in hell!" Harod glanced sideways, deep in thought. "But... wait a minute! We had an agreement with Dina! We agreed she wouldn't go anywhere in the morning with that cursed one! So who took her to him?!"

Silence fell. The bodyguard and the half-blood stared at each other.

"Are you sure the two of you agreed?"

"Am I hearing correctly that you're questioning me now?"

"Of course not, Harod. I'm just pointing out that the girl didn't..."

"Why, was I supposed to ask for her consent?!"

"Harod, I only said that I don't think she..."

"Don't talk back! How on earth did Dina end up at the inn?!"

More heavy silence and intense gazes.

"I took her there."

The half-blood let out a breath. He shook his head and paced around... then he exclaimed. "You foolish simpleton!"

The bodyguard said nothing, his facial muscles tightening.

"I'm surrounded by idiots! Even you now?! How could you be so stupid?! Didn't I tell you..."

The other interrupted. "Before this, when any of the girls said they needed to go to a client, we didn't need to ask for permission from you!"

"What? Are you talking back now?"

"Someone needs to tell you the truth! Everyone is suffering because of you, the girls too, and us! You're not the same since Dina arrived, you're behaving irrationally, you're being influenced by your emotions, and you don't even notice it!"

Harod's arm swung, his fist connecting with the bodyguard's face, who barely turned his head from the blow. The half-blood, however, grimaced, clutching his aching knuckles.

"You're all useless!" Harod spat, glaring at him. "You too and the whole lot of you! I'll handle the matter myself! Get out of my office! I don't need you!"

The half-blood slammed the door behind him, the handle clicking loudly.

The bodyguard watched him with furrowed brows.