Chapter 6
The journey to Finaqua was long and uncomfortable.
"First order of business once we get home is to repave these main roads," DG grumbled. Az snickered beside her.
"I believe mother has more important things to attend to before fixing the roads, Deeg," her sister replied, rolling her eyes.
Just then the motorized wagon they were riding in jolted as it ran over a large section of crumbled brick, and both girls yelped. DG groaned and rubbed her rear.
"Please tell me we're almost there," she complained.
"Not just yet, little sister." Az rubbed DG's arm. "Why don't you try closing your eyes and getting some sleep. Honestly, DG, did you sleep at all last night? I could stow away my entire collection of shoes in those bags under your eyes."
DG sighed and looked out the window, watching the trees pass them by. Her thoughts turned to Cain and the night they had spent together before his departure. She remembered the sight of him galloping away from her down the streets of Central City, and it caused her chest to tighten. She swallowed the lump in her throat, not wanting to give anything away.
"I admit it's been hard to sleep with all the excitement this past week," DG said. "I'll just be glad to get back to Finaqua and start piecing things together again."
Az nodded, regarding her sister closely. "I know what you mean."
DG turned and met Az's weary eyes. "You know you're one to talk…those bags under your eyes look heavier than mine. Why don't you try to get some sleep?"
Az offered her a faint smile before looking away. "I'd rather not…" she whispered.
DG's heart sank as she realized how much her older sister was trying to elude sleep…most likely fearing her nightmares.
"Is it really bad, Az?" DG asked quietly.
Azkadellia sighed and squeezed DG's hand. "It's just…every time I close my eyes…the memories, her memories…I see…everything…" Az choked on her words.
DG's eyes welled, but she refused to let her sister see her cry. She knew the last thing Az wanted was to be pitied. She felt she didn't deserve it, just as DG felt she didn't deserve her sister's forgiveness.
Instead DG tried to turn the subject to something on the lighter side.
"What's the first thing you want to do when we get back to Finaqua?"
Az swiped at her cheeks quickly before turning and smiling at DG. "Well, after we unpack I'd love to walk the grounds, particularly the gardens. Do you remember our garden? Mother gave us our own plot of land to plant whatever we wanted."
A wisp of a memory entered DG's mind of the two of them digging in the dirt, their dresses covered in it, dropping in seeds of all different varieties and covering them back up. They joined their hands together over the covered seeds and watched in awe as their light glowed and penetrated the ground. The seedlings sprouted immediately, and within days the colorful flowers were in full bloom.
DG smiled. "Yes, I remember. That sounds wonderful, Az. We'll do that first thing."
"It will definitely be busy around the manor," Az continued. "Now that we have servants again, and guards…albeit just a handful of them. Father says the new Royal Guard will be at Finaqua within the month. Yes, it will be nice to have life bustling about the manor again."
DG inwardly cringed at being followed by guards and ladies in waiting. She cherished her solitude, another thing she missed from Kansas. She moved her gaze past Gram and Connor who sat ramrod straight in the seat above them, their eyes constantly scanning the tree line, and past the driver out the front window to the other wagon that carried her parents and Glitch. There were four other wagons behind them carrying the servants, baggage and supplies, as well as guards on horseback surrounding the entire group.
"And Tutor is to come to Finaqua in a few days, isn't that right?" Az asked. DG nodded.
After the eclipse, Tutor stayed with the family for a day before leaving to find the remnants of his own family in the east. He assured her that his leave was only temporary, and that he would return to help DG figure out her magic as it was all slowly coming back to her. DG expressed the importance of finding his family and his life, having been locked away in that prison by the witch for so many annuals, and that her magic could wait. Naturally, Toto argued with her and an agreement was made that he would meet up with them in Finaqua a few days after the move.
"It will be good to have him help us learn to control our magic again," Az spoke. "Although I can feel our light is strong, I still feel a bit out of sorts with it all. My light has been buried beneath her darkness for so long…"
The familiar pang of guilt slide through DG's chest once more, and she winced.
"I know, it will be great having Tutor help me figure out how this thing really works," DG said, waving her hand in front of her face.
Both sisters fell into silence, their arms entwined. DG chanced a sideways glance at Azkadellia, who was gazing out the window with a blank expression on her face. DG feared where her mind was at that moment, and once again guilt washed over her. She laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, reminding herself to heed Cain's words. Yes, this time alone with her sister must be used wisely, and hopefully together they can find a way out of the still lingering darkness to finally look toward the light of the future.
All DG had now was hope…however she still lacked faith.
A few hours later, the suns now low in the sky, they made it to Finaqua. The girls relished the feel of the wind sweeping off the water through their open windows, the lush green of the field around them opening to the familiar sight of the hedge maze and the manor house just beyond.
The wagons stopped and DG stepped out of the wagon with as much grace as she could muster, which wasn't much. Not caring about who saw her, her hands rubbed her sore bottom before she stretched her arms over her head and cracked her back.
