Chapter 18
While Tal was dealing with the sick and injured Milla was dealing with the war issue, which was proving more challenging than Milla had expected. Malen was falsely informed when she was told that the Far Raiders were the source of unrest on the ice. It was actually another clan to which no one knew too much about, the Ice Hunters. Milla was in the reckoning room with the uncanny map on the floor which harbored little ship replica's on it, moving slowly following the selski tide.
"The ships move in a tight circle staying away from the troublesome clan. We have called a meeting of Crones and most ships have answered the call, although they may not be staying long I believe that we can come to a solution in the short time," said the resident Mother Crone to Milla.
Milla nodded in answer but was paying attention to the board with more interest and was feeling uneasy about the tight circling of the ships. The various clans were pressing the boarders of the ice. Sooner or later the various clans would slowly intrude on some other clan's ice and there was sure to be a conflict that wouldn't be resolved before a territorial fight breaking out first. Milla sighed; the days of peace were getting rough again.
"Does something ail you war chief?" the Mother Crone asked noting the frown on Milla's brow.
"No." Milla said avoiding the question "Can you tell me what you know of the Ice Hunters?" Milla asked slowly drawing her eyes away from the board to look at the Mother Crone.
"We only know that they a large force of rouge Icecarls outcasts," The Crone Mother said trying to give information that would help the war chief.
"That must explain why the other clans are afraid to fight back but are there that many rouge out there to create such a force that other clans dare not challenge them?" Milla asked playing out the scenes in her mind of the encounters with the Ice Hunters in the past.
"All we know is that they have driven all who opposed them," The Mother Crone said frowning making her milky white eyes look smaller than they already were.
"They were always territorial; remember how they fought my company when we tried to create new boundaries when the ice melted?" Milla said thinking back to her last encounter with the enemy.
"Yes.As I recall your company fought their hardest just to fend off the attackers," The Crone said smiling at Milla.
"We tried to defend we did not want to create a bigger conflict. We would have lost for sure," Milla said with a neutral face masking her anger of being defeated.
"Still I believe we have missed something, don't you think so war chief?" The Crone said getting back to the topic at hand.
"Yes. I believe that there has something we have missed," Milla said moving her eyes back to the board.
"Tell me what you think," The Mother Crone said softly but Milla caught the hint of authority in her voice, the voice which carried the prayer which in turn bound Milla.
Milla sighed aloud showing her disapproval for the need of the prayer. Milla dared not act any further than that. It was rude to show such emotions towards a Crone especially towards a Mother Crone. Milla had risen to the rank which was equal to a Crone but that didn't mean she could do anything she wanted. The Crone Mother noted the sigh and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder to show Milla that she understood.
"I believe that the Ice Hunters have another motive," Milla continued calmly.
"What motive?" the Mother Crone asked interested.
"We have always assumed that the Ice Hunters may have some qualm with the Chosen but is that true? We have never asked them and with all due respect I believe that most Crones have feared the Crone of the Ice Hunters," Milla replied bluntly, she wasn't one to sugar coat things.
The Mother Crone clearly didn't like how frank Milla had been but she couldn't have been more right about the Crones. When the Mother Crone didn't say anything, Milla slapped herself mentally for being too blunt.
"Respect those older than you," Milla recited in her mind, it was one of the oldest rules a shield maiden had to learn.
"Crone Mother, I'm sorry if I have offended you and any other Crones," Milla apologised quickly.
The ancient woman didn't respond immediately, which meant she was in the hoard of collective minds.
"Probably trying to settle some of the Crones I just insulted," Milla thought slapping herself mentally again.
When the Crone Mother finally spoke she spoke with authority and gentleness.
"Watch what you say war chief. You forget yourself,"
Milla bowed apologetically. The Crone Mother connected once again to the hoard of minds and nodded slightly and disconnected after a few more moments. Then she spoke with the same tone she spoke with before but a smile stretched itself from each side of her face creating wrinkles to form.
"They are indeed afraid but you must be careful about what you say in future it may not be so easily forgiven next time," the woman said gently.
Milla bowed once again in respect and thanks. If the Crone hadn't taken a liking to her, she doubted she would have been let off so easily.
"Now, go and fetch the Emperor, I believe that his work is done for today and I believe he would like to know many things. You may retire after you have informed him of the tidings." The Mother Crone ordered.
Milla clapped her knuckles together and left the room thanking Danir that she didn't get into trouble. Milla wandered down the familiar hall and reminisced about the first time she had been here with Tal. Milla recalled being so giddy about being here even tough she was blind folded. Now all she saw was another hall in a ship. Maybe more better looking but still it was just another hall. Milla turned a corner and walked past a few cadets who immediately noticed her. They stopped to clap their knuckles but their surprise and awestruck look betrayed them when they tried to look their most serious. Milla clapped her knuckles in returned and continued on leaving the girls in a state of awe but something compelled Milla to listen to the girls in secret so she slid back behind the corner and stood still and out of sight.
"Wow we met Milla Talon Hand in person," said one of the girls.
"Breg please you're acting like a child," said the other girl who Milla knew as Kira.
"Oh stop acting like you're not as excited as I am you just met a living legend!" Breg continued.
