It was time.
Although her world was one of perpetual darkness, Rodel navigated the small house she lived in easily, and as she sat down at the table, her hands reached out knowingly for the small leather card case that rested there.
”Wise Savras, long have I walked as one of your faithful, and never have I used the gifts you have granted unto me for personal gain. I ask that you now grant me your sight so that I may discover what has happened to my Uncle Kai. I know that I can not
enter the High Moor myself, but perhaps through you, I can find those that can.”
Rodel paused for a moment, breath held involuntarily, as she waited to see if perhaps Savras would indeed send her a sign of his blessing this reading, but there was no tingle in her fingertips, eruption of fire all around her, or a sudden chilling of the breath that the bards often sang of, and as she let her breath go, she smiled ironically into the empty room.
”Uncle Kai always said that the gods favored those who helped themselves.”
Sliding the well-worn cards out of their case, Rodel shuffled them quickly and smoothly until she felt that the balance had been reached. Stopping, she turned the first card over, traced her fingers across the corner of it, and felt the symbol etched there.
Knight of Swords. A watcher over those who are lost, and a guardian to protect the weak.
Rodel felt a sense of relief at the positive card she had drawn and mentally thanked Savras for the boon. Taking two cards and setting them aside, Rodel drew another card and placed it to the knight’s lower right, representing the one the knight would depend on the most for the journey ahead.
Eight of Staves. The card of strength, one whose might will be given only to one strong enough to harness it.
A neutral card in the deck, Rodel knew that while it was not a harmful card to draw, only time would tell if it was a beneficial one for the Knight. Discarding four cards this time, Rodel placed the next card to the upper left of the Knight and flipped it over.
Queen of Pentacles. The predator’s card, representing those who live only for the hunt.
Feeling a knot form in her stomach, Rodel knew that only those who had little to lose would bring this card into play, as the predator was often known for biting the very hand that offered it food. Quickly discarding the next three cards, Rodel placed the top card in the upper right corner and wondered who it would be that the Knight would come to fear the most.
Four of Pentacles. The Emperor, representing one whose veins ran with the blood of nobility.
Gasping as she realized that the card was upside down, Rodel knew at once who the card represented and her blood ran as cold as the artic wind.
~But he is not one of them…Savras let this be wrong…do not condemn him before he can choose…~
Even as her thoughts threatened to sever the tenuous link she had with the cards, Rodel discarded the next five cards and placed the last card she would draw in the lower left corner, the position of hidden balance of all the forces.
Two of Cups. The Magus, representing one who can call upon the Weave to do their bidding.
While normally seen as a positive card, Rodel no longer knew if she could trust her own reading. Could the cards that lay before her truly represent the ones that would be sent to help her? Would they even agree to do so? Could she trust them if they were?
Reaching out, Rodel gathered all the cards together once more and began sliding them back inside their holder. As she pushed them in, one card caught the edge of the case and fell to the floor beside her, and as she picked it up she felt the all to intimate and familiar marking on the card.
Ace of Pentacles. Death approaching.
Although her world was one of perpetual darkness, Rodel navigated the small house she lived in easily, and as she sat down at the table, her hands reached out knowingly for the small leather card case that rested there.
”Wise Savras, long have I walked as one of your faithful, and never have I used the gifts you have granted unto me for personal gain. I ask that you now grant me your sight so that I may discover what has happened to my Uncle Kai. I know that I can not
enter the High Moor myself, but perhaps through you, I can find those that can.”
Rodel paused for a moment, breath held involuntarily, as she waited to see if perhaps Savras would indeed send her a sign of his blessing this reading, but there was no tingle in her fingertips, eruption of fire all around her, or a sudden chilling of the breath that the bards often sang of, and as she let her breath go, she smiled ironically into the empty room.
”Uncle Kai always said that the gods favored those who helped themselves.”
Sliding the well-worn cards out of their case, Rodel shuffled them quickly and smoothly until she felt that the balance had been reached. Stopping, she turned the first card over, traced her fingers across the corner of it, and felt the symbol etched there.
Knight of Swords. A watcher over those who are lost, and a guardian to protect the weak.
Rodel felt a sense of relief at the positive card she had drawn and mentally thanked Savras for the boon. Taking two cards and setting them aside, Rodel drew another card and placed it to the knight’s lower right, representing the one the knight would depend on the most for the journey ahead.
Eight of Staves. The card of strength, one whose might will be given only to one strong enough to harness it.
A neutral card in the deck, Rodel knew that while it was not a harmful card to draw, only time would tell if it was a beneficial one for the Knight. Discarding four cards this time, Rodel placed the next card to the upper left of the Knight and flipped it over.
Queen of Pentacles. The predator’s card, representing those who live only for the hunt.
Feeling a knot form in her stomach, Rodel knew that only those who had little to lose would bring this card into play, as the predator was often known for biting the very hand that offered it food. Quickly discarding the next three cards, Rodel placed the top card in the upper right corner and wondered who it would be that the Knight would come to fear the most.
Four of Pentacles. The Emperor, representing one whose veins ran with the blood of nobility.
Gasping as she realized that the card was upside down, Rodel knew at once who the card represented and her blood ran as cold as the artic wind.
~But he is not one of them…Savras let this be wrong…do not condemn him before he can choose…~
Even as her thoughts threatened to sever the tenuous link she had with the cards, Rodel discarded the next five cards and placed the last card she would draw in the lower left corner, the position of hidden balance of all the forces.
Two of Cups. The Magus, representing one who can call upon the Weave to do their bidding.
While normally seen as a positive card, Rodel no longer knew if she could trust her own reading. Could the cards that lay before her truly represent the ones that would be sent to help her? Would they even agree to do so? Could she trust them if they were?
Reaching out, Rodel gathered all the cards together once more and began sliding them back inside their holder. As she pushed them in, one card caught the edge of the case and fell to the floor beside her, and as she picked it up she felt the all to intimate and familiar marking on the card.
Ace of Pentacles. Death approaching.