"Next time we go to Central City, I'm hopping on a broom and flying there," DG quipped.
Az stood beside her and smirked. "There's always bubble travel."
DG looked at her and arched an eyebrow. "Come again?"
Az giggled before composing herself. "Some of the ancients could transform themselves into light and travel throughout the land in a small bubble. Now that is powerful magic."
DG processed her words. "Cool," was all she could think to say.
Ahamo and the queen soon made their way over to their daughters.
"Come, my darlings, let's clear the way for the wagons," the queen said, offering both hands to the girls. Each princess took a hand and followed their mother to the western side of the hedge maze.
"What are we doing exactly?" DG asked.
"The hedge maze is here for our protection, and is controlled by magic," the queen explained. "Only the two of you have the power to move it now."
DG frowned. "Move it as in…"
"As in change the direction of the maze's path," Az replied.
"Yes, when you were children, I would change it frequently to confuse any would-be intruders who might be studying it to learn the way through," said the queen.
"Good idea," said DG.
"Well, ladies, I'll leave you to it." The queen led her daughters to the maze's edge and let go of their hands. Az reached over and clasped DG's hand in her own. DG immediately felt the tingle of magic shoot through her hand and up her arm.
"Close your eyes, girls, and see the path forming a straight corridor right into Finaqua," their mother spoke gently behind them. Az and DG closed their eyes and did as their mother instructed. DG imagined a wide dirt road, much like the drive off the main road to their Kansas farm, only this one was bordered by a large hedgerow. She saw the manor house just beyond the cleared path.
The sound of creaking limbs and rustling branches caught DG's attention, but she kept her eyes closed. There were gasps and shouts behind them in the distance, but she didn't let them break her concentration. The ground beneath her feet rumbled, but she held fast to her sister's hand.
Suddenly, a strong breeze swept across her face, and everything was quiet until her mother spoke.
"Well done, my angels," she said, clapping her hands together.
DG peeked one eye open and gasped at the sight before her. It looked just as she had imagined, a wide dirt path cutting right through the hedge maze and leading straight to the manor house. Looking beside her, she saw Az smile in delight.
"See? Who needs Toto? We got this," DG exclaimed.
Her mother cleared her throat. The girls looked at her in question, then followed the queen's gaze to their feet.
"Now, now, DG, do not let the power go to your head. You still have some control to learn," the queen admonished.
Azkadellia and DG stared in shock at the few uprooted bushes strewn about their feet as if they had been ripped forcefully from the ground, the deep holes in the dirt at the start of the path evidence of where they once stood.
"Oops," DG whispered. Azkadellia bit her bottom lip.
"Sorry, mother," Az said.
The queen chuckled quietly to herself, and rubbed her daughters' backs. "Do not worry, girls. It will come to you in time with some practice…and guidance. The point is, though, that you did do it."
The princesses smiled and grasped their mother's hand again then began to walk down the road they had just created. Behind them engines roared to life and horses whinnied as the procession followed behind them. Before they reached the end of the road, several horses rode past them as the guards ensured the queen and princesses' safety before leaving the protection of the maze. As soon as everyone was clear, DG and Az used their magic to move the hedges back, sealing themselves behind the maze once more.
Several hours later the wagons were unpacked, the horses were settled in the stables, the guards had taken position throughout the manor and the grounds, and the servants were busy cleaning everything in sight. The manor was in slight disarray after years of abandonment so it would take a bit of time, but the queen was excited to restore it back to its glorious self. The cooks were in the kitchen tidying up after a late supper, and Glitch was nearly falling over himself trying to keep the chaos organized.
Ahamo and the queen had retired to their room after supper, as did Azkadellia, and DG finally had a minute alone after shooing her ladies in waiting from her room. Connor stood at his ever present post outside her door before he would be replaced by Walker, DG's new "night shift babysitter" as she now called him.
Taking a much needed deep breath, DG slouched down in the window seat. She watched below as things outside quieted down, the sparse sprinkling of guards preparing to change shifts. A few of the servants were coming out of the manor house and crossing the back of the property to the separate servants; quarters, which reminded DG of a quaint bed and breakfast with an outcropping of cottages around it. Not too far from the servants' quarters lay the guards' bunk house, a long narrow building with a stone exterior and flower boxes in the windows that looked more like a vacation retreat than any military barracks she had ever seen back in the good ole' US of A.
As her mind began to wander, she let her eyes drift up to gaze at the rising moons. She immediately wondered what Cain was doing at that moment. He'd probably be camped out somewhere, warming himself by a small fire as he lay stretched out on his blanket, his trusty gun not far from his hand. Maybe he'd be asleep, his hat resting over his eyes. Maybe he'd be cooking something to eat over the fire, carrying on some inane conversation with his horse to pass the time. Or maybe he'd be gazing into the fire with those blue eyes, thinking deeply about her as she was about him.