"A shield maiden does not show her feelings to anyone," Kira replied stoically.
"Oh please for once act your age and be happy for once," Breg said brushing off the rule."
"You will never be a shield maiden if you keep acting like that," Kira said shaking her head in distain.
"One day I'll be the best shield maiden there ever was and I'll do it without being an ice cold warrior who keeps abiding by every rule," Breg retorted
Kira shook her head and continued her onslaught of doubt.
"You wouldn't last long against anything if you portray your emotions as you are now," Kira said just as stoically as before.
"Oh bleh!" Breg retorted poking her tongue out playfully.
Kira just shook her head and smiled. Milla was pained to see such a display of warm heartedness that emanated from such a girl as Kira. On the outside, Kira looked like a perfect warrior but deep down Milla knew she was just as giddy as Breg. Milla had heard enough. She left the two girls to talk.
"Such passion for an Icecarl on the ice, a rare sight indeed," Milla thought happily.
The Ice was renowned for drowning such spirits. And it was never a place where a person like Breg could survive and yet here she was already a novice shield maiden. Milla was happy for Breg but agreed with Kira, the ice was no place for portraying emotions. Milla walked down another hall and came to a doorway which was covered by a thick selski hide and a patchwork of furs. Outside in the hallway she saw two shield maidens wiping their brow and sitting against a wall with a stretcher between them. As they saw Milla they stood immediately and clasped their knuckles in respect.
"War chief," they greeted formally.
Milla nodded and clasped her knuckles in return and walked into the patchwork doorway. As she entered she noticed a yellow and blue glow that tainted to dreary room. The room was filled with injured Icearls and amongst them all Tal was the only one who stood out. He was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed in fatigue and he looked very scruffy. His hair was in his unruly state but was untidy. His brow was sweat soaked and his collar was loose revealing his chest and a small glowing chain. Milla strode over to him and sat next to him silently. Tal heard it and wearily opened his eyes to see Milla sitting next to him and looking out over the crowd.
"Nice of you to come fetch me," Tal said tiredly but with a hint of relief.
"We will go to our quarter now and discuss further matters," Milla said looking at Tal.
His eyes were filled with fatigue and Milla was happy to see it there because it was the same looked that Milla wore for many years ever since she became war chief and the living sword of Asteyr. The fatigue was proof that he tried his best to set things right. Milla was also happy to know that she could really connect with Tal not only because he knew what she was going through but also because Tal knew Milla as much as she knew him. The moment of real peace fell between the silent couple with Milla smiling genuinely and Tal looking confused but at peace.
While Tal was dealing with the sick and injured Milla was dealing with the war issue, which was proving more challenging than Milla had expected. Malen was falsely informed when she was told that the Far Raiders were the source of unrest on the ice. It was actually another clan to which no one knew too much about, the Ice Hunters. Milla was in the reckoning room with the uncanny map on the floor which harbored little ship replica's on it, moving slowly following the selski tide.
"The ships move in a tight circle staying away from the troublesome clan. We have called a meeting of Crones and most ships have answered the call, although they may not be staying long I believe that we can come to a solution in the short time," said the resident Mother Crone to Milla.
Milla nodded in answer but was paying attention to the board with more interest and was feeling uneasy about the tight circling of the ships. The various clans were pressing the boarders of the ice. Sooner or later the various clans would slowly intrude on some other clan's ice and there was sure to be a conflict that wouldn't be resolved before a territorial fight breaking out first. Milla sighed; the days of peace were getting rough again.
"Does something ail you war chief?" the Mother Crone asked noting the frown on Milla's brow.
"No." Milla said avoiding the question "Can you tell me what you know of the Ice Hunters?" Milla asked slowly drawing her eyes away from the board to look at the Mother Crone.
"We only know that they a large force of rouge Icecarls outcasts," The Crone Mother said trying to give information that would help the war chief.
"That must explain why the other clans are afraid to fight back but are there that many rouge out there to create such a force that other clans dare not challenge them?" Milla asked playing out the scenes in her mind of the encounters with the Ice Hunters in the past.
"All we know is that they have driven all who opposed them," The Mother Crone said frowning making her milky white eyes look smaller than they already were.
"They were always territorial; remember how they fought my company when we tried to create new boundaries when the ice melted?" Milla said thinking back to her last encounter with the enemy.
"Yes.As I recall your company fought their hardest just to fend off the attackers," The Crone said smiling at Milla.
"We tried to defend we did not want to create a bigger conflict. We would have lost for sure," Milla said with a neutral face masking her anger of being defeated.
"Still I believe we have missed something, don't you think so war chief?" The Crone said getting back to the topic at hand.
"Yes. I believe that there has something we have missed," Milla said moving her eyes back to the board.
"Tell me what you think," The Mother Crone said softly but Milla caught the hint of authority in her voice, the voice which carried the prayer which in turn bound Milla.
Milla sighed aloud showing her disapproval for the need of the prayer. Milla dared not act any further than that. It was rude to show such emotions towards a Crone especially towards a Mother Crone. Milla had risen to the rank which was equal to a Crone but that didn't mean she could do anything she wanted. The Crone Mother noted the sigh and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder to show Milla that she understood.
