𝕾𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖉𝖘 - 𝙺𝚊𝚣 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚔𝚔𝚎𝚛

III

Mira goes back to the bar to tell Ran what's going on.

"I'll be gone for a bit, guns are under my bed and there's money in the pillow."

"I survived without before. I can do it again." Ran huffs as she sweeps the floor. Making sure everything is pristine even though I did everything last night. "And I'll continue to do it after you die."

Ran was a pleasure to talk to, if you couldn't tell.

"I know you can, but please tell me you know what I'm saying and won't hesitate to use any of my things." Mira ducks to make sure she's looking at Ran as she says this. "Please."

She huffs and waves a hand. "I understand. But I need you to hear me when I say this." She pins Mira with one look. "This man is dangerous. He's smart and he has power. He has influence. And from what whispers I hear, he has had more than a passing acquaintance with death."

"So do-"

A whack from the broom. "I'm not finished."

Mira rubs her arm but remains silent.

"As I said, he is dangerous. And with danger and power comes a lust. Be sure that lust is not for you." It comes out with the wisdom of someone who wished they weren't speaking for experience.

She lifts a brow. Brekker did not strike her as the relationship type. Unless that relationship was with money.

Another whack. "This is me telling you to be careful! Got it?" Ran stares down Mira, who has no choice but to look away.

"Yes ma'am."

~̴~̴~̴~̴~̴~̴~̴

Mira packed her bag, just the bare essentials. She has a feeling the Dregs will supply her with the specific needs. If they don't she can always back out.

She looks at the few articles of clothing for the voyage there and back. She counts them and does some quick estimates. Hoping it's enough, she stows them away along with a few spare, plain knives.

She looks down at her rowan and koa blades. Their etchings and patterns are beautiful and they were gifts from her father. She debates leaving them behind. The image of blood across them oozes into her mind like a fog. She'd rather die with them beside her than die in a foreign land without any reminders of her home. She keeps them strapped to her. She puts more crossbow bolts into the bag touching each one to make sure it still has its tip and isn't fractured.

Everything packed, she walks down to Ran, passing the two groggy customers who were nursing watered-down ale.

She embraces Ran, who pats her twice on the back. "Come home safe."

"Of course." Mira smiles, and kisses Ran's forehead before pressing her own head to Ran's. "I promise."

Ran pushes her away. "Don't go all soft on me now. Go on. Shoo." She waves Mira off through the door.

Mira laughs, "Love you!"

Ran mumbles under her breath and slams the door behind her.

As she walks through the noon crowd, Mira's smile drops. She may not come home.

Suddenly, the smells that seemed so good a moment ago assail her nose. The press of people is now too uncomfortable to bear. She pushes her way to an alley and jumps, lifting herself onto the roof. Not nearly as inconspicuous but most people don't look up when they're worried about getting their pockets picked. She slowly drags air through her nose and releases it through her mouth.