Chapter 11
"Oh, Milla, what are you doing here?" asked Graile.
"Hello Graile, I just wanted to return your dress," answered Milla.
After a careful meeting with Yukin, Milla arrived at Tal's former house where Tal's mother, father, brother and sister resided.
"Please Milla keep it, besides I have no need for it anymore," Graile said.
Milla put the dress into her pack and thanked Graile by clapping her knuckles. As she did this Kusi came to the door.
"Hello Milla," Kusi said excitedly and hugged Milla.
Puzzled, Milla returned the hug, taking the embrace as a sign of normal Chosen behaviour. After a tight squeeze, Kusi let go and side hugged Graile.
"She is going to be a great sister isn't she?" asked Kusi to Graile.
Graile giggled and hushed Kusi. Milla gave a puzzled look at the two women in the doorway and thought about what they were saying until it dawned on her.
"Oh.Graile, Kusi.Tal and I are.um." stammered Milla clearly at a loss for words.
"It's alright Milla, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to but I'll give you my blessings to marry Tal, anyway." Graile spoke solemnly.
Milla's face turned a bright pink which clearly showed on her delicate pale skin. Graile decided to let Milla go and said her farewell then made a fuss about silencing Kusi's giggling as she pushed Kusi inside.
Milla left quickly after that hoping that if she got out to the ice quick enough she could cool her flushed face before anyone noticed.
Before Sharrakor's defeat the only way in and out of the castle was via the heat way tunnels in the underfolk levels but now the hall of Greeting and Farewell was open to all and access to the ice was also free to anyone.
The hall, like every other room in the castle, was large. The walls were lined with oil lamps and sunstones which made the hall forever bright. The mysterious golden metal of the walls were reflective and as the light from the sunstones hit them the hall was tinged with a constant golden light which gave the hall a welcoming aura.
There weren't many people in the hall. The only people Milla saw were a few of the former Empresses' guards (now Tal's sworn protectors) and some Shield Maidens that had just arrived from the Ruin Ship to escort Malen back. Malen stepped out from behind the Icecarls and approached Milla.
"Milla I bid you farewell, I must go on ahead." Malen said.
"Maybe I could accompany you?" asked Milla offering to guard her on the trip back. Malen's eyes dimmed and then she spoke hurriedly.
"Milla these Shield Maidens are loyal to us there is no need for you to come with us. It's better if you went after me so as not to create suspicion."
Milla nodded and Malen's eyes brightened then they parted. Milla waited until she knew Malen and the Shield Maidens were out of sight. Milla then started off at a slow pace towards the ice. The condition of the ice was fine by Icecarl standards, which meant light sleet and light winds. Even so the conditions could still change in an instant so Milla took a final deep breath pulled her facemask down and stepped onto the path.
The path outside was lit by oil lamps and sunstones that led only the first hundred or so stretches. As Milla approached the end of the light trail she saw a figure in white waiting for her. Milla looked hard through the sleet and her heart gave a flip as she recognized the figure to be Tal.
When Milla was only a few stretches from Tal he turned and met her half way. Milla noticed he was clad in his Emperor robes of white and he wore a white coat with fur at the hem and cuffs with gloves and a hood. His sunstone was nowhere to be seen. Milla also noticed his pack which was smaller than Milla's but looked as if it contained all the necessary equipment for mountain climbing, skiing and camping. Tal followed her gaze at his pack and spoke.
"Oh this?" said Tal hefting his pack. "Is Ebbitt's old pack he used to bring with him into Aenir," answered Tal.
"What are you doing here Tal? What is the castle going to do without its leader?" asked Milla worriedly.
Tal looked serious then explained Ebbitts' plan.
"I couldn't let you walk out of my life, not again," said Tal lifting up her facemask.
"But you would be in the way, some clans are already angry, seeing you might arouse rash actions, besides it's not your problem." said Milla bluntly pulling her mask back down as if it could block out her emotions for Tal. The mask was half way down when Tal stopped her and started to push it back up.
"The way I see it Milla," said Tal removing the glove of his right hand to reveal the triangular scar, "It is my problem."
Tal then moved to lock Milla's wrist with his but Milla simply batted his wrist away and spoke coldly.
"That oath was taken a long time ago, Tal, it holds no more worth than rancid Selski meat."
Tal hadn't seen this coming and was needless to say a little shocked at Milla's actions. Milla then removed his hand from her wrist and pulled down her mask, hiding her eyes from Tal.
