A/N: It's been a long time since I updated anything in particular. And since I'm currently reading Garth Nix (AGAIN!) I decided to continue here. I really need to stop procrastinating. (sighs)
Disclaimer: Garth Nix owns the Seventh Tower, not me, and he also owns the First to the Sixth Towers.
Chapter 7-Execution of the Desperate Plan
Miria walked briskly to the waiting room, trying not to look too suspicious. If she was going to help Milla, it would be easier to do it in the open. Not locked up or whatever Kazhua decided to do to prisoners.
She reached the entrance of the waiting room, and knocked softly before entering. Milla was sitting inside, dressed in a ridiculous dress covered with tiny violet Sunstones. Even by Castle standards, it was hideous. Besides, it was so heavy Miria doubted that anyone other than an Icecarl could wear it and keep upright.
Milla didn't smile a bit, knowing that soon, she was going to be bound to some stupid idiot she hated and was likely never to see the Ice again. The heavy gown could have been the chains, with its weight. She had no doubt that this one was entirely Kazhua's creation.
Miria clapped her fists together and took a quick look around the room before running to Milla's side. Milla's face was grave, and she didn't like it at all.
"What is it?" asked Milla. "Are there changes to the schedule?"
"No," the Icecarl guard replied, sounding slightly muffled from under her bone mask. Her usually bright voice was uncharacteristically serious. "I came on my own, to give you these." She pulled out two fur socks from under her furs. "Please, wear them under your shoes."
Milla nodded, though she had no idea how they were going to help her get out of this mess. She just had to trust her friend, and hope that it was enough. She'd know everything soon enough. A small hope grew inside her, and she didn't try to suppress it, since it was all she had.
"I'll see you later then," Miria said, turning around to leave. "Oh, and by the way, you'd want to keep your eyes on the cake." With that, the Shield Maiden left at top speed.
Milla sighed, and pulled off her shoes to put the socks on. Maybe, just maybe, she might require them.
The largest hall at the top levels of the Castle was lavishly decorated. Banners hung all over the place. High-ranking Castle-dwellers were filing in, and a row of Shield Maidens were assembled at the back, near the main entrance. The Crone delegation was already seated near the front, with the Emperor. Miria looked at him once. She hoped he remembered what she asked of him.
The ringing of a great bell signaled the beginning of the ceremony. At once, the chatter died away. Kazhua, with Milla at his side, started down the aisle. Miria snarled under her breath to see him so smug, but otherwise, stood still in the corner. Her breaths began to come more quickly, but she didn't notice. Everything hinged on her shooting skills. She prayed that they were as good as everyone thought they were.
Kazhua and Milla finally reached the front of the hall. This was it. Miria took a step back into the shadows, nocked her bow, aimed and fired two arrows in quick succession. Without waiting for them to hit, she kept her bow and started running.
At the front of the hall, Milla was doing her best to pay attention to her surroundings. It wasn't easy as she expected something to happen any second now. Miria had said to keep her eyes on the cake. Maybe something would happen to it. Though she had to admit, the "maybe" was highly uncertain.
So absorbed in staring at the humongous piece of confectionary behind the muttering man in white that she didn't see the arrows soar over her head. And she didn't see, in turn, the arrows cutting through the ropes that held that great banner up.
However, she noticed when the banner crashed into the cake, splattering everyone close enough with icing. She leapt back in time to avoid the brunt of it. Unfortunately, Kazhua was not so quick and had a faceful of icing. He wiped it away on his sleeve and began one of his now-famous temper tantrums.
That was as far as she got, for then a hand closed on her wrist, pulling her along, past a bellowing Kazhua. A voice beside her ear whispered, "Pretend to be in shock! Hurry!" She obeyed, not knowing what Miria was planning.
Miria tugged on Milla's wrist to make her follow, and made a beeline for the servant's entrance. Her right hand closed around the hilt of her knife, and she drew it, using it to give a shallow cut on the arm to the Emperor, who had wandered into her path in his surprise. She apologised silently in her mind.
Milla's arm stiffened under her hand as she injured the Emperor, causing her to slow down. Miria cursed herself internally. How could she have forgotten Milla's relationship with him? Naturally, she would be outraged at this. There was no time to explain. She tugged harder on Milla's arm, successfully pulling her through the side door.
Once the door slammed shut behind them, Milla felt Miria's grip on her wrist slacken, and let go completely. She then felt Miria's arm around her shoulders, and then heard her voice saying, "Well, we have a head start on any pursuers, but still, we shouldn't slow down. Kick off your shoes, will you?"
Milla did so, though it wasn't easy with the gown weighing down on her. Miria was running all out, and she would have tripped if it weren't for the support of Miria's arm. "What were you thinking? Now they're all going to come after you."
