In The Cards

The talented Reader may gain much information from the Cards, sometimes even being able to coax information out of his or her enemies. This will not always work though, and sometimes it may be highly dangerous to try.

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

There was singing everywhere. Zaerini had liked Gullykin from the start, with its round and cozy houses, the friendly halfling faces meeting her everywhere and the constant smell of food cooking in one place or another. She liked the halflings as well, she realized. They were friendly, open and accepting, living their own quiet lives without bothering anybody else. And they loved singing. In trying to celebrate their very own Heroes they'd really made an effort to entertain. The songs were mostly about their own, everyday lives, concerning food and drink, the changing of the seasons, friends and family. Zaerini loved them. To be able to forget about grand, heroic deeds and dark destinies, even for a moment, was a true blessing. And there was something about the cheerful faces and happy voices around her that almost made her forget about the darkness in her past and future, that almost made her able to pretend that she was a carefree child once more.

The half-elf leaned back against the wall of the house and closed her eyes. She was sitting on a low bench, trying to take in all of the songs at once. Softpaws was sleeping on her lap, a pleasant warmth against her legs. One song in particular was attracting her attention now, the words standing out in her mind as if written in fire.

All that anybody needs
Is a friend or two, and a friend like you
Not glory or great deeds
Just a friend or two, just a friend like you

When it's dark outside and you're feeling cold
No need to be, with a friend like me
If your body's young, but your soul is old
You can still be free, with a friend like me

We might seem a strange pair
But we don't see it thus
Let them wonder, what do we care?
For the bond is strong between friends like us

The bard smiled to herself. That song felt true on more than one level. Her own friends certainly were a mismatched group, and as for these halflings she could well imagine them making friends with just about anybody. They were also highly insistent on everyone of their guests joining in the singing and partying. Imoen had eagerly done so of course, and Khalid hadn't been hard to convince. Jaheira had literally been dragged onto the large table that served as a stage, but she had turned out to have a nice voice and now it didn't seem as if she was ever going to come down. As for Edwin, he had proved surprisingly cooperative. Last Rini had seen him he'd been doing some simple magic to entertain a group of awestruck and round-eyed halfling children, enjoying himself tremendously by the looks of it.

Rini sighed quietly. She'd been doing plenty of entertaining herself, and right now it felt good to simply relax.

"What are you doing?"

Well, so much for that. Zaerini opened her eyes and gave Edwin a tired smile that quickly gave way to a yawn. "Sorry," she said. "I'm a little tired. How did you ever manage to escape from your doting admirers?"

The wizard laughed quietly. "I told them that if they were to go ask the druid to tell them a story I'd show them some fireworks later."

Rini blinked. Jaheira and storytelling didn't seem to match very well. Then she latched onto the second part of the statement. "Fireworks?" she asked. "You can make fireworks? I love fireworks! Back in Candlekeep, there was this old wizard who came by once, and he showed me and Immy some. I've always wished I could see some more."

"Then so you shall," Edwin immediately said, and then he suddenly seemed to get very interested in his own feet. "That is, how could I not take this opportunity to display the triumph of my powerful intellect over mere matter? The art of making fireworks is very tricky, you know, but I've studied it carefully. You can't afford to make mistakes or you risk blowing yourself up. ( I'm sure I could have been even more skilled had I been allowed to practice from an earlier age. Some people just don't understand an inquisitive nature. And it's not as if we needed that wall anyway.)"

Zaerini found herself staring at the wizard's hands. At least he seemed to still have all his fingers. Nice hands, by the way. Strong but nimble, long fingers.

I'm not surprised you know, Softpaws remarked. The black cat raised her head from where she had been sleeping on her mistress' lap and watched the half-elf with bright green eyes.

About what?

That the male likes fireworks. Bright flashes of light and loud noises. What's wrong with some peace and quiet?

Don't be grumpy. It's a two-legs thing.

"What did she say?" Edwin asked, sounding curious.

