Cards Reshuffled

The Page of Cups usually represents a cheerful, open and naive young man or woman, one with benevolent intentions. Death, apart from its most obvious meaning, also represents transformation, and sometimes darkness in general. An odd pairing, but frequently the odd pairings may be the most powerful ones. This one will either bring greatness or destruction, and sometimes both.

Excerpt from 'The Chaltar Deck of Cards - An Introduction'

"She honestly means to go through with this? By the Oak Father, that girl has lost whatever little sense she had to begin with!" Jaheira's voice was an even mixture of disbelief and exasperation. Zaerini knew the tone well, though this time around it wasn't directed at her.

"It sure seems like it," the bard replied. She and Jaheira were sitting in the druid's room, discussing the events of the evening. Jaheira's pack was already sitting neatly on the floor next to the door, ready for leaving, and Jaheira herself looked impatient enough to pick it up and walk out right away, even though it was night already. "She keeps going on and on about him. I guess it must have been love at first sight."

"Yes, but…with Xzar?"

Rini shrugged, tucking a strand of red hair back behind her ear. "I know…not exactly my first choice either, but tastes differ, I guess."

"Yes…but…Xzar? He is completely insane!"

"According to Nalia he's 'charmingly eccentric and unconventional'. I guess the fact that he's a noble helps. I honestly had no idea about that."

"We have to convince her not to go through with this!" Jaheira's voice was flinty with determination. "And if you care at all about Nalia, you will help me out!"

"I do care about Nalia," Rini said, feeling rather annoyed. "And I don't want to hurt her by interfering with something that's none of our business!"

"None of our business? Suppose he kills her and eats her liver, what would you say then?"

Zaerini thought about this for a moment. "I don't think he'd do that…he actually seemed quite taken with her. I've never seen anything like it. It was really quite sweet. Tell you what though. We'll go and talk to Nalia, and see what she says, but don't go too rough on her, all right?"

"Of course not," Jaheira huffed, moving so quickly that she was almost out the door already. "I never go rough on anybody."

Nalia was eventually found in a small sitting room off the main hall. She was sitting in a tall and high-backed chair decorated with carved dragons and unicorns, in front of a roaring fire. With the storm still raging outside, the heat was quite welcome, for the air was quite a bit chillier than was usual for the balmy Amnian climate. Nalia still had that dreamy, slightly distant look on her face that she had sported ever since she first laid eyes on Xzar, and in the firelight she was practically glowing, despite her black mourning clothes. She was smiling widely at nothing in particular, a smile that seemed very familiar to Zaerini. She had seen it often enough in her mirror, if she happened to be thinking about a certain Red Wizard. I guess she really is in love, she thought.

"Hello!" Nalia bubbled as soon as she saw the two women entering. "Can't you sleep? Not that I blame you…it's a beautiful night, isn't it? Just listen to that thunder…"

"Oh, I'm pretty much an evening person myself," Rini said. She sat down next to the fire, on the wide stone separating the fireplace from the rest of the floor, and stretched her hands out, enjoying the heat. "So, had a nice evening?"

"Oh yesss…" Nalia said, sighing deeply and smiling again. "I don't know how I will ever be able to thank you enough! Not only have you saved my Keep, but Xzar tells me that you saved his life too, not long ago. Imagine that, I never would have met him if not for you!"

"Yes," Jaheira said in a flat voice, giving Rini a meaningful look. "Exactly. Where is he, by the way?"

"Oh, he went to fetch some of his spell scrolls! He says he thinks I can be a really powerful mage, just like I've always wanted! Isn't that wonderful? And Necromancy seems so fascinating a speciality…perhaps I should give it a try. Xzar says he thinks I can do it, he really believes in me! He's so…so special! I never met anybody like him before!"

"I should think so," Jaheira said in a weary voice. "Few enough people regularly go off on rants about rabbits and…and the demonic properties of socks. The man is completely insane, not to mention dangerous!"

"Dangerous is good," Nalia said, still smiling and staring into the fire. "With somebody dangerous at my side, I shouldn't have to worry about Isaea. And I think he can help me become more dangerous too, and that's even better."

"And the sanity issue?" Rini asked.

"Oh, that. That's nothing. Just a charming little foible, a quirk of character and expression." Nalia shrugged apologetically. "Plenty of members of the upper classes have those, though I can't blame you for not knowing that. One of my ancestors spent the last ten years of his life believing himself to be a fern and demanding to be buried up to his knees in good soil and watered every morning. And my great-grandfather used to hunt for mice in the hallways every morning. With a heavy crossbow. When you're a noble you can afford to be a little eccentric."

Never thought I'd hear anybody describe Xzar as 'a little eccentric', Rini thought. "So, how do you like Montaron and Abduh?" she asked. "After all, if Xzar is to play the part of your fiancé, you'll have to put up with those two as well."

"Oh, that little halfling is truly the salt of the earth!" Nalia beamed. "So charmingly blunt and outspoken, maybe a little rough around the edges, but after all he's a commoner so you can't expect otherwise."

"And Abduh?"

"The zombie? Isn't he fascinating? Amazing what Necromancy can do, isn't it? And he's really sweet, so loyal and devoted, and never talks back at all."

"The perfect servant, in other words," Jaheira interjected.

