AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this has again been a very long time before updates. I have recapped below!
Happy Christmas and I hope you enjoy!

'Previously in The Light'- DG ran away from her life in the palace. Cain found her and brought her back because of a mystery illness called the 'Turning Malady' which was killing people in Central City. After returning to the Palace DG and Cain finally have to talk about a kiss they shared before DG ran away. But then Cain sets off after some renegade long coats that have seriously injured Jeb. DG, of course, follows. They come across the trail of the long coats and their magician who are causing the Malady.
DG was captured by the two magicians responsible for the Malady. Cain, Glitch, Day and Cook set off chasing them across the O.Z. DG escaped the Magicians despite being caught in magic proof shackles. She headed into the Reed Lands and was found by the Gypsies, who have never been known as friends of the Crown. DG and Cain share another tender moment before DG was dragged off to speak with the leaders of the Ishlar-Nari leaving Cain and the others prisoners.

Chapter Twenty Five: The Gypsy Court

'I don't like this.' Wyatt Cain said pausing in his pacing to snarl at the others.

'We know.' Glitch and Sebastian Cook said together. But they did not smile. They were into their third hour without DG now.

(###)

DG had been ushered out of the room where the others were being kept between Tobias and Sisara. The light and fresh air outside had made her sway on the spot for a moment. Then with a hand on her arm Sisara was leading her down a pathway between buildings. They moved quickly and DG could barely snatch a glance around her. But she had managed to see enough to know that they were moving quite close to the edge of the city. Between buildings there was a glimpse of green/blue water and the tall golden topped Reeds.

Sisara had led her to another building much more richly decorated. The inside was decorated with hanging silks of the same pale green and deep yellows, and with richly embroidered tapestries. The seats were cushioned and there was a table in the centre of the room. It was full: with candles, small terracotta pots and a silver gilded mirror laid face up. In fact the whole table looked very much like a dressing table…

'For you to prepare yourself.' Sisara said simply gesturing towards the table.

'I'm okay as I am.' DG said gesturing towards her body. Sisara did not speak instead she simply moved further into the room. As the princess followed her into the plush room the dark haired woman lifted a pile of cloth DG hadn't noticed before. It was she realised as Sisara set it down near to the dressing table, one of the dresses she had purchased from the stall in Halliford Keep.

'You went through my things.' DG said flatly.

'They were in of the saddle bags General Cain was carrying. I thought you would want to be comfortable.'

DG didn't make a comment even though she wanted to ask what was happening… She wanted to ask what she was to make herself comfortable for… But in the stillness of the room DG felt her questions stall inside of her.

Sisara sat on a bench in the corner of the room. She folded her neat hands one on top of the other. Her slim slightly rangy frame making her look like the girls DG had envied at High School. Long, long legs crossed at the ankles. Dark curls tied back with a copper colour ribbon. As DG studied her the girl didn't move. She simply sat watching DG with the same friendly air she had done since they met.

'Are you guarding me?' DG asked finally, unable to bear the quite anymore. To break eye contact DG picked up a wooden handled hair brush and began to tease the tangles from her own curls.

'I am here encase you require my help.' Sisara said simply.

'Or I try to run away.'

'You won't.' There was a curiously resigned note to her voice as she spoke. As is Sisara thought this was boring.

'How can you be so sure?' DG had to abandon her brushing to tug at a particularly nasty snarl. She was suddenly embarrassed to have been wandering around for so long clearly looking a state.

'Your love is here. Your friends too.'

At the reference to Cain DG picked the brush up again and dragged in through the knot. Removing it and a lot of hair. But the pain was helpful. It made her feel more in control of the situation. The conversation. What that Sisara's plan? To unbalance her and make her feel unsure of herself. That was what DG thought. She had spent an awful lot of time with Cain some of his natural suspicion had rubbed off on her. But end would that have? Why would the woman want DG unsure?

So many questions. So much uncertainty. It made DG's heart feel as if it was squirming in her chest. Her instinct had been to trust Sisara and her brother. Even if Yanel had made her feel uncomfortable. His intensity was worrying there was something far bigger going her. DG could sense it, had known it was coming as soon as Glitch has told her she was wanted her to negotiate. This was huge. Bigger than the magicians. Maybe even bigger than the Turning Malady.

(###)

DG had taken a little over an hour to tame her hair and paint her face a little. She had done each task as slowly as she could, giving herself time. As much as she felt she could take, to go over things in her mind. The princess had also spent several minutes going over the diplomacy lesson Glitch had given her. It boiled down to listening to everything said. Then saying only what you meant in reply.

For instance a war had once started in the Inner Zone because a king had offered the complete hospitality of his house to a guest. The guest had taken this very literally and taken his pick of the King's treasurers and daughters. Hoping very much that she would be able to avoid causing similar issues DG now faced the Ishar-Nari elders.

The meeting was being held in another wooden building. This one was maybe five times the size of the others DG had been inside. The elders of the Islar-Nari was three people seated on vast thrones made of the same silver wood as their ships. The thrones were taller than DG and carved with intricate scroll work. Behind them hung vast sheets of silk in red, gold and blue. At the side of the thrones were two braziers burning with a curious white light which DG guessed had something to do with chemicals: magnesium most likely but here in the OZ it would probably have another name. The rest of the room was empty. The effect was daunting.

DG was led to place immediately in front of the three elders. They were each in the end years, with silvered hair and bright intelligent looking eyes. Despite what was obviously considerable age there was no doubt that these people were in charge. Sisara and Tobias had escorted her to the position she stood with their eyes down cast and each movement slow and revered. Now they knelt at her sides, palms flat on the wooden floor of the building.

The Princess of the OZ, for she had to keep reminding herself of that position, did not kneel. She curtsey knowing she would make her mother wince to see it. The elders each inclined their heads to her in response.

'Welcome. Storm-Child.' intoned the central elder. She was the eldest and only female of the three, it seemed very much as if she was the matriarch.

'I am DG.'

'I am Elisedra, Princess but for now High Mother would be best.'

'High Mother.' DG repeated nodded. Then swallowing continued in her most formal voice: 'I thank you and your people for your gracious hospitality.'

'You are most welcome Princess.'

There was a long moment of silence where the two men on the High Mother's left and right leant into her. DG realised after a moment that they were talking but their voices did not reach her.

'You must wish to know the reason for our discussion.' The High Mother said.

'I do.' DG replied her heat thundering in her chest.

'We have means of capturing the Magicians you seek. We would do so and pass them over to you. Along with a cure for the sickness infesting your lands.'

'You would?' DG asked in shock. But she realised for once her mouth had not gotten her into trouble.

'For fair exchange.' The High Mother said.

'What would you, in these circumstance, consider to be fair exchange?' DG asked trying to calm her thundering heart and check her words for tone, politeness and the other things Glitch had drilled into her.

'Our land. That is, the land taken from us by your ancestor. We would wish this returned completely to our people. We want the land now known as the Reed Lands.'

'Oh.'