The Seer, appearing this time as a long haired old man with a long loose beard, motioned for me to sit on the ground before him. I tucked my staff against my neck as I did so. He opened his eyes revealing two small mouths complete with sharp teeth and long tongues.
Before I could react from the sight, those two mouths blew raspberries at me.
“What were you expecting? (Wow, you didn’t run.) A chant to rip your soul from your flesh? (A chant to cleave your pieces together?)” Both mouths spoke separately at the same time.
I tried to look cross at the Seer, but mirth snuck across my face and took over my reaction. I just shook my head and laughed. “I was expecting a banshee scream, actually. But you already have my attention, so I guess I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“Always trying to see two steps ahead. (So sure you know what’s coming.) Tunnel vision blinds you better than your enemies. (Stop discounting possibilities just because you can’t see them.)”
He shuffled a deck of cards in expert hands. One eye-mouth was smiling. The other was frowning. “By the way. (Have you noticed?) The lantern on the staff is lit but can’t be seen. (So you carry the Hermit’s staff now, eh?)”
I looked at the top of the staff, and indeed, it spiraled over at the top and a lantern was attached to it. “Now why would I be carrying this?”, I mused aloud.
The Seer placed the deck of cards on the ground between us. “Good question. (You forgot, didn’t you.)”