Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

Marian narrows her eyes. "Seventy three and you still haven't learned anything? Wow, you're dumber than I thought."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Children, enou--" Aveline breaks off, flushing a little. "Sorry, habit?" She coughs. "Anyway. Carver, fill in the blanks about what you're accusing her of doing."

[Marian Hawke]

"She knows--"
"I know--"

They're in perfect unison, each breaking off at the same moment. Marian continues:

"I know what he's accusing me of."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Good for the both of you," Aveline says bluntly. "I don't."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian stares off into the middle distance, eyes unfocused and somewhere between Carver and Aveline. "It's my fault Beth died. I don't deny that. But I've been punished enough for it. I died. Isn't that enough?"

[Aveline Vallen]

"Your fault?" Aveline's eyes narrow. "I thought--" She glances at Carver with a faint air of guilt, then looks back to Marian. "I pulled the records, as best I could, and it was stated she was executed for using, quote; 'unholy magicks of a dark and corrupting nature.' You weren't mentioned at all, outside of a listing of all immediate relatives."

[Marian Hawke]

"I was the one teaching her to control it, to hide it. I was the one who was responsible for making sure she didn't get caught. I was the one sent to get her back. I did everything I could but it wasn't enough. I get that."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Teaching what, exactly?" Retired Captain and Magistrate Vallen asks with carefully even tone and words.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian holds out her hand, and a chill wind sweeps through the room, caressing her fingers as frost forms over top of them. Just that; just a bit of frost, but Carver recoils like she summoned an imp in front of him. Over the years he'd gotten used to magic in Nyra, but here, in Golden Shores, when it's his sister, that old aversion comes back, just for a second, on gut instinct.

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline's hair shimmers, just a little, and she frowns. Not evil, her or the magic itself. "That's elemental magic. Primal magic, not fell magic. Is that what--" A flick of the eyes to her husband, "she had as well?"

[Carver Amell]

"Yes," says Carver, bluntly, his eyes distant. "All magic is illegal here."

[Aveline Vallen]

"They reported--" Aveline growls softly as it clicks. "Dammit. I get it. Nyra allows for executions for fell magic, but magic is so varied and mutable, the definitions aren't very solid. It's a gross misuse of the law, but if they defined it broadly enough..." She rubs her face, pulling Carver in closer absently to both give and get comfort. 

[Marian Hawke]

"They burned her alive," whispers Marian, still staring at nothing. Carver winces, burying his face against Aveline's shoulder for comfort. 

[Aveline Vallen]

"But how is that your fault? From what you just did, your sister and Cassius, it's clear that your family just has a bloodline trait for primal magic. You didn't make her a sorcerer or what not."

[Marian Hawke]

"I was responsible for her. And when they took her, I was sent to get her back. I was..." 

She pauses, glancing at Carver, seeming almost surprised not to be interrupted. She continues, more hesitantly: "I did everything I could. I offered the money Mother sent me with, but he wouldn't take it. Said bribery was illegal and he could throw me in jail for it. I offered... sexual favors," she manages, with some difficulty. "He promised he'd let her go, but he didn't."