Sandor

The Vardori were disliked throughout the continent—they were constantly nomadic and never settled anywhere. They were particularly actively persecuted in the Eldoria Empire. These people had no home, did not practice herding or agriculture, and in the eyes of the locals, they became associated with theft, fornication, and black magic. Everyone knew that many of them were shamans, and for this reason, they were despised. The rumors were not unfounded—the Vardori spent most of their time earning money through deception, theft, and fortune-telling. However, they were not bloodthirsty killers: their faith forbade violence except in the defense of family and children.

Sándor was the life of the party and the ringleader, putting on raucous performances at campsites. While he distracted the crowd and the guards, other tribesmen would steal undetected. He himself loved nothing more than to invent, and it was this talent that made him a fortune teller—an unusual trait, as people were accustomed to seeing women in this role. As soon as the camp stopped, he would set up a stall with a crystal ball, brightly colored cards, and thimbles. He would make up his predictions on the fly, relying on the appearance of passersby, and thanks to his keen observation, he was often spot on. That day, the camp stopped in the town of Östervik. Sándor jumped on a barrel and began to beckon the crowd.

"Come on, honest folk! Whose fate is it to know, whose purse to fill?" he cried, shuffling through the gold-edged cards. Among the townspeople, he spotted a girl with a knight—clearly an aristocrat, most likely the governor's daughter, judging by her dress. Sándor ducked under the awning and prepared himself.

"Oh, beautiful lady! The cards see that your heart is yearning. One coin, and I will reveal your destiny."

"Get away, charlatan!" the knight, Sir Thomas, barked, blocking the girl's view.

Sandor only leaned to the side to look at her over his shoulder.

"Your fate is capricious. I wouldn't listen to someone who only knows how to wave a piece of iron, but rather trust someone who knows the future. Just one gold coin—and it will be the most honest prediction you've ever heard," he said with a smile.