“Sometimes it is possible,” Iza answered. “Would you like me to search for the answer?”
“Yes, please.”
Iza smiled and delight was shown in her dark eyes. “I will return in a moment.” Iza came to her feet then turned and climbed the steps to a vardo of deep purple with yellow and red accents and disappeared behind a midnight blue curtain.
“I wonder what you did in the past,” Cassian whispered.
“I am still not certain I believe.”
“A witch that does not believe in something others think is beyond the realm of possibilities.” He chuckled.
“Shhhh! They do not know that I am a witch.”
“I am certain that she already does,” Cassian assured her. “And even if she did not, it would not matter as she understands that nearly every woman at Nightshade Manor is and is not bothered. In fact, they have often sought Madam Boswell’s guidance during difficult times.”
“I have brought tea,” Iza announced as she exited out of the back of her vardo carrying a tray with three cups. “Drink it all and then we will see what the leaves reveal.”
As she was rather parched, Samantha had no difficulty doing as instructed.
“You too, Cassian,” Iza instructed when he simply sipped and watched as if he were taking afternoon tea.
“Why?”
Iza looked up and grew serious, her eyes darkening. “You have your own troubles that must be resolved.”
He pulled back, shaking his head. “I am certain that I do not. Besides, we are here for Lady Samantha.”
“Then you lie to yourself.” Iza tilted her head. “I also find it odd that Lady Samantha had not already noticed herself.”
He shifted his eyes to Samantha and tilted his head in question, studying her a little too intently.
She simply shrugged and wondered how much Iza already knew of her gifts.
Once her tea was gone and nothing remained but a small amount in the bottom of the cup, she returned it to Iza who instructed Samantha to pour the remaining liquid onto the ground, right the cup and then give it to her.
She followed the instructions and then waited.
Her tea leaves had never been read before, but she was not unfamiliar with the practice and sometimes questioned fortune telling without a magical artifact to assist. However, she didn’t fully discount Iza’s gifts either.
For the longest time Iza stared into the cup, turned it one way and then another, and sometimes frowned.
Maybe there was not much to see and her soul had only lived this one life with her.
“Your soul has had many journeys,” Iza said. “I am beginning to understand, but all is not yet clear.”
This is something that Samantha would expect to hear if she had brought good coin to sit down across from a fortune teller at a village fair.
Coin!
She had not brought any with her. Hopefully Iza would let her return with payment.
“We must consult the cards.” Iza stood and once again disappeared into the vardo only to return with another tray upon which there was a stack of cards that she handed to Samantha. “Please shuffle.”
Samantha took them and did as asked then returned them to Iza who placed them on the tray and asked Samantha to cut them. Only then did she turn the cards over and place them in a pattern on the tray.
For the longest time she did not speak, as had been the case with her tea leaves and Samantha tried not to grow anxious.
“Your soul has enjoyed many lives. It is ancient indeed.”
