Long Way Home
Chapter 38 - Waukeen's Promanade
A short time later they entered the quadrangle that was Waukeen's Promenade. Jen had never been there for Nanny had often said she needed nothing that was not to be found near her own home. She went through the gate's broad arch and then stopped to better take in the sights, looking with interest at the area's unusual architecture, the displays of animals and odd machinery and the circus tent. There's a little bit of everything here. Feels more exotic than most of Athkatla. If I were home I'd think I'd just stepped off a plane somewhere in the Mediterranean.
"Jen! Are you coming?" Haer'Dalis's voice interrupted her thoughts. He was standing near a set of stairs opposite the tall arch through which they'd entered and was waiting for her. She hurried over, giving him a somewhat sheepish smile. "I haven't been here before. It's very different than the rest of Athkatla."
He grinned at her. "No reason to come unless you're looking for weapons and armor."
They reached their destination; a door on the third tier that opened into a shop. The room inside was filled with weapons. After carefully examining a number of bows under shopkeeper's watchful eye, Haer'Dalis finally handed one to Jen. "Perhaps you can use this."
She shrugged and took the bow, holding it in her left hand with the arrow rest up and the bowstring across the inside of her arm as she drew back the bowstring, pretending to line up a target.
"Draw length and weight seem right." She glanced towards Haer'Dalis and saw that he was staring at her, a look of astonishment writ across his face.
"What?"
"I thought you'd never used a bow," he said, his eyebrows arcing in surprise.
"I did target shooting at summer camp."
"And you didn't think to mention it?"
Her eyebrows drew together in a quick frown. "It wasn't like I was trying to hide it. I just didn't think there was much point in mentioning it since I haven't used a bow in years. Besides, shooting at targets isn't all the same as shooting at something moving." She made a moue of distaste. "To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Shooting to hurt someone I mean."
He nodded but didn't reply, instead turning to the shopkeeper to purchase the bow and a quiver of arrows. They left the shop, making their way slowly down the wide walkway. In the distance ahead of them Jen saw a large pile of rubble and pointed towards it. "What happened there?"
"An explosion of some kind. 'Tis rumored that an unlicensed mage caused it – the one who caused her sister to be arrested," he replied.
Her eyes widened, "Wow! He must pretty powerful to cause this much damage. Do you think Nalia could do that?"
"No. She's neither sufficiently powerful nor practiced, although that may change over time." They continued to make their way along the tier. There were few merchants at this level and Jen was just about to suggest they head back down when Haer'Dalis halted, an odd look on his face.
"What is it?" Jen asked him. "Another memory?"
He nodded slowly, "Yes." He moved forward a few more steps, stopping in front of a small black door. "I've been here before."
"You have?"
He nodded, his brow wrinkling in confusion. "Yes," he said slowly, "For some reason I do believe I've been here before." He knocked and as if in response the door swung open allowing them to see inside. There appeared to be no one home but Haer'Dalis entered the room anyway, Jen following closely at his heels.
The room appeared to be devoid of life except for a small fire burning brightly in the hearth. Jen, feeling extremely uncomfortable at entering what was obviously a private residence without invitation, peered about nervously, "Are you sure we should be here? I mean, it feels like we're invading someone's home when they're away."
He scratched his head, his expression somewhat bemused. "This is the home of Raelis's mage friend. I'm sure of it although I don't know why. Yet for some reason the room seems…familiar."
She looked at him for a moment, "And?"
He nodded, "'Tis just a hunch. I have nothing of substance to base it upon." He walked towards the fire and turned to stand in front of the large and comfortable-looking armchair sitting in front of it. Jen stared curiously as she came up to stand beside him but said nothing. He looked at the chair quietly for several moments finally saying in a firm, quiet voice, "Show yourself. I know you're here."
The flames rose higher and as Jen watched in amazement a figure began to materialize in the chair. As the form solidified, she realized it was a man. He looked at her curiously for a moment and then turned to Haer'Dalis.
"So you've come back. I wondered if you'd remember enough to find me again."
Haer'Dalis shifted uncomfortably. "This place is familiar as are you although I don't 'remember' either. But you say you 'wondered if I'd find you again' so perhaps you know something of my missing memory? Or maybe have even had a hand in its desertion?"
The figure in the chair bowed slightly. "Indeed, although you may not remember me, I know you well Haer'Dalis."
"How do you know me?"
"I shared your mind for a time. You don't remember? Ah well, I told you there would be a price to pay for using the scroll, particularly since it belonged not to you but to the Lady."
A strange feeling of relief shot through Haer'Dalis at the man's words. This must be Raelis's mage friend, and although he didn't remember the meeting he felt sure that the mystery was about to be solved. "The Lady…? There are many Ladies. Of whom do you speak?"
The shadowy figure seemed to smile. "Why one you know quite well. I speak of the Lady of Pain, of course. Fortunately she was entertained by your audacity in attempting the impossible in order to remain aligned within your life's chosen philosophy. She seemed highly amused in fact and the reason that you, or rather we succeeded was largely due to her sufferance. You achieved your purpose did you not?"
Jen looked from one to the other. "Achieved your purpose," she said slowly. "Haery, what is he talking about?"
"Would that I knew." Haer'Dalis said, his tone thoughtful. Finally he shook his head. "I remember the spell. Did I bring it to you to cast it?"
The man smiled, "I - or more precisely we - cast the spell. As to your memory, did you really expect to change time with no effect o yourself?" He looked at Haer'Dalis, a sympathetic smile hovering about his shadowy mouth. "Does it really matter all that much? Do you believe your lack of memory prevented you from making a choice or did it perhaps allow you to make one?"
Haer'Dalis's eyebrows rose slightly as he took in Arshaka's words. "So are you suggesting that had I remembered what had gone on before the spell was cast I might not have chosen as I did? For 'tis true that the ultimate goal of everything in the Multiverse is to decay and die and I prevented that from happening to Jen." He frowned. "Or did I? For when I went after her, she hadn't yet died. "
Smiling, the mage said, "You're not exempt from the laws of the Multiverse you know. Your memory is gone for better or for worse. But again, think of it this way. If your memory had remained intact your philosophy's dictates might have been as an obstacle for they would not have allowed you to listen to your heart. You achieved your purpose. Let it be enough."
Haer 'Dalis did not answer but turned thoughtfully into the fire which crackled suddenly, stirring him into movement. Turning back to Arshaka he replied, "You may be right. I will think on it further." Then, prompted by a feeling he couldn't quite name, he rose and bowed to the old man in the chair. Arshaka smiled, returning his gaze steadily before disappearing along with the fire.
Haer'Dalis turned, offering his hand to Jen to help her up and found her staring at him. "So when you came after me, you were doing something that was against your reason, your will and even in fact, against your beliefs? Something you didn't want to do?"
He kept her hands in his as he thought for a moment. Finally he looked down at her saying, "'Tis true that all things end. Yet something changed. And I'm glad it did. In all truth, my solution does not go against the Doomguard philosophy in the end as it postpones rather than prevents the inevitable, for none of us is immortal."
She returned his gaze, her eyes bright. "So you don't regret bringing me back?"
"I believe I would regret it more had I not done so," he replied. She smiled, stretching up to give him a quick kiss, then turned and followed him out of the darkened room.