Page 29 of Professor and the Seer

“As if you care. I’m old and creaky. You’re worried about the woman.”

No point in denying it. “She’s been struggling with her power since a recent arcane event heightened it.”

“The Warden is no more,” Grams stated.

He nodded. “Yes, Bane is free, and so is whatever was inside that portal he guarded. When it opened, while we didn’t see anything escape, it did something to Frieda and her sisters.”

“Arcane triplets,” Grams murmured. “It’s been more than a thousand years since the last set walked this Earth.”

“Is that important?”

“Things are changing, dear boy. And that’s not a bad thing.” She patted his arm. “You’ll be a part of the coming transition in the world.”

Ominous and exciting all at once, until he remembered Frieda’s fear. “Are you sure about that? Frieda had a vision where I died.”

Grams snorted. “Bah. Don’t listen to her. Already predicted you’ll live to be an old man.”

“Maybe my future’s changed since you looked.”

“Nope.”

“How can you be so certain? You’re the one who told me you only ever see the one thread. But Frieda, she sees every possibility. What makes you right and her wrong?”

“She doesn’t yet know there are ways of locking in a particular future, but it involves meddling with free will. And before you ask, I never used my gift with my own children. At the time, I hoped my family would find their way past the tragic branches. They didn’t and I regret not nudging them harder. When it came to you, I could see the twists and turns, some of which would have ended badly. Hence why I chose a path that would give you the best life.”

“Chose my path?” he scoffed. “Pretty sure I’m the one doing that.”

“Of course you are.” Spoken as if she were humoring him.

With a hint of exasperation, he huffed, “Seriously, Grams. I’m the one making my own decisions.”

“You are, and it just so happens those choices will lead you to a long and happy future.”

He pursed his lips. “What if you’re wrong?”

Grams snorted. “Don’t be silly. You know I’m always right. Can you say the same for this woman you’ve brought?”

He thought of how Frieda appeared convinced her sister would die because the future where she saw her living was the least likely of them all.

As they neared the house, he said, “Frieda wondered what you did to the house. She says her visions have been silent, which is unusual given even objects tend to inundate her with possibilities.”

“I don’t know if I’d call it a spell. More like I set the futures of everything in the house.”

“Set?” He frowned.

“A floorboard doesn’t need to show me all the ways it will age. Or who will wear a shawl. So I settled on a future for everything in our family home and my cottage.”

“Can you teach Frieda to do the same?”

“Maybe. We’ll see once I have a chat with her.”

“She’s really keen on learning. I’ve seen the way she reacts to what she’s experiencing. While she hasn’t said it aloud, given what we have discussed, I think Frieda is afraid of going insane.”

“A valid fear. It’s what happens to most of us,” Grams admitted.

“That’s not exactly reassuring.”

“Our gift isn’t an easy one. How she handles it will depend on her.” Grams gave him a side-eye. “But you did good bringing her to me.”