The woman had worked the vineyard for years; her toothless smile always ready to be given to anyone who came near. She always smiled but never told her name, her countless wrinkles creasing as she did so.
That was why Askier was surprised when he walked near her and looked at him. She looked so sad. Askier had gone to open his mouth but she had simply raised her hand to silence him.
"Jin'a', I owe you an apology. I did what I had no business to do."
Askier blinked and gave an uncomfortable chuckle and looked around before looking at her.
"Madam, to my knowledge, you have not wronged me in any-" Askier started.
"I read the tarrot for you, because I was curious what future awaited you sincer you have been so helpful. I-" the woman siezed Askier's hand and shoved four cards into them and looked up at him. "I am sorry, Jin'a. I...I am sorry for your fate."
The woman turned, leaving the card in Askier's hand. Askier looked around the vineyard anxiously, the entire situation odd. All he had been doing was patroling the barns housing the wine barrels when he had run into her.Â
Askier saw he was alone and then looked at the cards.Â
The first was "The Foo"l. Askier looked at the card and rolled his eyes. His card, he guessed, knowing how the stupid cards supposedly worked. He flipped to the next.
The Lovers. Askier blinked. He was certainly in love, yes. Nothing new here. Next card.
The picture of a tower struck by lightning, the card of Madness and destruction. A card Askier new well. A million options came to mind and Askier turned to the next card.
The name of the card at the bottom was "Death" and Askier trembled slightly. But it wasn't the nature or meaning of the card that bothered him. It was the image upon the card. The visage of death resting before him was that of a figure in black, leaning on a silver sword, just as in his dream. A dozen crows circled the figure.Â
Askier threw the cards from him and pulled out his firearm. With a burning fury in his eyes, his weapon fired, the bullets tearaing the cards to ashes. Askier watched the tattered remains fall to the earth and spat as he turned around and continued to make his rounds.
"Well that soured my day." Askier grunted in dismissal.
That was why Askier was surprised when he walked near her and looked at him. She looked so sad. Askier had gone to open his mouth but she had simply raised her hand to silence him.
"Jin'a', I owe you an apology. I did what I had no business to do."
Askier blinked and gave an uncomfortable chuckle and looked around before looking at her.
"Madam, to my knowledge, you have not wronged me in any-" Askier started.
"I read the tarrot for you, because I was curious what future awaited you sincer you have been so helpful. I-" the woman siezed Askier's hand and shoved four cards into them and looked up at him. "I am sorry, Jin'a. I...I am sorry for your fate."
The woman turned, leaving the card in Askier's hand. Askier looked around the vineyard anxiously, the entire situation odd. All he had been doing was patroling the barns housing the wine barrels when he had run into her.Â
Askier saw he was alone and then looked at the cards.Â
The first was "The Foo"l. Askier looked at the card and rolled his eyes. His card, he guessed, knowing how the stupid cards supposedly worked. He flipped to the next.
The Lovers. Askier blinked. He was certainly in love, yes. Nothing new here. Next card.
The picture of a tower struck by lightning, the card of Madness and destruction. A card Askier new well. A million options came to mind and Askier turned to the next card.
The name of the card at the bottom was "Death" and Askier trembled slightly. But it wasn't the nature or meaning of the card that bothered him. It was the image upon the card. The visage of death resting before him was that of a figure in black, leaning on a silver sword, just as in his dream. A dozen crows circled the figure.Â
Askier threw the cards from him and pulled out his firearm. With a burning fury in his eyes, his weapon fired, the bullets tearaing the cards to ashes. Askier watched the tattered remains fall to the earth and spat as he turned around and continued to make his rounds.
"Well that soured my day." Askier grunted in dismissal.
