A long day's journey was ahead of them. Had they been heading for Finaqua directly, the trip would've taken just a few hours on horseback, but the tower was many miles to the north of the Great lake. As promised, every hour, they would stop and rest. DG would wave away their bindings for about ten minutes before reestablishing them. Cain, Ahamo, and Jeb would ride back and scope, while Glitch climbed to the top of a nearby tree and scanned the horizon. Lucky for them, the longcoat soldiers had taken DG's threat to heart and they were not being tracked. Meanwhile, Zero hardly ever spoke. DG didn't know what he had mean before by 'what I should've done before we left' but she had a feeling it had something to do with Az, which twisted her stomach into knots. As the sun went down that day, they had not yet reached the tower and DG proposed they set up camp in a clearing. A stream ran about half a mile off from the clearing, which would be perfect for all of them to bathe in. Once everyone in the group who wanted to bathe had done so, they all settled around a large fire, once again.
"Mr. Cain, I just had a thought." DG spoke to him across the fire and she could see a hint of a smirk at the title.
"Ha, Mr. Cain…" Glitch snickered but Raw elbowed him in the ribs. Jeb looked at Glitch funny but he didn't think anything of it.
"Yes, Princess?" He answered. Two could play at that game.
"We never sent word to my mother about finding Jeb, and we might as well tell her that we will be delayed." DG was aware of how worried her mother must be.
"We've lost Fox now… Once you've written the letter, I will take it." He bit his cheek, knowing that she would not be for that at all. DG swallowed her indignation.
"Very well." She looked down at her hands, almost giving herself away, but to her surprise, Jeb spoke up.
"I'll take it. If I appear then the Queen will know that I am safe, and I'll convey our purpose in going to the tower. I could gather more men to meet at the tower in case you are apprehended." He seemed eager to go and DG looked at Cain for a split second before looking at Jeb.
"We're off course now, it'll be another day's ride to Finaqua."
"I don't need much sleep or food; I learned to regulate that in the resistance. I'll take the fastest horse and be there in a flash. Besides, everyone knows Dad's the best shot; I wouldn't have him go off and leave you with only one Central City trained fighter." He nodded to Zero who nodded back.
"Alright, I guess it's settled. I shall write a letter for you to carry and in the morning you can leave for Finaqua." DG stood and shrugged the burlap blanket from her shoulders. "Goodnight, gentlemen." She barely glanced at Cain but half of her wanted to slug him for offering to go, and the other half wanted to kiss him senseless. She gave into neither side, retreating to her tent. She received a few 'goodnight's from the others. Once inside her tent, she sighed, fishing out her paper and a pen from her pack. She would write one letter to her mother, but she'd be sending another one to her sister.
Dear Mother,
We have found Jeb. Unfortunately, in a scuffle with some longcoats, we lost Fox, Ray, and Potts, hence why we sent Jeb to you himself. We are all okay, and we are well disguised as upper-ranking Longcoats. Unfortunately again, we were 'burdened' with a pack of viewers that the longcoats caught and we have a feeling we're being followed, so we must detour to the Tower, rather then coming straight home. If you would send ten men with Jeb back to meet us at the Tower, we might be able to get home sooner.
Meanwhile, Zero caught up with us in the Realm and helped us to escape unharmed. He tried to return to his family but his wife wouldn't take him, so he's coming back with us. He's very melancholy; I'm not sure what to do with him. Hopefully he can find something in Central City to do, but his face is now notorious so I doubt that would do him much good.
Please make sure Az gets the other letter enclosed.
Love,
DG
DG reread the letter several times and she thought it sounded unfeeling and cold, but she wasn't sure how to write a letter happily that bore such mixed news. It didn't sound like her at all, really. But it would be enough. She moved to her next letter.
Dear Az,
So much has happened, I can't believe it. On the first day of our journey we stayed the night in Haan, a little village just outside the Realm. The next morning, we were apprehended by longcoats and Fox, Potts, and Ray were all killed. Cain and I were taken to a bunker in the Realm after being brutally beaten, but I don't remember anything until I awoke in that hellhole. I managed to heal Cain and myself and then we realized that we had put in the same holding cell as Jeb. Three longcoats came to retrieve us for execution but Zero showed up and killed all three of them. We found Raw and Glitch in another cell and I managed to disguise us as Longcoat officials. I had no idea that women could be Generals, but according to Zero, it's very common, so my disguise is General Joan D'Arc. Remind me to explain to you later why I picked the name. Anyway, father met us in the Realm and we managed to get out of the Realm by playing like father had found a viewer (played splendidly by Raw) and we were going to take Raw to the Sorceress. Nobody in the Realm knows that she's been defeated, so we got out pretty easily, except for the two Generals guarding the gate, Mab and Morgan. Remind me to explain to you the irony of their names later. Anyway, we got out of the Realm and began our ride back to Finaqua. We camped outside Haan for the night and in the morning we found that Mab and Morgan had sent a pack of viewers to be taken to the Tower with about seven longcoats. We managed to ditch those particular longcoats, but I have a feeling we are being followed. We have to stop every hour and rest for the sake of the viewers; I feel horrible having to transport them bound, but what if we were found? Father is doing quite well; he acts as my scout when need be. As it is, Cain and I can show no affection at all because he has no idea how Jeb would feel about it, and because in the presence of other longcoats, he has to be subservient. I don't really know what to do about it, but we savor every free moment we have. In that same vein, Zero tried to return to his family after we got out of the Realm, but his wife wouldn't take him back. I asked him what he was going to do now and he said 'what I should've done before I left'. I don't know what that means, Az, but I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with you. Whatever happens when we get back, just be careful. I trust him now with my life, but I don't want you to get hurt. Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Anyway, we're heading to the Tower and we'll be delayed probably a few more days. Please have mother send ten more men with Jeb, we could use any help that we can get. I'm not sure what awaits us at the Tower.
My apologies for the astronomically long letter.
Love,
DG
Rereading this time took a little bit longer, but DG had a lot to tell Azkadellia about. When she was done, she folded the letters, struck a match for the hot wax, and then pressed her seal into it, sealing the letters. She tied a string around them both, and then she got an idea. She still wasn't sure of the extent of her magic, but it didn't hurt to give something new a try. She folded her legs and put the letters at her feet.
"If the wrong eyes see these pages… turn the pages into… gages…" She snorted at the rhyme. "If the reader be of good… of love let these tidings… brood." She bit her lip, laughing. "But if the reader be of vile, let them seem to be of guile." She held her hands over the pages and for a second, a bright light surrounded them. She clapped her hands in delight and then slipped the letters under her pillow. She changed into her pajamas and slipped into her sleeping bag. She closed her eyes to sleep, but sleep never came.