Twenty's Mission Log
Chapter 12 - Birthday Girl

Extract from the personal files of Sister Venerae of the Order of Michael

September 13th, V18 (2038) – Little Angels Orphanage, Pan City, POZ

I was going to visit Millie at the orphanage today. It had been a close run thing to make it back in time from my latest mission for the Order, but it was important to me. Today my niece turned ten years old.

The weather was fine and hot, with only a light shower in the morning. This made the day humid, and I was sweating a little in my heavy black habit. I came from a country of cold winters and mild summers. Even after all these years I still did not like the heat of the Zone.

Sister Adoracion met me at the orphanage gate. She was one of the few other carers at the orphanage who I liked. Adoracion was from the Phillipines and had been in her Order for over forty years. She was a genuinely loving soul and I entrusted her to watch out for Millie in my frequent absences.

“How has Millie been doing since last time?” I asked her as we walked together beneath the covered verandah that lead to the play area. I had been away for four months, a lifetime to a small child.

“She still keeps mostly to herself” admitted Adoracion. “Millie can be so sweet at times, and she tries hard to play with the other children. But then she loses her temper over something and well...”

“Millie does love a good fight” I agreed, smiling inwardly.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t teach her so many ways to hit people” admonished Adoracion.

“You know I am a big fan of the Old Testament” I said. “Especially the whole eye for eye, tooth for tooth thing”

“I do wonder about how seriously you take your faith, Sister Venerae” said Adoracion. She stopped and pointed to a small, blonde headed girl playing by herself near a tree.

The other children were all at the other end of the yard, chasing each other and screaming loudly. The sole girl was quiet, intent on observing ants in their nest on the ground before her. She reached out a twig and poked at the nest.

“Millie stop that!” I called out. Her head shot around guiltily to look in our direction, then she registered who had spoken.

“Venerae!” she yelled and jumped to her feet. She was still so tiny and thin as well. I knew she ate nearly anything put in front of her, but it seemed like she was going to stay small. Perhaps she would avoid the curse of our bloodline after all. I hoped it would be so.

Millie ran towards me at her best pace, arms held wide. I lowered myself to my knees and braced as the child threw herself against me. She hugged me tightly and I hugged her back. I kissed her warm little cheek and she giggled happily.

Sister Adoracion frowned. Such behaviour was not permitted between the Sisters and our orphaned children. Yet she made no comment. I always imagined she thought Millie was my abandoned child or something like that. We certainly looked very similar, especially since she was the only daughter of my deceased younger brother, Alex. No one at the orphanage knew that we were related. I kept that a secret from everyone, including Millie.

“Have you gotten taller?” I teased Millie. “You are getting so big now”

She pulled back from me and gave the matter some serious thought.

“I think so” she finally answered, and then regarded me with her blue-green eyes. They were a perfect match to my own eyes, if a little more intense.

“Do you think I am going to grow as tall as you?” she asked. I am just over six feet tall. All of my family are tall. Considering our heritage it is to be expected.

“Maybe” I answered. “Your parents were like me, descended from the Vikings of Norway. We are famous for our height and our strength.” I stood and flexed my arms to show her how big and strong I was. She duly looked impressed. It is not hard to wow a ten year old some days.

Sister Adoracion sighed and told me she would leave me to spend some private time with Millie. I thanked her and lead Millie to a secluded seat under a vine covered trellis in the gardens. She dropped herself onto the seat while I sat as gracefully as my long heavy habit would allow.

“Did you come back today for my birthday?” enquired Millie eagerly. For a child who lost track of the days so easily, she always knew when it was Christmas, or Easter or her birthday.

“Yes, I did” I answered her. “I have something special for you today.” I took a small oval stone out of my pocket and placed it in her outstretched hands. It was a pale blue colour shot through with green streaks. There were runes carved into it on the front and back faces, with a small hole at one end so it could be fastened on a chain or loop of leather.

