Missing (One Week)

“No, dear,” the engineer replied calmly, the bulk of his concentration still on fine-tuning the calibration of his latest project. “I haven’t seen her yet today.”

Adelheide frowned. “It’s been almost a week, Nik. You… you don’t think…?”

The clear worry in her voice, tinged with a hint of fear, made him look up. An Addy flustered with panic was not a good situation for anyone.

“Now Addy,” he soothed, removing the goggles from his smoke and grease stained face, giving him something of a reverse-raccoon look. “I’m sure Abigayle is fine. Perhaps she’s become engrossed in another engineering project?”

“But she hasn’t been seen in days, Nik! I’ve asked everyone in Ironforge. The guards, the shop keepers, the mages at the Mystic Ward, even Sraaz the pie vendor!” She twisted the bit of runecloth in her hands in frustration.

Nikolas took her hands in his gently, comfortingly. “I’m sure she’s fine,” he assured her. “She’s not an unaccomplished mage…”

“Apprentice,” Addy interjected.

Nik hid a grin and continued “…mage apprentice, and a clever engineer as well. She can handle herself. And if she were in real danger, she would have contacted one of us, I’m sure. Jharvis maybe, or even Pizmo, if not us.”

“But…”

He took the fretting gnome in his arms. “No buts, Addy. Now stop worrying so. She’ll turn up, sooner or later. Just wait, you’ll see.”

“Don’t forget, she is a Frizzlespring,” came a somewhat muffled response.

Nikolas considered that simple statement. She was right.

“All right, Addy. But let’s give the Brigade a few more days, hm? If they are still unable to locate her, then I’ll make a few inquiries among my former associates. Perhaps we can acquire the assistance of a trained professional to locate Abby.”

Addy looked up, a bit alarmed. “Nikolas, won’t that be … ?”

He shook his head. “Of course not,” he assured her. “After all, we will only be utilizing their services to locate her, not apprehend her. Once we know where she is, we can go get her ourselves.” Just a hint of iron was in his voice.