A minute passed with no response. Piv seemed unperturbed though, as he stood confidently facing the door while it did no more than stare back at him. He certainly could not be called impatient, unlike Maya, who would have at least knocked again, just to make sure. Two minutes is a long time just stood there waiting. Finally, sense clambered its way into Piv’s mind and he tentatively raised his hand to knock again. As it reached its peak, and just before he struck, the door swung open.
The woman revealed within, was tall, wide, and half asleep. Still holding the door with her left hand, her right hand lifted to rub her eyes. She squinted into the evening light, first looking straight over Piv’s head, then sharply down at him. A fleeting confusion filled her face before a huge, warm grin spread across it.
“What sort of time do you call this Furball?”
Piv stepped back and craned his neck to take in the enormous woman. “Time for a cup of tea I hope? I have a friend with me, I am afraid we need your help.”
The woman’s expression switched back to confusion as she glanced up and down the street. “Sounds serious enough fluff face, I suppose you’d better come in, and your friend.” She nodded at Maya, who was still peering round the corner at the pair. Piv turned and waved her over.
As Maya approached, the woman disappeared inside and Piv stepped up to hold the door open. “You can relax now, we’ll be OK in here.” Piv motioned for Maya to step past into the house. The entrance hallway was narrow and cluttered. Coats hung from hooks just inside the door, and boots sat on the floor under them. Maya tiptoed through trying not to step on the various other items strewn about the floor. As she ventured further in, a warm musty aroma greeted her. It wasn’t nice, as such, but it was a friendly smell. A sort of smokey, slightly burnt orange. That too described well the colours that flitted around the walls as firelight bounced through from deeper within this surprisingly homely abode.
The woman’s voice boomed from ahead. “Are you two coming in or what? And Whiskers, make sure to lock the door behind you.” Maya screwed her face up and looked at Piv, who definitely did not have whiskers. He just smiled and shrugged, then waved Maya on before turning back to the door. Maya stepped through nervously into a small room with two large red armchairs facing the fireplace. The roaring fire pumped more heat than could ever be necessary into the room. The woman appeared from an arch way in the opposite wall with a kettle and three mugs in her hands. “So you’re the friend? I’m Spanner, nice to meet you I hope?”
“I’m Maya, nice to meet you too- wait, hope?”
Spanner raised her eyebrows, “When Scruffbutt turns up at my door in the middle of the night, after over a year, with a random stranger in tow? Yes, I hope it’s nice to meet you.” Her dark eyes pierced Maya’s very soul.
Piv appeared from the hall. “Leave her alone Valar, she’s fine.” The woman’s demeanour shifted and a spring entered her step. She moved to the fireplace and hung the kettle up to boil, placing the mugs on the hearth. “Well then, to what do I owe the pleasure, and I’ve told you before, it’s Spanner.” She offered Maya an armchair and took the other for herself. Maya hesitated, but Piv nodded, and took up a place on a cushion on the floor. Maya slowly lifted her bag from her back and sat, placing it between her feet. Spanner slouched back in the chair and crossed her legs.
“I take it you’re not here to accept that job offer? Although we’d probably need to renegotiate terms, times being what they are and all.”
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Piv shifted on the cushion to get comfortable, shaking his head. “No, unfortunately not, although I would be happy to help out in order to offset the favour I am about to ask.”
“A favour, and here I was thinking maybe you just missed me.”
Piv went on to explain their predicament. He had just about gotten to the part where he and Maya hazeported after being ambushed at the abandoned house, when the kettle started to whistle. Spanner groaned as she lifted herself from the armchair, and knelt at the hearth. She tapped at the handle of the kettle, and then without glove or towel, lifted it from the hook and began to pour into each of the three mugs.
Piv continued the tale, including their near miss with the Horl. The way he mentioned them indicated much more risk than he had let slip at the time, with Spanner’s reaction confirming the notion. All in all, Piv gave a comprehensive rundown of their time together, which made it all the more odd that he skipped over the very recent encounter with a few drunkards. Feeling no need to correct him, Maya accepted the mug offered by Spanner, and cradled it in both hands. The floral aromas indicated one of those weird teas that Grandma used to drink.
Piv finished the tale, then took a sip. “I was thinking the best way to get Maya home, would be to help her become proficient in hazemaking, but for that, we would need to access the library.” Spanner scoffed, spraying no small amount of tea into the fire. “Look, Fluff, I can put you up for a bit, but there ain’t no way you’re getting into the library. The Outer Ring has been locked down for months. Only hierarchs are getting in and out. I’ve lost work cos of it. I don’t know what’s going on at the Manor, but this place ain’t what it was. There’s even been reports of Fylguard roaming Doreton, in uniform! City guard are all uptight too. They’ll tell ya nothings wrong, but their faces say different.”
Piv slumped into his cushion. “It did seem odd as we came through, but I just figured it was late, and it’s been a while.”
“Too long!” Spanner downed the rest of her cup, which at this point must have still been far too hot to drink, then climbed once again from the chair. “I’ll get the spare bed made up. I’m too tired for this right now, and I’ve got a job in Moen early, so we’ll get you two settled in then deal with this tomorrow.” She turned back to Piv, I take it you’ll be out here?” He nodded and patted the cushion on which he sat. Spanner turned to Maya, “Come on then, I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.” Spanner twisted on her heels and stepped out into the hall. Maya hesitated, then placed down her mug, picked up her bag, and followed. She was led up a small crooked staircase, barely wide enough for herself, let alone her host. The landing creaked with every step, but if anything the noise inspired a sense of comfort. The whole house was like that. By all rights it was cluttered, cramped, grubby, and old, but almost in spite of that, it was a kind place. Maya’s shoulders relaxed as she squeezed through the doorway following Spanner.
Inside the small room was little more than a bed, with a large chest at the end of it, and small table to its side. Spanner pulled a multitude of blankets from the chest and lay them on the bed. She motioned vaguely at the room. “I’ve got running water in the kitchen and the bathroom, downstairs, feel free. I’ll be gone in the morning probably before you wake, help yourself to the pantry. Then when I get back, we can work out what to do with you.” Maya rushed to splutter a “Thank you,” as Spanner turned tail and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her. Still somewhat overwhelmed by the situation, Maya sat on the bed. After a few seconds contemplation, she unlaced her boots, took them off, and slid them under the bed. At first, Maya moved to place her backpack in the chest, but hesitated. Instead, she placed it under the table, next to the bed, in the farthest corner from the door.
Maya lay on the bed, and breathed deeply. Her weary legs throbbed as her mind whirled through the events of the day. From the wide open views of the Gouge, to the cramped room she now lay in, Maya retraced her steps. Mostly, she played over the moment she confronted Piv’s harassers. The thrill of standing up to them, without fear of the consequences. As the minutes passed, Maya closed her eyes. Sounds of creaking floorboards and muffled conversations downstairs faded, and Maya drifted to sleep.