Another chapter of the tale of mystery.

FAMILY SECRETS

A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC

Chapter 55

Wordplay was the key to a magician's power. Howl taught me that long ago. Precision is critical - especially in the big spells. It is why one usually studies a new spell thoroughly before casting it for the first time. If it is not possible then one must mix and match the elements carefully. You take the time to study it even if is completely new. For you must understand the nature of the spell and what it might do. At least that is what one is supposed to do. I tended to just make stuff up as I went along. Having no real idea of the consequences until it was too late. It was something that Howl constantly lectured at me about.

Not that he always followed that rule. I saw him on many occasions breaking it. Just casting a spell and seeing what happened. Which sometimes resulted in a less than stellar outcome. A fact that he often forgets when chastising me. Suddenly, the great Wizard Howl can do no wrong! I am the fool who did not think things through. He forgets that this is the nature of my magic. It is as wild and untamed as I am. I do not prosper with that approach. I just need to open my mind and the cast the spell. That is how I work. Still, a little specificity wouldn't hurt. Not that I could really do that right now. This was all new ground to me. Traveling through time and now using this talisman to help me. It was all so very new. So much could go wrong. Yet, I couldn't think of that. Or else this would all fail. I just had to open my mind and do my best.

I had no idea how to use this talisman or how to find my loved ones. I didn't really need to. I allowed my powers to flow. It found a way. It allowed me to find the ones that I so badly needed. The best part was that I didn't even feel tired! The talisman had done most of the work. I just guided it on where to go. Now, my husband, my sister, and her fiance were all in the room with me. Along with Seus. That was when I realized that things had gone awry. I had never intended to summon him. I didn't even trust him! Yet, here he was standing before me. I had no idea what to do about that. It had caught me completely off guard.

What I didn't know was that Seus had started to help after we left the present. He had guided Howl to the house that I was trapped in and filled him in on his master. They had spent nearly a week preparing an offensive against William. Their idea was to surprise him when we returned to the present. If he was stopped then my life could be saved. Which would keep his promise to us. I wondered if that was the entire reason why he was doing this, but I didn't ask. I needed all the help that could get. For William would not go down without a fight. I couldn't be picky now. Although I still wondered about it. I suspected it also had something to do with William's proclamation. He fully intended to kill me then Seus for breaking his word if I did not succeed. Seus surely did not want to obey a master like that any longer. Surely he could see that William had no heart. He was not worthy of such loyalty. Seus would be better without him!

Regardless of his motives Howl seemed to trust him for now. So, I went with it. I wasn't terribly happy about it, but I accepted it. I trusted Howl with my life. If he said that Seus was helping then I would accept it. He would not lie to me about something like that. Not when it came to my safety that is. I would trust Seus for now.

After that was settled Howl asked me about how I got them here. I mentioned the talisman and the Queen. I told them that she was real. She met me here to loan me this item. It had the power to travel through time and space. It's how she got here from our time. It also the key to her power.

"I'm afraid that Queen Latvia isn't as powerful as the legend suggests. A lot of that is just smoke and mirrors. Which this talisman is key to. It allows her to see through time and space sometimes. That gave the appearance of a greater power than she really had. She can't even travel through time without it. There is no treasure. There never was."

Howl nodded. "It's provably better that way." I couldn't help but notice a note of disappointment in his voice. The fool had secretly hoped that the legend was true. Even though it would have been disastrous if it had. What was I going to do with him? "Still, it would have been nice to have been true."

"That's where you went wrong, my boy." Suliman chided him. "You expected too much. It was just a story, after all."

"I know, but it still would have been awesome to find!"

I sighed. Even now they were both children. Why they would choose to lament about a lost doomsday weapon? Why would they want it to be real?! It was a terrible thing! If it was real then we would all be screwed! I just didn't get Welshmen. They made so little sense. Either that or they were just plain stupid. I couldn't tell which one it was. It's been years and I still couldn't tell what the hell I was going to do with them!

I didn't need to worry about it for too long. For in that moment William reappeared. He was not happy with what I had done. It was clear that I no longer intended to obey him. Which was the final straw. He was done tolerating all of us. His plan had fallen apart. Now, he had nothing to lose. Which made him more dangerous than ever! He had most decidedly wanted to kill me. That and anyone else he could get a hold of. He was ready to start a bloodbath. This would not be easy.


Next Chapter coming up!