High priestess GCQ, by Neko

"A summons! I best hurry" thought the page. He rushed to the audience chamber, to find the high priestess waiting. 'Yes, highness?' He asked.

'I desire to send a letter.. An important matter of fortunes. Three letters..' She paced as she explained. 'Please deliver this to the queen of cups, this to my friend the queen of wands, and the last to the queen of pentacles.' She presented the letters in turn. 'Oh and please hurry!'

'At once, high priestess!' replied the page as he took the three bundles.
The page went to the officers area and recruited two others. Soon, three fast horses were saddled and heading to the corners of the land!

Back in the audience chamber, the priestess continued to pace, her normally peaceful face creased with concern. 'There must be a way... Each time I think about it,… No, there must be a way... I have about a week to prepare, and defeat is not an option.'
She went to bed, dreaming fitfully of the torment she had suffered before, and the impending doom she feared in the future.

~v~

'A letter has arrived for you, Queen'

The queen of pentacles looked up at the page. 'Oh? About right, I suppose. Leave it', she hesitated, then changed her mind. 'Wait, bring it over..' She plucked the letter, and broke its wax seal. Her eyes scanned the document, and narrowed slightly.. like a hawk spotting a tasty mouse.

'Go, prepare my carriage, we leave tomorrow.' She waved the page to leave.
The guard nodded curtly and left, glad to be out of that gaze.. "Something troubling I bet" he thought. He closed the door, but not fast enough to prevent a small chuckle from escaping .. It sent shivers up his spine.

~v~

'Oh yes this arrived, dear' said the king of wands. He handed over the letter.
'Oh? From her?' The queen of wands read it, and frowned. 'I knew it would come, but so soon?

The king sighed, 'I am sure she expects a different outcome.'
'As do I, darling.. Every time..' She got up to summon a chariot.. 'Best get there first. See you in a few days.'

~v~

'Ah.. Nothing like a good meditation' said the queen of cups, stretching out each limb. She left the pavilion and found her towel and pitcher of water.. And a letter?
She picked it up... looked at the perfect wax seal... 'Yes. I think so too' she said.

'Page? Prepare a carriage. The blue one. And bring an extra wheel, there is going to be trouble on the way.'

She left the unopened letter, an enigmatic smile dancing on her lips.

~v~

The queen of wands entered the courtyard, and waved at the high priestess. 'I took too long.. How will we manage? ' she asked.

'We must try. It can't be inevitable.. You must hold firm' the priestess replied.

'But! Well, why? Isn't it enough as it is?'

'I refuse. I know we can win. Or at least when they are vulnerable, we can try..'

'Hellooo! We meet again..' Their conversation is interrupted by the queen of pentacles, entering the courtyard. She crosses to the table and takes her usual seat. Her gaze playfully needling them, with promises of torment. 'You know how this ends, priestess, but I am always curious to see you two try.'

Flustered, the queen of wands chirps 'it could be different! You can't know...'

'But I do.' Whispered the queen of cups. She had entered unseen, somehow at just the right time. She slips into her chair, across from the grinning queen of pentacles.

A moment of silence passes, with plenty of glances and stares between the four ladies. The high priestess sighs... and pulls out her deck of cards. 'It is time to find out.'

'Well, at least we shall have tea and biscuits.'
'Yes! And pocky'
'Deal a good hand this time!'

Soon the courtyard was full of laughter, and threats, and merryment as the four played their monthly Bridge games. The pentaCup team won (like usual), despite some clever distractions and other attempts to cheat by the priestess.

-fin-