"What, for kidnapping you? Oh, don't worry, I don't intend to let them get me just yet."
That wasn't what Milla was talking about, but the realisation struck Milla heavily. "You're kidnapping me?"
All the while they were running in the least used corridors in the Castle, Miria occasionally shrieking at the top of her lungs to clear their path.
"Yes. You probably would have a problem with that if the guy back there was His Highness the Emperor."
"How can you make jokes at a time like this?" Milla frowned, but inside she felt better. It was great to be with someone like Miria when pulling daredevil stunts like this. But there were more pressing matters. "You're going to be a criminal, and the entire Dark World will be after you. I'm not worth this."
"Wrong, the entire Dark World will be after me only for a while. I'll fill you in when we're safe." Miria suddenly let go of Milla and increased her speed, taking a flying leap and grabbing hold of a ledge above a door. She scrabbled blindly for the outer furs and packs she stowed there, and tossed them down to Milla, who was passing under her. She then let go and took the entire bundle of stuff from Milla.
"Where're we going?" asked Milla once Miria was back on the ground and helping her shove her arms through the armholes of her coat.
"Somewhere," came the reply, though this could be excused as she was busy putting on a coat while carrying two oversized packs. Milla had to admit, she was still pretty quick despite the load.
Then they were out of the front gates. The cold hit Milla like a knife, but she didn't stop running, knowing that the Guards would be right behind her by now. Besides, she figured that they'd be hiding in the Ruin Ship, and that was a long way off, so she better not lose her momentum.
While Milla was channelling her energy in fighting off the cold, Miria was concentrating on their pursuers. She didn't seem to be able to hear anything, but just to be sure, she increased her pace enough for both Icecarls to feel out of breath. If this were to work, they could NOT be seen by anyone.
Milla's thoughts of hiding in the Ruin Ship were scrapped clean when she felt Miria release her and run forward to stand under a very familiar opening. It was the entrance to the heatways. Miria's hands were cupped at waist level for Milla to springboard up. Milla, despite her breathlessness, sped up yet again.
"Get at least two turns in," hissed Miria to Milla when they were both safely in the heatways. "There're furs in your pack, if you want to change."
"What about you?" came Milla's whispered reply as she fumbled with her gown.
"I'm going to make sure no one follows us. I'll be fine, just go."
Milla left Miria crouching at the first turn of the heatways, watching the path outside. Faint shouts were beginning to become clearer. As she watched, an entire party of Imperial Guards ran past the entrance without slowing at all… until the last two. Miria's heart nearly stopped.
"Think we should check the heatways?" Miria heard one asking.
"Nah, we shouldn't, they're already ahead of us, and I don't fancy getting lost in those mazes."
"But they may be in there!"
"Look, maybe that is true but," here the Guard's voice lowered so much Miria had to concentrate to catch the gist of it, "what that Icecarl did was stupid, yet it was more than anyone else did. What say we leave the heatways alone, and hope no one thinks of it?"
Miria couldn't hear any more, but the two of them evidently agreed to stay away, as they continued down the road, their Sunstones flashing. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned around, proceeding deeper into the heatways.
"Well?" asked Milla eagerly.
"We're fortunate. They won't be checking the heatways. Now let's go before they change their minds. Should we leave this thing here?" the last part was referring to the dress that was now lying forlornly on the ground.
Part of Milla was very happy to see the revolting heap of cloth left there, but the rational part of her desisted. "No," she said decisively. "If we do, it'll attract attention. And if it does, we're in trouble."
Miria nodded and made a face before stuffing it into her pack. From one of the other pouches she pulled out a map. "I got this from the former Freefolk before we left. Do you need it?"
"I might," noted Milla as she folded it carefully and tucked it away into the inner pocket of her furs. "I'll lead, shall I?"
"Go right on, War-Chief." Now that the pressure was off her, Miria seemed to be more cheerful again.
"And I thought I told you before: There's no need for titles; no one's here to hear them," Milla said, making small talk as she made her way through the tunnels.
"How long ago did you tell me? And I thought I told you I don't remember so well?"
"Fine, fine…"
A/N: Yep, another crappy chapter courtesy of someone whose brain was fried in a training camp. On a more serious note, I apologise for the long breaks in updates as school's getting more demanding. Still, I'd never abandon this story, I love it too much. Anyway, a bit of trivia to make it up to you: Miria's name is derived from the Japanese word for "future" which is "mirai". I just thought of changing it around so it sounds better. I tend to pick meaningful names; in Miria's case, refer to the prologue. Anyone can guess the meaning behind "Kazhua"?