Liv calls Allyndra out

A stifling silence grew through the room as Allyndra stared down at Emmaline who, in turn, had her eyes fixated on the three cards still face up on the table. A breeze blew against the outer walls of the tent, and Liv was surprised to notice the baubles and trinkets all along the walls jingling together in response.

She would have expected the magic of the tent to stop wind from affecting the stuff inside. Unless, of course, this wasn’t actually some sort of modified space or portable building, but instead a series of complicated illusions.

Liv reached out, rapping on the underside of the table. Gently, so as not to make too much noise. That, at least, felt real enough.

“Do you have any questions, Miss Beaumanoire?” the elf asked. Emmaline began to shake her head, but then paused, her head half turned.

“Is it… am I going the right way, do you think?”Emmaline asked, her voice strangely meek and quiet.

“It hardly matters what I think,” Allyndra said. Shaking her head, she reached out and swept the cards up into her sleeve in one smooth movement. “Putting aside whether or not that question even means anything… The future is as I have read it. Whether you continue to run or turn and face down your own cowardice, it makes no difference. The wheel of Fortune awaits you, all the same.”

Emmaline nodded and sunk back into her seat.

“That’s pretty fucking vague,” Liv said. She almost hadn’t meant to speak the words but the moment she started she couldn’t stop. “This whole damn time, you’ve just been picking up hints and saying whatever she wants to hear.”

Allyndra turned to her, but Liv’s attention was pulled more by Cassio’s sudden movement out of the corner of her eye. He jerked forward as if to stop her once again, but this time Liv rose to her feet. She wasn’t huge by any means--Cassio was even a few inches taller than her, but years of life on the streets held her steady. If she could stare down crime lords and bounty hunters, then she could stare down one slender elf boy.

He backed away and Liv rounded on Allyndra once again.

“That’s all this shit is,” Liv announced. “A bit of illusion magic, a bit of people reading and you take in **** idiots and tell them what they want to hear. Charge an arm and a leg to flip some cards and put on a light show, then they’re broke on the street worse than when they walked in here. It’s disgusting.”

Allyndra watched her coolly. In a way it almost reminded her of Fuu, but while Fuu’s stare was a neutral, patient thing, she could see Allyndra simmering behind that mask like venom rising to a boil. As far as Liv could guess, the only thing holding it back was her scammer’s instinct, telling her there was still the chance to make a quick buck.

“We’re gonna walk out of here, and if you’re lucky, I won’t come back and knock this place down,” Liv said. She grabbed Emmaline by the upper arm and hauled her to her feet, finding the other girl surprisingly heavy and sluggish to move. “Come on.”

“Too vague?” Allyndra called out. Liv paused, turning back toward her and found the woman as calm as ever. That restrained fury had vanished from her face. “Perhaps you are simply jealous that your friend received her fortune and you did not. Or perhaps you would be satisfied if I gave a more direct fortune. Something more objective. More provable?”

“I-” Liv started, but the direct offer had her off guard.

“Give it a chance,” Emmaline muttered, practically slumped against Liv’s arm. “She’s… I know fakes, Liv. She’s different, I promise.”

“Fat lot that means,” Liv said. But still, she had stopped dragging Emmaline away.

“Please, Liv.” Allyndra gestured with one arm. “Have a seat.”

Liv’s eyes shifted from Emmaline to Allyndra, then even over to Cassio who looked at her with a nervous grin. All of them on the same side. All against her. She hated feeling cornered.