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Chapter 376
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The Birthright Series Chapter 377
Mila gasped a belly deep sucking pull, head ringing like a bucket had been stuck over her and struck.'Lea.' Papa held her in his arms. 'Lea, are you okay?'Mila blinked the motion heavy and difficult. 'Y-yes.''Can you find the nightmare?'Papa helped her sit up. The spinning slowed, and the room came back into view, Mama and Nanny watched her anxiously.'What?' Mila couldn't make sense of the question, the ringing in her ears passing, leaving the room sharp in its quietness.'The nightmare, can you remember the nightmare? Focus, Lea. See if you can find it.'Mila closed her eyes and tried to let her mind wander. It didn't want to come. She wrinkled her forehead, lips twisted in a scowl and tried harder.A soft touch on her shoulder made her eyes open. Mama smiled at her.'Not there?'Shocked, Mila shook her head. 'No, Mama.''Good. We won't let that bother you anymore. Now, you and Nanny get to sleep.' Mama kissed Mila's forehead and Papa helped her under the covers. Both
The Birthright Series Chapter 378
Nanny lifted Mila off her and hurried to help Mama. Mila stared in fascination as the two women heaved at her bed, pushing it across the room. There where her bed had sat was a large square wrought-iron gate set into the floor. It looked just like the manhole!Mama dropped to her knees next to it, seizing the iron ring handle with both hands and pulling back. When it didn't budge she bent forward to examine it then twisted, shouting. 'Zayck! THE KEY?!'A string of curses rang out from the other room when another CRACK of energy struck the door, sharper than the last one. Nanny leapt onto the bed beside Mila, snatching her close.Papa rushed through the bedroom door. 'What? Can't you find it?''Where'd we put it?' Mama demanded, ripping items from Mila's closet, hunting through the shelves.'I'll check our bedroom.' Papa hurried from the room.Nanny and Mila sat clutching each other, bodies tense when another bolt rang out.An ominous splintering CRACK made Nanny gasp.In th
The Birthright Series Chapter 379
Papa rushed past the bedroom door, clutching items. Mila heard it as he dumped the items onto the kitchen table.'Dan'iss!' Papa called Mama's name. 'Switch!'Mila listened, mind reaching to try and see what they did. She felt it as Mama's energy seemed to draw back, Papa's layering over it. Another hum rumbled through her mind, this time Papa calling out to people. None of it came through clear enough for Mila to understand.Frustrated, stomach aching Mila again turned her attention to the door. With tentative hands she reached out. A shudder of relief ran through her when her hands pressed against the iron with nothing striking her mind. It sounded clear, like the manhole cover she'd opened did. Mila closed her eyes and let her thoughts flow, watching the puzzle appear in her mind. She sucked her breath in at the bizarre shapes it didn't look like any of the puzzles she'd solved before.In her mind's eye she saw five separate circles, floating, held together by tendrils of lig
The Birthright Series Chapter 380
The air around Mila felt thick, crackling with electricity. She stood in the bedroom doorway and opened her mouth in a high-pitched wail as her plait of hair lifted into the air, her nightshirt undulating around her knees.Papa grabbed Mama, Nanny grabbed the bags. The three of them raced from the kitchen. Papa twisted to fling something back that resounded with a piercing shriek and CRACK of energy.Mila dropped to a crouch, hands in fists to her ears. 'NO, NO, NO!' she cried out in fear.'Come, Lea,' Papa said, letting Mama go ahead into the bedroom. He bent to scoop Mila up.Whatever Papa did made the thickness to the air vanish, but it didn't stop those at the door. Arms clinging tight to Papa as he lifted her, Mila watched as their front door exploded. Splinters of wood hurtled toward them, Mila buried her head against Papa's neck, arms squeezing tight.Small thuds of wood against wood made her peek.The thousands of splintered pieces of door lay scattered in the corridor be
The Birthright Series Chapter 381
