Before The Worst
Chapter Twenty Eight
Azkadellia watched Glitch work on the H.I.E. in silence. It had been two days since Cain had led the men east to McKinnon's land and Azkadellia had barely seen her sister in that time. She'd been present at meals but returning to her room straight away afterwards, too miserably distracted for lessons or to meet with visitors.
Azkadellia watched Einstein hop about in his cage. Glitch had brought the bird back with him from Pacalisaqua and he'd been living happily in the laboratory since. Azkadellia reached through the bars and stroked the back of his neck with a slender finger. Glitch looked up from the H.I.E. and sighed.
"I invited her to join us." He said quietly but Azkadellia shook her head.
"She's too worried. The Emerald won't let her rest; it's insisting that something is wrong."
"Even if there, what is DG supposed to do? She can't go after him." Glitch flicked a switch and the machine hummed into life. Azkadellia turned to watch as he placed a seedling tomato plant underneath the ray poised on top of the H.I.E and a beam of pale blue light spread over the soil. After a few seconds Glitch turned it off again, placing the plant in a warm glass bow, along with several other test subjects before turning to Azkadellia who stretched out her arms for him.
As he held her, she spoke softly.
"He'll be alright, won't he?"
"The man has been shot half a dozen times, flew out of a window into a frozen lake, was locked in a tin suit for eight years, faced down an artificially infused magical being and helped destroy a sorceress." Glitch said, cupping her face with both hands. "Nothing in the O.Z. is going to stop him getting back to your sister."
"Nine lives?" She asked and he snorted.
"Cain used up nine a long time ago. I think he's got an unlimited stockpile somewhere."
"He'd better. Because if he doesn't come back, DG will hunt him down and kill him." Azkadellia said, sitting on a stool as he turned back to the H.I.E.
~*~
DG sat on the window seat, concentrating fully on the Emerald. It was still trying to materialise her magic, it took constant attention to keep it from spilling over. Even when she'd had Azkadellia's magic too, the Emerald had been able to keep it under control, but now it was so behaving so erratically that it was more of a hindrance than a help.
She held it in her hands, twining the chain through her fingers as she willed it to stop beating against her, like a living creature.
He's coming back. He's coming back. He promised.
This did nothing the quell the Emerald and DG dropped it onto the cushions, pulling her knees up beneath her chin and burying her face in her arms. Cain's absence physically ached in her chest, like there was a gaping hole in her ribs. It was even worse than when she'd been sent away with Toto, because at least then she hadn't been in constant fear of news. It was a classic case of no news was good news.
The light caught on the diamond ring, sending rainbow flecks over the wall. DG watched them, tilting the ring slightly to make them glimmer.
He's coming back.
~*~
Cain examined the terrain as the twenty men he'd brought with him set up camp for the night. They were another day's travel from McKinnon's land, he recalled from his previous visit. A soldier approached him, saluting smartly.
"Lord Cain, there's food is ready." He said and Cain nodded, turning to take a seat by the campfire. Tomlin, one of the young royal guards, passed him a plate with bread and meat and a steaming jacket potato. One of the guards was telling a lewd joke, cracking his fellows up and Cain recalled his training days as a Tin Man when he'd sat with friends once the Mystic Man had gone to bed. They'd joked and laughed, playing card games and talking about the future. He'd been very young then.
Tomlin passed him a mug of beer and Cain drank thirstily. It had been a hard day's travel, two trucks winding through almost nonexistent paths to their current position on a mountain side. The men exploded in laughter at the punch line of the joke and two stood up, taking over from a pair that had returned from watch duty. Tomlin cleared his throat, looking at Cain.
"Lord Cain?" Cain looked up. "I was just wondering why we brought so many men… I haven't been on a retrieval squad before, but there are a lot of us to get one guy."
He seemed nervous, as though regretting speaking at all but Cain swallowed a mouthful of potato and everyone fell quiet, listening intently. Clearly they had been wondering the same thing.
