The bell outside of Nasperge’s tent rang twice, insistently. The Magician straightened, smoothed out his cape as best he could, and bid his visitor enter. Almost before he had finished speaking, the curtain parted and a woman entered. She was richly arrayed in a fine gown decorated in frills and ropes, each one hanging like a noose. From her bearing alone, Nasperge knew she was a noblewoman. From her unique adornments, it was clear just which noblewoman she was. Nasperge did not need his cards to know what was coming, although they had certainly helped. And so, with intentional disdain, he remained seated and merely indicated to the chair opposite him. The woman scowled, but took the seat and forced an insincere smile.

“You are, I presume, the man known as Nasperge the Magician?”

“I am,” Nasperge said with a smile and slight bow of the head. “And you can only be the famous Vicomtesse Perrine Labelle.”

“You may refer to me as ‘my Lady,” or by one of my titles,” she shot back. “One such as you has no right to use my inherited name.”

“Very well, Madame du Collet,” Nasperge said with a sly smirk, expecting his audacity to put off the noblewoman. Strangely, it seemed to have the opposite effect, as the woman’s smile seemed to become more honest.

“Excellent. You know of my reputation. That will save us some time, surely. And, in order to return the favor, know that you are not without a reputation, as well. There are some who say there has never been a better reader of the Aubedore cards.”

Nasperge grinned. “I seek only to serve my patrons, Madame. Tell me, how may I be of service to you on this fine evening?”

Perrine made a show of looking surprised, although the predatory look in her eyes gave away the illusion. “Why, my dear Magician, I am shocked! You are an Aubedore reader, are you not? What other reason would I have to come but to be given a reading?”

“What reason indeed?” Nasperge agreed, and began shuffling his cards, always keeping his eyes on the noblewoman.

“You know,” Madame du Collet said as she watched him shuffle. “There are some who say that Aubedore is a dark art. Mage’s work.”

Nasperge continued to shuffle and continued to smile. “Look hard enough,” he began, “and you will find someone who says anything. Why, I can only imagine what tales are whispered about your honorable self in the dead of night.”

Perrine smiled wider. “I can only imagine.”

After a moment of silence, Nasperge finished shuffling and began dealing the cards. He dealt them in four groups of three, each group assembled in a triangle pointed at the noblewoman, the four groups set up in a diamond pattern. “Let’s see what the cards say about you and your future, shall we?”

“Is it not customary to have the patron ask a question, so that you know what you are reading?”

Nasperge shrugged. “Is it not customary to give proper trials to the accused, Madame du Collet?”

Her smile faded. “One need not appear before my court to find oneself on trial. You would do well to remember that, Magician.”

Nasperge did not reply, but instead indicated toward the cards in front of him. “This Aubedore pattern is known as the Stargazer. It tells of you, and of your future. The pyramid closest to you says what sort of person you are. We reveal two of the cards first, saving the one closest to you for the moment.”

The Magician reached across the table and turned the two cards, revealing the Spider and the Huntress. Nasperge smiled. “You are an ambush predator, Madame du Collet. You spin your webs in dark corners and behind walls, but you are always on the hunt.”

Perrine Labelle narrowed her eyes, but said nothing. Nasperge continued, indicating the set of three cards to the lady’s left. “This group indicates your future goals,” he paused, indicating to the grouping on Perrine’s right, “and this group, how you will get there. Let us see what they reveal.” He reached over to the cards representing her goals and flipped the two which were side by side, again leaving the card closest to his patron. He revealed the Flag in its inverted position, and the Queen.

“The Flag represents allegiances. Sides, if you will. Inverted, it indicated a false commitment to those alliances. The cards seem to suggest that you pretend to fight for the benefit and goals of your Queen, but in fact have agendas of your own.”

“How dare you accuse me of traitorous thoughts!”

Nasperge looked up at her. “I accuse you of nothing, my dear lady. I am merely reading the cards as they are presented to us. Let us continue.” He reached over to the group representing Perrine’s path to her goals. He flipped the two further away once again, revealing the Shadows and the inverted Snake. “The Snake is a repulsive creature, ugly to look at, and one that warns its victims of its own danger. Inverted, it suggests that while you are certainly not unpleasant to see, you will strike without warning from the shadows, giving no indication of your crimes until it is too late.”

