A/N: Ok, I confess! I spent the whole holiday slacking, and in the end it took me 2 months to complete this new chapter. And worse still, it's even shorter than the previous one. Alright, I'm done confessing. Let's get on with the story.
Chapter 11 - Patience
"No!" Gill shrieked, turning her face down to look into the well. Her free hand scrabbled desperately at the air, but it was of no use. The small slip of paper evaded her grasp.
"Dark take it!" Gill swore and threw herself forward into the well. Milla, shocked by the unexpectedly vicious movement, lost her grip on her. It was only by luck that the Icecarl recovered quickly enough to yank the back of the former Freefolk's shirt, thus saving her from falling totally into the water.
Gill emerged, the ends of her hair sopping wet from their brief encounter with the water. In her hands she held the note, which she had failed to protect from getting wet. Milla pulled her away from the well and pushed her, causing her rear end to connect solidly with the ground. She was bewildered by the harsh gesture until she realised she was trembling and Milla probably didn't want to have to pull her out of the well again.
Which brought her back to the question, why was Milla here? Wasn't she supposed to be more than 56 levels above the Cavern? What in the name of Light was going on?
Milla - if that was really her - took the soggy remains of the paper and laid it gently on the ground, presumably to dry and to prevent any further damage done to it by Gill's shaking hand. The bone circlet on her head reflected the vilet light from the retracting Talon as she bent over. That was when she realised beyond doubt that this was Milla. Which meant that...
"Who is she?" Gill blurted out, and then felt insufferably rude for not even greeting Milla properly, or thanking her before she asked. "I meant," Gill clapped her fists belatedly, "If you're here, then who's the person up there now?"
Milla returned the greeting as she settled down, folding her legs. "A Shield Maiden. Miria. The one who took action at the ceremony."
"She looks just like you," Gill blurted again, and felt stupid for stating the obvious. Milla would have noticed it long ago. Weariness was creeping up on her, as the journey and scuffle began to take its toll.
"It happens when there is a lack of new blood," shrugged Milla impassively. "That's why even though we all live off Selski, we still have to meet every now and then. Were you sent here by her?"
Gill nodded. Now that her curiosity was more or less sated, she felt her eyelids drooping.
"So soon?" Milla's eyebrows were raised in disbelief.
At first, Gill's sluggish mind couldn't connect Milla's question with the answer. She forced herself to focus on the conversation, and by recalling what had gone before she understood. "She's been there for 3 days," mumbled Gill. Now that she was reminded of it, she glanced at the sorry piece of paper lying on the ground. She prayed that whatever was written on it would still be legible, but one glance told her that the chances of that happening were about as high as the chances of Ebbitt being normal.
Milla was silent for so long that Gill began to worry. Then she blew out her breath and reached over to peel apart the paper. Gill's heart sank as it unfolded. Not only was the charcoal writing smudged, some of it had been washed clean during the brief dunking.
Milla continued to say nothing as Gill tried to think of words to fill the silence. She offereed to go back to redeliver the message and even made to get up. Milla quickly stopped her.
"No, it's too late," she said as she placed her hand on Gill's shoulder to stop her from getting up. "You might not get back in time."
"In time for?" Gill's blank expression was augmented by her exhaustion.
Milla didn't sigh, but Gill thought she looked as though she would have liked to. She began the labourious process of explaining everything to Gill. "I believe you are familiar with the power struggle in the Assembly..."
Milla had to explain everything slowly thrice before Gill's tired mind could take it all in, and even whether it really was clear was dubious. She was clearly reaching the end of her patience. "She was supposed to inform me of the time and location, and I did not expect it to be so soon, neither did I expect it to be you who came," she explained. "Now I believe our best chance would be to infiltrate the upper levels and be ready to move."
Gill stared blankly. The question slipped out before she even thought about it. "Why not ask the Codex?"
It had been a while since Milla had seen the magical object, and the thought of it had hidden itself in a corner of her mind. She was almost appalled at how she failed to consider that option. Almost. Because Ebbitt was still nowhere to be seen.
She began to voice this thought, but another occurred to her. Ebbitt had been gone a long time. Unless he had been caught - and she doubted if that wily old man could actually be taken into custody - he had to return eventually. Even if he had taken a full bottle out with him, without another source of water, it would run dry eventually. Milla's mind worked furiously as she calculated how long Ebbitt had been away versus how long he could last on a limited supply.
"You are right," she conceded. "Ebbitt will return soon and we can ask the Codex. Until then, you should rest-" Milla stopped when she saw her advice was pre-empted and being heeded. Gill had falled asleep the moment Milla agreed with her and was now slumped on the floor.
"I thank you for coming though," she added, even though the sleeping girl wouldn't be able to hear her. She stood up quietly, picked up the furs that lay beside her pack and gently tucked them around Gill, silently grateful for her.
One hour passed. Then two. Milla kept herself busy by preparing the packs so they could leave immediately after consulting the Codex. She kept time using Gill's Sunstone. Her own (and the one Miria left behind when she left) had been "borrowed" by Ebbitt prior to setting out on his adventure.
Gill awoke sometime in the third hour. Milla offered her the dried food in the packs. Gill ate as Milla willed time to pass slowly and Ebbitt to come back. The third hour went by. The fourth began.
More than 56 levels above the Freefolk Fortress, most of the Assembly, and a few others, were gathered, headed by the Emperor.
Most, because Advisor Kazhua was prominently missing. The few others included the Crone Embassy and a select group of elite warriors, Imperial Guards and Shield Maidens alike.
