Thanks to Elves are Awesome for an awesome review.
Disclaimer: I only own Florina and everything concerning her.
"Eragon," he jumped and looked around. "Easy, Boy. It's just me." He turned to look behind him and saw Florina walking towards him.
"You are in a good mood."
"That is because I am back in familiar territory."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really. I have been in Terim before. I am home now, more or less. Either way, Brom and Jeod are going to be out all day. Brom wanted me to tell you to do whatever you want today. They're not going to be back until tonight."
"I assume you got the same instructions."
"I would have done what I wanted to regardless. There are things that I have to do while we are here. Have fun, and be careful. The guards know me and they know that you and Brom are with me. I am responsible for you while we are here."
"How do you know that?"
"You are not the only one who went for a walk last night. How is Kuldra? Did she look comfortable?"
"She is fine. She has decided to make it her duty to keep Saphira from doing anything rash." Florina began laughing and Eragon soon followed.
"Well, Eragon. Enjoy yourself in this big city, and for spirits' sakes, stay out of trouble." He watched her go and smiled.
"You fancy her."
"Of course not."He said, a blush creeping to his ears. "She is a friend. Nothing more."
"Sure she is." Saphira laughed in his mind before breaking the contact. He shook his head and walked outside after her, wanting to go with her. She was gone by the time he made it outside. He spent hours, walking the streets until he was finally forced back to Jeod's house due to an empty stomach and lack of money. He knew he had seen Florina here and there, but she was gone by the time he looked again. He stopped at the herbalist's shop when he returned to the street where Jeod lived. He tried looking in the plant covered windows. He decided to go in. It was dark at first until his eyes adjusted to the light. A cat jumped out of a dark cabinet.
"Is this the cat that Florina asked about?" He whispered. He reached for a wooden rod on the counter.
"That wouldn't be wise." A voice said to him. He scowled, thinking it was Saphira. He fell to the floor, writhing as a shock of electricity went through his body. "You aren't very smart for a Dragon Rider."
"You said that?" Eragon looked at the cat in awe.
"Who else?"
"But you're just a cat!" The cat jumped on his chest and looked at him, showing its fangs.
"Do I look like a normal cat?"
"No,"
"Then what makes you think I am one?"
"Florina," The cat clawed his chest.
"Obviously your education has been neglected. I am a werecat. There aren't many of us left, but I think a farm boy should have heard of us. As for Florina, yes I know her. What she said to Angela is a private joke between us only. And I wouldn't hold that rod much longer if I were you."
"What's your name?" Eragon asked as he placed the rod back.
"I have many, but you may call me Solembum."
At that moment, the door opened and the herbalist walked in. She looked at Solembum and then at him. "You talked with him. You are the third person to do so. The first was a woman, many years ago. The second was a blind beggar. Now you, the third." She shook her head as if to clear it. "Is there anything you want or did you just come to look?"
"Just to look. Besides, I don't need any herbs."
"That's not all I do. I make love potions and the like for the rich lords. Would you like your fortune told?"
"No, I am afraid my future is pretty unreadable and I don't have any money."
"The crystal ball is only for show. Wait here," he was waiting only a few minutes before she returned. "I haven't used these in so long, I almost forgot where I put them." He listened as she explained what the bones were and how she had decided to cast them for him.
"Cast them for me."
"Manin! Wyrda! Hugin!" Eragon immediately recognized the words as ones from the ancient language. They sat in silence for a few minutes while she studied the dragon bones. "Right, I'll start here. This one, with the long horizontal line and the circle means that you will have an infinite or long life. These," she moved to another group of three, "the wandering path, the lightning bolt, and the sailing ship all lie together. You have many choices ahead of you, some close at hand, but only one will bring you happiness. The lightning bolt means that there is a doom upon you and part of it lies in a death that rapidly approaches. The sailing ship: you will leave Alagaësia and never return and it will come to pass. This one here, the rose between the horns of a crescent moon, means you will have an epic romance, but I cannot see where it will go, only that she is of noble birth. Now the last two, the tree and the hawthorn root. You will face a betrayal from within your family."
Eragon sat quietly a moment. "Eragon!" His name cut across the air before he could object to her last reading. "Do not rebuke her. She speaks only what she sees and it may or may not be what you think."
"Florina,"
"Hello Angela. I was passing and I had a feeling something was wrong." He dark eyes flicked toward the gap where Solembum rested." Florina explained while Solembum spoke to Eragon once again. She placed a hand on his shoulder and steered him out the door. "Don't worry, I will come and talk with you soon." Then they were outside and she was guiding him to the gate.