Don't be silly, Deeg, she scolded herself. He's got bigger things on his mind right now.
Sighing, she dragged herself over to her bed and tucked herself beneath the covers. After the past few nights, she knew there was no way sleep would escape her tonight. Exhaustion didn't even begin to describe how she felt at that moment. Before she could muster another thought, she was already deep asleep.
At some point during the night, DG's restful sleep was shaken by distant voices. At first she didn't know if she was dreaming or not, the voices seemed so far away. As she became more aware, she cracked her eyes open and immediately saw the deep midnight blue sky outside her window as the very edges of night began to give way to dawn.
The voices seemed louder now, and closer. DG raised her head off her pillow and held her breath, trying to decipher what she was hearing. A deep male voice was murmuring outside her door. It was Walker.
Sitting up in bed, she glanced over at her door. The guard sounded concerned, yet wary. It was then she heard his words clearly.
"Is everything all right, Princess Azkadellia? Please, say something," he urged.
DG shot out of bed and ran full speed to her door, ripping it open. Walker jumped and spun around, taking her in with wide, wild eyes.
"Your majesty, you frightened me," he said, relaxing a bit.
DG ran into the hall and stopped fast at what she saw. Azkadellia, clad only in a sheer lavender nightgown, stood motionless in the middle of the hall. Her eyes stayed transfixed at a point on the wall above DG's head, her mouth slack. Her skin was pale and covered in a light sheen of sweat, her dark hair plastered to her head. Behind her stood Az's guard, looking just as frightened and clueless as Walker.
DG slowly approached her sister. "Az?"
No response.
DG began to panic. "You ok?" She tentatively stepped closer.
"Should I wake the queen, your majesty?" Walker asked behind her.
"No," she replied, waving him off. "Azkadellia, what's the matter?"
Still the other princess remained silent and still, her eyes never moving. As DG moved closer she began to realize her sister's pale skin was tinged a bit blue.
"Oh my god," she yelled, rushing to close the distance between her and her sister. Grabbing Az's shoulders, she shook her frail body as hard as she could. "Breathe, Az! Breathe!"
Az still gave no response. So DG took one final measure and slapped her sister hard across the face before covering her mouth in horror.
Azkadellia cried and out and squeezed her eyes shut. She inhaled a large breath of air as her hand fell to her chest, gasping for much needed oxygen. After a moment she straightened herself and blinked her eyes rapidly, her chest still rising and falling as her lungs hungrily took in the air they were lacking.
"What the hell was that? Are you ok, Az?" DG's eyes swept frantically over her sister's trembling body.
Az crossed her arms over her chest and shivered. "What…what just…happened?" Her eyes darted around the hallway, curious and confused. "How did I get here?"
"Walker, go in my room and grab my robe or a blanket or something," DG snapped at her guard. He immediately complied, returning with the wool blanket off the foot of DG's bed.
DG grabbed it from him and shook it open, quickly wrapping it around her sister's shoulders. Az grabbed the ends of the blanket and pulled it tightly around her.
"I think you were sleepwalking," DG finally said, rubbing Az's arms.
Azkadellia looked at her curiously. "Sleepwalking?"
"Az, you were pretty under…I mean, you weren't breathing!" DG's voice cracked as she felt the tears prick at her eyes. The usual worry she felt for her sister had grown exponentially in the last thirty seconds.
Azkadellia met DG's eyes in fear. "I wasn't…" Az wavered on her feet, and DG quickly wrapped a supportive arm around her waist.
"Come on, you need to lie down," DG said, leading her past Walker and into her room. When they reached DG's bed, she helped her sister to sit. "Let me get you some water."
DG ran to the bathroom and filled a glass quickly with some water, returning to her sister. Walker and Az's guard, whose name had momentarily escaped DG, stood stunned in the doorway.
As Azkadellia sipped the water, DG addressed the men.
"Not a word of this to anyone, do you hear me?" she said sternly. "My sister was just overtired from the journey, and sometimes when she's that exhausted she sleeps so deeply she sleepwalks and there's just no rousing her." A lame excuse, DG knew, but they seemed to be buying it. "No one needs to know, especially my parents. Understood?"
Both men nodded their heads in unison.
"Good, now back to your posts. My sister is sleeping the rest of the night in here with me." Walker closed the door behind him and DG turned to Az.
Sitting beside her sister on the bed, DG struggled to figure out what to say, but all she could do was worry about her sister's state of mind, and after what had just happened, her health…hell, her life for that matter. Had DG not been there, would Az have ever come out of her trance? Would her body finally fight back and wake up her mind before she collapsed from a lack of oxygen?
At that moment DG vowed to not let her sister sleep alone anymore. They'd be sharing a room for now, at least until this all passed. She was determined not to let harm come to her sister anymore, not while she could do anything about it. There had to be a way to rid Azkadellia of these nightmares, and now these 'episodes', for a lack of better word.
Surprisingly DG was now anxious for Toto's return.