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Kaz followed Sephi to the Sea's Bounty Tavern. Hearing that Neb would be all right, she heaved a sigh of relief. She went to her room early, pleading that she had not been able to memorize all her spells the night before. Yet in her room, she paced, thinking. Will I do it? How can I not? Stopping and gripping her head, Kaz sat down on the bed. Then she looked up, her eyes gray. Very well. I have no choice. She took parchment and ink from her pack, writing in a spidery handwriting.
My dear sister,
When you read this, I will be gone. I cannot take this anymore. Hearing you, Larry and Chani speak of your past made me decide to confront my own, which I had forgotten since many years. I had hoped to find peace, but what I found there... is too horrible to put in words, torn, shattered... here her handwriting changed, almost ripping through the paper. Yet I do not write this letter to tell you of my troubles, Mistral. I write to tell you that I am leaving. I believe staying close to me will only bring you pain.
Perhaps I shall return one day, but I doubt it. If I cannot find peace in life, I shall in death...
Kaz called her raven to her. "You have been a good, staunch friend, Aerynkoryk. I should have taken better care of you, but I was preoccupied with myself. Now I ask of you one last service - take this letter to Mistral, and to no-one else! After that, seek out one who will treat you better, and forget about me. Now go." The raven rubbed his beak against her cheek, but, hearing the urgency of her words, grasped the letter and flew. Kaz looked as he disappeared in the night.
Now she looked around. I will not be coming back, I had best take what I can. Yet somehow she felt reluctant to take anything. Leaving her Robe of Vecna and Staff of the Magi, Kaz took a simple old black cloak from where it was lying at the bottom of her pack. She also grasped her trusty staff, the one she had found, so long ago it seemed...
Leaving the rest of her belongings as well, Kaz quietly slipped through the window. Landing softly on the cobbles, she glided away, no one noticing her leaving. She smiled and thought, I am free as she disappeared into the night.
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