the fourth note

Tabitha was a broom groom. Typically, the HC only hired boys for this job, but her brother--who was admittedly very bad at the job--had experienced some sort of accident with one of the newer broomsticks and was off on worker's comp indefinitely. As soon as it happened Tabitha marched up to Mr. Finnegan's office, with her brother's blessing of course, and demanded the job. Mr. Finnegan said it was hers until her brother could return to work.

That was five months ago.

Tabitha liked the job alright, not just because she was good at it, but because everyone else she worked with was so bad at it that she felt obligated to stay. Most of the work was pretty mundane. Get up early, exercise the broomsticks, clean their stables, brush their bristles, etcetera etcetera.

This morning was different. They found out someone from the city of Nignip needed a rental. He claimed to be with the HC, and all the other grooms ran over themselves to find him the best broomstick they could muster.

But Tabitha wasn't so sure. The strange man's business card seemed incredibly fishy ("Francis, it LITERALLY says 'not a real business card!'"), and his stated reason for travel was just, "Off to catch some runaway boggins!" Not to mention he shuddered every time he walked past one of the broomsticks and couldn't answer a single legal question about their intended uses. All he knew was that he wanted fast.

She hated it when boys or men pretended to know what they were talking about, especially when it was painfully obvious that they didn't.

So she pulled him aside and pointed at the broomstick that hadn't even had its end sanded down yet, the same one that had freed her brother and given her this job.

"If you want our fastest, sir, that's your best bet. But I have to warn you, he's very wild."

He laughed one of those fake, too-loud, hollow laughs. "I've never had a problem riding one before. I'll take it!"

Tabitha resisted raising her eyebrow and kept her customer service voice still and steady. "Are you sure, sir? We have many other-"

"No no no. I'm quite sure it'll be fine. Take this for your trouble."

He handed her a couple coins, one which had a crude etching of his face on it.

Before she even had a chance to ask if it was real money, the man had hopped on the branch and was already spiraling away.

The other grooms looked at her with the widest eyes, but she shrugged. She was sure he'd be just fine.