“I decided to leave the King of Pentacles behind for Rosa, to slow her down,” Amelia explains. “I left it floating away in a stream in front of her.”

My jaw drops open, considering the grief Amelia gave me after giving Cain the Prince of Wands. I resist the urge to react, however, because I see the look in Amelia’s eyes, lit by the soft string lights hanging above. She appears as overwhelmed by this choice as I once was.

“I didn’t just do it to throw Rosa off our trail, though,” Amelia continues. “I did it because it felt like she deserved some part of this deck for all her trouble. I understand now why you gave the Prince card to Cain, Chase. So thank you for taking the heat on that one.”

I nod at Amelia, not sure what else to do. Especially because she doesn’t ask for my opinion on leaving the King of Pentacles behind. She doesn’t seem to need it, for so many reasons.

I don’t know if that’s a good sign or an ominous one, but either way it feels like the winds of change kicking up, pushing us irrevocably forward.

Click here

“I decided to leave the King of Pentacles behind, to throw Rosa off our trail,” Amelia explains. “I didn’t want to tempt fate again, after getting burned by Cain.”

Amelia’s words hang in the air, her implied judgment of my own decision made clear. I’m tempted to react, but she continues before I can.

“It’s not that I think you made the wrong decision, Chase. I just tried to learn from it. Besides, after what happened with Anwar, it felt right to leave the King of Pentacles behind. It would only feel like a reminder of him, of what he did. And now hearing about this potential Lady Azure sale, I think I made the right call leaving the King for Rosa. Maybe it will bring her some peace, like the other missing cards might have.”

Listening to Amelia, I still feel the urge defend myself. However, I give myself a second to think it all through first. After everything we’ve experienced since that very first day of the trip, who’s to say I would have made that same decision today? Besides, if Amelia feels right about the decision, I’m in no position to judge.

I nod at her, not sure what else to do. Especially because Amelia doesn’t ask for my opinion on leaving the King of Pentacles behind. She doesn’t seem to need it, for so many reasons.

I don’t know if that’s a good sign or an ominous one, but either way it feels like the winds of change kicking up, pushing us irrevocably forward.

Click here

“Hey, Amelia, are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes,” she answers quickly. “I’m trying to process what just happened.”

“Well, I don’t think what just happened is over quite yet,” Cleo says, their head turned to look out the back window. “We have company.”