*Kali sings lightly to herself in Elven as she stocks behind the bar in preparation for the next opening. The warm fireplace in the tavern’s sitting room crackles and pops along with her tune. * *Before long there is a soft knock on the tavern door. Dusting off her hands on the front of her green skirt, Kali heads off to answer. As she opens the door a snow filled gust of wind greets her, blowing in from outside. Her emerald eyes squint into the dark of the night.* “I’m sorry, we are actually closed…." *Kali begins in her normal sing song voice.* *Her eyes narrow slightly on the figure in the darkness.* *At the door stands a hooded female, Elven in height and build. The figure is cloaked in grays and blacks as dark as the deepest of shadows. Her knee high gray boots are dusted in snow. Her face is concealed beneath the shadows of her hood and wrapped around her shoulder is a deep black cloak that seems to offer some protection from the wintery cold air of Leilon.* “I’m not looking for a drink.” *The elf replies. Her voice is quiet but firm.* *She then pauses a moment swallowing slightly, she watches Kali as if deciding something, or perhaps sizing her up.* “I came to talk to you, Kali…” *The female finally continues. She remains motionless, her hooded face seemingly watching the Elven gypsy’s every move.* “Well…” *Kali rubs the tip of her ear slightly, a curious smile spreading across her rose colored lips. She giggles lightly.* “You better at least come in from the cold then.” *Kali opens the door a bit wider, and steps out of the way.” “Thanks.” *The elf steps in the door. Her steps are graceful without effort, as she moves it seems as if the shadows follow, clinging to her lithe figure. She undoes the clasp on the front of her cloak, letting the dark fabric slide off her shoulders before hanging it on a coat rack in the hall. Beneath her cloak a mid length shirt of deep purple and deep black fabric is tied across her front. A portion of a scar is visible on the left side of her stomach, it seems to run vertically across her chest, but is mostly concealed by her clothing. Slowly she pushes back her hood… * *Chin length ebony hair falls in whisps across her high cheekbones. Her eyes, a pale brown, look almost gray in the light of the tavern.* *Kali pauses in her steps looking back to the elf. At first Kali’s features reveal confusion, as if seeing this woman for the first time. A moment later though they reveal recognition, as if through story she knew who she was. * “What did you need to talk about?” *Kali’s voice now drained of the curiosity it held before, abruptly breaks the silence.* “You know who I am then?” *The elf asks, her eyes watching Kali almost suspiciously.* *A slight smirk forms on Kali’s lips at that* “I’ve a pretty good guess.” *Kali’s eyes, deep pools of emerald look back at the figure. She continues* “He probably won’t be happy that you came to speak to me.” *She emphasizes the word “he’, it is clear that the two both know each other, despite never having met.* *The elf exhales deeply.* “Quill will understand.” *Kali giggles slightly at that, a delicate smirk playing on her lips as if she suddenly finds this meeting amusing.* “What is it that you wanted from me then, Lalaith?” *Lalaith, biting her lower lip, exhales once more before looking straight at Kali. She raises an eyebrow slightly as she speaks.* “The cards you read to him before…” *She pauses for what may seem an eternity to a human or a halfling* “I want you to read them to me.” *Kali laughs at this and then smiles back to Lalaith.* “You are kidding, right?” *She shakes her head a bit.* *In reply Lalaith shakes her head slowly.* “No, I am not.” *Her reply is quiet and her demeanor quite serious. * *Kali furrows her brow and the smile fades from her lips.* “He still blames me for the last time.” *Lalaith nods silently.* *Kali continues.* “Why do you want this anyway?” *Lalaith’s features seem to grow a bit saddened.* “There is something I want to know.” *Kali sighs, still a bit hesitantly.* “Well, alright. But you keep him well held back from me then.” *She smiles a bit coyly.* “Come along then.” *She giggles quietly to herself, her spirit having returned.* *Lalaith follows Kali through the tavern door entrance. Kali leads her to a small room, just beyond the entrance. Inside the room flickering candlelight casts dancing shadows on the walls. The room smells lightly of some sort of flower and spice. They each take a seat at a small round table, before Kali looks up to Lalaith and speaks again.* “I will explain as I go then, I’m assuming you’ve never done anything like this before?” *Lalaith shakes her head in reply.* “No, I have not.” *Kali nods. She places a stack of peculiar looking but beautifully painted cards face down in the center of the table. Her voice is soothing, almost calming.* “Place your hand on the cards, try to clear your mind of all your thoughts. Let it be at rest. Let yourself not think of anything.. not of this place, the sounds outside the door, the color of the candles. Just relax.” *Lalaith does as instructed, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she clears her head.