"I'm not expecting McKinnon to come quietly." He said calmly, "And the princess had something of a bad feeling about this whole thing."
"With all respect sir, she might have been trying to stop you from leaving, in a subtle way." One of the older men suggested and Cain snorted quietly.
"You ever spoken to her, Rick?"
"Not had the pleasure, sir."
"One thing DG isn't is subtle. She told me straight out that she didn't want me coming." Cain said, a hint of laughter behind his voice. "She doesn't mince her words."
"I'd noticed that." Said another soldier, grinning. "Heard her telling Lord Ambrose that if she heard anymore explosions from the basement she was going to exile him when she got on the throne."
"I caught her sneaking into the garages to fix cars last month." Another said, chuckling. "Made me promise not to tell her mother."
Cain smiled, tearing a piece of bread and chewing it.
"She's… unconventional." He said and most of them chuckled, but Tomlin was solemn.
"She thinks there is some kind of danger?"
"Yes."
"McKinnon could be planning a trap." Rick said sourly. "He's a sneaky bastard."
"Whatever it is, we need to be alert. DG doesn't kick up a fuss about the little things. She says there's danger, its big danger. You're my best men," Cain looked around at them, "And McKinnon tried to kill our princess."
"He won't get a second shot." Rick said firmly and Cain drained the last of his beer.
"Good to hear that. Get some sleep, we leave before daybreak."
~*~
The Manor house where McKinnon lived came into view shortly after noon the next day. Cain halted the convoy at the edge of the forest, looking down at the large house. It was surrounded by farmland and he could see a small village about two miles off.
"What are we waiting for?" Rick asked, his bearded face full of impatience. Cain shook his head.
"Where are the people? There's half a dozen farms down there, but no one working, no animals… Farming doesn't stop for cold weather."
"Something isn't right." Rick agreed, glancing over his shoulder at the other men. They'd stopped the trucks and were waiting for Cain's orders.
After a moment, Cain shook his head.
"No use waiting up here. I'll take ten men down to get McKinnon. Rick, you lead the rest to the rear of the house, in case he tries to run."
They split into two groups, Cain's hand on his gun as he approached the front of the house. There was a single man waiting at the gates and he smirked at their approach. He seemed to be unarmed as he opened the gate.
"How may I help you gentlemen?"
"I want to see McKinnon immediately." Cain said calmly and the man turned to lead them to the house. It was a splendid building of dark wood and stone and as Cain stepped into the entrance hall, he found it disturbingly empty. No servants other than the man who had met them. Tomlin looked around too; all the men had their guns at the ready, looking suspicious.
"Something is off about this, sir." Tomlin muttered as the man faced them again.
"Who may I say is calling?"
"Lord Cain." Cain replied, not wanting to show how thrown he was by the calmness of the situation.
"I'll inform the Earl at once." The manservant said pleasantly. He disappeared and Cain looked at his men.
"Don't let your guard down for a moment. Keep your guns at the ready; I don't like how quiet it is."
They all nodded, all looking uncomfortable and wary. The man reappeared and gestured to a doorway.
"This way, Lord Cain. I'll have some drinks brought for your men."
"This isn't a social call. My men stay with me." Cain said brusquely, pushing past to the door. It led to a generously sized sitting room, a fire flickering in the grate. Armed men lined the walls and McKinnon rose from an armchair as Cain entered. The Royal Guard aimed their weapons at the sight of the armed men, the click of safety locks being removed filled the air.
Cain stared at McKinnon with cold eyes.
"Henrik McKinnon, you're to come with me to Central City for questioning. If you resist, I will make a formal arrest."
McKinnon smirked, green eyes full of contempt.
"May I request a reason for this invasion of my home?" He said calmly, eyes on Cain's. Cain glowered, gun aimed at McKinnon's chest.
"You're under suspicion of conspiracy to assassinate the Princess DorothiGale."
"Am I? That is unfortunate."
He seemed perfectly unaffected by the news, taking his seat in the armchair as he observed Cain. Cain sneered and stepped towards him.
