With a stab of fear, Selena scanned the rest of the wares in the shop for unusual copper jewelry, as the rocks were sometimes made into necklaces or bracelets of great beauty…and terrible danger to magic-wielder’s such as herself. Those lessons she recalled with great clarity. Rocks fallen from the Void would deafen her to the god and strip her of her powers simply by touch. She saw none, though she didn’t know if she’d recognize such a rare piece should she find one. She proceeded perusing the shop with caution.
A table made from the cross-section of a tree trunk and finely polished, displayed a tray of jewelry. Pendants and amulets of various design, some exquisite, some grotesque, some so plain that she wondered at their worth, were arrayed on a cloth of black velvet. One trinket caught Selena’s eye; she ran her fingers over a heavy red-gold coin. The edges were rough and uneven but the engraving on the face was expertly done. Selena shivered for the etching was that of a Zak’reth warrior, his face covered in the fearsome visage of a helm forged to look like a ferocious animal, as the warriors were fond of wearing. Her thoughts were swamped with terrifying memories of battles against the Zak’reth and their menacing helms and their weapons that burned as well as cut. She returned the coin to its tray and started to leave.
“Welcome, child.”
Selena flinched and spun around in time to see a slender hand bedecked with rings, pull the curtain at the rear of the shop aside. A woman of middle years stepped forward, her dress of multicolored silk hung in elegant folds around her slim form. She smiled at Selena, her dark, almond eyes warm and sharp. A woman from the Ho Sun Isles in the Eastern Edge. The seer bowed in greeting, her straight black hair brushing her chin.
“You are a fresh flower who does not wilt in the heat,” she observed, her accent thick. “You would like a reading?” The seer gestured to the back room from which she had come.
“Oh no, thank you.”
“Spinning stones speak much for those willing to listen.” The seer smiled. “I can help you, sweet one.”
Selena gave a small laugh. “Unless you have a ship to sell me, I very much doubt it.”
“Not help for out there.” She flapped her hands toward the street. “Help for here.” She motioned over Selena’s head, spreading her arms wide. “Dark clouds over you,” she said. “Dark clouds that never rain, never release. Only threaten.”
Selena stiffened. These seers are all charlatans. She is no different.
But the woman was smiling at her again in such a welcoming way, it brought to mind Selena’s mother before she fell sick. How she’d smile when, as a small child, Selena would run into the kitchen of their fine house on Isle Lillomet, her hands filled with seashells and her mind filled with questions.
“A reading,” Selena said slowly. “I don’t think so. The Two-Faced God is mine. I don’t need the services of the lesser.”
“Lesser?” The woman sniffed. “The stars, they are not as bright as the moon, but they shine still, yes?” The woman cocked her head. “Is it wrong to you, priestess?”
“No,” Selena said. “I don’t know. I have spent most of my life on the Western Watch and am ignorant of the gods save my own.” She looked at the seer. “Do many people keep to gods other than the Two-Faced God?”
“Many people do,” the woman said. “The big moon god is emperor, that is true. Of course it is. So much water to sail. Tides, currents…” She waved her hand.
Selena stiffened. “There is more to it than that.”
“Of course, of course. Your moon god is light and dark, healing and hurting. Light and ice. Many temples on many islands, yes?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Ah huh. Big god, big power. But not the only magic on Lunos.”
“But the other gods’ magic is weaker?” Selena asked. “Isn’t it?”
“No, no. Not so weak. That coin you admired just now? Very old. Very powerful.”
The woman moved to stand by Selena and her graceful fingers plucked the red-gold disc from its place among many other gems and coins.
“How did you know?”
The woman smiled. She laid the coin in Selena’s hand. “This from Oshkat. He is the god of war and blood and the arts of battle. The Zak’reth’s god.”
The coin felt heavier than its size warranted. “The Zak’reth are my enemy.” Selena set the coin down and wiped her hand on her tunic. “And your god? Not this Oshkat?”
“No. The Ho Sun people do not worship the war god. Shaizan speaks to An-Lan.” The woman’s smile was so warm, so gentle, Selena couldn’t help soften her heart to her.
“Hello, An-Lan. I am Selena.”
“Yes, of course. I foresaw in my dreams. A warrior lady of the big god, come to see me. Strong and powerful, but small and lonely, too.”
“Small and lonely.” Selena sighed. “Yes. I suppose that’s true.”
An-Lan led Selena to the rear of her shop by the hand. “Come. I do a reading for you, bring you some peace.”
“No, no, I shouldn’t,” Selena said. “I shouldn’t give succor to another god.”
“Give succor?” An-Lan furrowed her delicate brows. “I do not know these words, but I know that you are loyal to your big god and so you worry. Do not. Taking a reading is not the same as worship or pledging to serve. Come.”
An-Lan guided her into a small back room with walls of hanging beads and silken curtains. A small table and two small chairs were its furnishings. On the table sat half a dozen lit candles and a small, milky white ceramic bowl with grooved sides. It was covered with strange symbols in pale blue, green, pink, and gold. A lantern hung from above, casting a warm, yellow glow over all.
“Are you not worried about thievery to leave your shop unattended?” Selena asked.
An-Lan sniffed. “I’m no pretender. Anyone who steals from An-Lan will see his cock shrivel, turn black, and fall off!”
Selena covered her laugh with one hand. “Is that true?”
“It’s true!” An-Lan said, and then smiled slyly. “Well, maybe not all true. But the people know stealing from a seer angers the gods. They do not try. Superstitious bunch, all sailors. But to be safe, I have many jewels and stones that are nothing but glass and rock. They are mixed among what is real, and the real are very rare, very scarce. Not many.” She shut the draperies behind them. “You picked a real one. It does not surprise me.”
She guided Selena into one of the small chairs and took the other. From a hidden pocket in her billowy dress she withdrew a small velvet pouch that bore a wide staring eye in silver stitching. An-Lan emptied the pouch onto the table and ten beautiful, perfectly cut oval opals spilled out. Some were milky and flecked with pink, green, and blue. Others were the deep blue-green of the sea, with gold swimming in their depths.
“You want three questions or one?” An-Lan asked. “Three, I think. You have the money for three and you need many answers, yes?”
“I suppose,” Selena said, suddenly feeling very foolish.
“You just wait,” An-Lan said. She scooped up the pile of opals and shook them like a dicer before a throw. “The moon god is not the only god who Hears you, sweet one. Close your eyes and ask.”
“Ask what?”