A longer one... the chapters will either get longer or there'll be more of them. Apologies for the wait. Agnes meets Angua in this chapter.
-Agnes-
Agnes knocked on Mrs Cake's door.
'This place looks weird,' said Perdita.
'Shut up,' hissed Agnes.
The door opened. Mrs Cake looked her over appraisingly. 'I suppose you're after a room?' she said.
'Er, yes,' said Agnes. 'Do you have one spare?'
'Well oi do have a room, acktually, on the first floor. It isn't partickly big, moind.'
'Couldn't you have found a bigger dump? Weren't you trying?' mocked Perdita from Agnes' head. Agnes wished Perdita was real so she coul;d slap her.
'Er, I don't mind.'
'Come in,' said Mrs Cake, stepping aside to let Agnes in. 'You'd be a witch, then? What's your name?'
'Er, yes. I'm Agnes. Is it a problem?' asked Agnes nervously. Mrs Cake led the way up the stairs, puffing slightly.
'No, that's foin. Most folk in this house are a bit different. Ah, 'ere we are,' she said, opening a door. Inside was a small, plain room with one small, grubby window. It contained a small single bed, a desk and chair, and a bedside table.
'Here it is, then.'
'What a hole!' said Perdita. Agnes ignored her.
Agnes stepped into the room and put her bag down on the desk. 'How much is the rent?' she asked.
'Two dollars a week, plus you'll pay for any breakages and it's a dollar a week for meals. Meals are in the dining room off the hall, the lavatory's out in the yard and if you want a bath you'll have to wait until Saturday.'
'Oh.' It seemed the only thing to say. 'I think a month's advance is usual?'
'Yes,' said Mrs Cake.
Agnes rifled through her bag and removed twelve dollars in Morporkian dollars. She gave it to Mrs Cake, who counted it carefully.
'Foin, foin. If you need anything, moi room is downstairs next to the kitchen.'
A woman in a breastplate and leather with long, ash blonde hair came up the stairs. Under her arm she carried a large instrument, similar to Magrat's guitar.
'Oh, Angua!' said Mrs Cake. 'Agnes, this is Angua, she's in the room opposite yours. Angua, this is Agnes. She's a witch from Lancre.'
'How did you know?' said Agnes, surprised.
'Lancre's witch country, dear,' Mrs Cake said kindly. 'Angua's an officer of the Watch. She's from Uberwald.' She smiled brightly and pottered down the stairs.
'Angua's weird...'
'Shut up!'
'Excuse me?'
'Not you. Sorry.'
Angua looked at Agnes oddly. 'If it's not too forward,' said Angua, 'Why'd you come to Ankh-Morpork?'
'I'm not sure,' said Angua nervously.
'To get away from Lancre, silly!' said Perdita.
'Well, if you need work, take my advice and avoid the Guild of Seamstresses.'
'Why not? My needlework's pretty good.'
'Erm…' said Angua, leaning in to whisper in Agnes' ear. Agnes' eyebrows raised.
'Oh.'
Perdita snickered.
'Listen, if you really need a job, we need someone to clear up around the Watch house quite desperately. Come with me tomorrow and I'll see what I can arrange.'
'Clearing up? Clearing up? Where's your pride?' said Perdita. Agnes thought a swearword. Perdita nearly fainted in surprise.
'Oh,' said Agnes. 'Thank you. Just knock when you're leaving... by the way, what is that instrument?'
'This? It's called a bass,' said Angua, holding up the instrument. 'I just bought it.'
'Interesting,' said Agnes. 'I'd best get to bed,' she said.
'Me too,' said Angua, going into her room and closing the door.
'Odd woman, said Agnes under her breath.
'You've gone peculiar,' said Perdita uncertainly.
'No. I'm just ignoring you,' said Agnes aloud.
'That's what I mean,' said Perdita.
Agnes smiled.