Chapter Three
While Silk was explaining what he was doing, Milaya was riding silently, when Poledra rode up beside her. "One is curious to know why you hide what you are." She said, lapsing in to the language of the wolves. Poledra didn't notice this till Milaya looked at her strangely. She was about to ask her again, but Milaya grinned.
"One is unsure of what you mean." Milaya answered in the language of the wolves.
Poledra looked shocked, then a small smile crossed her face. "So puppy, you are more skilled than one thought. What one means is that you have the bearing of a pack leader, and yet you cater to Ce'Nedra like a thing the man-things call a serf. This is what one is curious about."
"One has misjudged you, Woman Who Watches. One hides it as it causes much pain. One lost all of one's pack mates many years ago, but the loss is still fresh in one's mind and heart." Milaya said, sighing.
"One is sorry for your loss." Poledra said simply. As they were talking, they hadn't, or at least Milaya hadn't noticed Silk, Garion, Belgarath and Polgara ride up. Garion stared shocked at Milaya, who was speaking the language fluently.
"One is thankful for your company." Milaya said, then noticing the others, she reverted back to English "Have you finished your talk?" She asked. "Your Majesty, you really should practice more. You were shouting quite loudly." Milaya smiled at Garion's look.
"Shush, puppy." Poledra said, smiling at her.
"Yes pack leader's mate." Milaya said submissively, looking down.
"Did something just happen that I'm not aware of?" Silk asked confused.
"It may come in handy Kheldar, if you were to learn the language of the wolves. Things might not slip by your notice so easily." Poledra said impishly. Belgarath turned to his wife in shock.
"What's come over you?" He asked.
"I think my influence already might be a bit of a bad one, Most Holy." Milaya said, still looking down.
"Alright, that's enough chitchat. I think maybe father, that we need to pick up the pace a bit." Polgara said, looking at Milaya with unreadable eyes.
Belgarath grumbled for a bit, then began to spread the word to pick up the pace.
At least a month had passed when the group arrived in Boktor, Capital of Drasnia and home of the Drasnian Royal Family. During that time, the only people to speak to Milaya were Silk, Poledra, Durnik and Hettar. Silk had become very close to Milaya on the journey, and was rarely seen out of her company, but the return to Boktor had brought back memories of a fair maiden who still owned part of his heart. Liselle was in this very city, and he couldn't help but feel pain at the loss of her love.
When they reached the palace, they readied themselves, and walked into the throne room. Milaya tried to stay in the shadows, but Silk wouldn't let her.
"It's alright Milaya. Porenn and Kheva don't bite." He said with a grin.
"No Kheldar. I." Milaya fumbled as she tried to think of an excuse to stay in the shadows. "I.." She continued to fumble but for the life of her, a reasonable excuse wouldn't come.
"You have no excuse, so come on." And with that, Silk firmly took Milaya's hand and led her in front of the throne. He bowed extravagantly. "Hello Aunty." He grinned as Queen Porenn looked daggers at him.
"Hello Kheldar. Who is that young lady you have with you?" Porenn asked, seeing as she couldn't see Milaya's face which had stayed down after her curtsy. "Child, don't be afraid. You can lift your head." Porenn coaxed.
Milaya was about to say something to that child remark, but she controlled herself.
"Milaya, stop that." Silk said, trying to get her to raise her head.
Milaya silently cursed Silk. 'Damn. She's going to figure it out soon.'
"Did you call her Milaya?" Porenn asked, as she walked down to stand in front of Milaya and Silk. "I knew a beautiful young girl by the name of Milaya. She was princess of Garvina, and had come to visit. You, I believe, were in Mallorea." Porenn said, and was about to say more when Ce'Nedra interrupted.
"She's nothing but a serf, and besides Garvina doesn't exist. It's an impossibility. If it existed, Tolendria would have a treaty with them."