"Oh, Milla, what are you doing here?" asked Graile.
"Hello Graile, I just wanted to return your dress," answered Milla.
After a careful meeting with Yukin, Milla arrived at Tal's former house where Tal's mother, father, brother and sister resided.
"Please Milla keep it, besides I have no need for it anymore," Graile said.
Milla put the dress into her pack and thanked Graile by clapping her knuckles. As she did this Kusi came to the door.
"Hello Milla," Kusi said excitedly and hugged Milla.
Puzzled, Milla returned the hug, taking the embrace as a sign of normal Chosen behaviour. After a tight squeeze, Kusi let go and side hugged Graile.
"She is going to be a great sister isn't she?" asked Kusi to Graile.
Graile giggled and hushed Kusi. Milla gave a puzzled look at the two women in the doorway and thought about what they were saying until it dawned on her.
"Oh.Graile, Kusi.Tal and I are.um." stammered Milla clearly at a loss for words.
"It's alright Milla, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to but I'll give you my blessings to marry Tal, anyway." Graile spoke solemnly.
Milla's face turned a bright pink which clearly showed on her delicate pale skin. Graile decided to let Milla go and said her farewell then made a fuss about silencing Kusi's giggling as she pushed Kusi inside.
Milla left quickly after that hoping that if she got out to the ice quick enough she could cool her flushed face before anyone noticed.
Before Sharrakor's defeat the only way in and out of the castle was via the heat way tunnels in the underfolk levels but now the hall of Greeting and Farewell was open to all and access to the ice was also free to anyone.
The hall, like every other room in the castle, was large. The walls were lined with oil lamps and sunstones which made the hall forever bright. The mysterious golden metal of the walls were reflective and as the light from the sunstones hit them the hall was tinged with a constant golden light which gave the hall a welcoming aura.
There weren't many people in the hall. The only people Milla saw were a few of the former Empresses' guards (now Tal's sworn protectors) and some Shield Maidens that had just arrived from the Ruin Ship to escort Malen back. Malen stepped out from behind the Icecarls and approached Milla.
"Milla I bid you farewell, I must go on ahead." Malen said.
"Maybe I could accompany you?" asked Milla offering to guard her on the trip back. Malen's eyes dimmed and then she spoke hurriedly.
"Milla these Shield Maidens are loyal to us there is no need for you to come with us. It's better if you went after me so as not to create suspicion."
Milla nodded and Malen's eyes brightened then they parted. Milla waited until she knew Malen and the Shield Maidens were out of sight. Milla then started off at a slow pace towards the ice. The condition of the ice was fine by Icecarl standards, which meant light sleet and light winds. Even so the conditions could still change in an instant so Milla took a final deep breath pulled her facemask down and stepped onto the path.
The path outside was lit by oil lamps and sunstones that led only the first hundred or so stretches. As Milla approached the end of the light trail she saw a figure in white waiting for her. Milla looked hard through the sleet and her heart gave a flip as she recognized the figure to be Tal.
When Milla was only a few stretches from Tal he turned and met her half way. Milla noticed he was clad in his Emperor robes of white and he wore a white coat with fur at the hem and cuffs with gloves and a hood. His sunstone was nowhere to be seen. Milla also noticed his pack which was smaller than Milla's but looked as if it contained all the necessary equipment for mountain climbing, skiing and camping. Tal followed her gaze at his pack and spoke.
"Oh this?" said Tal hefting his pack. "Is Ebbitt's old pack he used to bring with him into Aenir," answered Tal.
"What are you doing here Tal? What is the castle going to do without its leader?" asked Milla worriedly.
Tal looked serious then explained Ebbitts' plan.
"I couldn't let you walk out of my life, not again," said Tal lifting up her facemask.
"But you would be in the way, some clans are already angry, seeing you might arouse rash actions, besides it's not your problem." said Milla bluntly pulling her mask back down as if it could block out her emotions for Tal. The mask was half way down when Tal stopped her and started to push it back up.
"The way I see it Milla," said Tal removing the glove of his right hand to reveal the triangular scar, "It is my problem."
Tal then moved to lock Milla's wrist with his but Milla simply batted his wrist away and spoke coldly.
"That oath was taken a long time ago, Tal, it holds no more worth than rancid Selski meat."
Tal hadn't seen this coming and was needless to say a little shocked at Milla's actions. Milla then removed his hand from her wrist and pulled down her mask, hiding her eyes from Tal.