"I believe that the Ice Hunters have another motive," Milla continued calmly.
"What motive?" the Mother Crone asked interested.
"We have always assumed that the Ice Hunters may have some qualm with the Chosen but is that true? We have never asked them and with all due respect I believe that most Crones have feared the Crone of the Ice Hunters," Milla replied bluntly, she wasn't one to sugar coat things.
The Mother Crone clearly didn't like how frank Milla had been but she couldn't have been more right about the Crones. When the Mother Crone didn't say anything, Milla slapped herself mentally for being too blunt.
"Respect those older than you," Milla recited in her mind, it was one of the oldest rules a shield maiden had to learn.
"Crone Mother, I'm sorry if I have offended you and any other Crones," Milla apologised quickly.
The ancient woman didn't respond immediately, which meant she was in the hoard of collective minds.
"Probably trying to settle some of the Crones I just insulted," Milla thought slapping herself mentally again.
When the Crone Mother finally spoke she spoke with authority and gentleness.
"Watch what you say war chief. You forget yourself,"
Milla bowed apologetically. The Crone Mother connected once again to the hoard of minds and nodded slightly and disconnected after a few more moments. Then she spoke with the same tone she spoke with before but a smile stretched itself from each side of her face creating wrinkles to form.
"They are indeed afraid but you must be careful about what you say in future it may not be so easily forgiven next time," the woman said gently.
Milla bowed once again in respect and thanks. If the Crone hadn't taken a liking to her, she doubted she would have been let off so easily.
"Now, go and fetch the Emperor, I believe that his work is done for today and I believe he would like to know many things. You may retire after you have informed him of the tidings." The Mother Crone ordered.
Milla clapped her knuckles together and left the room thanking Danir that she didn't get into trouble. Milla wandered down the familiar hall and reminisced about the first time she had been here with Tal. Milla recalled being so giddy about being here even tough she was blind folded. Now all she saw was another hall in a ship. Maybe more better looking but still it was just another hall. Milla turned a corner and walked past a few cadets who immediately noticed her. They stopped to clap their knuckles but their surprise and awestruck look betrayed them when they tried to look their most serious. Milla clapped her knuckles in returned and continued on leaving the girls in a state of awe but something compelled Milla to listen to the girls in secret so she slid back behind the corner and stood still and out of sight.
"Wow we met Milla Talon Hand in person," said one of the girls.
"Breg please you're acting like a child," said the other girl who Milla knew as Kira.
"Oh stop acting like you're not as excited as I am you just met a living legend!" Breg continued.
"A shield maiden does not show her feelings to anyone," Kira replied stoically.
"Oh please for once act your age and be happy for once," Breg said brushing off the rule."
"You will never be a shield maiden if you keep acting like that," Kira said shaking her head in distain.
"One day I'll be the best shield maiden there ever was and I'll do it without being an ice cold warrior who keeps abiding by every rule," Breg retorted
Kira shook her head and continued her onslaught of doubt.
"You wouldn't last long against anything if you portray your emotions as you are now," Kira said just as stoically as before.
"Oh bleh!" Breg retorted poking her tongue out playfully.
Kira just shook her head and smiled. Milla was pained to see such a display of warm heartedness that emanated from such a girl as Kira. On the outside, Kira looked like a perfect warrior but deep down Milla knew she was just as giddy as Breg. Milla had heard enough. She left the two girls to talk.
"Such passion for an Icecarl on the ice, a rare sight indeed," Milla thought happily.
The Ice was renowned for drowning such spirits. And it was never a place where a person like Breg could survive and yet here she was already a novice shield maiden. Milla was happy for Breg but agreed with Kira, the ice was no place for portraying emotions. Milla walked down another hall and came to a doorway which was covered by a thick selski hide and a patchwork of furs. Outside in the hallway she saw two shield maidens wiping their brow and sitting against a wall with a stretcher between them. As they saw Milla they stood immediately and clasped their knuckles in respect.
"War chief," they greeted formally.
Milla nodded and clasped her knuckles in return and walked into the patchwork doorway. As she entered she noticed a yellow and blue glow that tainted to dreary room. The room was filled with injured Icearls and amongst them all Tal was the only one who stood out. He was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed in fatigue and he looked very scruffy. His hair was in his unruly state but was untidy. His brow was sweat soaked and his collar was loose revealing his chest and a small glowing chain. Milla strode over to him and sat next to him silently. Tal heard it and wearily opened his eyes to see Milla sitting next to him and looking out over the crowd.
"Nice of you to come fetch me," Tal said tiredly but with a hint of relief.
"We will go to our quarter now and discuss further matters," Milla said looking at Tal.
His eyes were filled with fatigue and Milla was happy to see it there because it was the same looked that Milla wore for many years ever since she became war chief and the living sword of Asteyr. The fatigue was proof that he tried his best to set things right. Milla was also happy to know that she could really connect with Tal not only because he knew what she was going through but also because Tal knew Milla as much as she knew him. The moment of real peace fell between the silent couple with Milla smiling genuinely and Tal looking confused but at peace.