One day of the many days that the Fool studied under the Priestess, the Priestess told the Fool to approach the far end of the room.
The Fool walked for many minutes across the black and white tiled floor. His footfalls echoed across the vast room. Soon he saw a figure kneeling next to a palm tree: a blindfolded Asian woman. In the sky hung a waning crescent moon, slightly obscured behind little wisps of clouds.
I am deciding, the woman said. I am going to choose one of these swords to make a decision. One sword is one answer and the other is another.
She reached out and grabbed the sword that was further out. She ran her hand across the handle and then unsheathed it. She felt the edge of the blade. Her lips were pursed in concentration.
I have decided to not end your journey, the woman said, the swords have spoken.
The Fool took a step back, a panic of fear diving to the bottom of his stomach. Why would this woman murder him?
She put the sword back into its sheath and placed the sheath back in front of her. Several praying mantises came out of the ground and silently walked over to the swords and picked them up. The swords switched places several times. The Fool tried to keep his eye on the sword that was meant to kill him, but the mantises started going faster and faster and the swords became blurs before they came to a stop. Two identical swords. One could tell the difference with the naked eye.
Some day your journey will come to an end, the woman said, but it isn’t today. Maybe it is me that stops it, or maybe it is something else.
The Fool could see the moon reflected on a body of water behind the woman. The water was still as glass. It mirrored the sky perfectly.
It is important that I know both sides of an argument before swinging my swords, the woman said. I am not blindly picking the swords, I am merely the instrument.
You may go now, the woman said with a dismissive gesture. Come back when you think I should make another decision.
The Fool walked away, and back to the Priestess. He wasn’t sure why he would go back to the woman who was waiting for the decision to be made to end his life.