I’d managed to get between Ti and Wulfe before a true fight could break out, and Kraken had done exactly the same. The two of us stood side to side, Kraken staring at Wulfe and I staring at Ti. The confused look I had seen on her face told me that she was entirely unaware of the connection between Wulfe and I.

Ti tore himself away from me and glared at Wulfe. ‘Over here, NOW.’ Wulfe’s head was hanging low, and he followed Ti into the next room without a word.

Kraken stared at them, and then back at me. She waited till they were out of earshot, and said ‘Cal, what the heck?’

I sighed. ‘Did you tell Wulfe who he was coming to meet today?’

She shook her head. ‘I love seeing people get blindsided by your charisma, so I just told him that he was coming to meet my two good friends who I adventure with. What’s going on??’

I sat down and Kraken followed suit. ‘One more question and then I swear I’ll answer yours.’ Kraken nodded, so I continued. ‘How well do you know him?’

I trusted Kraken, and she had told us that she wanted to bring along someone she’d gotten close to. The Kraken I knew and the Wulfe I knew were not compatible, so for them to be close, meant that one or the other of them had either changed, or hidden who they were.

Kraken thought for a minute. ‘I met him about 6 weeks ago, down in the dungeons. He was alone in the deepest levels of the dungeon, and when I came across him, he was trying to befriend a rat of all things.’ A smile crossed her face at the memory. ‘Since then, I’ve come to trust him. I had to learn that he was a Prince from someone else, and when I asked him about it, he said that it’s something he’s trying to get away from, that he wants it to be the least important thing about him. I don’t know what your experience with him is, but the Wulfe I’ve come to know is kind and strong, clever and sweet – I’ve seen him work alongside someone that he considers an enemy just to help me, and I’ve watched him go hungry so that Fig will have enough for dinner.’

I tilted my head questioningly at the mention of this Fig. Kraken laughed. ‘Fig is his pet rat, the one he befriended the night we met. Look, Wulfe can be awkward and dumb as all heck in social situations, but I would -and have- bet my life that he is a good man.’

She stopped, and looked at me expectantly. I stood, and she did too. We began to walk over to the room where Ti had taken Wulfe, and as we did I explained. ‘Kraken, Wulfe is my brother.’ Turning my head to look in her shocked eyes, I gave a grim chuckle. ‘The Wulfe I know doesn’t match up with the one you’ve told me about, but.. maybe it’s time to give him a chance. That is, if Ti hasn’t killed him.’

We strode into the room, and were confronted with an odd scene. Ti had clearly just been yelling at Wulfe, and Wulfe’s eye’s were firmly fixed on the floor, but there was a white rat on top of his head that was seemingly shouting right back at Ti, judging by the volume and tone of his squeaks. A mirror stood next to them, although neither of them had seemed to notice it. I looked into it, and saw that it wasn’t reflecting the room as it was – it showed Ti pressed right up against me, the biggest smile on my face, and it showed Wulfe standing next to Kraken, but leaning forwards to give me an embrace. Oh. I knew this mirror. It showed you who you most wanted to be. A single tear rolled down my face as I stepped forwards.

‘My turn to speak now.’