"Oh," Rini said and twirled a lock of her flame-red hair around her finger as she tried to think of a good answer. "She says that…that she thinks you're probably great with fireworks."

That's what you seem to think, kitten. You already asked him to show you some, remember? No getting out of it now.

Oh, just stop it.

"She does?" Edwin said. He looked very pleased as he sat down on the bench next to the half-elf. "What a very clever cat." He reached out to pet the cat and Zaerini was highly surprised to see her familiar arch her back under his touch, purring loudly. Then Softpaws actually settled herself on the wizard's lap to grant him easier access.

Oh my, the cat purred. Your wizard really knows how to use his hands. Very pleasant, this.

It is? Er, I mean…who cares? And he's not my wizard.

Whatever you say, kitten. Ooooh! This is divine, you know. You should ask him to do the same to you. I'm sure you'd love it as much as I do.

Rini felt heat rising in her cheeks. Her familiar was currently lying on her back in Edwin's lap, all four feet in the air, purring loudly as the wizard stroked her belly. Somehow I think he'd be a little more shocked if I made that sort of request. As if I ever would.

Your loss, kitten. You have no idea what you're missing here. My entire body is tingling.

"So," Zaerini said, her voice a little bit too loud as she tried to shut out the words of her familiar, "got any plans for the rest of the evening? Er…that is…I mean that I think I should do another foretelling. It's been a while, and it could be useful to find out which way we should go from here. I'd like you to help me. That is, if you don't mind."

"As you wish," Edwin said, looking a little surprised. "Did you mean right now?" He kept petting the cat as he spoke.

Sure you won't change your mind, kitten? Softpaws asked, purring even more loudly than before. This feels sooo good. Have my whiskers gone curly yet?

"No! I mean, yes! I mean…yes, I think I want to do it right now. The reading. Yes. I…I've been sitting for so long, I think I've got a crick in my back."

So why don't you ask him to pet you a little? That should do the trick.

Softy, I'm warning you!

"Very well," Edwin said and gave the bard a very curious look. "If you say so. Though you seem rather nervous. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine," Zaerini said as she rose from the bench. "Softpaws is being silly. Nothing to worry about."

In the end they settled upon Jenkal's Burrow, since he was unlikely to come back and disturb them. The traitorous halfling had been clapped in irons and taken away long since. But the house was still warm, and once Rini lit a few candles she had all the light she could wish for. She sat down at the table, and then quickly realized that sitting on a chair made for halflings had been a bad mistake. The chair splintered and broke, unceremoniously dumping her onto the floor.

"Allow me to recommend the floor," Edwin said with a crooked smile. He hadn't even bothered with trying the chairs. "Flat, hard and above all solid. The seating-place of choice when visiting a halfling household. Never goes out of style. (And you're also spared bumping your head on the ceiling.)"

"I see your point," Zaerini said and pushed the sad remains of the chair out of the way. "Well, at least Jenkal won't be coming back to complain about my breaking his furniture." She took out her Chaltar deck and started shuffling the cards as she spoke. "Here's what we'll do. I want you to keep an eye on me while I'm doing the reading. If I seem to go to deep, wake me up. I don't care how you do it. And if I speak out loud, try to remember what I say, in case I'm not able to do so myself. Got it?"

The wizard nodded.

"Fine. Let's do it then."

Zaerini spread the cards out on the table, watching them intently. Show me what I need to know of the immediate future, she thought. The Serpent first, flanked by Death. Then the Hermit. Further off lay the Beast, the Knight of Swords and the Rogue.

The cards were swirling, spinning like falling stars. Once again Zaerini found herself in a world of smoke and shadows, and the Cards took on living presence as the rose to greet her. The Serpent. Massive coils encircled her, green and scaly, holding her down. She couldn't see the serpent's head, but she knew, somehow she knew, that to look at it would mean death.

