"What the fuck is going on?" he demanded.
"I stole nothing of his," Jenn replied with forced calmness.
"Everything in the immortal realm is ours," the Other spat.
"I don't think you're here for that reason. I'm more interested in what an Other wants from a lowly Guardian. Why did you pick this one to torment?" Darian asked, studying the Other.
"Ask her."
"Jenn? How'd you piss off these slimy creatures?"
"I did nothing to them, ikir," she said, ducking her head in typical sign of respect. From any other Guardian, he might've believed that's why she hid her gaze.
"She did nothing to you, and you're insisting on taking her to the immortal world forever," Darian mused. "You, Other, get the fuck out. If she stole something from you, I'll return it. I can find you anywhere you are."
"If it's not returned before one day has completed, her life is ours."
"Fine. Go." To his astonishment, the Other went. "I didn't think that'd work. Now, Jenn."
"Ikir, it doesn't belong to them," she said firmly. "There's no reason for them to pursue this except to-never mind." She kept her eyes on the floor.
"What did you take?" he asked, curious. He approached her again, stopping only when she grew tenser.
"Nothing of any possible value to them, ikir." Her voice was tight.
"I'm not asking as the Grey God, Jenn," Darian said. "They're demanding your life in exchange for it. Whatever it is, it's not worth that."
"It might be to me."
"It isn't to me," he said firmly.
She hesitated then reached into her shirt and pulled free the necklace marking her House in the immortal world. She pulled it off and handed it to him. Darian studied it. There could be nothing the Others wanted with the necklace. Jenn was from a servant's house, so lowborn she was barely off the streets. Carrying a reminder of a station so far below her current one seemed odd for the pragmatic warrior. It had to hold some great significance to her.
"You said there was a reason for them to pursue this?" he asked.
"It has no value to anyone but me."
"That's not what you said, though. They're after you for some reason. You know why."
"There's one way to solve this. Turn me over to them," she said, looking up at last. There was challenge and defiance in her gaze. "You know I'll go down fighting."