Milaya couldn't keep quiet anymore. "Belar." She swore, making everyone gasp "You'd think Ce'Nedra, that after all you had been through, you'd actually find out that most things aren't impossible. I mean, you are the wife of someone, when he was but a boy, slayed a God, and you were present at the coronation of a new God." Milaya looked at Ce'Nedra with hard eyes, but her eyes softened when she looked at Porenn. "Hello Porenn. You still insist on calling everyone child, don't you. I guess I grew up a bit. I am now Queen of Garvina." She said with a sad smile.
Porenn looked at her then hugged her. "You poor child. I'm sorry."
"That's alright Porenn. You will have to excuse me though." Milaya said, as she broke away from Porenn. She rushed out of the doors, and down a hallway.
Porenn turned to Silk. "There seems to be a closeness between you two." She said shrewdly. Her eyes then turned sad. "Kheldar, your mother is here again."
Silk paled, then he began to walk determinedly towards the doors, when they swung open. Milaya was back, and she had brought along a woman with a dark veil over her face. Silk stiffened. He knew who that was. He looked at Milaya and spoke to her with his fingers.
"How dare you bring her out here!" His fingers shook with outrage.
"Kheldar, she brought me here because I asked her to." Spoke the woman. It was Silk's mother, who had been scarred badly when a plague had swept through Drasnia. It had also made her blind. So it was with shock that Silk looked at his mother. How could she have known what he had said, if she was blind. Milaya stepped closer to Silk's mother and removed her veil. Underneath there were no scars, no nothing to even show that she had been scarred. Her eyes were clear too.
"A gift Kheldar, for your kindness to me." Milaya said softly. She then looked at Belgarath, who had a look of awe on his face. It looked strange on the face of the Eternal Man. "What's the matter Belgarath?" She asked.
"You're the Child Sorceress aren't you." This wasn't a question, but merely a statement. Milaya nodded.
"I guess you got one of Uncle Beldin's scribblings about me, huh?" And Belgarath's nod, she smiled. "Please stop looking so awed. It's strange seeing it come from the Eternal Man." Belgarath winced. Milaya laughed then walked outside.
Garion turned to his grandfather. "What's so important about her being the Child Sorceress?" He asked.
"It means Garion, that she is probably stronger that you when you have your Orb. I've heard rumours that she can even unmake things without having the power turned back on her."
Garion stared at his grandfather in shock.
Milaya was outside in the garden, writing on a piece of parchment, when Silk found her.
"I've been looking for you." He said, taking a seat beside her.
Milaya placed the parchment aside. "Why?"
"I wanted to thank you for what you did for my mother." Silk said.
"That's fine Kheldar. I was happy to. I." Milaya broke off as Silk, with a gleam in his eyes, leant forward and took possession of Milaya's mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise, then they closed as the feelings took over. Milaya leant in closer, and Silk noticing this, moaned softly.
"Liselle."
Milaya's eyes shot open, and she broke away from Silk. Silk looked up at her in confusion, then as understanding hit him, he paled. How could he have been so stupid?!
Milaya took a step back, then her eyes narrowed, and her step back changed to one forward. She raised her hand and slapped Silk across the face with enough force to turn his head. She then ran away, tears steaming down her face.
Silk held a hand to his burning cheek as he sat quietly in the garden, waiting, hoping that Milaya would come back.
He was still there in the morning when he heard a cry come from the throne room. Praying that it was Milaya, he was shocked to find Porenn standing in the middle of the throne room, staring around in awe. She had every right to do that too, as there were eight Gods, and one young woman who had was glowing a pink colour standing there.
Silk walked over to Eriond, about to ask why they were all there for, when Eriond turned hard eyes on him. This shocked Silk as Eriond was always calm and kind. What shocked Silk even more was that as soon as Eriond looked at him, he found himself flung against the wall and held there by Eriond's will.
In a cold and deadly voice that was unfamiliar to Silk, Eriond asked quietly "What did you do to my sister Milaya?"
