The Last of the Time Lords: Tales of a Bounty Hunter Book 1

The Curse of Nialiv

Chapter 2

Thelleirilia

In Thelleirilia crystals and heirlooms were not a rare sight. Gypsies used them often to predict fortunes. Of course, Noemi didn't believe in destiny or the reading on one's fortune -a sentiment that Grav shared tenfold- but she had found they could help her locate things Grav could not find.

She was not friendly with many Gypsies, just one that she knew was trustworthy and was not about to bank rob her with twaddles. Eris, as it happened, always came through for some reason. Her tent was covered in curtains; even the floor. It was not big and it always smelled of burned Rodicus flower.

Hello, dear Noemi!, Noemi flinched as Eris' voice echoed inside her head. She had not got used to the telepathic speech at all. As a matter of fact, the first time it happened she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Eris!" she greeted trying to offer a kind smile.

Eris was sat on the floor, one leg on top of the other, calm and collected as if she was expecting Noemi to stop by her tent. Eris was the first Gypsy she had seen and Noemi remembered staring at the markings that covered her body. Large, dark marks like tattoos. Every Gypsy had them, some kind of birthmark -or birthmarks as was the case. Noemi hadn't dared to ask if they meant anything. The answer would probably be something along the lines of ''They show the trip of our soul in this life'' and Noemi was not about to sit through a conversation like this.

Eris reached out one hand and smiled at her. Come! Let me see what is bothering you, she urged.

Noemi let go of the curtain, which fell back into place hiding them from the rest of the aliens on Thelleirilia. Then she moved to sit across from Eris bending her legs in a similar manner, one on top of the other. Sitting like this, so close to each other, it always felt weird. Eris had this look in her eyes, it felt as if she could see the depths of Noemi's soul. And that scared the living crap out of her. But despite that, she was always kind, and unlike other Gypsies, Noemi liked Eris.

"I have a new job." she started, going through her things to get the piece of paper out. "But it turns out what I'm looking for is lost and I was wondering if you could help..." she laid the sketch in front of them. "...clear the path I need to take?"

Let's see what the cards have to say.

The prediction cards, or whatever they are actually called, was a familiar concept. Noemi knew that Eris kept them at her right side, inside a wooden box with carvings. She also knew that they are big and red on the backside and so thin you could practically see through them and also, that they have pictures of things no one could understand. Except for Gypsies, of course; because they can read fortune...apparently.

Eris took the cards out of the box and laid them between them as they were, stuck one on top of the other like a pyramid. She knew the next part too. Noemi got ahold of the cards and started mixing them -which as Eris says leaves her print on them- and then set them back down. The way Eris touched them later felt almost sacred.

She set the first three cards down. What you are looking for is very old and hidden indeed, but for a good reason. It must not fall into the wrong hands.

I sense power. she read the next few cards. There are two paths circling it. A dark path, that leads to destruction, she elaborates. And a light path. It's difficult to see, but the path will be decided by you...but not only you. There are others whose decisions will be the catalyst between the darkness and the light.

Flabbergasted, Noemi tried not to roll her eyes. "Yeah...I am more interested in where I can find it..." she croaked.

In reply, a soft chuckle echoed inside her head. I'm just reading what the cards tell me.