Ciri's POV:
It had been quite the while since she had dreams like this.
Mostly she couldn't remember them clearly anyway. Avallach told her that this was normal. That her conscience grew more and more resilient to the things she saw and became able to filter through them.
At first, she was thankful for this. One didn't need visions of bloody battles or cosmic horrors when once own walking life was full enough of that stuff.
But then she had Milva. Or Rose as she called herself now.
It had been quite the shock to see her baby so grown up. How much time had passed? Six years?
She could slap herself for that. If she had been more careful, she could have returned almost the second she had hidden Milva away! Avallach had warned her regarding this. But no, she couldn't wait of course, leading to her paradoxically having abounded her child for six years!
She seethed with anger. Milva had wanted to go with her despite everything.
She had desperately clang to her.
That man, this uncle Vernon, had jumped at the first change to get rid of her daughter. How could any person just give a child away like that?
Humans in that world lived pretty good lifes. Almost as good as that of nobles. So why the hell had she found a sleeping place cramped in that stuffy cupboard? She had enough experience to see that the girl had been sleeping over bleach and other cleaning agents that were definitely toxic.
She had been fast at taken Milva out of there, not only for her sake but also to for her own. There wouldn't have been any changes that Mr Dursley would have left unharmed otherwise.
"I see you are awake."
She turned around on her bedroll and looked at the figure at the cave-entrance. Avallach sat there near a campfire, stirring a crockpot.
"I think I don't have to tell you why what you did was foolish."
Since pretending to sleep was of no use, she stood up and joined him at the fire. He gave her a wooden bowl with some bean porridge.
"We have some time before we must move on. A day at best."
She didn't answer him. Instead, she gobbled the beans into her mouth.
She had no wish to sit through another of his lectures.
"I have to know if you will do it again." His eyes didn't leave the campfire.
She swallowed a mouthful of beans, before answering. "Yes. As soon as I have regained my strength."
These mages had hunted her and Milva over half of England. Then when they had managed to separate them, she had tried to return the favour, but soon lost their lead.
She rubbed her shoulder. What magic these people had used it had been quite painful. For a second her mind wandered back to when Milva had been hit by that red lightning bolt.
For a second, she had thought she had lost her.
"This would be foolish. You are not only risking yourself but also your child." For the first time he looked up from the pot. "The others don't know of her yet, when they do, they will focus on her instead."
For a second, she didn't answer on that. Of course, she knew that herself. Milva was the far easier target than she herself. Yet still…
"I will not abandon her." Not again, not ever again.
Swallowing the last bite, she put the bowl down and stood up.
It took her a moment to find her sword behind her bed. She would not come across these mages unarmed again. And if she found so much as a scratch on Milva…
"Don't try to stop me." Not that he could, unless he wanted to put her on the leash there was nothing he could do.
And despite what he may thought, she did have a plan. Yes, she couldn't drag Milva with her, no matter what she wanted. But she could bring her to the two only persons where she knew that her daughter was safe. Geralt and Yennefer would be able to take care of her daughter, she was sure of that. She hadn't dared to try this before, hadn't believed that she could reach that place with the wild hunt so close by.
This was different now. Especially now that she had Avallach as a guide with her and guiding her he would, he practically didn't have another choice.
"This won't work." He had turned back to the pot and started to fill himself a bowl. "She has already left that world."
She was thunderstruck.
Possible reasons flashed before her eyes. All from the wild hunt having captured her, to the most unlikely and somehow even more horrific.
With a deciding step she grabbed Avallach from behind, pulled him to his feet and stared into his eyes. His bowl fall to the ground, spattering its content on the floor. Yet despite this not the shadow of an emotion flickered above his face.
"What did you say!?"
"She has awakened her powers, though through which means is still a mystery to me." He freed himself from her grab. "She leaves the same traces in the aether as you do. Don't worry, the others still have no knowledge of her existence. What I could divine from their communication was that they believe me trying to mask your own presence."
"My daughter just stranded god knows where and you tell me not to worry?!"
"I have already sent an associate after her. She will find Milva and take care of her." He looked at her with emphasis. "Without risking Eredin learning about her."
She was beyond furious at this point. "When did you plan to tell me this?! Do you expect me seriously to trust some elf with her?"
He sighted. "Zirael, you just returned a few hours ago. I had to make the most rational decisions when I learnt of Milva awakening her elder blood while you were out. And regarding my associate, she can be trusted and has helped me multiple times with staying ahead of Eredin."
She wanted to scream at him that she didn't care about that. That she would just go there with or without him.
But the truth was that he was right, right now being with her would be worse for Milva than being with those Dursleys.
"I want her brought to Geralt and Yennefer."
He paused. "They may not be the best people to take care of her. Her powers…" Her unyielding look made him stop. "It might not be possible to reach the island of apples like that."
"See it done or I do it."