For an instant, there is a low growl that begins in the back of Giriel's throat and those of you sitting there may be reminded of a bear that has been disturbed and is offering a warning. Kalaya has stormed out and some new girl has simply joined the table with information about Ven. Just as likely to be the Rakshasa as anything else, being this brazen! Thing after thing after thing, can there be no peace?! 

But then the growl is gone. Drowned out in the sudden downpour that so marks the flower kingdoms. And in that moment, the cool air from the fresh rain and the smell of the damp earth wafting into the tea house lowers Giriel's anger from a roar to a low and gentle flame. This, she loved of the flower kingdoms. The sudden change in the land, the remembrance of the world around them, sounds and scents. This was a blessing of the gods and the kindest thing, perhaps, to have come from her summoning in anger earlier. Even more than that, the rain simplified things. Petony had run off, and there was no point running out into all this. And what had the new girl said? That she'd left kingeater castle and that Ven was 'based' there. 

"Ven's not home at the moment, is she?" Giriel's lips twist into what might be a smile and she takes a long sip of the steaming tea. You can see her large body shudder with pleasure at the warmth suffusing her and her shoulders lower and relax from their tension. Then, she turns to Han. Where was the rambunctious little mountain monster she remembered? Han was all menace and tension, even more than Giri was. That was no good! 

"Han, drink your tea" she says it in that big sister tone of voice, Han. The one you remember from being young and playing in the highlands, the one that you trust and you find yourself reflexively taking a sip before you can really think about it. Which is good because you got such a fancy tea, didn't you? A perfectly brewed orchid oolong, well that's the kind of tea that when it touches your mouth makes you feel as though everything's going to be alright. It's warm and just a little naturally sweet, and it has that floral feeling that you would never admit in a million years makes you relax but you're relaxing now and it's good. Besides, it's Giri, she knows what she's doing. Right now, that even happens to be true!

She's stood up from her little chair and come to stand behind you now that you're a little more calm. Then her large, skilled hands are massaging your back with a firm but gentle pressure. It makes you feel like you could melt and like all the harsh energy is being pressed up and out of you. She's breathing slowly too and it's natural that your own breath would match her rhythm when you can feel her chest rise and fall against you. You might want to take another sip of tea as you breathe deeply in and out. 

You might want to complain as well, that this isn't the time for such things, but it's clear from that first tone of voice that Giriel is doing something more than just trying to relax you, and you can realize it when you've had a little more tea and she takes your arm with one hand and begins to swirl your cup while the other holds you around the shoulders. "Han, describe to us who you're looking for, slowly and calmly, with as much detail as you can," she instructs. You move together in slow, calm motions, her hand gently guiding yours, and as you begin to speak, she follows along with you chanting your words in the language of magic.

This is not unlike Red Wolf's divination. Tea leaf reading is a classic for a reason and usually caused less of a scene than burning bones. But where Red Wolf's was hesitant and blushing, a forward and almost rude thing to do, here Giriel is taking charge in her role as a big sister, bringing Han into a safe place where the magic can do its proper work. 

It's hard to say exactly what she'll get here. Han is looking for Ven and for a priestess. They might be in the same place or they might not, and since this is a focused reading, it's going to be up to Han what she describes for the magic to follow. But one way or another, it is going to work.

[Divination: 4+4+2=10. Giriel will tell the truth once she gets the reading, allowing Han to clear a condition.]