Free The Drifting by L. Filloon Page A

but according to Ka she’s now one of eight.  Standing at six-foot-one, Mili’s slender build is described by many as “willowy.”  With a cranky temperament that rivals an angry ogre, her features make up for her shortcomings…she is stunning.  Unlike the other Ancients, Mili doesn’t seem to age.  Her dark skin has a soft tone to it, like that of the dark ballam cocoa, her hair reaches her ankles and is always kept in a long braid that hangs down her back like a thick silver rope.  Although her hair is completely grey, her brows and lashes are as dark as a raven’s feather.  She is one of the few full-blooded Noloks left in Velesi, an ancestry that goes far beyond Velesi’s existence.
    Mili is examining Julia, who hasn’t said a word since we left the clearing near the doorway.  From the time we left our small shelter to the time of our arrival here, the distance between Julia and Tolan has grown…leaving my brother distracted with worry.
    “She’ll be all right, Prince Tolan.  Nothing a good rest and some food can’t fix,” says Mili as she pulls the cover over Julia’s shoulders.  As she rises off the bed, Tolan takes her place next to Julia.  He sits holding Julia’s hand, rubbing it gently.  Julia doesn’t react to his touch, her eyes open and distant. 
    I think of Lily’s own mourning over Lucas.  Julia and Lily handle their grief in their own ways:  Lily cries privately.  Julia doesn’t cry, but buries her pain deep, not caring who knows.  I worry about Julia the most.  Tolan told me about the disappearance of her mother, about her stepfather and stepbrother’s treatment of her.  I suspect she’s been able to keep it together because of her bond with Lily.  As for Tolan, he hasn’t spoken a word to me since I told Julia that Lily was dead.
    The old healer takes hold of my arm and leads me out of the room.  As we enter the next room, Mellis and Phoris stand.  Alorn has been standing looking out into the night since hearing of the situation with Lily and Julia.  Even Mellis seems to withdraw from me.  As for Phoris, well, he has a better understanding of what’s going on and why I had to deceive Julia the way I did.  Yet, even he seems to have a hard time looking me in the eye.
    Phoris asks as we enter the room, “How is she, Mili?”
    “How do you think she is?” snaps Mili turning to give me a withering look.  “Why you agreed to this stupid scheme of Ka’s is beyond cruelty.  How can you put that poor girl through this?  I haven’t seen that much scarring on a young soul since the days after the rendering.  Shame on Ka for thinking of such a plan, and shame on you for going through with it.”  I let the healer have her say.  She’s only voicing what everyone else in the room is thinking.
    “It’s the only plan we have to keep Lily safe, to make sure that Eathos and his minions are convinced she’s dead.” I answer, defending myself.
    “Humph,” grunts Mili as she turns away from me.  “You take too many liberties with others to gain your own goals, Prince.”
    “Say what you will, Mili, but I do this for Velesi.  Besides, you don’t know what Ka is capable of,” I answer quietly.
    She turns on me once again saying, “Oh, I know what he’s capable of.”  She’s quiet, shaking her head as if speaking to herself, “I know too well what he’s capable of, Tharin.”  She turns to all of us and warns, “Keep your wits about you when you’re around him.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s on our side, but don’t be fooled to believe that he and Sema are just Ancients like me…they’re not.”  She turns and walks out of the room.
    I recall the moment Tolan and I first arrived with Julia.  When we told Mili about Ka and his wife, she nearly fell over.  If it weren’t for Phoris, she would have hit the floor stunned by our news.   
    I look back at my cousins and all but Alorn stand watching me, waiting.  I don’t make them wait long.