Yessssss, a hissing voice spoke out of the darkness. Death. But there issss essscape from the death of my eyessss, if you know the way. The body of the giant snake suddenly evaporated, turned into green smoke that drifted away. Releasssse isss posssible…

The Hermit came next, tall and emaciated figure cloaked in gray. Silent, unmoving, he held a heavy book close to his chest. Then he turned his head and Zaerini could see his face. As gray as his robes and cloak it was, a skull with the skin stretched taut across it. Only the dull red glimmer of the sunken eyes hinted at the life that had long since fled. "Help…me," the shade moaned. "Lost…all lost now. Help me find it…and I…shall help you…in return."

"What is lost?" the half-elf asked, wondering that she was able to keep her voice steady. "How can I help you? And how can you help me?"

"Knowledge…knowledge lost. Help me…and knowledge…shall be your reward." The wraith sighed deeply and seemed to fold into itself, then disappeared entirely.

The bard turned, fearing what would come next. The Beast reared up in front of her, a massive and deadly shape, horned and tusked. As before it carried with it the heavy smell of blood and the screams of the dying. To her surprise it did not attack her as she had expected. "Friends may pass, where foes must fall," it growled. "Friends…may pass." It raised its massive arm in greeting and stood motionless. Rini passed by it with more than a little trepidation, expecting for the blow to fall at any moment. But it never came.

The Knight of Swords paced back and forth, a restless mountain of metal and deadly intent. Glowing golden eyes pierced the half-elf's heart as she approached. "Not yet, little sister," the armored shape spoke. "Not yet. The time is not now. You will not find me there, though that is the road you must take. But we will meet again. Oh yes. We will meet."

"When? Where? Tell me that Sarevok! WHEN?!"

A low and deadly chuckle came from beneath the dark helmet, those golden eyes flared up with sudden fire. "When the time is come, little sister. Now run along…and play."

The bard gritted her teeth, furious at the phantom's taunting words. She was about to rush after the large warrior who was now striding away from her, heedless of the danger. But then she stopped. There was something…the feeling of eyes upon her back, close behind her. Or were they in front of her? Somebody was there. Somebody dangerous. She could feel it in the pounding of her heart, the dryness of her mouth.

Zaerini turned around. Only shadows everywhere around her, deep shadows. Nothing to be seen. But she knew that somebody else was here. "Where are you?" she called out. "Why are you watching me?"

For a moment only the silence answered her. And then there was a voice, a low and threatening voice. "You?" it said. "I wasn't watching you, not at the moment. Sorry to disappoint you, but you're not even my primary concern." It was impossible to tell which direction the voice was coming from, or even if it was near or far. And who was it that it reminded her of? She couldn't tell.

"Who are you, then?" she asked.

Again a moment's silence. "Nice try," the voice said, sounding rather sarcastic. "You didn't really think I would tell you all my secrets, just like that? Tsk tsk. I really expected more from you." Zaerini still couldn't see the speaker, but she thought she could feel him smile to himself. Very annoying, she decided. "A word of warning," the voice continued. "I am not your enemy, at least not yet. I suggest you try your best to keep things that way."

"How can I?" the bard asked, feeling more irritated my the moment. "I don't even know who you are!" But there was no answer, and the feeling of being watched was gone. Whoever had been there had clearly departed further into the shadows. And the shadows were falling away, leaving her behind. There was a voice speaking to her again, and it was a familiar one.

"Are you all right?"

Zaerini blinked and saw Edwin watching her across the table, looking rather worried. He was also holding her hands, she realized, holding them tightly enough that she'd almost lost all sensation in her fingers. When she moved them a little he hurriedly let go.

"I'm…I'm fine," the half-elf said. "Really, I am."

"You were gone a long time," Edwin said. "I thought I'd better try to bring you back. (Even if I'm not sure what the best method would have been if shouting failed. Somehow I don't think cold water in the face would have been appreciated.)"

"Yes, well, you were right to do so. But I did learn some interesting things." Rini paused. "Now I just have to figure out what they all mean, and something tells me that's going to be the difficult part."