* *After a while Kali signals that enough time as gone by, she picks up the cards and places three of them face down between the two on the table. She speaks clearly about each, and Lalaith listens.* “Your life is made up of many sinews of thought, emotion, people, and events. Each of these threads intertwines, creating many paths. The cards will reveal one such path, starting in the past where it began, and ending in the future, to where it leads.” *Kali reaches out, slowing turning over the first of the three cards as she speaks.* “The first card is the reflections of the past. It could be recent past, or distant. It is where we begin tonight.” *The image revealed as the card is turned is of a pair of gold plated weighing scales drawn over a map of Layonara. The image of the card is upside down to Lalaith as it is turned, making it appear as if the scales are tipped away from her slightly.* “The Judgement of The World card.” *Kali says with a mysterious smirk.* “In this orientation it represents lack of trust, resistance to change, hesitation or guilt. Sometimes it is fear of change. Many times it is loss and separation, though not necessarily permanent.” *Lalaith watches Kali quietly from across the table, her eyes searching the image on the card, before looking back to the gypsy for further explanation.* “You were separated from something or someone in your past. Afraid and resistant of change you likely closed yourself of from the world because of it. You lacked trust in others, or perhaps your own instincts afterwards. You refused to make important decisions and your life delayed because of this.” *Kali looks to Lalaith, whom closes her eyes briefly nodding. Kali then reaches out and turns over the second of the three cards, her bracelets clinking softly as she does.* “The second card is your present days. The things that surround your life now, based on this past.” *The card Kali turns over is that of two lovers. The picture is of two figures, a male and a female joining in intimate embrace. A bright orange sun glows behind them sending an array of reds, pinks and yellows into the deep blue sky as it sets behind the horizon. The card is once again turned so that the image is upside down to Lalaith.* “The lovers.” *Kali smiles curiously at this, as if she knows more than she is letting on.* “But in this il dignified orientation the card represents contradiction, deception, disharmony, duality …. and one's own internal conflict. *She continues.* Infidelity, and romantic disturbances. Indecisiveness, postponing choices and a warning… not to make important decisions at this time.” *Lalaith furrows her brow slightly at that, remaining quiet and concealing all other emotions.* “Your past weighs heavily on you in your present days, doesn’t it? You face an internal conflict now related to the loss and separation in your past. The loss, which left you untrusting and unable to move on with your life. It haunts you again leaving your heart at unrest and causing you to postpone choices.” *Kali pauses momentarily.* “It also warns you though Lalaith, it warns you not to make important choices at this time, while your heart is unrest, and the lovers…” *She points to the card.* “.. remain il dignified.” *Kali reaches forward and turns over the third and final card.* “A glimpse into what has not yet come to pass, but will as you continue on this path.” *The card Kali turns over is displays a rather gruesome image of a dead man hanging from a knotted and gnarled oak tree. Curiously however, the man looks at peace. The image on the card this time, is right side up to Lalaith.* “The hanged man.” *Kali bites her lip lightly after saying those words, then continues.* “In this orientation he is not as gruesome as he may seem… at least to some. He represents the sacrificing one thing to obtain another.” *Those words seem to affect Lalaith in some way, but she continues to listen quietly.* “He symbolizes a waiting period, and then transformation and possibly rebirth. He can also be the willingness to adapt to the changes around and within you. The willingness to accept this sacrifice.” “If you can heed the warning of the present, and delay important decisions at this time, then this will be your future. You will first go through a period of waiting, but then finally a transformation of sorts. You will be willing to make a sacrifice of one thing for another. Likely it is that choice which already weighs on your mind now, Lalaith. But if you can't. . . .” *She trails off.* *Kali watches her a long time before scooping the cards up into the deck in her hands. As her bracelets clink together quietly Lalaith looks up to the red headed Gypsy.* “Thank you.” *She whispers to her as she pulls up her hood. Her features and emotions being concealed once more by the shadows.* “I must go now.” *Kali nods at that and watches, as Lalaith exists the small room, she follows her into the hall, but as Kali rounds the corner, Lalaith is gone. Only the cold air in the foyer from the door opening and closing greets Kali.*
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