While Silk was explaining what he was doing, Milaya was riding silently, when Poledra rode up beside her. "One is curious to know why you hide what you are." She said, lapsing in to the language of the wolves. Poledra didn't notice this till Milaya looked at her strangely. She was about to ask her again, but Milaya grinned.
"One is unsure of what you mean." Milaya answered in the language of the wolves.
Poledra looked shocked, then a small smile crossed her face. "So puppy, you are more skilled than one thought. What one means is that you have the bearing of a pack leader, and yet you cater to Ce'Nedra like a thing the man-things call a serf. This is what one is curious about."
"One has misjudged you, Woman Who Watches. One hides it as it causes much pain. One lost all of one's pack mates many years ago, but the loss is still fresh in one's mind and heart." Milaya said, sighing.
"One is sorry for your loss." Poledra said simply. As they were talking, they hadn't, or at least Milaya hadn't noticed Silk, Garion, Belgarath and Polgara ride up. Garion stared shocked at Milaya, who was speaking the language fluently.
"One is thankful for your company." Milaya said, then noticing the others, she reverted back to English "Have you finished your talk?" She asked. "Your Majesty, you really should practice more. You were shouting quite loudly." Milaya smiled at Garion's look.
"Shush, puppy." Poledra said, smiling at her.
"Yes pack leader's mate." Milaya said submissively, looking down.
"Did something just happen that I'm not aware of?" Silk asked confused.
"It may come in handy Kheldar, if you were to learn the language of the wolves. Things might not slip by your notice so easily." Poledra said impishly. Belgarath turned to his wife in shock.
"What's come over you?" He asked.
"I think my influence already might be a bit of a bad one, Most Holy." Milaya said, still looking down.
"Alright, that's enough chitchat. I think maybe father, that we need to pick up the pace a bit." Polgara said, looking at Milaya with unreadable eyes.
Belgarath grumbled for a bit, then began to spread the word to pick up the pace.
At least a month had passed when the group arrived in Boktor, Capital of Drasnia and home of the Drasnian Royal Family. During that time, the only people to speak to Milaya were Silk, Poledra, Durnik and Hettar. Silk had become very close to Milaya on the journey, and was rarely seen out of her company, but the return to Boktor had brought back memories of a fair maiden who still owned part of his heart. Liselle was in this very city, and he couldn't help but feel pain at the loss of her love.
When they reached the palace, they readied themselves, and walked into the throne room. Milaya tried to stay in the shadows, but Silk wouldn't let her.
"It's alright Milaya. Porenn and Kheva don't bite." He said with a grin.
"No Kheldar. I." Milaya fumbled as she tried to think of an excuse to stay in the shadows. "I.." She continued to fumble but for the life of her, a reasonable excuse wouldn't come.
"You have no excuse, so come on." And with that, Silk firmly took Milaya's hand and led her in front of the throne. He bowed extravagantly. "Hello Aunty." He grinned as Queen Porenn looked daggers at him.
"Hello Kheldar. Who is that young lady you have with you?" Porenn asked, seeing as she couldn't see Milaya's face which had stayed down after her curtsy. "Child, don't be afraid. You can lift your head." Porenn coaxed.
Milaya was about to say something to that child remark, but she controlled herself.
"Milaya, stop that." Silk said, trying to get her to raise her head.
Milaya silently cursed Silk. 'Damn. She's going to figure it out soon.'
"Did you call her Milaya?" Porenn asked, as she walked down to stand in front of Milaya and Silk. "I knew a beautiful young girl by the name of Milaya. She was princess of Garvina, and had come to visit. You, I believe, were in Mallorea." Porenn said, and was about to say more when Ce'Nedra interrupted.
"She's nothing but a serf, and besides Garvina doesn't exist. It's an impossibility. If it existed, Tolendria would have a treaty with them."
