DG stayed with Glitch for the rest of the night. His eyes kept up their movement, and she thought that maybe he was dreaming. He moved again, shortly after Cain left the wagon, his hand jerking out from under the blanket. By dusk, he had turned onto his side. She woke to the sound of movement and mumbling sometime in the early hours before dawn. Glitch's muttering was a dreamy collection of nonsensical syllables but DG still strained to hear him, happy to once again hear her friend's voice. He sat up shortly before dawn.
DG had dozed off again, after the muttering had stopped. She slept fitfully and jerked awake when Glitch's knee dug into the small of her back. "Oof! Glitch?" She peered up at him in the semi-darkness. He'd propped himself up on his elbows and his head was bent forward. She couldn't see his face clearly.
"Queen's birthday," he said, his voice muffled and sleepy. DG sat up.
"What?"
He made a noise and reached a hand up toward his head.
"Mm. It's the Queen's birthday," he said. DG pushed his arm back down as gently as she could. "Tell Cain."
"Tell Cain what?" DG asked, confused, but Glitch was already lying down again, curling up on his side.
"Queen's birthday, s'important," he said. DG watched him, waiting hopefully for him to say something else but he just laid there, his breathing deep and steady.
DG left Glitch's wagon a little after dawn to find breakfast. He hadn't stirred since just before the first sun came up and she thought it was safe to get out of the cramped wagon for a little while before resuming her vigil. She stretched her arms up over her head and her back gave a series of satisfying pops. Making her way over to the center of their makeshift camp, DG found Jeb frying eggs in a pan over the fire, with his father by his side. She was nearly bursting to tell Cain about Glitch's overnight progress. She stopped short when she saw Cain's face.