Mila's eyes opened to chaos.Papa held her by the waist, lifting her off her feet as Mama shrieked her name. Sound, so much sound! Blasts of energy hummed and exploded around them.'Get in!' Papa roared at Mama and Nanny.Mila stared over her papa's shoulder in terror at the three men approaching Uncle Vidna snarled, his massive eyes connecting with hers.'Come, Mila.' Uncle Jeran's voice sounded in her mind, so close, so real.Papa stumbled, Mila clutched at him as his arms tightened around her. They fell hard to the floor.A loud CRACK rang out.Papa jerked his head up, Mila twisting at the same time.Nanny hurled herself in front of the broiling cloud that bore down on them.The dark energy sucked the woman in.An awful scream resounded through the room. The cloud twisted tighter, spinning, bulging here and there, a figure within struggling against it. A rippling crackle of lightning energy lit the edges of the cloud before flashing through it, illuminating the room, showc
The Birthright Series Chapter 382
It looked like the tunnel might never end. The light spheres would hang about in the air, waiting as they worked through all the obstacles then bounce off along the corridor leading the way.The tunnel led them straight for quite a while then veered a sharp right.Mama and Papa paused at the corner.'Where are we now?' Mama asked in a soft whisper.'This will take us through the back of the DeNaga wing.'Mama stared at Papa. 'Is there no other way?''Not safely.'The line between her brows showed deep in the dim light. 'This isn't safe.'Papa shrugged, lifting Mila back to his hip. 'Nothing is safe now. We have to get out.''Not a word, Mila,' Mama warned her. 'We must be quiet as vesni.'Mila nodded, pressing a hand across her mouth to show she would be quiet.Mama went first.This area of corridor wasn't as cluttered as the last. The doors were no longer on the ceiling, but set into the walls like proper doors, only half the size. All of them hummed when Papa, Mama, and M
The Birthright Series Chapter 383
A thundering BOOOM rumbled underfoot.'Dan'iss, we have to hurry!' Papa lifted Mila a little, getting a better hold. 'We don't have long.''I'm so sorry,' Auntie Liana said again, tears streaking her face. She reached for Mama, hugging her tight. 'Leave Vo'Arum, you must! He's taken at least the gifts of five Mestarns, perhaps more! He has plans, oh! Such awful plans.' Auntie Liana shook her head as she and Mama hugged, still weeping. 'I don't know how many will be alive by morning.'Mama jerked back, staring at Auntie Liana with tense eyes and slowly lifted an eyebrow, her mouth a flat line.Mila watched, fingers tight in Papa's shirt. Auntie Liana shook her head with a strange half smile, tipping her head slightly as she did so, pale eyes seeming to gesture behind her. Mila looked past and spotted Addy.'No,' Auntie Liana whispered to Mama. 'But don't fret. It'll be fast. I don't think he's likely to steal mine.'Mama pressed her hand to her mouth, tears trickling down. 'Oh Lia
The Birthright Series Chapter 384
'Mama!' Mila cried out, craning to spot her in the blackness. Papa's hands clamped down, holding one of her legs and one of her arms tight. He turned, Mila felt his head move as he looked into the dark too.'Dan'iss! Dan'iss!' Papa's voice cracked, the sound making a ball of ice form in Mila's gut.From the darkness a sound emerged. Thuds, scrapes and scratching like metal against metal that made Mila's teeth chime.'DAN'ISS!' Papa flared out a ball of energy, light rebounded off the walls of the corridor. Mila cried out, covering her eyes from the blinding glare. In an instant Papa vanished. Mila sat alone on the cold wood floor. The lack of anything or anyone close made Mila roll into a tight ball, eyes closed against her knees.More thumps then another blinding flash snapped out, this one piercing her mind. Mila shrieked at the pain.'Zayck!' Mama's voice sounded wrong, strangled and rough. Mila lifted her forehead off her knees, peeking out.Flashes of light revealed frozen m
