[Ten Years Before Current Day]
The sound of cowries hitting the cloth chart was muffled and yet, appeared loud in the tense silence of the crowded dining hall. The crowd watched the roll of the cowries with fascination, with little inkling of what they meant. On the other hand, Master Bishu's mind was sharply calculating every turn and placement of the cowries, as any new Master of Astrology would.
Master Bishu mumbled a sound of satisfaction, and every eye in the room rolled across to him.
"Lady Mitali will live." Bishu's declaration was met with a small, dissatisfied grunt from a young man. Bishu could already see in the readings that Mitali was the said man's wife, but he kept the knowledge to himself. The man placed five gold coins in front Bishu and left the room in a hurry.
"Who wants to take the next turn?" Bishu's curious eyes scanned the room.
