Arwin went to move the bundle behind his back. It was a childish strategy, but it was the best idea he could come up with. The second best one would have been pelting it through the window and pretending he had no idea what Esmerelda was talking about.
He got time to do neither.
With impossible speed, the old lady grabbed the bundle from him. Her hands flew as she unfolded the oilcloth. Esmerelda’s eyes widened. Her lips parted and her arms lowered, her gaze lifting from the sword bundled within the cloth to meet Arwin’s gaze. Her lips worked as she tried and failed to form a word for several seconds.
“…you?” Esmerelda asked, swallowing heavily. “You made this?”
“Don’t steal things from people,” Arwin said firmly, plucking the bundle from Esmerelda’s hands and re-wrapping it. He paused and frowned. “Wait. I thought you sold magic items. What’s this about Cursed—”
“Never mind that,” Esmerelda snapped. She thrust a finger in Arwin’s direction. “You. This. You made this?”
“And you are not to breathe a word about it,” Arwin said. Esmerelda wasn’t a member of the Menagerie. He had absolutely no idea how she’d moved so quickly, but he wasn’t going to take any risks no matter how much the old woman needed some people to speak to. “If you do, we’re going to have a problem. A big problem.”
“Tell? Why would I tell anyone about this?” Esmerelda exclaimed, aghast. “I’m not trying to eat into my own business here!”
“So you do sell Cursed items.”
Lillia blinked in surprise. “It’s for me?”
“Do you see anyone else here right now?” Arwin asked with a chuckle. He held the cloth out to Lillia. “It’s a test of my new abilities. Just… don’t let anybody else see it. That might go poorly.”
“I won’t. Thank you, Arwin. I didn’t realize you were making something for me.” She took the bundle from him, confusion mixing with appreciation on her features.
Lillia opened the oilcloth.