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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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"I <strong>be</strong>lieve so. Can you research it?"<br />

"Yes; I shall look in<strong>to</strong> it. I should have the information in less than a day from<br />

now."<br />

~~~~~<br />

Don't think that just <strong>be</strong><strong>cause</strong> someone else was <strong>do</strong>ing my research for me<br />

that this was an excuse <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> lazy. Trust me, it was much more comforting<br />

knowing that my fate was in my own hands. With someone else taking the<br />

reins all I could <strong>do</strong> was sit in the carriage twitching my leg, blind <strong>to</strong> the path<br />

and hoping I wasn't about <strong>to</strong> get driven in<strong>to</strong> a ditch.<br />

With that on my mind the world was flowing past me as I wandered <strong>do</strong>wn<br />

the street. It was only by chance that an old woman caught my attention, if<br />

only <strong>be</strong><strong>cause</strong> something about her pricked a hint <strong>of</strong> recognition in the back<br />

<strong>of</strong> my mind.<br />

Not a memory... more an echo <strong>of</strong> what a memory should've <strong>be</strong>en.<br />

The woman examined me closely with her sharp, gray eyes... first my face,<br />

then my arms and various tat<strong>to</strong>os. "Greetings, scarred one. Come <strong>to</strong> speak<br />

with Elobrande, have ye? Come <strong>to</strong> have yer fortune <strong>to</strong>ld, mayhap, for a<br />

paltry five coins?"<br />

Well, I was up <strong>to</strong> my eyes in coppers anyway. I fished a small palmful out <strong>of</strong><br />

my pouch. "Yes... tell me my fortune..."<br />

Elobrande placed my coins in her <strong>be</strong>lt pouch and <strong>to</strong>ok my hands. She quietly<br />

studied my palms, frowning deeply and with eyebrows furrowed. At long<br />

last, she spoke. "Some rare folk are what's called fateless, ye see. They<br />

wander through their lives <strong>do</strong>ing as they see fit, creating their own destinies.<br />

Ye have no fortune <strong>to</strong> tell, scarred one... none at all. I've <strong>not</strong>hing <strong>to</strong> tell ye...<br />

and so here is yer coin." She returned my five coppers.<br />

I nodded, still suspicious. There was something about her... "Farewell, then."<br />

"Hold ye one moment, scarred one..." Elobrande reached out, <strong>to</strong>uching my<br />

arm. "My mother gave me something once, long ago... a scroll, sealed with<br />

wax. A hooded man had entrusted it <strong>to</strong> her, and said that a man such as ye<br />

814

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