Avoidance

When Kezrin finally made it back to her apartment, Renzly was waiting inside. Furious.

“Where have ya been?” she demanded. She was sitting on top of Kezrin’s work desk, a small metal box at her side.

Kezrin froze in surprise. “How’d ya get in here?”

Renzly glared back at the stupid question.


“Oh… Ratchet. Pickin’ up my letter from Myzzi?” she reminded.

“Ya usually ain’t gone that long.”

“Somethin’ came up,” Kezrin shrugged. “Made a bit of money workin’ at a translator at a party, so I stayed an extra day. What, were ya worried?”

“Ya know I don’t really like ya gettin’ those letters,” Renzly grumbled. "And you? At a party?"

Kezrin flushed. "It's sorta lonely, hidin' out here all the time, ya know."

She grunted. “And ya don’t need money. I’m payin’ for ya to work for me, ain’t I?”

“Yeah, but it would be nice have some extra… Winter Veil’s comin’ up, soon, ya know.”

“Yeah, so? Ain’t like we got people we’re keen on givin’ gifts to.”

Kezrin shook her head at Renzly with a sigh. “Forget it. And I’m gonna need the extra money for Myzzi, too.” She pulled the letter from her pocket. “She can’t stay in Brasswright anymore.”

“Why’s that?”

“Goldwick Candles still ain’t doin’ well. Pop was gonna save the company by marryin’ me ta Nozzel Waxworth, but since I ain’t there, guess he decided Myzzi’s old ‘nuff to sell off instead.” She handed the letter to Renzly.

“So, same plan, different daughter? She can’t come here, Goldie. Gonna be hard to hide both of ya if she runs away, too.”

“I know. But I can’t do nothin’, can I? She’s my sister.”

Renzly tensed at a passage of the letter. “Who’s ‘Cane guy’ ?”

“Cane guy? Dunno, really. That’s mine and her nickname for some creepy dude that sometimes hangs out with Nostril Face.”

“Ya don’t know anything ‘bout him?” Renzly asked carefully.

“No, not really. Can’t say I ever saw him much…” Kezrin trailed off, searching through some vague memories. “He was… sorta older? With a cane? Can’t really remember much.”

She sat down in a chair, rubbing at her temples with a grimace. “Jus’ thinkin’ ‘bout the whole mess gives me headaches, I tell ya.”

Renzly sighed and shook her head. “Sorta like me an’ tryin’ ta figure out magic junk, huh? Speaking’ of-” She tapped the metal box at her side. “I got somethin’ I need ya ta keep for me.”

“A box?”

Renzly picked up the small box. Kezrin recognized several of the runes etched into its surface, but there seemed to be nothing else extraordinary about it.

“Yeah. Sorta the result of all the work ya’ve been doin’. I can’t keep it on me, but I figured it ought ta be safe here.”

“What’s inside?”

“Nothin’ ya need ta worry ‘bout.”

“Reeeeenzly.”

“Fine. It’s…. stuff from my ma. And I’d rather it not be handled by someone I don’t know.”

“I thought you weren’t talkin’ to your mother?”

“Yeah, well, and yer dead. So? Jus’.... keep it safe for me, ‘kay?” There was a slight pause. “And... we’ll figure somethin’ out for your sister.”

“Right. I promise.”

“Thanks, Goldie.”