“What is it?” said Millie, holding it up to the light for a better look.

“It is called a Pathreplaceer Stone” I told her. “They are charmed to let the holder replace their way back home, no matter how far away or how lost they may be.”

“How does it work?” Millie said, looking entranced.

“Hold it tight in your left hand and focus hard on the stone” I said. Millie clenched the stone tightly and screwed up her face in concentration. “You will feel the stone tug in the direction of home”

She kept her face all tense and her little hand wavered for a few minutes. Then she lowered her arm and looked at me sadly.

“It doesn’t work” she said and I could hear the tears coming in her voice. I felt a relief wash over me – she was not an Adept. Not yet at least.

“That’s OK, Millie” I assured her, not trying to keep the happiness I felt inside from showing. She may not have to fear the burden our bloodline will bring after all. “You see, you are home already so the stone could not show you anything right now.”

“Oh, that is OK then I guess” she answered. “What should I do with it now?”

I pulled a short silver chain I had ready from my pocket and took the stone from her. With the chain fed though the hole I looped the chain over her head and settled it around her neck.

“Now you can keep it with you always” I told her. “This way you will never be lost, and I can use it to replace you”

“Really?” Millie said. “Can you do magic like in the fairy tales”

“Of course I can” I said proudly to my little niece. “I have the blood of giants in me. Do you know about giants?”

She nodded eagerly. “There are loads of giants in all the fairy tales” she announced. “They eat up people and smash cities and fight heroes all the time”

“Yes, but there were good giants too” I explained. “The Vikings called them the Jotun and they lived in another land they called Jotunheim, the home of the giants. Now many of the giants were bad and loved to fight and smash things up. But the Jotun maidens, the women of their people, were beautiful and kind.”

“Just like you, Sister Venerae?” asked Millie.

“Yes Millie, just like me” I answered. “So the Jotun maidens saw that humans needed someone to help them manage their lives. They did not know when to be born, or get married, or even die. Their lives were all over the place, full of chaos. So the Jotun sent three of their best women to the human world and bid them marry the Viking men. From these three giant women, the line of Maidens were descended. They help the humans to live their lives, following the paths of their fates.”

“That is amazing” said Millie, enraptured. “So are you one of the Maidens?”

“We call them the Norns” I replied. “The blood of the giants still flows in our family and sometimes one of the female children are called upon to become a Norn. But no, I am not one of the Norns”

“Do you think I will grow up to be a Norn?” wondered Millie.

“I should hope not Millie” said Sister Adoracion. “You should pray instead to grow up as a good little girl”. The Sister glared at me. I had not noticed her come over, so engrossed was I in telling the story to Millie.

“It is all just another fairy tale, isn’t it Sister Venerae” continued Adoracion. She was giving me the full weight of her gaze now.

“Yes, it was just a fun story” I said to Millie. “There are no giants or Norns in the world now”

“That’s right” agreed Sister Adoracion, “The dragons ate them all”. She laughed and I had to join her. She had a kind soul and I could not be angry about her refuting my little tale. It was probably for the best that Millie did not know the truth.

“Let’s go have some tea and cake” suggested Adoracion and Millie happily agreed. She jumped off the garden seat and raced towards the dining hall. I stood up and joined Adoracion as we followed at a more sedate pace, befitting of our roles.

Despite my outward appearance, I am not a particularly devout person. When you can see the lines of fate that lead every living being to their destiny, it is hard to acknowledge a benevolent god.

Yet I prayed now that my darling little niece was never called upon like I was to take up the mantle of the Norns. I am the Maiden, sister to the Mother and the Crone, shapers and keepers of the fate of all humanity.

I watched Millie run, then stop at the doorway and turn back towards us, urging us to hurry along. There was cake to be had.

Happy Birthday, Millie. Your aunty loves you. And I am sorry I cannot tell you the truth.

End of Part 3 of Millie the Gunsinger