"General D'Arc." DG jolted awake. 'Potts' or Glitch was staring down at her.
"Potts."
"We've received a pack of viewers to transport to the tower." Glitch indicated a group of viewers that were being restrained by about seven longcoats. DG's face didn't reflect her alarm but it was present in her eyes and she knew Glitch saw it. It suddenly occurred to her that Cain wasn't around, which was probably for the better.
"Send the new soldiers back to Generals Mab and Morgan. We'll take the viewers to the tower ourselves. They think they've inconvenienced me. This will show them." She stood and strode over to Zero who was giving one of the longcoats a very hard time.
"Zero. We'll be transporting the viewers to the tower." DG took her gun from its holster and popped out the barrel, loading it with blanks.
"The tower?" he whispered. "I thought we were going back to Finaqua."
"Plans change." DG spun the barrel and reholstered the gun. "Notify Captain Abel of the change in plans." She looked around for Raw who was one step ahead of her. With Jeb's (or Ray) help, he had bound himself behind a tree where he couldn't be seen. DG quickly waved his disguise away and grabbed his arm, pulling him to standing and dragging him over to the cowering group of viewers. DG purposely brushed against one of the elder viewers so he would read her mind and know that she was on his side. He blinked in understanding at DG after she tied Raw to him. She would later come to know this viewer as Hap. Cain, who had formerly been speaking with Zero, stamped up to DG.
"General D'Arc. I was under the impression that we were destined for the palace at Finaqua." He folded his arms in real adamancy.
"You were misinformed. We will be transporting the viewers to the tower."
"Why the sudden change in orders, General?"
"If we can't shake the other soldiers, they have to think that we're really on business of the witch. These soldiers would've been in the Realm when we expelled the witch and they wouldn't know that she's gone yet." DG explained through gritted teeth, 'tending' to the bindings on Hap's hands.
"I'll see what I can do to get rid of them. Potts hasn't been doing such a good job of it." Cain brushed shoulders with her as he passed to reassure her.
"I shall notify the other viewers that we are to remain cooperative." Hap let out a low growl that to anyone on the outside would've appeared a warning.
"You'll be safe. That's a promise."
"Thank you… Princess." He only breathed the last part and DG's eyes fluttered for a second, the only indication of her surprise. She took out her gun and shot a blank at the steel toe of her boot, which to all the spare longcoats, appeared to be a warning shot. Hap growled in mock pain and the other viewers jumped back and growled. DG reholstered her gun and strode over to where Cain was talking to the group of crony soldiers.
"But Captain…"
"You question my direct orders, maggot?" DG cocked her gun and held it to his forehead. The soldier just gulped in response. "Return to your generals. Tell them that I have more than enough experience with the parasites to handle it. And don't return to me with another message. Or I'll give you a hole in your head the size of the one in that viewer's foot." Thank goodness for DG, the soldier didn't doubt that she really had shot Hap in the foot.
"Yes… Yes Ma'am. Move out men." He sighed a sigh of relief when DG pulled the gun away from his head. DG mounted her horse and trotted it around the group of viewers until the longcoats were out of sight. Just to be safe, she dismounted and spoke to Raw directly.
"We'll be taking them to Finaqua, but to be safe, we'll head for the tower first, just in case we're tailed. Tell them not to fear." She got back on her horse and rode back to where Cain was seated atop a black charger.
"Looks like we're headed for the tower. We'll stop every hour to let them rest; I feel bad enough making them travel bound. When we are sure we haven't been followed, we can turn back towards Finaqua."
"You sure have a way with planning, Deej."
"I learned from the best." She smiled at him and she would've kissed him, if circumstances had been different. Instead she nodded and rode to the head of the whole group. "Let's go, Men.