The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [126]
“Miko, I’ll be over there,” James says as he points toward the small tent.
“Alright,” Miko acknowledges. “I’m going over to watch the monkey.” He points over to where a man has a monkey doing tricks and wearing a funny little outfit.
“Don’t get lost,” James says before he makes his way through the crowd over to the tent and enters.
“Close the curtain so we may have some privacy,” the woman says to James as she indicates the chair sitting across from her. “Come, sit down and I’ll look into your future.”
He unhooks the curtain and lets it fall, then walks over to the chair and sits.
“Place your hands upon the table, next to the ball with your palms up.” When James has done so, she rests her hands upon his and says, “Now look into the ball and make your mind blank, let it drift as it will.”
He stares into the crystal ball, but all he sees is the crystal ball.
“You must relax,” she tells him, giving him a reassuring smile. He does his best and slowly his mind clears, his body relaxes.
She stares into the ball as she says, “I see a great future for you, one of power and fame.”
“Really?” he asks as he tries peering closer into the ball but fails to see anything.
She looks up from the ball and says, “The ball does not lie. Now, gaze deeper within its depths.”
He stares into the ball as she says, “I see love and happiness for you.” When he looks up to her she meets his eyes and says, “And not too far away.”
“She looks to be a daughter of a rug maker,” she says and then glances up to see his reaction. Then says, “Or possibly a horse trader.”
“Where can I find her?” he asks.
“Back home,” she says. “Where you were born.”
Fake! he thinks to himself. There aren’t any such back where I come from. “Thank you,” he says, then begins removing his hands from the table.
Suddenly, her hands spasm and clenches his tightly, preventing him from leaving the table. Then she says, “I can see that you have come a great distance and not by choice.”
Inside the ball, a deep red color blossoms from within its center. He sits back down, intrigued by the show if not by the accuracy.
“You have many questions,” she says, her voice becoming more distant, “and few answers. You are on a quest, a quest for answers.”
A chill runs down his back, she’s hitting closer to the mark now. The deep red color continues to grow and starts to slowly swirl throughout the ball.
“I see a long road but you are not alone, another walks with you,” she says, her voice changing, growing harsh and raspy. “He will be the key, a lock must be opened.”
Nervous, he hesitates. On the verge of leaving yet drawn to see what will happen.
The red swirling begins to churn faster and a subtle pulse can be seen coming from within. Gasping, her body jerks, hands tightening around his in a grip of surprising strength. He tries to free his hands but is unable to break away. Her grip grows uncomfortable.
Looking at her he sees that her features have changed subtly, yet unmistakable. With a voice growing less human she says:
With the star, seal your fate,
A giant knocks upon the gate.
Her voice rises in volume and pitch, the throbbing red vortex in the ball swirls like a maelstrom. The pulsing continues to grow and becomes much more pronounced with each word she utters.
Pillars of Flame dispel the night,
Out of darkness, blossoms a light.
Her grip on his hands becomes painful. Eyes wide with the pupils rolled back into her head, her visage completely unnerves James. Scared, he wants nothing more than to break free. Struggle though he may, her grip on his hands is simply too strong.
A friend’s wrath you shall feel,
Destroy the land so it may heal.
The crystal of