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"Owe Russ? For what?" she asked as she carefully scrutinized his palm. |
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"Mr. Mabuto was ill and Mr. Trigg made a suggestion about a possible treatment." |
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Kyna released Cyrus's hand. "Okay, he has a smooth palm. So what?" |
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"It means Mr. Trigg is a very special person." |
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Kyna looked like she wasn't sure how to take that. "I know that, but how do you mean?" |
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"Mr. Trigg has great powers. Powers even he hasn't discovered yet. These powers will expose him to great terror and danger. But also to great joy." |
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"Powers? What kind of powers? What danger?" |
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"Babe, let's hear Ms. Inkarha out," Cyrus said gently. |
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Cyrus nodded and smiled. Kyna looked like she had just bitten into a lemon. Paula poured her concentration into Cyrus's palm, constantly caressing the skin with the tips of her fingers. Several seconds passed before she said, "Shall we go to the cards?" |
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She picked up the deck of pasteboard tarot cards from the table, deftly shuffled them and then placed the deck facedown on the table in front of Cyrus. The backs were covered in dark green velvet with white hand-drawn runes. |
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"Cut the cards into four piles," Paula said. |
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"Do they have to be even?" |
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"Not necessarily. Do not look at the deck. Close your eyes and feel the cards." |
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Cyrus separated the cards into four relatively even piles. Starting with the left stack and going to her right, Paula turned over the top card from each stack. The images made no sense to Cyrus, but from the expression on the woman's face, the random pictures disturbed her. She raised her eyes. |
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"An incredibly powerful Hungan has beshrewed you." |
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Naturally, Paula already knew this, but she had to go slowly so as not to panic Cyrus. Nor did she trust the redhead. |
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"Beshrewed?" Kyna muttered, and then shrugged her apol- |
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