That was the first time I’d heard anyone use the term ‘peacekeeper’. Up to that point my part in the community had been described as judge or magistrate. I liked the idea of ‘peacekeeper’, but it also conjured images of the Earp brothers at the OK Corral.
“Is there a chance that your desire to fill the position could bias your conclusions?” I said in a soft voice to try to disguise the underlying belligerence.
“No,” she said simply. “I’m not human.”
I wasn’t sure why she thought that was an argument clincher, but it seemed clear she thought that had put an end to exploring her reliability as a soothsayer.
“You’ll be happy here,” she went on. “And find love.”
At that, I laughed out loud. Isn’t that what all psychics told people who were feeling desperate for love?
“You don’t believe me?”
She seemed to be having trouble with the concept that she might not be believed.
“I don’t want to give offense, but I’m here because Maggie more or less dragged me without asking if I was open to being…”
“Read.”
“Yes. Read.”
“I see,” Esme said. “What would it take to convince you of my… authenticity?”
“That’s a great question,” I said as my own words switched on the lightbulb in my head. “It’s also a great answer. Are you open to questions?”
To my surprise, she grinned and waved at the room slowly. “I have time.”
I took a slurp of tea, which was too good to merely be called ‘tea’, as I thought about the limits of what could be learned from the internet. Things that would be impossible to turn up even if the best investigators in the world were hired.
“How did I meet the first best friend I ever had?”
With an arrogant air and without hesitation, Esme said, “It was your first day of school. Another little girl was crying for her mother. You gave her comfort.”
Okay. Seemed really unlikely that would be available on the internet. And I’d never told anybody that story.
“What was her name?”
“Marty.”
“Okay. So, you’re really, really good.”
Esmerelda laughed silently and said, “Thank you.”
“One more. What irritated me the most about the man I’m divorcing?”
She replied without hesitation. “The fact that he always followed a yawn with, ‘Ho. Ho. Ho’.”
I stared. I’d been thinking of something else. But golly gee damn. She was right. That did irritate me more than anything else. It was mildly alarming that this stranger knew me better than I knew myself! I didn’t want to contemplate what else she knew that I didn’t.
Slumping in the chair a little, fight gone out of me, I said, “Okay. I’m listening.”
“Everything about you has been evaluated, Rita. You’ve been vetted. The unique combination of your genetics, your experiences, your psychology, and your personality renders you the ideal candidate to be magistrate. You can’t disbelieve that you’re the best person for the post because that would be silly.” I blinked. “You must understand that you acting as our magistrate is not just the best thing for us. It’s the best thing for you as well. You’ll be challenged in the most satisfying way to you. Fulfilled in ways that are unlikely in the mundane world. In short, you’ll be happy.” She smiled. “And in love.”
“Now see? You had me at happy. Then you had to go and ruin it. I’m not looking for love, but if I was, my understanding is that there are no humans around unless you count day visitors during tourist season.”
Esme cocked her head. “I didn’t say the lucky male was human, did I?”
I took a deep breath, took a swallow of heavenly tea, and said, “We need to get back to the Hallows. Maggie is supposed to be showing me the details of the business. Thank you for taking the time to give me a, um, read.”
When I rose, my companions stood as well.
“You’re welcome,” Esme said. “I’ll show you out.”
She went first and when she neared the front door, she said, “Just a minute.”
I watched as she pulled my hearts-desire shawl out of the front window. When she draped it over my shoulders I thought I might faint with delight. I loved the feel of it. I loved the look of it. I loved the smell of it.
“This is indescribably beautiful, but I’m sure I can’t afford it.”
“No,” Esmerelda said. “You misunderstand. It’s a gift. No conditions. I want you to have it even if you don’t stay.”
“Now, Esme,” Maggie interceded, “you know perfectly well the magistrate can’t accept