Soft wisps of smoke wafted through her fingers, as she waved and strummed them down over the air just above bowl of steaming incense she held cupped in her hand. Out before her face, she hunched low, keeping her eyes forward, pressing her dark eyes upon the patron before her, her face, dead set and serious as she began to chant softly the words of her ancient language, one mixed and hinting at it's blended Essyrni and Adelan foundings as her hand would open out towards their face, then close away over the incense, and kick open again, guiding the wisps of the smokes towards them.
She was committing their face, and eyes- to memory; the eyes being the gateway to visions and dreams, to the very soul of a being.
As she proceeded on, calling to the powers of her sight, to the spirits, to the visions...
Her voice became low and deep, with throaty, flem coaxed vowels clucking out between her tongue. And then she paused, dropped the incense suddenly as it landed in a clatter upon the rock floor. She had seen it, a wisp of a thought- the faint colorings in a shadow...
ANd out came her hand, grabbing onto another nearby bowl. Her fingers then dipped into the rich, turquoise colored paints held within, as she rolled her shoulders back, kept her chin pointed towards the ceiling above. Then dragging a paint coated thumb down her nose and then lips and chin, she closed her eyes, then moved onward, her necka nd shoulders rolling. Then she pressed her whole hand into the bowl, as the chanting grew louder, all the while still calling into the visions of the waking, speaking out into the open air, looking up towards the sky she could not see above the rock roof top that was her hut, - and soon her entire hand was coated in the rich blue tinted paint. And down her face the painted went, to where she gripped at her throat and then even lower, swearing the remains down the necklaces over her chest and shirt.
"I see it.." her voice came out like a purr, and she rolled her neck again, the colored incense from the bowl curlding around her form. AN dher hand shot out, the bangles on her hand clattering together as she took the woman by the hand.
"It shows me many things." And she opened the woman's hand nad pressed her thumb onto it twice, creating small, turquoise heart int he center of the woman's open palm.
"And the spirits tell me, the future foretells love."
The old woman looked shocked, and Pao moved to closed her hand as she winked.
"Now I know what you're thinking, Menassari, but don't worry. Your husband will not know."
ANd the old woman gave a laugh.
"Oh, Pao," and the old woman moved forward to embrace Pao'orha. "I will take note. Your visions are always so accurate. But I... I must say, there has been some concern in my heart."
Pao nodded from where she now sat over her legs upon the floor. "I can sense it. The visions are wise. If there is doubt, or a flutter of realization, go to it. You must." And she closed her hand over Menassari's. "For you will regret this if you do not. The love I saw will faded away into nothing more than smoke." And turning to the side, Pao picked up a pitcher of water and tossed it over the steaming bowl.
Rising, she placed her hands upon Menassari's shoulders while the other woman was staring down at the thumb-pressed heart on her palm.
"But do what you believe is best. The stars only tell so much. They see all and speak truths. It is you who must decide what path you take."
"Thank you, Pao. I'll never forget your guidance," Menassari spoke, bowing to her friend before slipping through the beaded curtains and moved out into the open, cliff side road. Pao smiled, and stood just beside the beaded curtain, keeping a hand held against it to keep it open as she peered out at the setting sun. Soon it would be time to close up shop, and she remained there a minute, peering over the balcony before taking notice of someone in the cliff side streets below.
Odd.. she had never seen that man before..
and a vision danced before her, blinding her temporarily. and something tasted odd, like metal through the winds. And before she knew it, her eyes rolled back as she crumpled forward, completely blanking out, and began to fall from her cliff side balcony towards the streets below.