1 Soul Bound
1.2 Taking Control
1.2.2 An Awakening Epiphany
1.2.2.12 Baba's hut
Bungo was inside the hut now, sitting at a table peering at a spread of Tarot cards by the light of a brass lantern with stained glass panels. Also on the table was a tall copper samovar, inscribed with a detailed panorama showing an ice-bound city. It was giving off a heady smoke, scented with pine and something herbal. Mugwort?
More scents came from a large black iron cauldron hanging over a low fire, which had a massive rune-inscribed iron club next to it. It looked way too heavy to use. Standing nearby, slurping tea from a saucer and smacking her lips with relish stood Bungo’s dance partner. Her peg-like teeth glinted in the flickering firelight, as though they too were iron.
“What do you see, apprentice?” said the woman.
Bungo: “They seem to be arranged in trios, Baba Olga. Death, Judgement and the World are one set. Strength, Magician and Priestess are a second set. Fool, Lovers and the Hanged Man is the third set.”
Olga: “Just so. But what do they mean?”
Bungo: “The world is going to die. The mages and priests are in a war of strength against each other. The foolish lovers are going to be hanged.”
Olga: “Stop trying to use your brain. What does your heart feel they mean? Say it, no matter how silly or strange.”
Bungo: “The second set is a single person. She is brave, and both a priestess and a mage.”
Kafana: “Hello Bungo.”
Bungo gave a start, and nearly turned around but Olga snapped a command at him: “Continue!”
Bungo: “The lover must make a sacrifice, if she wants a new beginning.”
Kafana: “I’m here to learn about curses, to see what it will take to remove one from Vittoria so she can marry Lelio and stay looking after the orphans she loves.”
Bungo: “The first set is most important. It applies to the person in the second set. If she wants change, wants to achieve harmony again, she needs to reflect upon who she truly is. She needs to awaken.”
Kafana: {Sys, are you trying to give me a clue?}
[I never cheat, Kafana. Bungo won a clue through legitimate skill use, and you were lucky enough to overhear it.]
Kafana: {Sys, well thank you anyway. I wish you had a body, sometimes, like ooc-Cov. Then I could give you a hug.}
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Olga: “Better. Keep practicing. And now we have kept our new guests waiting long enough. Introduce me.”
Bungo stood and steered Kafana closer to the fire.
Bungo: “Baba Olga, I present to you Madame Kafana, the Twice-Born Bard.”
Bungo: “Kafana, this is High Master Mage Olga, whose speciality is Seeing, and who has kindly accepted me as one of her apprentices.”
Olga: “Bungo has explained to me that the demands Cov places upon you leave no time for social niceties, or I would offer you a cup of tea.”
She went with her instincts, and replied firmly: “No matter how pressed, nobody should be too busy to express gratitude for an honest offer of hospitality. I would be honoured to share a round of tea with you.”
Olga inclined her head: “My sister spoke of you, as have my two nephews, and I can See the deities dancing about you. A Power indeed. The honour will be mine, Madame Kafana; peace be upon you. I will deal with you fairly, aid you truly and protect you bravely, as I would with one of my own.”
Kafana smile warmly: “Baba Olga, upon you be peace. And allow me to introduce my friend Omobono. He is a man with a merry heart, a shrewd tongue and a skilled hand.”
Olga whispered something to Bungo, sending him out of the tent, and engulfed Omobono in a hug that left him looking dainty, despite his tall frame with large well defined muscles.
Olga: “Ha! A good combination. Omobono, if I were 10 years younger, I would have you for supper. My pot is large, as are my hungers.” She chortled.
Bungo brought in Corolle, a thin dark haired adventurer, who carried a loaf of dense rye bread and a dish of fresh butter, while Bungo brought in a tray loaded with china and silverware. Buttered bread was handed out and Baba Olga served tea to herself and Omobono at the table. They chattered about family for a while, and Kafana confirmed her guess that Ruffiana was Olga’s sister, while Carlo and Gregorio were her nephews.
She in turn told Olga about the correct way to brew and serve coffee where she came from, and its social function. Bungo chimed in with recollections of Japanese tea ceremonies, while Omobono entertained them with a story about a businessman from Northern Europe being served tea in Mali and screwing up in every conceivable way, and some ways that Kafana thought had to be an exaggeration.
Finally Olga nodded her head: “Good, I have a measure of you. This information about curses you seek, Kafana. It is dangerous stuff to know. Easy to misuse. I would not share it with just anyone, you understand?”
Omobono: {Oh no. She’s just set it up so I will feel like I am betraying her trust if I broadcast this. I am cursed! I must excuse myself and go play with Nicolo. Please please don’t blow up the world while I’m away. Mary-Lynn and Alderney, they will lynch me. Little bits of Omobono will be left floating in pieces down the river of souls, to scatter like stars in the sky.}
Kafana: {I’ll do my best to ensure the world still exists when you return. No promises.}
Omobono stood and bowed to Olga: “I thank you for your trust and your hospitality. It is hard work keeping a heart merry, and I fear that knowledge of curses would be more of a burden upon me than I can bear. But Kafana will stay. She is strength itself.”
Olga: “A wise choice I think. Had you stayed and betrayed my hospitality, I did not See good coming of it for you. Go in peace, and with my respect. If you would send word to me another time, here is a card for you.” She passed him a card from a Tarot deck without looking at which one it was. Omobono did look and was startled, then pleased. He tucked it away carefully, then left the tent.
Kafana: {Minion, embargo my broadcast, flag it womble-only until I leave this tent.}