I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from chuckling. I could hear more stifled laughs behind me, and Kael put his cup down and watched our conversation with renewed interest. He still hadn’t spoken a single word, so I was beginning to feel nervous about my situation again. Why was I here?
Alba didn’t seem to notice my discomfort but continued with her reading of my teacup test. “Such interesting problem solving skills you have. It speaks much of the way you live your life.”
“How can the way I drink tea or not drink tea tell you anything about my life?” I had heard of some people reading tea leaves for fortunes but this was different.
The elderly woman took a sip of the tea, her smile spreading. “To fill the cup to overflowing is a faux pas. It is considered bad manners on my part, but seeing how you deal with the problem of the overflowing cup tells me much about you. If you had leaned forward and sipped off the top of the cup, then I would know you are a hurried individual, but brave. The first to lead the charge, though prone to anger and rash decisions.”
I turned and gave Kael a thoughtful look. He continued to smile, silently refusing to give me any kind of signal as to what he had done when he was first tested.
The old woman continued. “If you had poured off the excess, then I would say you are a spirited individual who makes decisions based off of need rather than thought. If you used a spoon to drink off the extra, then you are a thoughtful problem solver. If you set the tea in front of you and never take a sip, then I can tell you are cautious, and fear of failure can be a major obstacle in your life.”
“But what of Thalia’s choice?” Kael spoke up.
With the speed of a cobra, a fan appeared out of Alba’s sleeve and she swatted Kael on the top of the head. He winced and bowed it again in subservience.
“And you still haven’t changed! Can’t even wait for the end of the story. Why did it not surprise me that you slurped the tea, during your test?” Alba gave Kael a fond glare and slipped her fan back into her overly large sleeve. Again there was a lack of tinkling.
I was afraid to speak after her exchange with Kael. Would she whack me with a fan? She settled back down and refused to go on. Part of me wanted to ask, another wanted to sit quietly and wait till she spoke first. But the third part wanted to get up and walk out. Just leave this whole farce behind. I chose a fourth option.
Without being obvious, I sent a thread of power to the bell closest to me and knocked it hard. It didn’t make a sound, so I was somewhat confused.
“Impatient and a bit rude, aren’t you?” She looked at me full in the face. She knew what I had done.
“I picked up a few traits from a certain SwordBrother,” I said.
“Very well, then. I’ll tell you. There was only one other person that I know of that served someone else the tea. That was me.”
Alek spoke up from behind Kael. “Alba, you never told us that.”
“Of course not. Why would I tell you? You didn’t choose that method, now did you,” she chastised. “Your choice, Thalia, tells me you don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. You forge your own path and make your own choices, but you are rarely prepared for the consequences.”
I swallowed as a cold finger of fear ran up my spine. She could be guessing.
Alba turned and addressed Kael. “Now your actions, Kael, on the other hand—abandoning your brethren and family, forsaking your calling, bringing outsiders into the sanctuary—these are all serious offenses. You know this. You know that no one is allowed to know where we live, and despite how charming this one may seem, she is still an enemy. Not one of us, nor born of us.”