[Flashback] A Chance Game (Cilaes)

[Avari]

Season of Fall, Day 76, 506 AV

Thus far, it had been a disappointing and troublesome morning for Avari. The girl trudged through the streets and waterways of Mura like a walking frown, exuding an air of discontent that sent her more empathetic sisters edging toward the opposite side of the street. She could faintly feel their dismay and concern through her own second sense, which only raised her irritation to more acerbic heights.

The trouble had started the moment Avari had left the house. The sunny beauty of the day and the cool crispness of the autumn air captivated her senses, filling her with an irresistible sensation of freedom and irresponsibility. Instantly, she decided then and there to play hooky from formal divination training. Instead, she'd roam around the harbor, feel the salt wind ruffle her hair, watch the ships come in, talk to the sailors and travelers, and maybe take a swim or two in the sea. The notion of skipping training and simply enjoying the day on her own appealed to the rebel in Avari, and she put it into action at once.

Unfortunately, on an island full of seers and visionaries, even something as simple as skipping school wasn't easy to accomplish. As soon as Avari's absence was noted, the divination mistress discerned what must have happened and sent an assistant to drag Avari back to class. Avari resisted as much as she dared, wrigglnig and pulling away at every opportunity, but the assistant kept a firm, even painful grasp on her ear and her hand and wouldn't let her get free. After that came a humiliatingly patient, gentle, and compassionate rebuke from the divination mistress that made Avari visibly twitch with frustration, followed by the longest training session that she had ever had to endure.

All the while, Avari could see the sunlight slanting in through the curtains and hear birds calling and ships trumpeting their arrivals and departures with loud, sonorous horns. At times, she even fancied she could hear sailors shouting to each other, trading friendly jibes and insults. But the divination mistress wouldn't even let her take a glimpse outside! The lessons simply droned on and on without end. By the time the training concluded, Avari could no longer hear the horns of ships and boats approaching the White Isle Harbor. However, she knew that some travelers and sailors tended to straggle behind, so she still retained some hope of catching up with some of them once she was free. The mistress must have perceived this last forlorn hope, however, for she not only did not permit Avari to leave, but in fact bade her to stay after the training was over and ordered her to sweep around and tidy up the classroom with a broom and some polishing rags. Avari seethed under the punishment, but the divination mistress was implacable.

Thus, it wasn't until just past midday that Avari finally emerged from the classroom with dust in her hair and a grimace on her face. Now, there was no hope of any fun or excitement for the day, no chance to catch any travelers or visitors to Mura and spend the hours with them spinning tales, learning of the world beyond the island, and hoodwinking them with the simplest Konti tricks. No, the day was not going well for Avari, not at all.

However, it seemed that there would be some redeeming factors, after all.

As Avari came to Unity Circle, still grumbling and projecting an aura of aggravation, her eyes suddenly lit up at the sight of an unfamiliar face. A man, and a most unusual-looking one at that, was crossing the main street of Mura just as she looked up. Amid the alabaster-pale backdrop of slight, fragile Konti swishing past, the man's rich brown hair, dark eyes, and sun-tanned skin stood out like a drop of ink on a sheet of smooth white paper. Even in a more colorful setting, Avari thought the man would still present a striking figure, for he bore perhaps the most amazing markings she had ever seen. Some were scars and others appeared to be etched or inked into his skin, but they certainly gave the man a wonderfully fearsome and eye-catching air.

A stranger! How delightful! Was he perhaps some sort of sailor or mercenary, come ashore to seek his fortune or some answers from the fabled Konti seers? Avari couldn't be sure. At any rate, though, he was a tourist, an out-of-towner, no doubt perplexed by the pearlescent purity of Mura and its people and in need of a friendly face or familiar sight. Judging from those fierce-looking markings drawn on his skin and the long scars on his face and body, he was probably one of those men, the ham-handed warriors always looking for someone to kill, something strong to drink, or some simple, unsophisticated amusement to make him roar and pound his fists.

Avari's lips curled into a mischievous grin. In need of something familiar and friendly, was he? She untied the small bag at her waist and took out the carved set of whalebone dice from within, letting them rattle quietly in her hand. She was happy to offer this mysterious, beleaguered stranger something friendly and familiar, but it would cost him. Oh, yes.

Boldly, she hurried forward until she was almost beside the man and raised her voice slightly. "Hello there!" she exclaimed, shifting her features into the semblance of a friendly smile. "You look as though you may be new to the city. If you like, I can point you in the right direction, if you don't mind indulging me in a game or two."

She rattled the dice in her hand a little louder to make her meaning clear and tilted her head winsomely at the tall, dark man, waiting for his answer and inwardly betting with herself about how quickly she could relieve this scarred, barbaric-looking stranger of his money.