The beggar's hand was small, and the fingers were bony and long. The old woman's grip was strong. Her face stared up at Tiara from her small stature; it was weathered and wrinkled, but the eyes were full of life. Her wiry grey and silver hair curled and stuck at odd angles from her head and out her hood. She grinned toothily at Tiara.

"For any of thy change, m'lady, I would tell thee thy fortune." The woman cackled a bit.

Tiara raised an eyebrow at this odd old hag. "My fortune is not known to beggars on the street. Leave me be."

Alissa stopped and turned to watch the interchange, shaking her head.

"For thee, also, would I look at the future, warrior-woman," she continued. She laughed again. "Please, come, sit with me by mine tent, and let me entertain thee."

Alissa frowned. "There are places we must reach. Let her go, and let us continue, or we will pass forcefully."

"There are things afoot in the world. Strange occurrences. Let me by thy guide and foretell and explain the portents." Tiara and Alissa looked at each other and shrugged. What was a few minutes in lost travel time? It appeared that the woman would not leave them alone; she kept her iron grip on Tiara's arm, and they didn't want to hurt a harmless beggar. Tiara nodded to her.

"Take us to your camp. We will listen to you for a bit, but pay you none and promise no deed of thanks, if we feel that none is due."

The woman smiled. "I thank thee. Come with me."

She released Tiara's arm and hobbled down the road toward the edge of the village.

As the old woman sat on her battered stool at the entrance to her shabby tent, Alissa and Tiara glanced at each other over the small fire. So far, this detour had been fruitless. The woman had told them nothing that no one else could have gleaned from observance and a chat with the village gossip. They heard a slightly stifled meow from the tent, and a grey cat sauntered from it, looking somewhat sleepy. It stretched, yawned, then jumped into the woman's lap. She stroked it thoughtfully. The cat looked at Tiara and mewed softly.

The woman laughed. "That's right, Auri. She is different, isn't she?"

The cat flicked his whiskers, and Tiara raised her eyebrows.

"Different? Why do you speak thus?"

"The ability to change form is thine. This is known; the village buzzes with the talk of it. I see more. I see that this one is lost, seeking a way to a home that is far, far away, not knowing which direction to search first. And that thy origins are not the same as those of the folk around us."

Tiara frowned. "Does the cat tell you all that goes on in the inn, even the talk of others in private, or do you spy for yourself?"

"No. He and I guess. Thy reactions and words reveal the truth."

The cat jumped from the woman's lap and padded cautiously to Tiara's side, sniffing her carefully. He leaped to her lap.

The woman chuckled. "He always prefers the conversation of fellow cats to mine."

"Tiara, I have had enough of this nonsense. We have been wasting good traveling time with this woman. Let us go."

"What is thy destination? Might I travel with thee? I have told thefortunes of the wives and women of this town. It is time to move on."

"An old woman would slow us."

The beggar laughed and snapped her fingers. She disappeared from the stool in a flash of light. A young woman, in the same grey cloak, standing about six inches taller, with waist-length golden curls and a youthful face replacing the grey hair and wrinkles appeared in a flash of light, standing next to the tent. She laughed, and spoke in the same voice as the old woman, but more clearly. "Does this form suit you better? I am Aenea, and I have been looking for a journey to pass the time. Might I join you?"

"What reason might cause us to grant your wish?"

"Philanthropy. I am bored here, and I desire to see more of the world. I have time to waste; immortality gives one that. And I could be useful to you, in more ways than you might realize."

Tiara and Alissa looked at each other again. The innkeeper had offered them free board, and one more night in this village would not set them too far back. The woman could stay with them at the inn, and while she slept they could discuss the matter.

Tiara looked at the woman again. "Do us the honor of accompanying us to the village inn tonight. Stay with us instead of in the unsafe night, and this matter will be decided in the morning."

"Do you have enough coins to pay for the night?" Alissa asked.

Aenea held out her palm and a few gold coins appeared in a flash of light in it.

"Do you think this will be enough?"

Alissa nodded, and they stood to leave, the woman's tent disappearing in another bright flash, and her cat purring softly in her arms.

The three women and the cat sat around the table in the darkest corner of the common room of the inn, talking quietly. A serving girl brought out the plates containing each's lunch. As they began to eat, Alissa gazed thoughtfully at Aenea and her cat. "Who exactly are you?"

Aenea laughed. "I am Aenea. When necessary, I invent a last name to accompany the first and to give the illusion of some sort of background. Recently it has been Greytree, or something along that line. This," she said, indicating the cat, "is Aurian. He was a gift from my mother. He and I go everywhere together. I myself am no one of importance, and I try to keep it that way. He likes to feel important, but he's in the same boat as I." She smiled. "Who are you?"

Alissa swallowed a mouthful of food. "Alissa Windsyra. Warrior Mage."

Aenea grinned. "A mage! I've never met one before! A pleasure to make your acquaintance!" She turned to Tiara. "And you, lady?"

"Lady Tiara de'Tokiet of Corin or Tiara the White. A form-changer, as you already know."

Aenea smiled amiably. "Well then, Tiara and Alissa, please, tell me about your journey."





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