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Paiga gasped and Mila stiffened. A glimmer of annoyance flashed in Mama's eyes before she reached for Luca.'Yes, they have. But we won't. We're tied together. We will go in together and come out. You have to trust in us Luca. We need your energy too, please keep the right thoughts in your mind.'Luca swallowed, throat convulsing. He nodded. 'Yes, Aunty Dan'iss.''Listen up everyone!'Uncle Harlon's shout made Mila jolt.'Hush, Mila,' Papa joggled her in the sling. 'You're going to be fine, I'm right here.' He wrapped his arms around her. Heart pounding with nerves, Mila pressed her cheek to Papa's chest, listening as Uncle Harlon gave the instructions.A glimmer of eyes appeared by Papa and a moment later she felt the brief touch of Ery's hand to her head.'Bye Ery,' she whispered. The air within the cave started to hum with energy, all the adults calling theirs up. It made the space warm and comforting. Mila started to doze off.'Hold on,' Uncle Harlon called out. 'Here we
The Birthright Series Chapter 392
The conversation seemed easy after that.Ery showed the girls' how to swallow the worms whole. Mila screwed her nose up, grabbing her arms and shaking her head. 'No, no, no!'Paiga tried it. With a grimace, both Mila and Ery watching close, she plucked a wriggling worm up then dropped it in her mouth. Her eyes squeezed shut as she gulped the worm down in one swallow.She opened her eyes and stared at Mila and Ery. 'It tasted good!''Really?''Yes, sweet.'Mila shook her head when Ery offered her the last one, motioning it to her. 'No, you have it.' The mushrooms were yum, and the sparks continued as you swallowed it. It was impressive on Ery with her fine almost translucent skin. Mila and Paiga gasped as the sparks flashed in her throat before another dim flash in her tummy. It made all three of them laugh, the two girls giggling away while Ery coughed her laughter.Next was the flesh and berries. Ery showed them how to peel a piece of flesh away from the main then mush the be
The Birthright Series Chapter 391
When the group came across a river, they stopped. After a careful taste test, dipping a crystal necklace in to check the quality, everyone was allowed to drink.Mila and Paiga wrinkled their noses at the odd smell. Like a cup of nellor left out for too long.'It won't hurt you, girls,' Papa said with a smile as he squatted to scoop water to his mouth. 'Drink up.'The two girls' sipped water from their cupped hands, giggling as it spilled out. The adults conversed as the two of them had fun flicking water at each other.An odd sound like a cough made Mila look up, Paiga too.Both girls gasped, stumbling back from the river.'Mila? What's wro-' Mama broke off as she looked up too.Uncle Harlon made a funning clicking noise.The strange looking person that clung to the ceiling with three others responded with clicks and whistles.Mama beckoned Mila and Paiga, and the two girls scampered to her side.'Mama, who are they?' Mila whispered, Paiga crowding close to hear the answer.
The Birthright Series Chapter 390
With that entertainment gone, Mila went back to focusing on her feet. Pull one knee high while keeping balance and drop it. Each step seemed to make her head go lower. But she kept going, with Mama and Papa pulling her along. Finally, after what felt like hours and hours, Uncle Gydon said they could stop.'Take your rest, I'll be waking you in an hour to keep guard,' he motioned an uncle. 'Then you take an hour watch and wake the next. You get five hours rest. Make the most of it.'Papa and Mama and several other adults had bags with clothing. It all got pulled out and spread around the group, trying to provide a little warmth and comfort. Mila curled up between her parents, her head against Papa's chest. It seemed so cold and strange she didn't think she could sleep.Then she closed her eyes.'Mila, lovey, wake up.'Mila stirred at Mama's voice and the gentle touch of her hand on her back. She sat up with a jaw-splitting yawn. Blinking, she peered around in confusion.'Mama, a
The Birthright Series Chapter 389
The air smelled cold, and something else, something Mila found familiar but out of place.'Mama,' she whispered. 'What's that smell?''What smell, lovey?''It smells like,' Mila paused, considering. 'It smells like the kitchen, when cook has fresh rabbits.'Mama didn't say anything but she looked at Papa.'I smell it,' said another voice from within the circle.'Me too.''Carrion?''Perhaps. The scent will carry when the air is still.'Not understanding what "carrion" meant, but glad that the adults appeared to have solved the smell, Mila relaxed a little, nose wrinkling at the sharp edge of that scent.Minutes ticked by as they covered good ground.'We're close,' said the man leading them. A screech flashed past overhead, the group twisting, following the sound.A man shouted.Mila's head snapped in the direction of the shout, just in time to glimpse the man's boots vanishing as something, something with enormous black wings, snatched him up!Shrieks of terror rang out
