Advice
"But why?" asked Victoria, "Why would little Vincent shoot his own grandfather? Does this mean that his kidnapping had some sinister plot behind it, or was it just a really scary coincidence?"
"It was planned. The man who took Vincent was a rival for Mother's affections, and would do anything to mess with my father's head. Including, as it seems, kidnap his son, and make the boy believe he was abandoned so he'd come back and shoot his whole family. That's why grandfather used magic to defend himself, he was told that the boy was his grandson, and assumed that Vincent already knew about his being a Shaman. Not thinking that he would get killed in the battle," Virginia admitted.
Emily inquired, "What was the old man thinking? He's no spring chicken, he's a whole seventy-four years of age, in no condition to fight a man who was born when he was still fourty-eight. Heck, he should not have even been still mining, but he wanted so badly to find the lost remnants of Adlehyde."
Jet put his arm around his wife, hoping to comfort her. "We were attacked by Vincent about a week ago. Virginia read her mother's journal, but she still doesn't know exactly what she can do to help her fight her brother. We hope to save him, make him realize the truth about what happened. Although we've got the journal, we'll need all the help and information we can get in order to convince him that she is not his enemy, and end his plans to kill off the people he claims added to his abandonment."
"You can count on us," Victoria stated, "I will tell you everything I know. And I can also vouch for what happened, being the person who midwifed his birth. Besides, I'm in agreement. We must stop this madman's scheme to tear a family apart. Where is this guy now? Maybe we can attack him too."
"He died seven years ago. This man and his allies were attempting to transform Filgaia into a land of demons, and the two of us and our allies came to stop him. That's why he wants to kill a pair of our friends as well, since they assisted in the death of the man he called 'Father'," Virginia told them.
Victoria said, "Then I suggest we get started with making a plan immediately. But first, I've got something to give you. Your mother left it with me when she last visited. I think she knew she had little time to live, and thought that I could keep it safe until you were a little bit older."
She left the room, and came back soon. In the meantime, Virginia had changed into her blue Shamanistic robes. When she returned to the sitting room, the young woman sat down next to her husband again. Soon, Victoria came back with a little box, like one that held a piece of jewelry.
Virginia opened the box. Inside, she found a necklace with a charm that looked like a pair of angel's wings. She knew that it was the symbol of those that worshiped the Guardian of Love, Raftina. Which was something that the Royal Family had kept alive ever since the days when Cecilia Adlehyde had called her to Filgaia to save the life of herself and Rudy Roughnight. The young woman put it around her neck, and went to examine herself in the mirror. It looked really good that way.
Victoria smiled. "Your mother told me to give that to you. She was hoping you would be able to keep it safe on your own, but you were only a small child, and she didn't feel like burdening you. So she left it with me. I really should have tracked you down when you were a teenager, but then there were a few problems I had to attend to, so I couldn't go on a trip. And when I was free, I'd just plain forgot about having to give it to you. Now, it's time for you to accept you responsibilities as the descendent of the
Royal Family of Adlehyde. You look lovely Princess, oh I mean Queen Virginia." She giggled a little bit.
"Thank you," Virginia stated, "I really feel like a Queen now. We've got to get down to business now, though. Last thing I need is to be ill prepared when Vincent comes to call again."
"Ok, I'll tell you about what happened. I've never given up hope that he was really alive. I knew that I most likely wouldn't find an innocent child, something would have happened in the days of his captivity. But I never thought he'd be fighting against his own family," Victoria said.
~ ~ ~ ~
Victoria was sitting on a chair in her bedroom. She was smiling as she looked at her best friend, who was laying in the bed. Ekatrina was holding her twin babies in her arms, feeling the pure joy that comes with being a mother. Emily was sleeping in her little bed, giving the two women a little quiet.
Ekatrina told her friend, "Look at them Vicky, my babies. They're just too precious. I cannot wait to tell my father about this. He's going to be so happy to see his grandchildren. Werner too, he was only expecting to have one baby. But two children is twice as nice, don't you think?"
Victoria looked into the eyes of Virginia, who was playing with the charm on her mother's
necklace, batting the little angel's wings around. "Yes, that is true. So, have you decided which one will be your heir, or are you going to wait a little more, until they are grown and must undergo the ceremony?"
"Well, the Guardians prefer girls," Ekatrina stated, "So I guess it'll have to be Virginia."
Just then, Vincent began to cry. His mother handed her daughter to Victoria, so she could rock the baby boy in her arms, and comfort him. Soon, the crying subsided, and he was all smiles again.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Your mother loved her son dearly. I remember how devastated she was when he was taken from her. She cried so loudly, that I thought her tears were never going to dry," admitted Victoria.
Jet asked, "What do you mean by 'the ceremony'? Is it some sort of adulthood ritual that a Shaman has to undergo? Or is it only for the heir to the throne of Adlehyde?"
Virginia shook her head. "Partially correct. It's only for the heir to the throne, but it takes place at five years of age. Do you remember the staff we found when we fought Emperor Marduke? You know, the Dist Dims? Well, that is only a replica of the real Dist Dims, a staff used by Cecilia Adlehyde when she fought the demon Ziekfried who we know as Sigfried or Blue Menace. The real staff is made of pure energy, and is sealed inside of the body of the heir to the throne. Meaning, that inside of both me and Lilka lies the power of the real staff, and we can summon it if we ever need it in a pinch while in battle."
- - - -
Teefa's Last Words…
Well, we've got some more answers. I think I'll bring Vincent back in the next chapter.
