Avoidance

Kezrin always arrived first. Not that Renzly was particularly ever late, it was just that she liked to arrive early and find a table. They usually met at the same tavern on Bilgerat Street; the notice board provided a convenient way for them to leave a message if they needed to meet. It was filled with multiple advertisements and strange notes from other people using it for the same purpose. Kezrin had learned the tavern had a reputation for turning a blind eye to any strange dealings that happened in its walls.

She wasn’t sure she qualified as the same definition of “strange” as most would assume, but the table piled with small stacks of books was definitely unusual. They were in multiple languages, mostly Thalassian, and bore such titles as Runic Inscriptions and The Theoretical Versus Practical Application of Wards and Barriers.

“Heya, Goldie,” Renzly greeted as she walked up.

“Hey, Ren. How ya doin’?”

“Hey, not bad. Ya don’t sound so much like a prissy girl.”

“I’m tryin’.”

“Found some stuff this time?”

“Yeah.” Kezrin waved to the closest pile. “Some stuff that seemed like it might be what ya wanted- but like I told ya, I’m not a mage. Myzzi was better at pickin’ up this stuff than I was.”

“Tell me ‘bout it.” Renzly picked up the top book and flipped it open to a page diagramming a simple spell circle. She frowned and tossed it back on the pile. “Just lookin’ at the page gives me a headache. But I got somethin’ that might help ya.”

She slid into a chair and unfolded several pieces of paper. They were covered in a small, neat script with several diagrams along the side, much more complicated than the plain circle from the book.

Avoidance

Derscha was busy being her usual CEO self... leaving everyone else to do the work while she stayed out of the office.  Still, she found time to leave a cracked, malfunctioning hearthstone and a letter for Brae on her desk.

The letter is sealed and addressed "For Miss Sunhawk's Eyes Only."

Brae,

I took the liberty of stopping by Miss Kanzelry's home to make sure she was not simply ill.   She did not answer her door, but fortunately I just happened to have Commander Stoneheardt accompanying me.

She was not home at the time, though her house seem undisturbed.  We found her hearthstone, however, so it will not be possible to trace her via that method.

I still hope that she is simply taking unapproved time off, but if you are searching for her, see if you can find out if there has been any recent activity from the Brasswright Cartel.   Miss Kanzelry has asked me to keep her association with the cartel off of her official records due to her estrangement with her family.

Please keep me updated with any news,

Derscha

Avoidance

The tavern was a small place at the end of a nearby street. A few heads turned their way when Renzly and Kezrin entered, but no one showed them any real interest. They sat at a table and Renzly ordered them some food before Kezrin could protest.

A small pain was growing in her temple, and she noticed her knees were shaking. Kezrin took a deep breath and willed herself to speak.

“I can’t pay for this.”

“I wouldn’t worry ’bout it.”

“I r-really should just go home,” Kezrin shook her head. “But thank you.”

“Nuh-uh.” A dagger appeared in Renzly’s hand, and she used it to wave Kezrin back into her seat. “Unless you really want to go home.”

She plopped back into the chair. “What do you mean by that?”

“Ya got a terrible poker face, we’ve got to work on that.” Renzly shook her head sorrowfully. “You’re lucky that there ain’t many folks from Brasswright in these parts, Goldwick.”

“I d-don’t…”

“See? Bad liar. You’re also lucky your family ain’t very keen on advertisin’ their daughter skippin’ out on her own weddin’. Prolly not too many people outside the cartel’s heard ‘bout the reward on your head.”

“I’m not going back,” Kezrin protested. “I-I can’t.”

“Gettin’ married that bad? Ain’t he rich?”

“He’s awful.” Kezrin fidgeted in her chair. “And I just know something bad is going to happen. I can feel it. Everytime he gets near, I feel like… like….”

She shrank in her chair, pulling her arms close. The trembling and the headache from earlier grew worse. “I’m not going back,” Kezrin repeated again, quietly.

Renzly shook her head, sheathing the dagger. “I got another idea, Goldie. Ya help me out, and I don’t tell your folks where you’re hidin’. We got a deal?”

“What?” she looked up in surprise. “You’d do that?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Renzly warned. “You’re more useful ta me here.”

“What can I do?”

She grinned slowly. “I know your type. Papa spent a bunch of moolah educatin’ ya, didn’t he? I need some research done, and I bet you’re just the one ta do it.”

“What sort of research?” Kezrin asked with some apprehension. “I barely have time to sleep.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that. If you’re workin’ for me, I’ll set ya up with somethin’. But first, we got a deal?” She offered her hand. “Or should I go send a letter to Pop?”

Slowly, Kezrin reached out and shook it. “Deal.”

Avoidance

Weddings.

She hated them.

Kezrin sat in the back corner of the tavern, picking idly at the plate of food and avoiding eye contact with anyone. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving Koudo to deal with picking up the invitations, but she couldn't deal with it. Not any more. She'd been unable to sleep after the last Lounge night.

Kezrin wasn't sure why she stopped at this particular tavern, but she wasn't up to thinking too hard about anything. No one bothered her when she came in aside from the waitress who took her order and that was enough.

Avoidance

It was hard finding work.

Kezrin didn't have any references, of course, but not many people were taking the time to check them, anyway. The real problem was the sheer number of goblins flooding the streets of Bilgewater Harbor; it was blessing and a curse. The mob of immigrants provided both anonymity and fierce competition for any job, no matter how menial.

She'd spent the past two weeks picking up day jobs here and there, mostly hard labor helping build the city. She had sore muscles that she hadn't even known existed, and blisters on her hands from where she'd yet to earn calluses.

She was on her way home from such a job (a day spent hauling wood off carts from Ashenvale) and it was already long past dark and the streets were poorly lit.

Avoidance

“Hiiii, Miss Kanzelry, you’re early- oh! You look horrible!” Cori sat up straighter in her chair as she got a good look at the white haired goblin trudging in the door.

“Didn’t sleep well,” Kezrin mumbled in reply. The dark circles under her eyes spoke the truth to the statement. “Vancina finish those letters yet?”

“They’re in the pick-up room.”

“Great. If anyone asks, I’m gonna be busy doin’ that all day. ’kay?” She shuddered. “Got somethin’ else I’d rather not do. Telirra knows.”

“Oh... sure!”

Ten minutes later, Kezrin left the building with an absent wave to Cori, carrying a satchel full of small packages meant for Ratchet and one of the flyer packets. Cori waved cheerfully back at her. The poor girl needed some cheering up.

Later that day, the packages were dropped off at Ratchet, along with a sealed note for Koudo before Kezrin hurried off.

That was the last time anyone from the AAMS saw her.

Avoidance (RP)

The night plagued her with nightmares worse than any she'd had in several months.

Lounge night had been a disaster, at least for Kezrin.  First the warlock Riesstiu had shown up, and then to make matters worse, so had Trenetir Moradinel.

He was still fussing over his wedding invitations.  The insidious elf was still also insisting that all his AAMS business be conducted by herself and Koudo, when he perfectly well knew that they were the two people in the company who hated him the most.  Koudo, for he had broken her heart, and Kezrin, for she was the one who knew that Moradinel was blackmailing the AAMS.

True, Kezrin didn't know exactly what papers Moradinel had gotten his hands on, except they'd come from Ironforge.  The bossgnome had gotten herself in trouble with the Ironforge Guard, to the point where they had even issued an arrest warrant for Derscha.   She'd not wanted to risk it, and so had agreed to do his first job for free.

And then the second, and the third, and... she really should have known better.