The Birthright Series Chapter 388
Everyone moved. It surprised Mila how many people were here, but so many seemed to be missing too. Mama took her hand. On her other side was her younger cousin Paiga. Normally she annoyed Mila, with all the questions she asked, but the scared expression in her eyes reminded Mila of Addy. She offered her other hand to Paiga, who took it with a tentative smile.The group began to walk.Mila hadn't realized until now how tired she was. She stumbled over the riverbed the rocks stubbing her toes as she held Paiga and Mama's hands. It made tears run down her cheeks, but she didn't stop. On and on, picking her feet up, tripping, Mama's hand stopping her from falling. Paiga tripped and Mila managed to hold her arm high enough to stop her cousin from hitting the stones.'Thanks, Mila,' Paiga sounded like she felt. Ready to cry. So very tired.Around them the adults talked. Mila listened.'Where do we go?''The hidden caves. We can keep underground nearly all the way to the coast.''The
The Birthright Series Chapter 387
Papa's energy sparked in alarm then Mama's too. Mila twisted to stare back at the way the sounds came from and spotted a bobbing light. Torch light.Mama and Papa kept low and began to move again, almost crawling. Mila crunched up against Papa's back, squinting at first then kept her head down to avoid the lower branches.The sounds of those approaching grew. Papa moved faster, Mama right behind. They scooted up higher, scrambling, and tucked against cold stone. Not a moment later the torches bobbed past, following the track they'd been on.The bobbing lights moved closer then away, and closer again. The voices, questioning but too quiet to make out the words, sounded near.Crouched against the narrow stone ledge, Papa and Mama held hands. The soft touch of their energy surrounded all three of them.The bobbing lights came closer, close enough that Mila saw the faces of those who held them. Five DeNaga men, armed with swords, axes, and clubs.Mila shivered at the sight of the
The Birthright Series Chapter 386
Now the puzzle looked a third smaller than when she'd stared, but instead of one beginning point to work from there were three. She regarded the three pieces while chewing on the inside of her cheek. Two circular and one rectangle. The rectangle had a large circular opening, about the size of the smaller circle. Mila focused on the larger circle and turned it around, looking for the switch. It looked different to the previous circles she'd worked with, the markings running out from the centre like a starburst. One line caught her eye. With a finger Mila traced down it then jolted when something clicked. She froze. Heart pounding in her ears, she watched the circle break apart, opening at all the lines of the starburst. With another click it moved into motion, each piece folding down on itself and merging with the next. A moment later a tiny gold ball like had been in the first puzzle piece hung before her eyes.Excitement ran through Mila when she realized how the pieces went togeth
The Birthright Series Chapter 385
An array of squeals, bells, rattles and shrieks rang out. Face white Papa reached for them as something flashed out from amongst the lock trap, winding around his leg, wrenching him off his feet as it wound back in the blink of an eye.Mama gripped Mila tighter, her voice breaking on a note of despair, 'ZAYCK!'In the centre of the ceiling held by his ankles, hung Papa.Mama's energy holding Mila clutched even tighter as Mama set her on the ground then stood and reached out with both hands toward the lock, her energy glowing. Mila stared, waiting to see what happened.Mama stretched her energy out, probing gently.It touched the first puzzle piece. A clattering of chimes and screeches rang out, sparks flying.In the centre of the room, jerking like a fish caught on a line, Papa made an awful shriek.Mila dropped, hugging her knees to her forehead, stomach and mind sick from that sound.Papa was the bravest, strongest man in the world.He couldn't be caught, be hurting.Who wo
