Chapter 2
Cain strode back towards the house, his mind abuzz at his encounter with DG. True, he did trek out to the gazebo in search of her. Why, he wasn't sure...he just felt the need to check up on her. Since they had returned to Finaqua, no rules had been set or orders assigned. Yet he felt it was his responsibility to keep DG safe, more than anyone else. Maybe it was because she was so young and still so unfamiliar with life in the OZ. Maybe it was because he was certain there were still Longcoats out there who wouldn't mind seeing DG's life snuffed out in revenge for her destroying the witch to whom they were still loyal. Or maybe it was because every time he looked at her, her big blue eyes and sweet smile, his heart nearly stopped and his palms immediately began to sweat.
Screwing his eyes shut, he shook his head. It wasn't right to have such thoughts about the princess of the realm, who very well might be queen some day. What would people say if the queen of the OZ shacked up with an ex-Tin Man nearly twice her age? What would Jeb think?
Cain stopped and stared out at the water. He fought the urge to turn around and see if DG was still in the gazebo swinging freely, her hair blowing wistfully in her face as she laughed. The sight of her so happy lightened his own spirit. But he kept it inside, not willing to give her any hint of what he was still denying were his true feelings. Instead he took a deep breath and decided a little target practice might help ease the tension brewing within him.
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DG took one last look out at the serene pool in front of her before deciding to return to the house to check on Az. It would probably be prudent for them to go over Glitch's procedure a few thousand times more to be sure they have things right. And dinner would be soon, as well, as her stomach was reminding her.
She strolled along the path, her eyes transfixed on the house as she wondered where Cain had run off to. Suddenly a feeling came over her, and she stopped, unsure of what it was. She closed her eyes and focused on her surroundings, mentally checking on all those she knew were in the house but felt nothing. She stretched her mind around the house and felt a presence in one of the fields not far from where she stood. Her heart warmed at the presence, immediately recognizing it as Cain. But there was still something else out there…and then she found it. Someone was approaching the hedge maze, a group of someones to be exact. Her hands shot up automatically and the light flared between them. She took a deep breath and focused further, trying to discern who was invading their serenity and what she had thought was going to be a fantastic day.
She looked deeper and deeper with her magic until suddenly her eyes flew open and she lowered her hands.
"Oh my god!" she shouted before running full speed towards the hedge maze.
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Cain lined up some old tin cans along the ground and walked backwards a few feet, removing his gun from its holster. He opened the barrel, examined it then clicked it shut before aiming at the first can. But before he could get a shot off, a piercing shout hit his ears.
His head turned quickly in the direction of the gazebo, immediately recognizing DG's voice. His heart caught in his throat at the sound of her shout as he began to run full speed back towards the gazebo, his gun grasped tightly in his hand.
He caught sight of her instantly running towards the hedge maze.
"DG!" he shouted. She stopped and turned towards him, an expression on her face he couldn't quite place. She looked happy, yet concerned at the same time. His eyes darted around the perimeter, but he did not notice anything out of the ordinary.
"Cain," she said as he finally reached her, his gun poised and ready as his free hand grabbed her arm and pushed her behind him.
"What is it? I heard you shout. What happened?" he questioned, his eyes still focusing on their surroundings, his ears listening for sounds of an approach.
"Cain," DG said again, her voice light. She touched his shoulder and turned her toward him. He finally allowed his eyes to fall on her, utterly confused at what was going on. "Someone's here."
"Back to the house, now," he demanded, but before he could push her along, she stopped him with a forceful grip on his arm.
"No, Cain, it's Jeb…but something, something's not quite right," she said, turning her eyes towards the maze.
Cain narrowed his eyes and followed her gaze towards the row of hedges in front of them. Before he could speak, she took his hand in hers and began to guide them quickly through the maze. With his gun still at the ready, he let her guide him, as the way out was still a mystery to him. I really should know my through this thing, in case of an attack, he mentally made a note.
But her words echoed through his mind, too. Jeb? Here? Already? And what did she mean, something wasn't quite right? He was distracted enough to not even think about the fact that her hand was wrapped so tightly around his.
Suddenly they were through the maze. Jeb and five other men slowly approached the entrance to the hedge maze. Cain immediately recognized them as Jeb's fighters. They each looked like they had just been through a hell of a fight.
"Jeb?" Cain asked, releasing DG's hand and stalking purposefully towards his son. "What happened?"
"Just a little run in with some wayward Longcoats," Jeb responded, wincing as he took another step.
Cain put his hands on the younger man's shoulders and looked him over closely. Jeb's face was black and blue. A deep gash adorned his forehead, and he had walked with a slight limp. Other than that, he looked none the worse for wear. His traveling companions were equally battered, but no one appeared seriously injured.
"Longcoats?" DG asked, stepping closer to Jeb. "Where?"
"They jumped us in the woods right outside of Central City," Jeb replied. "Luckily there weren't that many of them. We outnumbered them."
"So close to Central City? That can't be good," DG said, looking at Cain. He nodded, his lips pressed tightly together.
"They must have come as soon as they heard the witch was defeated," Cain said. "No doubt they're back for revenge on the royal family."
"DG to be exact," Jeb said. "They made their message clear."
"And the princess Azkadellia," said another man from the group. DG turned quickly towards him.
"What about Az?" she asked earnestly.
"From what I could gather as they connected a tree limb to my face, not all of the Longcoats believe the witch is gone. They think you kidnapped the sorceress and that she still lives within the princess," he replied, leaning forward on his knees to catch his breath.
"So what, they intend to rescue her?" Cain asked. The man shrugged in response.
DG nervously twisted her hands. She could handle being the target of the Longcoats' revenge, but it bothered her so much more to hear her sister may be in danger, too.
Together, they cannot harm us. Nothing can harm us as long as we stay together.
Az's words echoed through her mind and her memories, and she breathed a sigh of relief. No, they would be safe, wherever they were. As long as they were together.
DG returned her attention to Jeb. She tentatively lifted her hand to his forehead, brushing the hair from his face.
She sucked in her breath. "That looks pretty awful," she said, eyeing his wound.
"Thanks, princess. Feels pretty awful, too," he said.
She smiled at him. "Jeb, if I have to tell you one more time not to call me that, I'm going to add to this collection of bruises. Now come on, let's get you inside to clean up and to see Raw. And then you can tell us more about what happened."
Jeb grinned half-heartedly, his exhaustion evident. "Thanks DG."
Cain released his hold on his son as Jeb patted him on the shoulder. DG motioned to the other men to follow her through the maze as she put her arm around Jeb's shoulders and entered the hedges. Cain watched her walk away with his son, his heart swelling with the amount of concern she showed for him. It was almost like she was…family.
Shaking his head from his thoughts again, he turned around, his eyes surveying the line of trees for any movement. It had bothered him beyond words hearing the Longcoats were closer than they had anticipated, and that they were out for vengeance against DG…his DG.
His need to protect her grew even stronger, but he knew the best way to do that was not to glue himself to her side, but to go out and hunt these Longcoats down. To get to them before they could get to her. He would have to leave, as soon as Jeb was better. He would talk to the queen at dinner about reforming the queen's army and reinstating the Tin Men, as quickly as possible. They would need to regroup and form a strategy to track the Longcoats. In the meantime, he'd stay close to DG…before he would have to leave.