Artemis's POV
We have just started to head back to Howl's when a short, stout man dashes to us from down the old planks of the boarrdwalk pathway.
"Master Howl Jenkins Penndragon!" He shouts, waving a small, white envelope that is almost as shiny as my hair, currently. "Here," the man shouts, doubling over, wheezing. "Solomon requests your presence at the palace tomorrow. It's about the war."
"But the war was over-"
"A new one broke out. And you have to there, or-" the messanger looks me up and down, inspecting every inch of my body, his eyes lingering on my own, mismatched eyes. "Or the king will have your newest pet beheaded, or worse . . ." The man takes off at a brisk pace, leaving me speechless.
"Howl," I ask, yanking my hands from his. "What did the messanger mean by, 'or worse'? Who is this man, Solomon?" So many questions rush through my head, and Howl is the shade of my hair. For him to become any paler than he naturally is, this can't mean tomorrow's meeting will be a good one.
"Solomon is a very strong sorceress. She was my teacher, and I had to take vows that if the king ever called upon my services, I would come to the aid of him and his nation."
"Oh," Is all I can think of to respond with. He breaks the bloodred seal on the envolope and scans the parchment.
"I have to bring you with me," Howl's face sinks and I do not recieve the cocky grin that I have become accumstomed to.
"Well, at least I can be support for you-"
"Youd on't get it, do you?"
"Get what, Howl?"
"You have magical abilities- Solomon and the king will want your services, too!"
"Then all we have to do is win the war!"
"They never let you go! Even when they don't need you, even when you are expendable, they make you suffer." Well that doesn't sound too pleasant. "And with you incapable of controlling your powers, Solomon can force you to learn her ways. Do you know how many people know anything baout runes?"
"Don't most wizards and sorceresses?"
"You are the only one for several millenia."
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Howl
FanfictionA fanfiction of Howl's Moving Castle- that doesn't start or end with Sophie and Howl married or having children! What happens when Artemis, a normal girl, runs into Howl and Sophie? Just another girl, right? She could have been, until the accide...
