Chapter 6: Memory

Arya’s head was swimming with thoughts. Her dreams of demons had increased ten fold in the past few months. She dreamed of a Shade and a strange looking woman. She also dreamed of a red dragon that flew above the Shade casting out the sun with its wings. She did not know what they meant and she was not sure she wanted to find out. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and rubbed her hands across her face. Standing she went over to the balcony and looked out at the sky. The pale of dawn was just beginning to creep in and she hugged herself against the cold.

Arya?

I’m fine Sket.

Was it the dreams?

Arya did not answer.

I have them too. They are horrible. I hear people scream and I smell their blood. I feel the tingle of dark magic and-

Enough, Sket! Arya snapped, shuddering at the image her dragon painted.

Do not be afraid.

What am I supposed to be then, huh? She pushed away from the balcony and back into her room, snapping the doors shut.

Everything that happens as a purpose. It has a reason. We must believe that.

What could possibly have a reason to kill off justice?

Are we justice? The people are worse off then they were with Galbatorix-

As you keep telling me. As Viggo keeps telling me. Fine, Sket, I messed up. We messed up and now everyone’s going to pay for it in blood. Is that what you wanted to hear?

No of course not.

Then what? I don’t have the answer to everything. We have enemies in every direction. Did you hear about the thing that turns people into stone? Did you hear about the man who seduced a young village girl. They found her drained of blood with two puncture wounds in her neck. How about the woman who turned into a wolf and devoured the child she found orphaned. What are those things? Where did they come from, Sket.

I know not.

No, no one does. Not Viggo, not me.

Angela?

Arya frowned. I have not spoken to Angela in years.

Maybe you should. Maybe she has the answers.

Sket-

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, Arya.

Arya was silent for a minute as she combed through her hair with her fingers. Fine. I’ll go and see Angela.

Good.

Arya pulled away from her dragon and into the wash room. After bathing and combing out her hair, Arya pulled on her clothes and strapped her sword to her belt. She then strode out of the palace and down the streets of Uru’baen.

Throughout her walk, Arya made sure to keep her hood close around her face to avoid recognition. The streets were bustling with people going about their business. Even though it was not as big as it once was, Uru’baen was a large city. She headed down town, though, where the houses were cramped and falling apart. A few minutes later she reached her destination. It was a house that had been converted into a store. Herbs hung in bunches around the window and instead of a door there was a curtain of multicolored beads. Arya moved them aside and stepped through.

The store of empty of all but a rather large cat sitting on the counter. It blinked in surprise and cocked his head to the side. A woman appeared a few seconds later.

“Can Angela help you? She can do all. Give you a love potions, a potion for you joints, tell your future.”

Arya blinked. “W-why are you referring to yourself?”

“Angela does not know.”

“Well can Angela stop?”

Angela shrugged. “If you wish. Now how can I help you?”

“I-I don’t know. Sket said you could help me, but I don’t know how. I-I probably should leave.”

“Now wait just a minute! You take me away from my research and then leave? I don’t think so. I’ll tell you your future.” With that she grasped Arya’s wrist and pulled her into the back room. Inside was dim and smelled funny. A vat of boiling liquid stood in the corner.

“What’s that?” Arya asked, pointing to it.

“Oh, that’s my research.”

“May I ask what you are researching?”

Angela, who was rummaging through a trunk answered, “I’m trying to prove that there are not rats only mice. With out rats then witches won’t have those evil familiars to cause trouble.”

“What does having a vat of boiling…whatever, have to do with your research?”

“Well, I cooked mice yesterday. I figure if they taste the same as rats then they should be the same creature right?”

Arya would have opened her mouth, but she was afraid she would lose her stomach if she did so.

“Ah hah!” Angela shouted emerging from the trunk with a small bag. She motioned for Arya to sit on the ground.

She did so, asking, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to tell your future,” she said sitting across from the elf.

“With all due respect, Angela, I am here for answers not to have my fortune told.” She made to get up, but Angela grasped her wrist.

“Sometimes the answers lie in the future.”

Arya pulled away, but remained sitting. Angela grinned at her and muttered three words under her breath before dumping the contents of the bag on the floor between them. Arya recognized the words and what the bag held, and she swallowed hard. This was for real.

“Well lets see. Hmmm, you will have a long life…but you are an elf so I don’t know what that means. Your path will be tested, but if you choose right I do not know. You will have help, though, help from a person you do not know.”

“Who?”

“I said you do not know them. And I could not tell you.”

“A-anything else?”

“Yes, you will fall in love.”

Arya sputtered. “With who?”

“I don’t know that either. There are some other things here, but I can’t make them out. I’m sorry.” She gathered the bones and got to her feet. Arya followed suit.

“Thanks anyway,” she muttered, more confused now then she was before she visited the witch.

“Anytime, Arya. It was a pleasure seeing you again.”

Arya nodded and started out the door.

Remember, you learn more from the past then you do from the future.

Arya’s head snapped to look at the cat who was blinking at her coyly. The elf shook her head and walked out of the store, but the advice was still ringing in her head. I don’t want to look to the past, she thought. The past is littered with mistakes and mad memories.