She rested her head against the wall of the tavern, eyes closed, and listened to the talk around her. She was glad that Eragon had not followed her. If he had, she would never hear the end of it, especially from Brom. As best she could tell, they were going to be in Terim for about a week since they had to teach Eragon to read. Right now, she was listening to the rumors. She had snuck out of the house before dawn. She was tired of teaching Eragon to read and she wanted to be out and about. She knew Brom would have a fit, but she would deal with him later.
"Kuldra, how are you doing?"
"I wish we could fly together. But that would be unwise as you would be missed fairly quickly."
"Aye, I would."
"So, this is where you are hiding." She smiled without opening her eyes.
"Hello, Angela. I was unaware that you were looking for me."
"Yes, well, I am not the only one. The two that you were with the other day are out looking for you as well. Since we had made plans to meet, they came to me first to see if you were there. Something about lessons."
"I am helping the old man teach the boy to read. It gets very boring mind you." Florina sighed and opened her eyes. "It may not be very long before they start searching the taverns."
"Come with me. They've already checked my place. I doubt they will check again in a hurry."
"I have been meaning to come and buy some herbs from you." Florina stood gracefully and followed the short woman outside. They stayed out of sight for the most part until they got to her shop. Angela let Florina in first and then closed the door behind them. "Thank you, my friend." Florina said in the ancient language, wanting to keep the majority of their conversation secret.
"My pleasure, Child. Besides, I've been wanting to ask you something that I was not sure how to put words to." Florina raised an eyebrow as Angela placed a leather pouch on the table between them. Florina's face grew grave.
"Why?"
"Solembum spoke to you the day before when you came in and got Eragon and saved me, I think. Aside from that, you are different from the little girl I met all those years ago."
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes." Florina pulled off her glove and showed Angela the gedwëy ignasia. "You are,"
"Yes, her name is Kuldra. She is a gold dragon."
"Not very creative are you." Florina laughed. "Would you like me to?" Florina looked at the bones and then nodded.
"Cast them, Witch."
"Manin! Wyrda! Hugin!" Florina didn't flinch as Angela spoke the words of power. They were silent as she studied. "Here, the line and circle. Long life which is obvious." Florina nodded. "Here, you have the wandering path, the twin constellation, and a pair of wings. You have choices to make, Florina, and only one will bring you happiness. The wings I have only read about. It means that, after your task, whatever it is, you will leave the mainland. You will settle on an island, but it will not be just you and Kuldra. Someone else will live with you. Here, you have the rose alone. You will find love, more like love will find you. But it is up to you to accept him or turn him away. Now these two bones, I am afraid for you, Child."
"Why?"
"Two trees and the hawthorn root. You will be betrayed twice, and it will be done by members of your family." Florina's face paled.
"No. Mama is strong. She will fight him. She won't betray me to him. And Papa would never."
"Florina, there are two more. These two bones, the mouth and the tombstone. You will soon be learning of a death of a loved one. And with them, the clouded moons. When you hear of the death, you will learn a secret that will help ease the pain. Next, sometime within the next year, you will learn of a secret that will change your life forever." Florina accepted the wineskin Angela handed to her. They were quiet while dragon and Rider tried to make sense of what had just been foretold to Florina. The only happy news was that she had a chance for love. The most troubling was the betrayals that were to come. She took another drink and handed it back.
"Brave One,"
"Yes, Kuldra?"
"One of the betrayals, it is possible that it will be your mother. From what we have heard of the king, he can find a person's true name. If he does that, your mother will betray you, but not of her own free will."
"And the second."
"It may have something to do with your birth mother. It is possible that she had more than one child, or has." Kuldra corrected herself. Florina nodded, seeing the sense of her words.
"It would be best not to dwell on it much until her words come to pass. Not everything is written in stone. Angela, you mentioned that I would leave to live on an island. What island is that? Is it near Kuasta?"
"I am afraid that it is an isolated place where only dragons can reach." Florina thought a moment, knowing that only one place was left to her. She stood and started browsing the herbs. Solembum jumped onto the counter.
"Yes?"
"When the time comes and you wish to live alone with one or two others, go to the Rock of Kuthain and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls. There, you will find instructions. Follow them and you will be at peace."
"Thank you, Solembum." Florina left and entered Jeod's home through the kitchen and managed to make it to her room without being seen. She unbuckled her belt and fell onto the bed and fell asleep, dreams of a lush island filling her sleep.
Thanks all for reading. How did you like Florina's fortune? Not as bleak as Eragon's, but still pretty bleak. Please, please, please review. I need ideas and i can only get them from your reviews.