Den of Shadows Collection: Lose yourself in the fantasy, mystery, and intrigue of this stand out trilogy. Christopher ByfordЧитать онлайн книгу.
looking for someone.’
Wyld wrinkled her nose. ‘What if I said I wasn’t?’ she tested. There was still a chance all this was going to be a deception – no matter how pleasant the company.
‘Then I have to say I don’t believe you.’
‘And if I insisted?’
‘I would ask why you were lying to me.’
‘Then you may be correct. Maybe there is someone,’ she finally confessed.
‘Elaborate. Tell me about them.’
‘Isn’t that your job while we do this?’
Katarina chuckled. ‘That’s a common misconception for a reading of this kind. It just helps, is all. I’m not trying to prompt you to give me information if that’s what you are suspicious of. It greases the wheels. Makes it all go smoother. Any qualities that I can envision of this mysterious person?’
‘Opening up isn’t something I do well. I’m not drunk enough for this.’
‘That makes two of us.’ Katerina reached over and filled her glass once more, taking in its scent. ‘So it’s clearly a man. That’s painfully obvious given your reaction.’
Wyld leaned back, taking a bigger mouthful. She nodded. ‘Complicated. Handsome.’ She paused. ‘Lips of an Angel.’
‘Handsome is good enough for me.’ Katerina smiled. ‘Good enough for plenty of women out here.’ She took another swig from her drink, coaxing another refill with a shake of the glass. As Wyld leant forward and poured, Katerina’s face fell somewhat. She analysed the collection of cards in their particular order. On one, a crested moon straddled the sky above five stars – the furthest one to the left much brighter than the others.
‘You’re looking for this man. You’re not searching for him in the conventional sense though; that’s the curiosity. There’s more to it than that. You’re tracking him like one tracks a wild beast. It’s what brought you here, to us.’
Wyld reflected on the accuracy of this accusation. She shadowed his footsteps in whatever hole he passed through; offered bartender and stallholder coin in exchange for insight. Scraps of information were procured from those who claimed sightings – some greatly embellished for personal gain. After all, his presence set many tongues wagging. Someone hauling around a reputation as large as his made it almost impossible to remain incognito.
Maybe she had resorted to tracking him much like a hunter would stalk their quarry. So what? Maybe there was no other way. She began scratching at the bottle label with her fingernails, peeling it from a corner until enticing a rip.
‘You lived together, years back. The bond was close, very close in fact. You trusted him. There was a time when you relied on one another to survive. Together the world wasn’t so harsh. You were a compass to one another, pointing to personal serenity.’
Katerina spread two cards apart, calculating their meaning. Her voice lowered a shade. ‘You loved him.’
Wyld blinked momentarily as the words cut through her.
‘But, I’m sorry to say, he loved you as one would have loved their sibling. That is a shame. But it is still love and that is a blessing in itself. It is still a bond.’
Wyld tried not consider this as an insult. Despite wrestling with her own conscience for months now, she still came to the same conclusion that Katerina had voiced. Was she not attentive enough? Had she not tried to ease his restless mind when he spoke of troubles and burdens of duty?
Had she not provided him with enough reasons to stay?
‘You’re angry at him too.’
‘You need the cards to see that?’ Wyld tossed down a mouthful, hissing through her teeth to relieve the liquor’s sting.
‘Of course not, but what you harbour is not rage. It would be quite easy to confuse it as such given the nature of this situation. It’s the pursuit of answers. A desperation I suppose it could be called.’
‘Is there anything in all this that at least gives me direction?’
The crossed arrangement of cards slowly revealed themselves with every question.
‘You’re on the right track according to this. He was venturing north, far north in fact, very much alone and with regret. Leaving you wasn’t a decision taken lightly.’
Another flick of the wrist. Another three cards turned over to reveal themselves.
‘You’re missed. Very much so. Despite what you may think, your time together was something that fulfilled you both. It’s rare that two people stumble upon one another and find what they need. Compassion. Direction. Things that make us whole.’
‘Will I find him?’ Wyld’s hand trembled around her drink as she tried to steady her voice. ‘Is all this for nothing?’
Cards turned and sighs were offered. Wyld dissected each facet of the cards as she saw them in the hope of gaining hint as to their meaning.
Katerina delivered a slew of disappointment. ‘If I tell you that you will, it’ll incite you not to drive yourself onward as hard as you have done up until now. If I tell you that you won’t, you’ll be inclined to give up. So on that front, I cannot say.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’ Wyld wrinkled her nose, finding her temper to be shortening. It would be cruel to yank away this hope now, even if it was false.
‘Pick one. But know that what I’m saying is for the best and not to be difficult. A line has to be drawn somewhere and I’m afraid it has been decided that this is yours.’
Katerina took the last card between her fingers, spinning it around for Wyld to see. A new moon surrounded by seven stars with three sporting grand depictions in yellow. It meant nothing to the observer though was impressed with its ominousness.
‘What’s that one?’
‘The Mithany, more commonly known as The Flower. This card and ones like it mean the end to what we discuss. Past this point things are unsettled, but it also infers something else. This card right here offers hope. Maybe hope for the future in general. Maybe hope in your endeavours that you will catch this man. Hope, maybe, that you will be at peace with your past.’
It was offered over and claimed by Wyld who examined its face.
‘You can keep that.’
‘Won’t it mess up your deck?’
Scooping the cards back together and sliding the pack into its decorated sleeve, Katarina scoffed. ‘No. I’ve got like a hundred of them. Makes things personal for the reader. People love that little touch of a souvenir.’
Letting the atmosphere defuse, Katerina allowed Wyld to wipe her eyes and process what had been said. The glass was refilled but this time only to its equator. The bottle finally had run dry.
‘How was that? Are you okay?’ Katerina enquired, watching Wyld delicately nurse her spent bottle.
‘Accurate. Scarily so. You’re very good.’ Wyld was rattled.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to … you know. This.’
‘He was a bastard to leave me,’ Wyld confessed, blowing out air. It had been the first time she had spoken with anyone about all of this and frankly it had been a relief to share. ‘But bastard or no, I’ll find him. And I’ll get him to explain why he did so.’
Katerina cheered boisterously and a little too loudly. ‘Now that I will happily drink to. To fleeing men!’ She struck the bottle with her wine glass in a toast. ‘Doesn’t sound like any man I’ve ever known. All mine have been focused on settling down, fathering many babies. Nobody wants an adventure nowadays. The world is too dangerous they say. It’s a trial to keep safe, to keep ends met. Why anyone would