Finn stepped up next to them, grinning. “I knew you ladies would enjoy the parade,” he said. “Wait till the jousting tomorrow. That will be even more exciting. This is just the opening night pageantry.”
“Oh, they aren’t jousting tonight?” Lilly asked.
“Not in the dark, sill…” Finn caught himself before he called her silly again. “Cousin,” he said with a smile. “Evening entertainments are my area,” he winked. “Fire is much more dramatic at night. I’ve got to do a few things, but if you go between those two vendor tents,” he pointed. “You’ll be on the row where my stage is. And you have the map to find it.”
“Yes,” Lilly nodded. Ever the practical one, she would keep them on schedule, and make sure they didn’t get lost, or miss something they wanted to see.
“Good. See you in a bit,” he said. “The fortune teller I told you about is behind you on your right. You’ve got time to see her if you go now.”
They both turned and saw the sign which said, ‘Madame Merlina, Fortune Teller.’
Mia giggled. “Think that’s her real name?”
Finn had already walked away, so he couldn’t answer.
“I doubt it,” Lilly said. “The name is too close to Merlin, and I’ve never heard it before. I bet she made it up.”
“It’s kind of fun, though,” Mia said.
Lilly just shrugged. “Finn insisted we should have our fortunes told by her,” she said. “I don’t know why. It’s not real. They just make stuff up.”
Mia really didn’t want to get into a discussion about it.
Lilly preferred facts and figures, science and data, rather than anything magical.
But Mia, who loved romance, adventure, and magic, was intrigued, so she said, “Let’s try it! It will be fun.”
“Sure,” Lilly shrugged again.
They headed for the fortune teller’s tent, which was dark blue with silver stars on it.
As they stepped inside, a brown skinned woman, with a multicolored skirt, a purple and red full blouse, wearing a red turban, and large silver hoop earrings, said, “Come in, come in.” She gave them a smile. “Fortune is smiling on you. Have a seat.” She gestured to the two chairs on their side of a round table.
As they sat, she watched them, and then she said, “No private readings for you, as you both share everything with each other.”
Surprise showed on Lilly’s face, for this was true.
Mia knew Lilly would be thinking, how did she know that? She must have made a guess.
But Mia believed in the woman’s abilities. So, she smiled at her.
“Madame Merlina,” she said. “We would like readings to learn our futures, with love and marriage, children, that kind of thing. My name is Mia, and this is my best friend, Lilly.”
“Of course,” Madame Merlina said. “A pleasure.” She smiled at them both, and then unwrapped a purple silk cloth from around a deck of Tarot cards. “This deck for you.”
The deck she laid on the table was older, much used, with faded corners on the cards.
Mia wondered if it had been Madame Merlina’s first deck. The other deck on the table was newer, more dramatic looking. Compared to that one, the older deck didn’t look like much.
“Why that deck?” Lilly asked looking back and forth between the two decks.
Mia knew the answer before the fortune teller spoke.
The older deck was stronger, gave deeper messages, life changing ones. Goosebumps spread down her arms at that knowing.
Madame Merlina tapped the deck with her index finger, and looked at Mia as if she knew what Mia was feeling. “This deck,” she said. “Speaks to me. Always answers. Always true.”
“Now,” she turned to face Lilly. “You shuffle first.” She handed her the deck. “Three times shuffle, and while shuffling, think of questions you want answers to. Nothing else.” She pushed the deck in front of Lilly, and then sat back, her hands in her lap, waiting.
