Rebellion: Prince of Dawn

Chapter 6.2: State Jynxist

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ILIAS PAYNE

The State Jynxist Exam was set to start twenty-two days from now in the Capital. The trip from Gilead to there would take about twenty which meant we had no time to spare.

Around this time of the year, Corporal Rudolf and a few soldiers would always journey to the Capital to deliver last year's reports in the colonel's stead. This year, however, Camaro himself alongside his unit would be delivering the report while accompanied by Heloise and I.

Since there would be no one overseeing the village in the colonel's absence, he requested a temporary colonel from General Clegane to take care of Gilead.

I've only met the Warden once and he was a lively old man. He was always loud and roaring. The mood he gave off was so infectious that all of the military personnel in the Western Region were more loyal to him than the government. Because of this, the soldiers in the west were collectively dubbed the Bad Company.

From Mother's stories, the Warden saw both her and Camaro as his surrogate grandchildren. So a favour like this—especially with the context of the situation—meant that General Clegane would have no problem sending over a trusted colonel.

The only person from Camaro's unit who would be staying behind was Lieutenant Doria. Someone who Camaro trusted must help out the temporary colonel after all and who better than his adjutant and right-hand man?

Since Camaro didn't want to babysit Jaime during the trip and he didn't trust her to stay home alone for over a month, Mother offered to take care of her. Both of them would be lonely during this time so it made sense for them to accompany each other.

This was a perfect opportunity for the colonel to have a break. Trisha always complained that I was too easy to take care of so taking care of Jaime might make her feel grateful for that.

Since the State Jynxist Exam was approaching soon, we had no choice but to leave at first light the next day. A few adventurers who were also headed to the Capital decided to join us.

Before dawn even broke, our party was already ready to leave. But we made time for Jaime and I to visit the village seer to have our Tarot card readings.

The seer was a hag named Enyaba. She was a hunched dwarf that decided to settle down in Gilead as it was being built which meant she was the village's oldest resident.

A still sleepy Jaime and I were seated in front of her while everyone waited outside. Her small hut was filled with items linked to fate and destiny. Melted candles, orbuculums, crystals, astral symbols, and mirrors littered her small purple room.

"Do you know about Tarot card readings, my young ones?" Enyaba asked as she shuffled a deck of cards.

"It's tradition in Armestis to get a Tarot card assigned to you," I answered. "Whatever card you get will represent you, your fate, and your future."

"Correct. I've done Tarot card readings for everyone in this village. Alive and dead. I read the doc and colonel's fortunes not so long ago and now it's time for me to read their children's. Heh. Which one of you wants to go first?"

Jaime raised her hand. "Me. Let me go first."

Enyaba placed the deck she had been shuffling on the table between us. "Pick the card that calls out to you, dear."

Jaime spread the deck and picked the card that was at the very bottom.

It was a lady of some sort wearing a crown, raising a sword in one hand and holding a balancing scale in the other.