Mother of Magic

Treaty of Witches

Ava wrote up a draft of the treaty. She passed it around her friends to make sure it was as airtight as it could be.

"Geez, Ava. This one is even more strict than the Guild one. When mom reads this she is going to think they got off easy." Silena commented after reading through the document twice.

"We are talking about people that attacked this city many times over. You don't think it should be? " Ava asked.

"Oh no. I'm just impressed is all." Silena said.

When comments were incorporated, Ava sent the treaty to Yvonne Parmer showing her what would be required for the Witches to regain access to magic.

There was no protest. The quick agreement made Ava ask Parmer "You even show this to anyone? No one said anything?"

"I showed it to everyone. Duplicated it and sent it far and wide. Even to places that were never involved in any of it so that they would know what we are agreeing to. Our surrender is unconditional. I said that. I meant that." Yvonna showed Ava a hand, fingers spread. "You see this? This useless thing? I look at my hand and I do not recognize it. When I had magic, I gestured a great deal with this. A lot of us do. A mental way to tag magic to motion. Some get big with the flourishes, but even when you don't, you tend to gesture, you know? Wave about at least a little. Now? I wave my hand and it's just my hand. It does not do anything. You never lost magic, so you can't know what hell this is. I think it's like someone getting blinded after a lifetime of sight. I can't say that for sure. Sure feels like something like that. I understand completely those who decided to take the easy way out. The world right now is dull and two-dimensional. So: No, Ava. All saw a copy of the Treaty. No one said a thing. All agreed. It is infinitely better to live under your rules than to live without magic."

"No one said anything?" Ava was not expecting that.

"I won't say they were happy. No one said anything. Shoulders drooped. Sighs were heaved. Ground was stared at. Everyone said they would sign. What choice do they have? You have us over the proverbial barrel here. We don't sign, we don't have a life anymore. It's not even blackmail, because we started it. You are finishing it. Actions have consequences, and this is the consequence of going up against you. You and The Mother it would seem."

"It would seem?" Ava challenged.

"You do have more than only your word about The Mother going for you: You did magic no one else can. You and your Trio, I mean. It's overwhelming Ava. No one said anything. What could they say? Give me my power back even though I'm not signing? No one will say that."

"It sounds like you expect some will sign and not adhere to the contract."

Yvonna made a helpless gesture. "I can only speak for me. I will keep my word. I will sign. I will abide."

* * * * *t

The time for the signing would occur in two weeks. This would allow all the affected Witches to be notified to return to Collins. To read a copy of the agreement if they had not already. The resources of all the various organizations were pressed into play in finding as many Witches as they could to get them back to the signing. The depowered attackers organized and sent out searchers far and wide. The train station was busy unloading new arrivals. Other groups, like members of Brianna's San Francisco church, also assisted in gathering the affected. People who had roamed across the country to find extended family to help them were flown back on all manner of Witch-generated transport.

Le was pressed into service to fly someone to Collins from Maine. His latest air-cheating shape allowed him to move the rocket-shaped cylinder through the air at Mach speeds. No wings because Le finally realized with Magic all of that had been things he did not need. Without wings, and with the way the tail end of the fuselage tapered, it barely made sonic booms. It also flew at over 60,000 feet. The cabin was sealed, and magic made sure they had air. Stephanie went along to help fly, and Silena and Tasha went along for the pure thrill of it.