City of Curses: Sea Witch 2

Part One | Part Three | Part Four
This is the second part of a short story about a Sea Witch in Crux, Arsania, a Cecaelia a bit more open than others of her kind.  After refusing a job, someone leaves a ring in her possession that just brings her more and more trouble than she really wants...

Oddfellow glared down at the ring.  "A dark thing.  Who would dare leave such a thing here for you?"

I shrugged.  "Teorgio.  Twins-damn it, Teorgio."

"What?"  Oddfellow gave me a quizzical look.

I explained my earlier encounter with Teorgio to the Android paladin.  Oddfellow huffed.  He looked disgusted.

"And what, he thinks that'll make you change your mind then?"

I smiled at the thought of the Android's attitude.  Oddfellow always thought in such melodramatic terms.  "Or its something he couldn't say anything about aloud, Oddfellow.  Something dangerous?"

Oddfellow blinked at that.  "Dangerous?"

*****

Oddfellow insisted going with me into the market later, although I thought he was being a bit cute.  I hid the ring back at my shop.  I wasn't sure what to do with it.

"I could sell it to one of the Archwitch's people, I suppose."

Oddfellow shrugged as he escorted me through the Grand Bazaar.  "Would that be wise?  Giving them such a powerful potential ally?"

I sighed.  "That isn't really my problem, is it?"

Oddfellow blinked for a moment.  "Perhaps.  But I have a duty to try and contain such a thing, I think."

"Perhaps you do, Oddfellow.  But didn't sign up for that sort of thing.  Maybe you can take care of it for me then."

Oddfellow nodded.  "I can check in with some folks I know who might have means to contain it.  But I don't want you to be left alone, not if the Demon's Orphans are going to be interested in you."

"Oddfellow, they don't anything about this."  I shook my head.  Again, with the melodrama.  He meant well, I knew that much.  But I didn't need someone to look after me.  "I can take care of myself, Oddfellow.  They know nothing of that ring."

Oddfellow nodded.  "I'll be back as soon as I can for that ring, Arsania."

With that, I was alone.  Part of me regretted that.

"He's a android."  I told myself.  "I drive him away for his own good.  I can't afford..."

I let the thought drift away.  I had errands to run.  I found out later that had been my first big mistake that night.