Avoidance

It was the sharp thunk of a metal-tipped cane hitting the floorboards of her room that woke Renzly from a restless sleep. She automatically reached for her dagger, but her muscles screamed in protest and didn’t budge. She was kept immobile in her bed, save for her ability to tilt her head upward to see her visitor. The morning light barely creeping through the slits in her window provided dim illumination.

Zenik Silvertip stood a few feet away, resting his hands in a tight grip around the top of his black and silver cane, an expression of cold fury pouring at her. Tarnik, the imp who usually served as his messenger, fidgeted behind him. Whatever had brought the warlock here today was apparently important enough to come in person.

“Good morning, daughter. Sleep well?” His eyes roamed around the sparse, but comfortable room. “You’ve done well with the allowance I give you, I see.”

“Whaddaya want?”

“Impertinent girl. I’m here because you’ve lied to me for the last time.” He leaned in close to her. “I know you let the Goldwick girl live.”

Her eyes widen; the magical bonds holding her in place inflicted sharp pain to keep her still.

He waves his cane in the air. “I specifically ordered you to kill her, girl!” his voice slowly grew in anger. The cane slammed into the floor with another sharp thwack. Zenik sighed, closing his eyes and holding a few fingers to his temple with a wince. “And now, look at what you’ve done.”

Renzly frowned in confusion; she had absolutely no idea what could have happened, but it was rare that her father was livid enough to come rebuke her in person. Somehow, though, something had happened to draw his attention to Goldie again after so much time had passed without comment. She hadn’t seen Kezrin in months.

“You and your mother… both of you… disappointments,” he continued his tirade. “Why have I been wasting my moolah on such incompetents? Do you hear me? I’m cutting off my funds to you. If you can’t do a simple job right, you’re useless. Completely useless. Let’s see how long you like living without my money. You can be a petty thief if you want to eat.”

He smiled maliciously at her. “And if you ever think about betraying me again, just remember this little gift.”

He snapped his fingers, a tiny ball of fel flame appearing in the air. It drifted toward her and landed on the exposed skin of her hand, burning her skin. The pain shot through her arm, spreading to her chest and the rest of her body until she felt as though her blood were boiling on the inside.

She screamed and tried to writhe in agony, the pain of the magical bonds inconsequential to her father’s “gift.” Ages passed before she was blessed with the oblivion of unconsciousness.

When she awoke, her father and Tarnik were gone. There was no sign of their presence, save her aching body and the burn mark on the back of her hand.

But… Goldie. He knew she was alive. Renzly forced herself to out of bed and stand on her shaking legs. She would recover.

It was a bit of a trip to travel all the way to Caer Darrow, the last place she’d known Kezrin was living with her sister. It was made more difficult by the discovery that her accounts with her bank had somehow been emptied and closed without her permission, but she had enough coin on hand to pay for the boat passage. She watched the comings and goings of the AAMS office, but saw no sign of either white haired goblin.

A little bit of discreet questioning informed her that something odd had happened to the Kanzelry sisters and that they were on medical leave in Hearthglen.

Hearthglen! Renzly inwardly groaned. That was not a place to idly skulk about in. Nor could she openly visit, if Myzzi were with her. And a medical leave? Had Goldie been hurt? Had her father gotten to them? She had to content herself with leaving a note for Kezrin. She didn’t sign it on the off chance Myzzi saw it, counting on Kezrin to understand whom it was from.

She never received any answer.

It was a few weeks later when she saw the flash of a white uniform in Undercity and recognized Goldie with a jolt. Renzly waited until after she’d finished her delivery to some shop and stood outside to intercept her in the street.

“Hey,” she called out as Goldie walked by.

Kezrin’s steps slowed to a halt and she gave Renzly a puzzled, wary look. “‘Scuse me, I’m runnin’ late. Unless ya need somethin’ delivered?”

“No…” Renzly flinched at her impersonal tone.

“Right, gotta go, then. Sorry!” She hurried off without a second glance.

Renzly stared after her in shock. She’d been snubbed.

If that was how Goldie wanted to treat her, then fine. They had a deal to avoid each other.

It wasn’t as if she had ever cared for her, anyway...