Faella looked at her and smiled that same seductive smile. 'Can you?'
Sela walked to the altar and let the threads spring up between her and Ironfoot and Faella. It would be tricky to connect the two of them to one another, but not impossible.
But before she even began to channel Empathy in order to relate the two of them, Faella picked up on what she was doing and handily did it herself. Sela did her best to hide her feelings of resentment, but knew that they were spinning out from her on the thread and that Faella was receiving them.
Images, thoughts, words, incantations flowed freely between Faella and Ironfoot. It was tiring to channel actual thoughts as opposed to emotions, but each new channeling that Sela opened, Faella expanded. Within a few minutes, Ironfoot had shared everything that needed sharing, and they were ready.
'Thank you, Sela,' said Faella. And she meant it. Sela snapped the thread away, feeling stupid and inferior. She wanted to hate Faella, but couldn't. Faella was better than she was. Silverdun's love for her was justified.
'Then let's begin,' said Ironfoot. 'Just to be clear, I have no idea what we'll find on the other side of this fold. As far as I know, we could all be killed instantly. But if all of this re is being folded there, it must be there for a reason, and there must be something there to contain it. Which means that others have gone before us.'
Silverdun looked at her. 'Sela, I know you don't want any more missions, but we don't know what we're about to face. We need you.'
Sela's heart jumped. If anyone other than Silverdun had asked her, she would have said no.
'Of course I'll go,' she said.
'Then let's begin,' said Silverdun.
'Yes, please,' said Ironfoot. 'I have a feeling that any minute now a judge in the Aeropagus is going to send an order for us to clear out of here, war or no war. So by all means, let us begin.'
'You know what to do?' said Ironfoot.
'I do,' said Faella.
Without warning, the world disappeared.
Sela is finally happy. She has Milla.
They sleep in the same bed. They eat their meals together. They play together on the lawns, weaving the daisy chains that Sela has taught Milla how to make. They put on plays for one another, read aloud (mostly Sela reads and Milla listens), sing each other to sleep. They make rude jokes about the crones and even sometimes about Oca. Sela learns a new word from Milla- 'eunuch'-about Oca. They are inseparable. Except for Sela's 'special studies' each morning.
After bringing Milla, Lord Tanen went away, and so things at the manor have been breezy and light. The crones watch her and Milla playing together, but say nothing. Their constant ministrations have ceased, replaced only by a curious watching.
Before he left, Lord Tanen took Sela and explained that there are some things Milla can never know. And that if Milla discovers them, that she will have to be taken away. Sela didn't have to be told what he meant: the killing.
Sela enjoys killing, and looks forward to her training in the basement of the manor house each day. She has known for as long as she can remember that the killing is a special secret. The unreal enemies that Lord Tanen has been training her to protect against are ever watchful. Milla has been told that Sela's killing time is her time for 'special studies.' Milla has no interest in studies, though.
'What is it you do down there all morning?' Milla asked her once.
'I train to use my Gift. I have Empathy.'
Milla shrugged. She has no use for the Gifts, possessing none of her own. She smiled. 'You're so lucky.'
Sela knows that Milla is not very bright. She is sweet and kind and trusting, but she has a very hard time understanding things that are simple to Sela. At first this bothered Sela, but now she's used to it.
Sela makes her very first thread, with Milla, one evening after supper. They are in their bedroom, laughing about the wart on Begina's face. Begina is one of the crones, the coldest one, the one most likely to slap Sela with a ruler.
They are laughing, laughing, and Sela takes Milla in her arms and holds her as tight as she can. Milla tickles her and they fall over laughing; then Milla falls backward and hits her head on the floor.
'Ouch!' says Sela, holding her head.
'Why are you ouching?' says Milla, sitting up, laughing, holding her own head. 'I'm the one that fell.'