“I warn you, Magician, you had best watch your tone. I am growing displeased with this reading, and with you.”

Nasperge merely shrugged, and indicated the final grouping of cards, furthest from Perrine. “And these cards represent what will actually unfold. Once again, let us look at just the two.” Nasperge flipped the cards, revealing the Soldier, and the inverted Knight. “War,” he said simply. “And the inverted Knight suggests that even the nobility will fight without honor.”

“Enough of this,” Madame du Collet said, annoyed. “I have everything I need. Nasperge the Magician, I hereby and under the authority of the Baroness of Fleche, place you under arrest.”

Nasperge continued to look at the cards on his table. He did not even glance up at the Vicomtesse as he replied. “And the charge?”

“You are a Mage,” She answered. “Mages have sided with the rebels against the Baroness, and by extension, against the Queen herself. And so, they are wanted by the law.”

“Funny you should mention that,” Nasperge said. “Let’s finish your reading, before you haul me to judgment, shall we?” Before the noblewoman could protest, Nasperge reached over and grabbed the last card in Perrine’s identity group, the card closest to her. He flipped it over immediately, revealing the Magician card. “It seems, then, that you and I have something in common.”

Surprisingly, Perrine Labelle seemed nearly speechless. “How…that is not possible.”

Nasperge grinned. “Isn’t Aubedore a fascinating diversion? Now, let’s see your ultimate goal, shall we?” He reached over to the final card in her goal grouping, revealing the Archmage. “Well, well. Lofty expectations, aren’t they?” He reached over to the final card in the third grouping. “And how do you intend to reach that goal?” He flipped over the third card. It was the Rope. “No surprise there, is it?”

Madame du Collet leaned back in her chair, lightly caressing one of the rope loops adorning her dress. “I suppose not.”

“I wonder how this will all turn out?” Nasperge said, reaching for the final card. “Any guesses, Madame?”

“I am sure I wouldn’t know,” she said, but her grey eyes were fixed on the final card. Nasperge grinned and turned the card over. It was the Gravestone. She stared for a moment, then looked up at Nasperge. “Is that a threat, Magician?”

“The cards do not threaten, my Lady. They merely offer a warning. And, if I may be so bold, I would like to offer my own, as well.”

“No need,” Perrine said. “As you yourself said, I have no need for warnings.”

Instantly, her arm shot forward, and with it, a length of rope flew toward Nasperge’s neck. With speed that belied his age, however, Nasperge caught the rope with his left hand, smiling. Madame du Collet’s smile faded, and she tried to pull the rope away, but Nasperge held it tight, his hand and a few finger lengths worth of the rope glowing a dull azure light. Then, he set his right hand atop the rope and, with two fingers, pantomimed walking along its length. Then he looked deeply into the surprised Vicomtesse’s eyes.

“Did you know that years ago, carnivals used to travel with tight rope walking acts? This was well before your time, of course. But do you know why they no longer do?”

“I’m sure,” she said, still struggling to pull the rope away from him, “I have no idea.”

Nasperge leaned forward, his eyes narrowed, his voice serious. “It’s because when you walk a tight rope, all day, every day, you start to believe you’ll never fall. And that is precisely when you do.”

Suddenly, fire erupted from Nasperge’s hands, running down the length of the rope toward Madame du Collet. She immediately dropped the rope and rose out of her chair, watching the rope burn as it fell to the floor of Nasperge’s tent.

“You are walking a tight rope, Perrine Labelle, and there is always danger in that. But when you made war with the Mages, you removed your only safety net. Now things are beyond your control.”

“Nothing is beyond my control!” Perrine said as she prepared more rope.

Nasperge reached down to the table and grabbed the Gravestone card, holding it up for the noblewoman. “That’s not what the cards say.”

Madame du Collet moved to strike again, but before she could take a step, Nasperge vanished into thin air, dropping the card. Perrine looked around the small tent, but there was nowhere for the old magician to have hidden. The noblewoman cursed, then composed herself. She took a long, deep breath. Looking down at the table, she grabbed the Gravestone card from where it had fallen. She tore the card into several pieces in spite, and then grabbed the Rope card. Smiling to herself, she kept the card and walked out of the tent. She had work to do.