But it wasn’t just that.
I had a strict life edict I never broke.
I didn’t turn down chocolate in any form.
Ever.
* * * * *
Valentine
Once bathed, attired and her hair arranged, Valentine nodded to her maid who left her and then she wasted no time moving through the house to her sphere resting on its bed of velvet. She called up a vision of Franka in its depths, ascertained her location and she spirited herself right there.
Sitting in a chair in her bedchamber, appearing like she was trying to read the book in front of her but her mind had wandered, Franka started in her seat as her eyes flew to Valentine.
“By the gods,” she whispered, “you’re here.”
“I am,” Valentine replied, smoothly moving to the chair that was angled opposite Franka in front of the toasty fire. Without invitation she sat, her eyes never leaving the lovely woman in the room with her. “I’m pleased to note you’re in a much better state than when we last saw each other.”
“I’m pleased as well,” Franka replied, having swiftly gotten over her surprise at Valentine appearing, her regard was steady as she flipped shut her book with a snap.
“I’ve been informed that they’re taking good care of you,” Valentine noted.
“You would be correct, as annoying as it’s been,” Franka returned crisply.
Valentine smiled her small smile.
“Kindness is, of course, kind, even if it’s often most irritating, that being when it’s intrusive and unceasing.”
A quickly hidden look of relief flashed through Franka’s remarkable blue eyes, an indication she felt soothed to be in the presence of a kindred spirit. This came before she nodded smartly.
“I’m told you’ve been invited to journey to my world,” Valentine remarked.
“I have,” Franka confirmed.
“Have you made your decision to come?” Valentine asked.
“I have not.”
Hmm.
“May I ask why not?” Valentine pressed.
“Because I fully intend to do it, but I also fully intend not to let on that’s been my decision because everyone is being so damnably insistent about me doing it. And you can take that to mean they feel the decision has been made without me making it, and I intend to make clear that when the decision is official, it was my decision that was made.”
“I approve of this course of action,” Valentine murmured and watched Franka lift her chin.
“With respect, I don’t care if you do or don’t.”
“I approve of that too,” Valentine replied and at that she watched Franka’s lips twitch. With no ado, she then announced, “You have magic.”
Franka was not able to hide her response to that, quickly or otherwise. She stiffened visibly and her expression went guarded.
“Calm, my sister,” Valentine said softly. “It is your secret and as your sister, it’s also mine.”
Franka didn’t calm immediately. She studied Valentine warily and it took her some time before she nodded her acceptance even if Valentine sensed she didn’t fully give it.
“I have your mother’s magic, as you know,” Valentine continued.
“Pardon?” Franka asked.
“Your mother’s magic. I have it,” Valentine explained. “I could absorb it, such as it is. I don’t need it, though one can never have enough magic. However, I’ve not done that. I’m waiting on you to tell me what you wish done with it.”
It took a moment for Franka to answer but then she did.
“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, chérie,” 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 assumption 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.”