The Unintended Misfortune of Bathorry M. Ashecraft

"I'm looking for a fellow named Bathorry."

"It's Bath," replied the short girl gruffly. "And as I said, we're closed."

The man considered her, finally able to put a face to the enigmatic name. "Bath. Interesting."

Bath appeared bored; this was nothing new. "Yes, well, 'interesting' names are something of an heirloom in the Ashecraft family. My mother, may she rest in peace, was named River. Now if I might-"

He interjected, which didn't sit well with Bath. "Well, er. Miss Bath, I don't mean to intrude, but I've come on a matter of great urgency."

That got Bath to pause in her great endeavor to get the stranger back out the door. Urgent matters? She'd been raised with superstition and secrecy. She believed in fate. Bath's tense shoulders drooped slightly and she motioned for him to continue.

"You see, I've been told you are the key to saving the world as we know it."