Tyri interview

Tenanye decides that due to her busy schedule and Tyri’s inability to separate herself from her aunt at the moment, we would do both of their interviews at the Bell and Dagger. The quaint little shop is in down town Conway in the older part of the town a couple of streets over from Toad Suck Square.

Tenanye feels comfortable nestled into a corner where few people come without a good reason. The shops here aren’t browse and buy but are repair shops and specialty shops with a distinct clientele. This kind of environment protects them from those humans still stupid enough to think burning down someone’s place of business or throwing eggs at them will change the way they think. Bulling never got anyone anything but more bullies. So, hiding in plain sight, works for her and her customers alike.

As I enter the shop, I have to take a step down and do my best not to trip on the door frame. Then, I have to blink to adjust my eyes from the May sunshine I was just in to the darker interior of the shop. The first thing I notice as I wait for my eyes adjust is the music playing quietly as a back drop. I smile at the sound of the Indian flute, as I recognize the musician to be John Two Feathers. Excellent choice for the peaceful atmosphere they are trying to create. It helps put clients at ease and lessens the risks some feel they might be taking by coming here. After all, who doesn’t embrace Native American music? That would be just, un-American.

The smell of sage grass and sandalwood waft through the shop and I am finally able to see Tyri behind the counter waiting on a customer. A quick scan revealed Tenanye in the back through a beaded curtain looking at some cards spread out on a table between her and the client sitting on the other side. I briefly wonder which tarot deck she is using as I wander over toward the shelf full of different types of decks next to the beaded curtain covered door.

I know when she sees me. I can feel her eyes on me though somehow I know she hasn’t looked up from her cards. When I look up she does indeed still have her eyes focused on the spread before her. I could not however miss the motion she made with her left hand encouraging me to come on into the room with them.
I glance over her shoulder as she says as much to herself as me or the client… “This card doesn’t make sense in that position.”

I smile knowing she’s asking for help and I whisper something in her ear causing her to scrunch her eyebrows together in deep concentration. Before I can tell her that will give her wrinkles she smiles and says, “Got it.”

I step back out so she can finish her the reading just as Tyri comes around the counter and locks the front door. I can tell it’s been a long day and I wonder how many Bible thumpers came by today to save her soul.

Tyri: Funny thing is they have no clue that I can just walk up to what they call God and play in its energy anytime I like.

Me: Or that you’re the only one that can do that alone.

I watch her sit down on a love set used as a waiting area, with the deep sigh of the bone tired.

Tyri: I keep forgetting how much work there is on this side of the veil.

Me: As much as you’re willing to take on and then some. Careful you don’t burn yourself out.

Tyri: (nods tiredly) I would beg you to take pity on me but if you can drag your sorry ass in here the day after Raven had you climbing mountains, I can do an interview after a few hours of working here.

Me: So what are you here to accomplish in the short term?

Tyri: (Holds up a finger as she speaks for each thing it is she wants to do, pulling it up with her other hand as she mentions each.) First, I have to get back to Avon Vale to check on the source and rescue my aunts sleeping form. Then, I have to get back here. Then we have to figure out some way of extracting her from this form and putting her in her other form without killing her. Her coven needs her. This is where the body she occupies right now is supposed to be. Unfortunately, I don’t know if we can do that last part or not. Hell, I don’t know if we can do any of it.

With that last statement she rubs her hand over her face as though she’s trying to wake herself up.

Me: Well that does seem like a tall order. Any idea what you might face when you go back?

Tyri: Worst case scenario… The people are following the traitors to their own destruction. Best case... The Royal Guard known as the Order of the Dragon has returned and is straightening things out for her.

Me: Lord Ka’lon and the rest of the guard haven’t been seen in a long time.

Tyri: Not since the death of my grandparents. They felt as though they had failed and went to seek knowledge from an ancient Dragon Oracle. I don’t even know if they are still alive or not. Tenanye says they are. She would know if they weren’t. But, that was all before I was born. I haven’t a clue who they are or how they could help.

Me: You seem lost.

Tyri: I am

Me: That’s not going to help move my story forward very well.

Tyri: What can I say? At this point I am on the defensive not the offensive. I can’t really do anything until I know the next move of the traitors.

Me: Fair enough. You will let me know as soon as you figure it out right?

Tyri: How about you just tell me.

I laugh at this. As the one writing down their lives, I usually know what’s coming before they do. But, not always.

Me: What do you think of the situation between Raven and Hayden?

Tyri: I think Raven needs to relax and Hayden needs to watch who he is feeding from.

Me: Who was it anyway?

Tyri: Tenanye’s assistant here. Today is her day off or I would introduce you. She’s a member of the coven that Tenanye is training to take her place when the time comes.

Me: Your mother was killed by a vampire… How are you handling Hayden?

Tyri: (Becomes very quiet for a moment. When she does speak it’s barely above a whisper. But first she adjusts herself on the couch tucking her feet up under her in a classic defensive posture of someone in a lot of pain.) I won’t lie to you. It isn’t easy. But, I can tell the difference. The one that killed my mother, was skinny, sick looking, and seemed to have this burning drive in him to destroy. Hayden is different. He’s big and strong. He has kind eyes. He doesn’t kill what he eats. It’s almost more of a communion between the hunter and his very willing prey. The big thing for me was that she was willing without him messing with her head to make her willing.

The sound of a crash and Hayden’s voice bellowing obscenities from what I can only assume to be the storage room causes both Tyri and I to twist around with a start. A few seconds later and the door bang open and the large rather handsome man storms out. I decide that frustration makes him even more handsome and can’t wait to start writing about how frustrating Raven can be, just so I can see that look on his face when he pulls back the curtain where Tenanye is purifying the space after her last reading.

“Woman, you have to stop rearranging the storage room before you kill me.” He bellowed his voice echoing off the rafters.

“What did you land on this time?” Came Tenanye’s calm reply as she continued to purify the room as though he wasn’t standing there glowering at her.

“Candles, it was bloody candles. You should be happy that they weren’t in glass holders or I would be bleeding all over your floors.”

I can hear Tyri snickering beside me and even with as blind as I am, I can tell that Tenanye is doing her best to keep her expression smooth but the look in her eyes was one that accented Tyri’s snicker perfectly. I stand and quickly hug Tyri goodbye. I will come back to interview Tenanye later when Mr. Grumpy as she likes to call Hayden isn’t so, well, grumpy.