Naja relished the chance for some rest. Normally she took better care of herself—necromancy tends to make one very aware of the consequences of recklessness—but an old client had been having some trouble recently and she'd lent a hand. That sort of thing hadn't been included in the original contract, which didn't even really exist in any official capacity, but, well, they'd genuinely needed the help, and it was a service few were equipped to provide.
But now things had been resolved and she could go back to her retirement, her books and terrible TV shows and at least a modicum of relaxation, and absolutely no more necromancy of any sort. She'd been thinking about taking up beekeeping. It was difficult in the middle of the city, but there was no reason she couldn't sell this house now. It might even benefit her, since her old clients would have no idea where she lived anymore and couldn't pull her back for one last ritual.
She was curled up in bed, thinking of these things, when she heard uneven footsteps out in the hallway.
There was a knock at Naja's door, redundant, and then She came in. Her movement had an unsettling vagueness to it, as of one sleepwalking, or possessed. Naja was more or less used to it, and greeted Her with a warm smile. "So! You're back early. Did you get lonely wandering the streets for once?"
"Not exactly." Her mouth didn't move when She spoke—She had almost no fine control of Her face, and Naja had no idea if She ever would—but Her voice bore traces of concern. "I found a ghost out there, or, well, a ghost
appeared. One moment there wasn't one and the next...he's not like me, though. No body attached."
"I see," Naja said, hoping she did not.
"It's not far from here. Maybe it's fate." She knew this wouldn't be persuasive, and moved on quickly. "I know you just finished all your unfinished business, but a new ghost without any attachment could use your guidance. You've been in the business longer than anyone else alive, you told me yourself."
"No," Naja said.
"Absolutely not," Naja said.
"All right," Naja said. "But this is the last one."
She gathered up her coat and followed Her out into the night, to welcome the ghost to death and see if there was anything she could do to make it easier.