Two words, but it was enough. I heard the intake of breath sweep through my audience, though all I could see was Chevelle’s face. It was a study in fury. The name meant something to him as well, but I couldn’t tell if it was more than simple recognition. Because all I knew about Archer Lake was that he was a member of Grand Council. And I hated him.
I heard someone ask where and I forced the sickening hatred down enough to explain. Not a vision from above… a memory, returned from nowhere, as if it dropped from the sky, and missing essential pieces. I had no idea how I knew him, no idea when (though it had to be from my previous life – didn’t it?), and no idea why it had come back. Only the image of his face and the knowledge of his station. And the feeling that accompanied them.
“Does that happen a lot?” Grey asked, concerned.
“No.” I answered automatically, and then remembered. “Just today.”
“There’s more?” Chevelle interceded.
“I’m not sure. I just remembered, or rather, think I knew something new about Fannie this morning.”
He blanched.
It seemed like less of a coincidence now. The dream of Fannie that had bothered me so much was creeping into my thoughts again. And the one before, the one that included him. I looked down, away from his face, still blank with shock.
After a few minutes, Ruby collected herself enough to keep me occupied as usual. She offered me some powder for my headache, which I refused, having been subjected to her concoctions in the past, and fluttered around doing things. I didn’t watch her too closely, partially because sometimes the flow of her clothes and swing of her bright red curls made my head ache more, but mostly because I was forcing myself not to hope (and at the same time, fear) that my memory was returning.
The group made like there was a good reason we’d stopped for so long in the middle of the day, busying themselves as well. When we’d finally gotten back on the horses, they took it easy until early evening when we’d stopped again to make camp. I was impressed that they had managed to make creating a fire and situating themselves around it a seven-man task.
No one even mentioned training.
The next morning, I woke groggy to find that they’d let me sleep in. The idleness seemed to bother Grey and Anvil; they looked a little itchy to get back on the trail, so I hurried to mount my horse, taking my cold breakfast with me. I couldn’t believe I’d actually slept through the smell of cooking meat. I remembered how I used to love elk, but it was everyone else’s favorite as well, which made it hard to come by on the mountain.
And then I froze.
I had a new memory. I examined it, trying to decide if I should, if I could, explain it to the group. It was nothing but a “like.”
I decided to save it; maybe I’d tell them if I remembered more. Chevelle was looking at me now so I kicked my horse up, pretending I had only been daydreaming.
We rode at a more normal pace and the ground was leveling off a bit as the mountain valleyed into a smaller ridge. I looked back for the castle but between the distance and fog it couldn't been seen. I wondered how the cats were doing. When they’d arrived there had been more than one fight; they were extremely territorial and I couldn’t seem to convince them otherwise by impression. Complicated animals. It made me curious as to how other animals would react. I’d had a pretty limited experience so far. Birds proved very useful. I recalled my plan from yesterday and looked up, trying to find a vessel to scan the mountain again.
I found a large red-tail. It was a nice one, good eyes. I thought of having it come with us, in case I wasn’t able to find one when the urge struck, but there seemed to be plenty available.
We continued riding casually for days, turning as we entered the valley to follow the more passable ground on our way down. Twice I’d spotted the wolves. It made me feel more secure but I still did a quick sweep from above at least three times a day, as I became more paranoid the further from the castle we were. And the closer to our destination, wherever that was.
It was then Ruby decided to start telling her fairy stories, which, now that I knew they were probably all true, I didn’t like to hear. I was trying to ignore her by flying over the valley, gliding and enjoying the view.
It wasn’t as rocky here and the vegetation was coming back. The trees were a deep green and appearing more and more frequently. I realized I was subconsciously counting them in their patches, dark green, dark green, dark green.
“Does that not tire you?”
I almost jumped but surprise didn’t have the expected reactions in this body. Instead, it pulled me back to myself. I opened my eyes to find Anvil riding beside me, watching.
I smiled at him but he appeared to be waiting on something. I remembered he had asked me a question. “Oh, uh… I guess no, not really.”