Home > The Nowhere Witch(7)

The Nowhere Witch(7)
Author: Donna Augustine

“How about a smokin’ mordi?” Zark asked me.

“It’s like a hot toddy in Rest,” Oscar said.

“That would be wonderful,” I replied.

“And a couple of those buttered buns you always have stashed in back.”

Buttered buns? This was definitely better than being curled up in the corner of Zab’s couch.

“How many places did you try to get hired at today?” Oscar asked.

“All of them. Every place I could find,” I answered, and didn’t even mind. My attention was on the plate of buns heading our way. They looked like some sort of cinnamon bun, dripping in butter.

The steaming drink Zark placed next to it smelled like heaven and tasted even better. I’d had a hot toddy before, but this tasted more like melted caramel.

I was halfway through a bun when Oscar turned to Zark and asked, “Hey, weren’t you looking for some help around here?”

I sipped on the smokin’ mordi, trying to get that last bite down while I nudged Oscar with my boot under the bar. Zark wasn’t going to hire me, and I was hoping to have a relaxing drink without a side of humiliation.

“I’m always hiring on and off, but not right now,” he said, his eyes darting in my direction and then back to Oscar, sending a signal that could’ve been shot off by a flare gun.

Yep. As expected. Too bad the reason wasn’t as apparent. Was it because I was from Rest? Did they think I was incapable of doing hard work? Or did they think all Resters were stupid? If I just knew the reason…

“But word was you are looking for some help,” Oscar said, as if I hadn’t kicked him.

I kicked him again, harder this time.

“I haven’t seen any new help,” Oscar said.

Did Oscar have feeling in his shins?

“Oscar, let it go. He knows who I am and he doesn’t want me.” I stared at the half-eaten bun. It didn’t taste anywhere near as good as I’d thought a few moments ago. Actually, he’d clearly over-buttered it, which I hadn’t thought possible. I’d take the rest back to Zab’s. Maybe they had a to-go cup for the smokin’ mordi? There was a good chance both would taste better again once I got the hell out of here.

“Everyone knows who you are,” Zark said to me before turning back to Oscar. “I just can’t do it.”

I gave a short nod. I really should’ve followed my gut and gone back to Zab’s. Although I wasn’t completely empty-handed. I took the bun and put it on a napkin to wrap up for later. I’d have to leave the smokin’ mordi behind.

“I think you can,” Oscar said, with a serious tone that was at complete odds with his earlier playfulness.

“Oscar, he doesn’t want to hire me. Leave it be. If he doesn’t want me, I don’t want the job.” And I didn’t want to eat here either. But I’d eat his bun somewhere else. I put it in my pocket as I got up from the stool.

Zark was shaking his head and holding up his hand. “Now hang on a second. It’s not that I don’t want to hire you. You did us a solid over in the Unsettled Lands with the wall. It’s just—”

“I’ll take the heat for it,” Oscar said.

Why would there be any heat with hiring me? I sat back down, watching the expressions warring on Zark’s face as he and Oscar were about to square off. Zark might’ve wanted to hire me. I was afraid to say anything that would stop this from unfolding. What was going on here?

“It’s on you? You’re vouching?” Zark asked Oscar.

“Yes. That’s what I just said.” Oscar stared squarely back at him.

Zark turned back to me. “Then you’ve got yourself a job. Be here tomorrow afternoon.”

“Are you saying you’ll hire me?” I asked, not believing what I was hearing.

“I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m saying. If Oscar here is willing to shoulder the heat, I’d be happy to. We owe you a debt.”

“Shoulder the heat for what? Why is there any heat involved with hiring me?” He’d just said it wasn’t the wall, so what was the issue?

“Hawk is trying to run you out of Xest,” Zark said.

“You mean no one will hire me because of Hawk?” My blood was simmering at the mere possibility.

“Of course that’s what I mean. Even the people who don’t like him don’t want to cross him.” Zark was frowning at me, as if he doubted my intelligence for asking such a question.

I jerked back as if I’d been punched. It sure felt that way right now. “Is Hawk telling people not to hire me?”

Zark waved his hand in the air, shaking his head. “It doesn’t work like that here. Everyone knows he wants you out. Doesn’t need to be said.”

I turned to Oscar. He didn’t confirm, but the shrug was enough to imply that it was his take too. Then there had been Musso earlier, trying to tell me to “stand my ground.” He’d suspected I’d have a problem as well.

All the elation and excitement of getting a job two seconds ago deflated, like my celebration balloons had a run-in with a sticker bush. Had Hawk really done that? Did he want me gone so bad that he’d bar me from making a living? Being able to put a roof over my head and eat? Trying to have an honest go at a life in Xest?

How was it possible to like someone, feel such loyalty to them, and then hate them so very much?

Zark took another glance at me and then suddenly had some other things to handle in the back.

“Hey, at least you still have a shit-ton of magic,” Oscar said, smiling and pointing to my drink. My smokin’ mordi, which had been losing its steam before, was boiling over the glass. Shit.

I took the napkins and tried to stem the eruption.

“Am I doing that?”

“Just take a couple deep breaths and hold them. It won’t stop until you calm down.”

I did as he said, and as he’d predicted, the drink stopped bubbling.

“That’s never happened before,” I said as I tried to sop up the mess around the glass.

“It’s normal. Usually happens at a younger age, but considering your history…” I must’ve looked stumped, because he continued. “Your magical muscles are growing, and you still don’t really have any practice controlling them.”

“At least it’s hot again,” I said, then took a sip as I eyed up Oscar.

The first time I met him was when he’d brought the magic tester gem to Hawk, and his arrogance and glib remarks had runneth over. Turned out he was a pretty nice guy. Maybe nicer than I even realized.

“You didn’t just run into me on the street today, did you? You came to find me. You knew what Hawk was up to.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I still don’t know if this was his plan or a happy happenstance for him, but I suspected you’d have an issue.”

“Your friend is a jerk.”

“Like I said, he can be.” Oscar spread his hands in a what can you do gesture.

“Thanks, Oscar. You really helped me out.” It sucked that hugs weren’t acceptable in Xest.

He shook his head. “Don’t go laying that halo on my head anytime soon. I have my own reasons.”

“What would your reasons be to get me a job?” My desire to hug him was diminishing.

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