The inside of the tent was filled with herbal aromas. Two incense burners sat perched on a small nightstand by the entry. Wrapping around the circular edge of the tent was various charms, trinkets, and herbs. Flickering candle light on the desk near the center was illuminating it all. A deck of black cards with golden trims sat in the very center. Sitting near it was a small metal bowl about the size of two of the cards side by side.
What sat behind the desk almost felt like another display in the tent’s design. A nonferal goat with black fur sat so tall that she could be mistaken for standing. Her tall horns gently curved back towards a messy and long mane of hair. Entangled and woven into the hair were dark wooden windchimes with etches and designs that all reached past the edge of the table and out of sight.
The slight tilt of her head as we entered quietly rattled a few of the wind chimes. Her soft brown eyes with rectangular pupils looked straight to Dante first. Her greeting was smooth as if she had never breathed in all the candle and incense smoke that swirled around her, “And who might you think you are?”
After clearing my throat from the haze, I gave a slight bow with the little room I had to do so, “Hello. My name is Dante Antonio Valentino. I believe you are Sage if I’m not mistaken?”
She gave a slow nod, “Most call me that. Is it a fortune you seek?...or perhaps you seek trouble?”
I shook my head, “Neither I’m afraid. I’m here for information on a Herald of Hoaxes. Being the eldest of the workers I was hoping you would have heard a rumor of it.”
Michael stayed quiet beside me as she nervously watched.
Sage narrowed her eyes at me with a lower tone, “A false assumption. I am not as old as you or any others you spoke to perceive me to be. But to tell you about the information you seek would be a fortune.”
I immediately shut her down. The last thing I wanted to do here was waste money. So I became more stern so I could get the point across and skip her sales pitch, “I do not and I will not participate in any such activities. I will not be spending any money here and I will not be told vague misinformation to lead to feeling hopeful like a lost lamb with wool over my eyes. I am here because people are in danger and I myself could end up in danger as well if it’s not taken care of. Now tell me what you know about the herald of hoaxes.”
The second I was done speaking was a rush of wind. The sheer force of her standing up and towering over me nearly blew out the candles and had me stumble in surprise. If it weren’t for her hand suddenly grasping the collar of my shirt and pulling me to my tip toes, I would have fallen over. Inches from her face, I didn’t see furry in her eyes. I saw determination. Despite remaining quiet, her voice managed to maintain an intimidating volume, “I do not take petty cash. I do not take orders from the likes of you. I will not be disrespected in my own craft when you simply can not understand it. And I will be giving you information in the way that I see fit.”
I started to speak and I will have the record show that I did not raise my voice an octave out of fear. Some would say a higher pitch voice is more powerful, “-I-I uh- If if you don’t unhand me-”
Sage's eyes narrow as they glare down into my soul, “Then what? Do you really want to control what I say that badly? I will tell you what you want to hear. I know what they called you. I know what they did to you. The amount of blood that stained those floors. The loud desperate cries so shrill it hurt your own ears but it was NOTHING in comparison,” I grew silent and still as she continued, “I know you snake. And you never held merrit here. Not then, not now. These lies you keep up are not you and everyone will find out.”
Her gaze shifted. She was now looking over at Michael as my heart sank. But she continued. She spoke to Michael in a kinder voice with a light smile, “Your third eye is more clear than any other. He’s no snake but he’s certainly no Italian either.”
I quickly speak up as my voice DIDN’T crack, “OKAY. I get it- I get it. Just put me down.”
Michael furrows her brow at me, “Wait. You’re not Italian?”
Sage smiles back at me, “Say the magic word.”
I quickly spoke before she could say more, “PLEASE!”
Sage lowered me back on my feet and gently sat back down. She now had a content look on her face as she watched me straighten my shirt collar. Michael didn’t say another word but somehow I knew I had some questions to answer next time she had the chance.
I cleared my throat, “So… the uh… the fortune. Do you have a fortune about the harold of hoaxes? Maybe why are they doing this? Maybe some details. Nothing vague”
She deadpans at me, “It is in one ear and out the other with you.”
I scoff in confusion, “You got mad at me for not asking for a fortune so now I’m asking nicely.”
She stays quiet for a moment before pointing at the opening of the tent, “Out. Now.”
I huff, “Oh come on! I did what you said!”
She says louder while starting to stand up, “I SAID OUT. You don’t understand this clearity. I will speak with Michael. You’re BANNED from this tent.”
I rolled my eyes while reluctantly backing out. What did she have against me? I didn’t do anything wrong. She wanted me to get a fortune and so I did! She still gets mad at me for that! It’s childish. I mean what could Michael understand that I couldn’t. And if I can’t understand it then is it REALLY clearity? It’s preposterous to think you can boss around your clients. The customer always knows best. Has she no hospitality? Come to think of it, has she no major? Is she even qualified? Certified even? College enrolled!?! Has she no merrit?!?
And the NERVE to just brush me off on messing up once. I beg your pardon? Did she ever think about how I felt about this? I’m a butler in wickerwoods for pete's sake. I’m the lowest of the low and have to constantly withhold a sense of elegance to even match everyone else in the social hierarchies. The one blip of a chance for me to be higher than anyone is in clientele. And she takes that from me right off the rip? OBSCERITY. A scoundrel of modern business. Pure hogwash.
By now I was tired of pacing in rage as I sneered to myself. I had sat down on a bench and stewed quietly. The longer I waited for Michael the more my mind ran. That was until I looked down. A stray candy wrapper with metallic shine had blown over to my feet. In it, a crumbled up reflection. Even as distorted as that reflection was I could see the rage on my face clear as day. It reminded me of Wendell.
I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind of frustrations to ease the look on my face. I pulled myself back to calmness. Though looking back up from the bench I saw the same thing as always. A large dent in the wall of the crowd where people avoid walking too close to this bench. Even people that were obviously looking for the fortune telling tent suddenly pivoted and changed their minds on seeing me. The one thing she was wrong about me. If I looked, acted, and sounded like a snake. I had to be one.