Another chapter of the tale of mystery.
FAMILY SECRETS
A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC
Chapter 40
Edvard's motives seemed well intentioned, but I still didn't trust them. He was proposing that I help a rival nation regain its power. I'm not sure if that was classified as treason or not. Sure, I felt for these people and this land, but it wasn't my home. I was from Ingary. A land that didn't exactly have the best relations with Strangia right now. There was even talk of war on the horizon. While I did not seek war I did not want to help my country's enemies. Even if my mother came from this land. It just wasn't an good idea.
Besides, I was still angry at Edvard. I did not care to dragged all the way here. Nor do I like to be tied up and left in a cell. The one who does that does not deserve my trust. They are likely to lie about their motives. He might not really care about saving his country. It might all be a lie. Just like 'Seus.' I didn't know who or what to believe anymore. I was didn't know what to do.
"You don't have to believe me. Read that book. It will help a great deal."
Then he did yet another thing that I did not expect: He left the room. He did not bother to restain me in any way. He just left the doors unlocked and powers unbound. I even heard him and his men leave the area. It was show of trust that I did not expect. I could easily run away. Yet, he took the risk. I wouldn't have trusted me if our roles were reversed. I was very likely to attempt an escape. He should have known that. Yet, he left me on my own. It was very odd indeed. Fortunately, I had no intention of leaving. I intended to play along for now. He was very lucky indeed.
Suddenly, the doors shut and locked on their own. My heart stopped for a second then I realized that it was Howl's doing. He sealed us off so that he could return to his true form. He wiggled out of my clothes then changed forms.
"Ha . . . Ha . . . Howl?" I stammered but he ignored me.
Instead, he took the book from me. He sat down then read for a while. Finally, he said, "This story is basically how your cousin describes it. It is the story of an ancient princess who gained a great power then became queen of this land. It's light on actual facts. Most of it is just legend and fantasy, but there is enough here to say that might have happened."
I sat down next to where my husband was sitting. "So, do you think Edvard is telling the truth?"
He thought about it for a second. "I haven't decided yet. If she is your ancestor then she could theoretically have a similar power. If she did have that power then we also have an idea of what she couldn't do. Somehow I doubt that she could really see the future. Divination is a very different power. One that I'm quite good at it, actually. Yet, you don't see me opening doors into the past and present, now do you?"
I nodded. "Do you think that there really is some treasure out there?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. Provably not."
I suddenly felt so deflated. I didn't know why. I wasn't planning to help them. I think . . . "Oh."
He suddenly tried to cheer me up. "That doesn't mean that she couldn't use divination. It just means that your power that you have is very different, that's all. Somehow I doubt that you can open a door into the future. Then again we have never tried. Nor do I want to. Sometimes it's best not to know the future."
"Yeah." I intoned.
He took my hand. "Hey! It's not all that bad. I had no idea that I would meet you. Look how well that turned out! Sure, I was looking for someone to break the contract but that didn't mean that I wasn't surprised. I hoped that it would be you, but I wasn't sure. I could have been wrong. It would have taken the fun of it if I knew that you were going to do it."
The fool said something so very sweet and insulting at the same time. He didn't know that I could do it? What the hell? Why would he say that? Geez, he made his curse sound like a game. Then again maybe it was to him. I couldn't really tell with Howl. I hit him in the arm, "Idiot."
He just grinned at me. Then I knew. In his mind, this was all some sort of game. Sure, he was very serious about protecting me but the rest was just a whim. Just as he always went about things. This was the man that I fell in love with. He was completely unreliable, fickle, carefree, yet so utterly smart. I really didn't understand how that brain of his worked. I guess it didn't matter. We balance each other out. We're an awesome team. It didn't hurt that we love each other more than words could ever express.
"So, what do you think we should do now?"
He passed the book to me. "I think that you should read the book."
Next Chapter coming up!