There is nothing to be done except… tell the fortune to the mysterious stranger. My hands shake as I pick up the oracle cards and start shuffling them. I am sweating under his intense gaze, thankful for the protection of the hood. I don't want to meet him eye to eye.
"Well then? What do my cards say?" he says gently, as if apologizing for scaring me just now. But I don't trust him in the slightest. My trembling fingers flip the first card.
Dragon of the Gold.
I pull the second card.
Ace of Gemstones.
And at last, the third.
The Ancient World.
Of course, all of this is up for interpretation. But no cards are reversed, and I'd be a blind fool if I lied to myself just now. I'm sitting in front of an actual, real, Lord of Gold and Gemstones. The great Itzamatul, as His name is. The great Dragon of the Earth.
I shiver and flinch as I stare into his golden, snake-like eyes. "This cannot be real," I whisper. He leans forward to tip my hood back and I let him, too scared to fight it. Besides, it would be an offense to deny him, now that I knew his true identity.
My hood slips back, revealing my freckled face.
He purrs in approval. "The tales speak of a beauty… kissed by Sun." He drags a hand — with suspiciously sharp nails, resembling claws — over my cheek. "And you're like a piece of coal. You simply need the proper surroundings to turn into a diamond."
So he's calling me ugly. I sniffle and move his hand away. "Do you want to insult me or to hear the fortune?" I speak with bravado even though my voice is trembling. What kind of fortune would the Gemstone Lord even want from me?
He lets me go and leans back. "I'd like to hear about the Fate."
In the end, everyone's beholden to it. It does not matter if you're a peasant or a Dragon Lord; Fate still has you in her shackles. I can see that he's treating me with respect because I am one of the Fate's Beloved Ones, as some call us. The priestesses and messengers of the Lady Fate who rules over all the same.
There are a few important ladies. Lady Fate, Lady Luck, and Lady Time are the three most important ones. And they spare nobody. A king can become a leper, and a leper can become a king, depending on the will of these three dames.
And the Dragon Lord in front of me knows that as well. How odd. It's actually me who… has the upper hand in this situation.
I look at the crystal ball. It's just for decorum, it doesn't really do much, but sometimes Fate allows me to see glimpses in it. I feel drawn to it. I place my fingers on it and…
I am transported into a vision immediately. A vivid and booming one— something like this has never happened before! I gasp and steady myself, feeling everything around me move so fast, rapidly, as my lungs try to battle for air.
Still images start flashing through my head.
But instead of the Dragon Lord I see…
Myself.
I am standing in the middle of a beautiful Court decorated with jewels and glistening gems — and my attire matches it as well. I see Itzamatul in front of me, smiling, reaching his hand towards mine… But then the image changes, and I see myself in a common room with plenty of other women; another change, I see dozens of faces flash around me… It seems that Fate is unstable, changing, and this has never happened before.
It's too much to experience. I scream and let go of the ball, as if it was burnt.
Duarte — as he goes in his human form — expectantly stares at me. "What did you see?"
"I am sorry, great Lord," I bow my head, "I saw my future. Not yours."
"And was I in your future?" His voice is calm, grounding.
I swallow and nod.
He hums and closes his eyes, then opens them again, intently looking at me. "Then I don't believe you have any choice, if the Fate has decided it so." He reaches forward and touches my hand. "I could make you a very happy woman."
"As a Seer of your Court?" I gasp.
He is about to say something, then just laughs, as if I misunderstood something.
"As my wife," he cocks his head, "if you so will it."
I stare at him in shock. As his… wife?
He pulls out another sachet of gemstones. "I promise you'd never lack anything."
I burst out laughing. Am I really getting courted right now? A marriage? Insane. I stare at him wide-eyed.
"You don't have to decide immediately. But come with me to the Court of Gold and Gemstones, and decide for yourself." He takes the three cards — his cards — and turns them towards me. "We will sign a contract, if it makes you feel at ease."
Ah yes. The famous Lord of Gold… and his contracts.
I weigh out my options. This is dangerous, the most danger I've ever been in. There is something untrustworthy about him, despite his calm and professional demeanor. But I look around the wagon — what is there for me, left here? More abuse? More nasty and horrible words?
'Always be careful with dragons,' is what the tales tell. Warn of, more precisely. They're smart, they're crafty, they do not have your best interests at heart.
"Craft the contract," I say at last, and return his gaze. "I want it to be fair and bring me no harm, in case I turn down your courtship."
Duarte smiles and nods. He snaps his fingers and suddenly, a parchment of paper appears in the air. The words start writing themselves.
The Binding Accord Between Enya, Seer of Fates, and Itzamatul, Lord of Gold and Gemstones This document serves as a formal agreement between Enya, a seer known for her gift of foresight, and Itzamatul, Lord of Gold and Gemstones. The terms outlined below define the mutual understanding of both parties.
I skim through the contract. Offer of dowry as a sign of respect, offer of protection… and the contract can be ended if both parties agree. It seems all good to me.
I take my feather and ink, then look at him.
Enya Visperia, I sign.