Disclaimer: I still own nothing. Pity that.
She glared at him indignantly. "I didn't do anything! Your the one that decided to get handsy!"
Jeb coughed uncomfortably. "Could we talk about this by the fire? Where we can all… see what's going on?" His voice was slightly strangled.
"Fine!" She pushed past them and walked back into camp. Sitting down with a thump she consider the positives and negatives of throwing a temper tantrum. Ahh screw it she would save that for later.
The three men followed closely behind. Raw took his previous position next to her while Jeb sat on the other side of the fire. The elder Cain stood glaring down at her. He was absent-mindedly rubbing his abused skin. Sympathy was sorely lacking on her part. For heavens sake her nightgown had caught on fire! There was no justice in this world.
She huffed at him then turned her head back toward her four-legged friend. "Ajax I'm going to put up a one way silencing spell around the camp. Can you keep watch for about an hour?"
When he whinnied loudly in reply all eyes turned toward her.
"He says yes." Raw commented with a blink.
"Well duh." Turning her thoughts inward she pulled at her magic. It was still weak but useable. Concentrating she formed a softly glowing globe around the camp. Shoot. Gazing up at the barrier she flicked her fingers and the glow disappeared. Much better.
"Not going to ask the horse in for a chat?" Cain asked caustically.
Ignoring his snarking she replied seriously. "No, for one we need a lookout. And anyway he already knows what's happening."
Cain's nostrils flared. "And what exactly is that Princess?"
She was getting sick of that title. "Two days ago the O.Z. decided it needed a doctor and drafted me. You, Mr. Cain are my non-optional health plan."
His eyes narrowed, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Shaking her jacket off and unbuttoning the upper part of her shirt she showed him her mark. "I'm rather afraid that means you're stuck with me."
Cain's head jerked up when he saw the mark and Jeb's jaw dropped. Wow she got both Cain men with just a flash of her upper arm. Didn't even have to bare an ankle. Go DG.
"Sweet Ozma! The O.Z. marked you?" Jeb sounded impressed. "What did it title you?"
Bewildered by his insightful question she blurted out the answer. "Healer."
"That makes good sense considering the beating its taken over the last fifteen annuals." Jeb replied.
"Why Cain marked as well?" Raw cocked his head to the side.
"I told the O.Z. I wasn't going to run a suicide mission. When I pointed out the Longcoat factor it came up with a solution. Stupid really. It said I needed a guardian and we would be bound together. I guess it thought Cain was the man for the job."
Immediately she was aware she had said something terribly awkward. Raw snorted and put a paw in front of his face. It appeared that Jeb's eyes were dangerously close to popping out of his head. And Cain had pulled his fedora down to cover his blush. Wait. Why was Cain blushing?
"Alright what crazily upsetting thing did I say this time?"
Jeb looked up at his father then back to her. "You're… it said…there is no way."
Alarms started going off in her head. Over the last few months she had gotten used to people giving her odd looks. Usually these looks were followed by a polite explanation as to why whatever she had done or said was socially frowned upon. But never once had she made anyone start to babble incoherently.
She turned to Raw baffled. "DG and Cain bound."
"Uh yeah I know. The O.Z. told me." They had lost her.
Raw twitched and glanced back at the Tin Man. "Binding rare. Only happen twice that Raw know of."
"And this would mean…"
"We are now considered life mates." Cain answered her question gruffly.
She must have misheard that last part. "Excuse me?" Her question was met with blue eyes and silence.
Oh do not freak out. Do not freak out. This cannot mean what you think it means! "So what the Outer Zone married us?" It came out as a half muffled shriek.
Raw answered this one. "No DG. Marriage can break. End. Binding forever."
She closed her eyes and focused on breathing. This was so not alright. Opening her eyes she refocused on Cain. She had no idea what to say. He reached up and readjusted his hat. In the firelight she could see his silver wedding band flash. Guilt at what she had inadvertently done caught in her chest. This was not how she had wanted Cain. Not while he was still grieving for Adora. Not in front of his son.
Not that she had actually expected to get him. He had left her. All she ever expected after that were frustrating fantasies that left her cold at night. But those dreams had involved laughter and love. She had imagined soft touches and some not so soft touches. This felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. She had betrayed him.
"I… I'm sorry." Her voice quavered. "I just…Glitch didn't say… I would have never," She stopped.
If they were bound then he would have to go with her. She had figured on company. Admittedly not his but still. Once she had realized that he was her intended guardian she had tried to avoid him. Once he was marked her back up plan had been to sneak out of camp once the other three were asleep. At that thought her tattoo burned. Cain hissed and rubbed his shoulder in surprise.
"You can't run from this Princess." He sounded furious. She couldn't blame him.
"How did you-?"
"We're bound!" His voice snapped across the fire at her.
For the first time since they had met she shrank away from him. He had never once scared her until that moment. Her mark burned again. This was going to get old fast.
"Damn it all. I'm sorry kid. I'm not angry with you." His voice gentled. That surprised her. She rather thought she deserved to be shouted at.
Jeb and Raw had watched their half spoken exchange in awe. Jeb seemed confused by the whole interaction and Raw was most likely shocked to see non-viewers communicating on this level.
Cain sighed heavily. "What do you have to do kid? Other than finding me."
She was worried he had taken this situation a little to well. He should be ranting by this point. He had to be holding something back. In fact she was relatively sure it was only a matter of time before his metaphorical tin armor cracked. That was going to be an unpleasant scene. But for now she thought antagonizing the man was a poor choice.
"I have to bring the fields back to life. After that I don't know. I guess the Outer Zone will tell me when I'm done here."
He nodded at her and then regarded his son. "We were supposed to met your group in two days in the lake country. Doesn't look like I'll be going."
Her stomach twisted into a tighter knot. Her fault again. Raw grabbed her hand in order to sooth her. His gift made the knot loosen a fraction.
Jeb nodded his understanding. "Raw?"
"Raw go with Jeb. Fighters need healer. That is Raws' place for now."
"Alright lets get some rest while we can then. Drop your magic Princess and tell your horse to relax. I'll take first watch."
She did as he asked and her magic shimmered away into the night. "Thanks Ajax! We're all set."
Ajax stopped grazing and moved toward her voice. Cain moved out to the edge of the trees and took his place. He stood stiffly and never once looked back. Ajax neared her and butted her head gently with his nose before turning to regard the healer.
Raw extended his hand and waited for the animal to make up its mind. Ajax flicked his ears at the man and then pressed his velvet face to Raw's palm. "Clever horse. Likes DG and her humor. Glad to be out of stables. Adventurous. Joker." Raw smiled at the last part.
That was heartening. At least she wasn't boring the horse to death. She was going to put that in the "good things about today list," along with not dying. With that thought she dug a blanket out of her pack and whispered goodnight to her companions. She hoped that tomorrow would be a better day than this one had. And once she and Cain were alone she had some questions that needed clearing up.
