Another chapter of the tale of mystery.
FAMILY SECRETS
A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC
Chapter 39
I really hate being wrong! Here I was judging a man who had very little to do with my predicament. My only evidence was his bloodline (which I also shared) and the fact that he kidnapped me. That was pretty thin when you consider the fact that I came here of my own volition. True, it was under false pretenses but I still came here willingly. The man barely did anything to me and I was ready to destroy him. It made me wonder if I was like my Grandfather after all. Something that did not sit well with me.
I decided to try and accept the man. He was family of sorts. Even if he was from a side of my family that I wanted little to do with. I owed it to him. I had just falsely accused the man of murder after all. The least I could do was find out why he dragged me all the way out here. We had been both lied to by 'Seus.' Edvard may not know much but it was my responsibility to learn what I could. There was a reason why 'Seus' brought me here. I hoped that Edvard could clue me on it.
"Edvard, may I ask why you brought me here? Somehow I doubt that it was for idle chit-chat."
He nodded. "You're quite right, Sophie. I did bring you here for a reason." He got up then fetched a book from the shelf. "There is a legend about about a Queen with the ability to open doors to the past, present, and future. She was a force to reckoned with. She ruled over a Strangia much different than the one you see today. It was full of magic! Just like Ingary and High Norland. In fact, it was said that there were more magicians in her kingdom than the two combined."
"This book details her story." He gave me the book. "Sadly, it is not the most accurate account. Since it was written some three to four hundred years after her death. By that time her life and power had been greatly exaggerated. She had become practically become a god! Which we all know is not the truth. She was just a witch with a power not unlike your own. The rest is subject to debate. For even her name has a point of contention."
I interrupted him. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because our bloodline descends from her. You are one of her last female descendants. It seems that the power to control space and time is passed on through the maternal line. We can sense it, but not control it."
"I don't understand. If this power gets passed down through the women in our family how did I get it?"
"Ahh . . . that's easy. Your Grandmother was also your Grandfather's third cousin."
I didn't really like the sound of that. It sounded an awful lot like we were inbred. I guess it was a blessing that mother found father. At least they weren't relatives! UGH!
He laughed at my discomfort. "That's really quite normal for nobles. I'm afraid that we are quite strange. We are just one big dysfunctional family! Touching, isn't it?"
"If you say so . . ." I grumbled.
He sighed. "Perhaps not. It is true all the same. Most Strangian Noble Houses descend in one way or another from her. However, no others can claim a maternal lineage. Our house is the only one remaining. The others have broken that line long ago."
This was all very interesting but I still failed to see why this was important enough to drag me all the way here. So I asked him. How he responded surprised me.
"I'm not looking for power or wealth. I know that our time for that has passed. The line of the Sedgewicks is about to end. I accept that. I do not wish to prolong it's life. There is no point. There are too few of us to make a difference." He sat back down. "That is not why I summoned you here. Or why you now hold that book. It's for a completely different reason."
"As you know Strangia has not been doing well. Once our land was filled with magic; now our land has almost nothing left. Fewer and fewer magicians are born every year. And those who are born tend to lack power or control. It is slowly becoming a magical wasteland. In fact, most of the magical creatures have abandoned us. Our land is dying just like our family. We must do something to stop this from happening!"
He sighed. "I feel that the answer to our problems is in that book. The Queen must have seen this. Surely, she would have prepared something! Only that has been lost to time. Right along with her name. You, Sophie, have the power to travel back in time! You could save this land! I just know it! We need you to use that power of yours and save us!"
Next Chapter coming up!