Back in the Edge Town Inn, in a crimson red, leather armchair in the left corner of the room next to the stairs leading to the rooms upstairs, sat the white haired youth calling herself "Ketera". She was relaxed in ther armchair wearing her white cloak covering her from head to toe whilst she read through a bundle of documents written on fine parchment. Closer inspection of her left hand revealed it to be faintly clawlike with a slight purple tint to it.
Maati walked calmly through the front door and whispered something to the bartender, who then poured a glass of water for her from a jug on one of the shelves behind the counter. After paying the bartender a small handful of copper, Maati walked over to the empty wooden table next to Ketera's armchair and sat down on one of the stools facing her.
"You look new here.", Maati said to Ketera calmly.
"That's right. I'm new here.", Ketera replied, glancing at Maati through one eye whilst still reading through her documents with the other.
"D'you know what this place is?", Maati asked curiously.
Ketera nodded gently. "Yep. Town on the edge of time."
"Somebody else tell you?", Maati smirked. "That's strange. The people at this tavern can be so unhelpful, I'm guessing the bartender explained it, right?"
"No.", Ketera replied, shaking her head. "I knew before I arrived."
Maati looked a little startled, blinking in suprise. "You came here on purpose?! You must have been either very lucky or very skilled!"
"A little of both, most likely.", Ketera replied with a gentle smile.
"May I ask your name?", Maati asked cheerfully.
"Ketera."
Maati's look of shock returned immediately. "Ketera?"
"Something wrong?", Ketera replied curiously.
"That name, I've heard it before in my travels.", Maati commented.
Ketera smiled. "Consider the nature of this place. Is it any surprise?"
Maati caught a glimpse of a book poking out of Ketera's leather backpack on the floor. "Lyresmith Poetry Collection" was the title inscribed on the front.
"I guess not...", Maati answered. "So you're using this place to attempt to create a predestination paradox, hmm?"
Ketera chuckled. "In a sense, but I'm more of a postlady, if you get my meaning."
"Before...", Maati responded. "When you came in here earlier. You looked at me like you knew me and yet I've never met you before. Do you know me from when you came from?"
Ketera chuckled softly once more. "You could say that. But it's not in the best interests of either me or the one for whom I'm doing favours for me to divulge the details."
Maati smirked. "I understand."