The Emperor was speaking. "The Crones have something to share with regards to their War-Chief's kidnapping and Advisor Kazhua's motive." He nodded in the Embassy's general direction to invite them to speak.
The Crone Malen, the appointed representative of the Embassy, stood up. "Roughly four Castle days ago," she began in her clear, bell-like voice, "the Mother Crone of the Ruin Ship received a visit from the Shield Maiden who had 'kidnapped' our War-Chief."
At those words the others began stirring. Voices rose, demanding to know why it had not been reported immediately. Tal held up a hand and the Violet Keystone he wore flashed once, which signalled to the Assembly that they should be silent. The obeyed, some more grudgingly than others, but they obeyed. Tal invited Malen to continue.
"Understand that we kept silent to protect our informants as well as the stability of the Dark World." Malen shot an annoyed glance at the dissidents. Since becoming the Representative, Malen had excelled in public speaking. Tal had no desire to be on the receiving end of one of her frozen stares. "The information passed to us is highly sensitive. We cannot reveal our sources, but it was made clear to us that Kazhua's ultimate goal is to rule the Dark World and bring back the ways of the Chosen."
The room was deadly silent now. Tal, who had already suspected it for some time, was shocked nonetheless to hear it spoken aloud.
"Hence he used the excuse of fostering stronger ties between our peoples to place the considerable resources of the War-Chief at this disposal through your custom of marriage." Here, Malen's face showed a flicker of disgust.
The sole Shield Mother in the room hissed, "He underestimates us," and spat. Her Hand agreed with varying reactions, some as mild as nodding and some vehement enough to start inspecting their weapons.
Malen looked them over once, then turned to the general direction of the non-Icecarls in the room. "Therefore we have decided. Even if there is insufficient evidence, should our people appear to be in danger of coming under the command of Kazhua, we will go to war against him." She held out a hand to the shocked Assembly. "Will you stand by us?"
With so much time waiting, Gill's mind, though rested, had gone numb. She didn't even notice the shadow creeping into the Fortress until Milla pounced on it and dragged its owner out. The owner protested at the rough treatment.
Gill got up on legs as numb as her mind. Recognising the voice, she said, "Ebbitt?"
Ebbitt came into the light and peered closely at her. "It certainly is, young Gillimof. And how have you been?"
"Don't call me that," protested Gill, even as she subconsciously gave light from her Sunstone. "I've been waiting for you for ages. How can I be fine?"
Ebbitt glanced at Milla. Gill did too, and one look told her that the War-Chief was ready to kill. Unfortunately, Ebbitt either didn't get it or held no fear of Milla, or possibly both. "What have you done to this poor child here?"
"Ebbitt." Milla's voice was as sharp and the Talons she wore. "We may not have much time left. Where is the Codex?"
Ebbitt's wandering eyes fell on the sad remains on the note and as Gill watched they regained focus. He sighed and reached into his furs. His hand came out holding something liquid and shiny. The Codex.
The tense look on Milla's face relaxed a little as she saw the ancient magical object. That was one problem cleared. She stepped forward and addressed the Codex even before it was done expanding to its full size. "Codex, what was originally written in this note?" She held the note in question up.
Block runes appeared on the surface of the crystal. Milla's eyes ran over them quickly, as did Ebbitt's (he had diligently picked up their written language as he joined the Icecarls). "We have to leave now," said Milla, her voice too loud, much louder than usual. "Gill, what's the shortest route up?"
Gill started when Milla gripped her arm and made as to leave. "Wh-What did it say?" she stammered. The Codex provided a translation in Castle script, but Gill's head was turned the wrong way to see it.
She gained some temporary relief when Ebbitt caught hold of Milla's other arm. "No, wait," the old man said, without force but commanding attention anyway. "Recall the second part of the plan. Charging off now will do us no good."
Milla released Gill, who immediately turned back and massaged it. Her eye fell on the translation provided by the Codex and took it in. "Th-that's three hours from now," she squeaked anxiously.
"Codex," ordered Milla. "Where can I gather the Assembly without Kazhua's knowledge in the next three hours?"
The Assembly is already gathered without him in the former Violet levels.
"What does it say?" asked Gill. Again, the Codex provided a translation.
"Where exactly are they gathering?" asked Milla, pleasantly surprised in the corner of her mind that was still capable of processing things leisurely. Already gathered! That would save a lot of time! Now they stood a fair chance of making it in time.
A map surfaced on the Codex. The rooms it showed were unfamiliar to Milla, but not to Gill or Ebbitt.
"That's the Imperial Antechamber," said Gill. "It's not normally used for Assembly meetings. Whatever they're discussing is most certainly some huge secret," she concluded.
Ebbitt was already speaking to the Codex, giving it commands to make it shrink. Milla turned to her two companions. "Since that's all, let's go now."
Without wasting any more time, the trio ran out of the Cavern, heading towards the highest levels of the Castle, silently hoping that they would get there in time, hoping that the Assembly wouldn't disperse before they got their say, and hoping that the political struggle that had plagued them would finally dissipate.
A/N: Well, I haven't given up on this story, but frankly, my life is hell now. And probably would be until I go to university. Sometimes I think education is overrated. Even while on holiday, I'm studying/planning camps/running camps/doing cleanup (talking about this is making me depressed…). Anyway, the story isn't going to end anytime soon. There's still another arc. Well, sort of. I think I'll stop rambling here. Please leave a review to cheer me up xD