Nalia didn't even notice the sarcasm. "Well, yes! I thought we might train him to be our new butler, actually. Podkin resigned only an hour ago.I can’t imagine why. And Xzar says that he can show me how to make more zombies…it seems ever so exciting!"

"What about your Aunt, though?" Jaheira said, making a final, desperate attempt. "What does she have to say about all this?"

"Well," Nalia said, "she didn't like his tattoos much, but then I explained that where he comes from they're a sign of noble blood, and that only the highest aristocracy may wear them. She came around after that."

Rini couldn't help laughing at that. "Good one!" she said. "Is there any truth to it at all?"

"No idea," Nalia said. Then she giggled. "But I couldn't very well tell Auntie Delcia that his tattoos make my knees go all wobbly, now could I? According to Auntie Delcia, a Lady doesn't even have knees, at least not visible ones."

Jaheira shook her head. "I give up," she said, getting to her feet. "I just hope you know what you are doing, that is all." Then she left, muttering something under her breath about easily infatuated girls.

"I guess I'd better get going too," Zaerini said after a few minutes. "We'll be going back to Athkatla tomorrow morning, I should try to get some sleep. Are you sure you'll be all right here?"

"Yes," Nalia said, nodding. "I will be. I have to be, for my people's sake. I'm the Lady De'Arnise now, and I mean for everybody to recognise that, especially the Roenals. And I won't be alone now either." She swallowed once, her lips trembling a little. “Father is gone…but I live. I mean to keep on living, and now it will be easier to do so. As I said, at least I won’t be alone.”

"No…I guess not. Well, if there's any trouble you can probably reach us via Bernard of the Copper Coronet, and maybe we'll stop by later if we have the time. I hope everything works out for you."

"Thank you," Nalia said, hugging the half-elf briefly. "And the same to you."

Zaerini had left the room and was just about to go upstairs when she heard voices coming from behind her. The room had two different entrances, and she correctly guessed that somebody else must have entered by one as she left by the other. She could guess who that 'somebody' must be too. I probably shouldn't do this, she thought as she pressed her eye to the keyhole, straining her sensitive ears as much as she could. But if I don't do it the curiosity will keep me awake all night!

The storm was still howling wildly outside, but she was still able to hear with no great difficulty, and through the keyhole she could just make out Nalia standing in front of the fireplace, a dark silhouette against the leaping flames. Xzar was standing very close to her, and he seemed to be holding both of her hands in his own. "Nalia, delight of my eyes!" the insane Necromancer crooned. "I'm not sure what you are doing to me, but I like it! It makes my heart pound in a most interesting way…did I tell you about my collection of hearts back home? Fascinating things…anyway, all the voices agree completely about you, even the Great Frlurlik of the Tentacled Lips, and when I'm near you the bunnies go completely silent. You don't know what that means…the silence of the bunnies."

"I don't," Nalia admitted. "But I'd love to learn."

"And Abduh adores you," Xzar raved. "He's such a good boy, he knows what's good for his Master. I must see about building a lady zombie for him as soon as possible, he deserves that, I think. Yes…a Bride for Abduh! And I think I could probably use lightning to make her even more lively than he is, as long as I have the proper equipment, and this castle really seems to attract it. Oh, this will be so perfect…"

Nalia whispered something in a low voice, words that Zaerini couldn't understand but thought sounded very pleasant. It was difficult to hear, but she thought it was Elvish. Xzar seemed to catch the meaning though. "Nalia!" he exclaimed. "You're…speaking Elvish!"

"Uma!" Nalia said.

This was followed by a loud and delighted gasp from the Necromancer, and Rini could see him raise the noblewoman's hands to his face, raining down kisses upon them. "Cara mia!" he said, and then he sounded a little hesitant. "I don't know where I got that from, but the voices of the Great Old Ones tell me it's the right thing to say. Do you like it?"

Whatever Nalia said was quite inaudible, but from the way she stepped into the Necromancer's arms, making their silhouettes melt together to one single dark shape, Rini thought she seemed pleased enough.

I've seen that before, the bard thought as she silently left. The Page of Cups…embracing Death. I'm not sure exactly why, but I have a feeling this was meant to happen, that it's important. I sure hope things will work out for them. It seems totally insane at a first look, but they really do seem to have fallen head over heels for each other. It must be nice to have a simple, uncomplicated love life like that.

Once she reached her bedroom, Zaerini crept into bed, wishing that it hadn't been empty. After that initial night of comfort, Edwina had pulled back into her shell a little, claiming a need for privacy. Rini was certain that it was at least partially a pretence, she knew that the wizard wanted to be with her, and for more than just sleeping company, but she also thought she could guess the reason for it. She's embarrassed by this whole Nether Scroll thing. She thinks I won't be able to think of her that way as long as she's female, and she likely won't believe me if I simply tell her otherwise, she'll think I'm just trying to be nice. I must think of some way to show it to her. I guess she needs a little space too, but…but I'm afraid she'll take it too far. I don't want to lose her, ever. If we can't change her back within the next few days, I have to prove that to her, somehow.

Sighing a little, the half-elf turned over in bed, clutching one of the spare pillows tightly in her arms. As she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep she smiled, and for a few seconds she was able to pretend that the pillow was a live and warm body, right next to her, the body of the person she loved. Right here with me…where he's…or she's…supposed to be.