Milaya couldn't keep quiet anymore. "Belar." She swore, making everyone gasp "You'd think Ce'Nedra, that after all you had been through, you'd actually find out that most things aren't impossible. I mean, you are the wife of someone, when he was but a boy, slayed a God, and you were present at the coronation of a new God." Milaya looked at Ce'Nedra with hard eyes, but her eyes softened when she looked at Porenn. "Hello Porenn. You still insist on calling everyone child, don't you. I guess I grew up a bit. I am now Queen of Garvina." She said with a sad smile.
Porenn looked at her then hugged her. "You poor child. I'm sorry."
"That's alright Porenn. You will have to excuse me though." Milaya said, as she broke away from Porenn. She rushed out of the doors, and down a hallway.
Porenn turned to Silk. "There seems to be a closeness between you two." She said shrewdly. Her eyes then turned sad. "Kheldar, your mother is here again."
Silk paled, then he began to walk determinedly towards the doors, when they swung open. Milaya was back, and she had brought along a woman with a dark veil over her face. Silk stiffened. He knew who that was. He looked at Milaya and spoke to her with his fingers.
"How dare you bring her out here!" His fingers shook with outrage.
"Kheldar, she brought me here because I asked her to." Spoke the woman. It was Silk's mother, who had been scarred badly when a plague had swept through Drasnia. It had also made her blind. So it was with shock that Silk looked at his mother. How could she have known what he had said, if she was blind. Milaya stepped closer to Silk's mother and removed her veil. Underneath there were no scars, no nothing to even show that she had been scarred. Her eyes were clear too.
"A gift Kheldar, for your kindness to me." Milaya said softly. She then looked at Belgarath, who had a look of awe on his face. It looked strange on the face of the Eternal Man. "What's the matter Belgarath?" She asked.
"You're the Child Sorceress aren't you." This wasn't a question, but merely a statement. Milaya nodded.
"I guess you got one of Uncle Beldin's scribblings about me, huh?" And Belgarath's nod, she smiled. "Please stop looking so awed. It's strange seeing it come from the Eternal Man." Belgarath winced. Milaya laughed then walked outside.
Garion turned to his grandfather. "What's so important about her being the Child Sorceress?" He asked.
"It means Garion, that she is probably stronger that you when you have your Orb. I've heard rumours that she can even unmake things without having the power turned back on her."
Garion stared at his grandfather in shock.
Milaya was outside in the garden, writing on a piece of parchment, when Silk found her.
"I've been looking for you." He said, taking a seat beside her.
Milaya placed the parchment aside. "Why?"
"I wanted to thank you for what you did for my mother." Silk said.
"That's fine Kheldar. I was happy to. I." Milaya broke off as Silk, with a gleam in his eyes, leant forward and took possession of Milaya's mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise, then they closed as the feelings took over. Milaya leant in closer, and Silk noticing this, moaned softly.
"Liselle."
Milaya's eyes shot open, and she broke away from Silk. Silk looked up at her in confusion, then as understanding hit him, he paled. How could he have been so stupid?!
Milaya took a step back, then her eyes narrowed, and her step back changed to one forward. She raised her hand and slapped Silk across the face with enough force to turn his head. She then ran away, tears steaming down her face.
Silk held a hand to his burning cheek as he sat quietly in the garden, waiting, hoping that Milaya would come back.
He was still there in the morning when he heard a cry come from the throne room. Praying that it was Milaya, he was shocked to find Porenn standing in the middle of the throne room, staring around in awe. She had every right to do that too, as there were eight Gods, and one young woman who had was glowing a pink colour standing there.
Silk walked over to Eriond, about to ask why they were all there for, when Eriond turned hard eyes on him. This shocked Silk as Eriond was always calm and kind. What shocked Silk even more was that as soon as Eriond looked at him, he found himself flung against the wall and held there by Eriond's will.
In a cold and deadly voice that was unfamiliar to Silk, Eriond asked quietly "What did you do to my sister Milaya?"