Part 34 (2/2)
”In honesty, as I didn't know such could occur, I cannot say what you should do with it except that I want no part in whatever is done.”
As Valentine suspected, Franka Drakkar held magic but she did not use it or even understand it.
”You have options, cherie,” she began, deciding to ignore the last of what Franka said. ”I could give it to you, augment the power you have. I sense your power is significant especially as you inherited it from your mother and haven't used it, so it grows inside you in great stores. Your mother's was used often, randomly and for ill. It wasn't meager but it is no match to yours.”
This was not welcome news, clearly causing Franka to wonder if she knew how to use her power if she could have done so to save herself, her brother and her lover from harm.
Franka shared all of this with Valentine by looking to the fire.
”That wouldn't have helped,” Valentine told her sympathetically. ”It's an a.s.sumption but I've seen others of little experience make such attempts with much less at stake. They backfired and made matters far worse. So do not concern yourself with that, sister. There was nothing you could have done, not for you, your brother, but most particularly, for your lost lover.”
Franka lifted her chin but said nothing.
Therefore Valentine carried on, ”You should have been trained. It should have been something beautiful, something precious, time spent together with your mother that you didn't look on fondly, you looked on lovingly, remembering the beauty she shared with you as she taught you to harness and wield your power. Much like every moment I shared with my mother and my grandmother when they guided me in how to wield mine.”
Franka turned back to her.
”This, she did not do.”
”I know,” Valentine replied. ”But it would be my honor to do so, sister.”
A flash of interest quickly buried before she returned, ”I want nothing of hers.”
”It's the only good she's given you,” Valentine retorted. ”And no woman should eschew any power she holds rightly, or that she's earned, or even that she's wrested from a defeated foe. Your mother was a waste to this world. But your magic should not be wasted, and magic is sacred, so what's left of hers shouldn't either.”
”What are the other options for her magic?” Franka asked.
Although she admired the trait, at this moment Valentine found Franka's stubbornness frustrating.
”I could expel it into the earth,” Valentine answered. ”Close to an adela tree, which would a.s.sist all of them across Lunwyn in growing.”
”As the adela were nearly made extinct during the war, they hold great beauty and provide the same when their power is used, and they take decades to grow, I think that's the better option, don't you?”
”Although it would hasten growth, it would not shave decades off, but only perhaps a few months,” Valentine replied.
”A few months are just that and that's something.”
Valentine was not pleased with how this conversation was going.
It was time to take another course with the willful witch.
With that in mind, abruptly, she declared, ”In my world, when you are with me there, I not only wish to train you to use your magic, but I wish for you to join me as I perform the services I perform for my clients in order to eventually take on your own.” She leaned closer to her witch-sister. ”I can a.s.sure you, the intrigues in which I'm enlisted are often quite delicious.”
Finally, she'd caught Franka's attention.
”Indeed?” she asked.
”Indeed,” Valentine said as she sat back. ”In fact, I have some meddling I intend to do. And it would a.s.sist me greatly if I had a partner.”
Franka made no reply, she simply continued studying Valentine.
”I would like you in my world. I think it would suit you. I think you'd blossom there. And I hope you'll also blossom under my tutelage,” Valentine coaxed.
”That decision has been made, as I've shared,” Franka reminded her. ”I'll be journeying to your world.”
”It has, I'm talking about your magic and you absorbing your mother's.”
Franka started to shake her head but Valentine spoke again.
”You are aware there are twins of nearly everyone in both worlds.”
”Yes,” Franka affirmed.
”And Dax Lahn's twin lives in New Orleans.”
Valentine was satisfied to see a slight widening of Franka's eyes and a definite look of heightened attentiveness in them.
”As does this world's Circe, of course,” Valentine carried on.
”My,” Franka whispered, her sister-witch far from dim, Valentine had to explain no further.
Instead, she shared, ”I've paid some attention to him. I've decided they'll suit.”
It took a moment but after that moment Franka's lips curled in a way Valentine found very familiar for she'd felt that same curve on her own lips many a time.
”My,” she repeated.
”It may take some time, it's important for you to be comfortable in your magic, but do you fancy some meddling?” Valentine invited.
Franka took another moment and this one was longer.
Valentine waited.
It was worth the wait when she received her answer.
”Absolutely.”
Franka ”I would like for you to put that down and come here,” I said to the child.
My nephew looked up at me but did not do as I said.
Instead, he put what he was holding right in his mouth.
”I'll repeat,” I carried on speaking to the child, ”Please put that down and come here.”
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