"Get to your feet, McKinnon."
"I don't think so, Lord Cain." He nodded to the armed men and without a second thought, gunshots filled the air. Cain turned quickly to see seven of the nine men fall, weapons scattering on the floor. Tomlin and a red-haired guard called Devlin had fired their weapons immediately, but they were immediately outnumbered. Cain turned, his gun ready to shoot McKinnon on the spot, but before he could even aim a needle was in his throat, the faintly yellow liquid draining into his flesh. Within a minute he was unconscious on the floor.
"Son of a bitch!" Tomlin spat, but a gun at his head stopped him from moving. Where were the others? They must have heard gunfire.
The door opened and another of McKinnon's men came in.
"All dead, sir." He said and Devlin raised his gun in fury, but his body shook violently as several bullets pierced his chest, felling him instantly. Tomlin felt his arms twisted behind his back as McKinnon knelt beside Cain, removing his gun from his hand and searching his pockets. After a moment he drew out the silver locket and flicked it open, smirking at the pictures. He approached Tomlin and tucked the locket into his shirt pocket.
"Run back, little boy. Tell DorothiGale to come alone if she wants her fiancé back." He said in a chillingly calm tone.
"Why are you doing this?" Tomlin spat. "What the hell are you trying to do?"
McKinnon smirked.
"I wouldn't waste time, boy. I'm sure the princess is anxious for news. By the way, if anyone other than the princess shows up, I'll kill them and Cain without hesitation."
He nodded to one of the men and Tomlin was dragged from the room. McKinnon looked at the scattered bodies, some still writhing slightly.
"Clear up this mess."
~*~
DG doubled over as her body trembled, stumbling from the dining room in agony. Glitch was running after her, catching her as her knees gave way.
"DG, what's wrong?" He said as she cried aloud, fingers scrabbling at the Emerald.
"Get it off!" She screamed, "Get it off me!" He lowered her to her knees and tugged the chain from around her neck. She snatched the pendant and threw it across the corridor. Lavender and Azkadellia stared down at her as Ahamo knelt beside Glitch.
"DG, are you hurt?"
She was taking gulping breaths, her fingers digging into her hair as she stared at the glowing Emerald. Azkadellia crossed to the jewel but as her fingertips touched it she gasped and pulled back as though she had been burned. DG looked up at her, tears staining her cheeks.
"You feel it?" She whispered and Azkadellia nodded, holding out her hands to her sister. DG struggled to her feet.
"Something has happened, Az."
"Do you know what?"
"No…" DG closed her eyes, remembering again how the Emerald had suddenly seared with heat and her magic had erupted, sending her plate flying into a wall and forcing her backwards, toppling over her seat at the table. Every inch of her skin had burned as the sensation of red hot needles had pierced her heart.
She trembled and her legs went weak beneath her. Ahamo caught her by the waist, keeping her upright. Glitch pulled open the door to a nearby sitting room and her father helped her to a sofa. Glitch was carrying the Emerald, unaffected by its power. DG clutched her father's hand as he lowered her.
"Find Toto?"
"Of course." He darted from the room as Lavender sat beside DG, stroking her face. She was still shaking violently, her breathing unsteady.
"Darling, do you know what happened?" Lavender asked, her soft voice full of urgency but DG shook her head.
"I don't know. It felt like… like my heart was breaking." Her voice cracked on the last word but she looked up as Tutor came in, following Ahamo. Tutor moved to DG, bending to his knees as she caught his arm.
"Toto, help me."
"What happened?"
"The Emerald is upset. I think something has happened to Cain." DG whispered. "It made my magic rush up, I couldn't control it. Why is it doing this?"
Tutor sighed, looking at the beaming Emerald.
"It's a part of you, DG, as is Cain. I wouldn't be surprised if something had happened and the Emerald sensed it."
"We have to go after him." DG said, but she couldn't even stand for shaking. Ahamo squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll send someone straight away. They should have arrived at McKinnon's land by now."
Glitch gave a cry as the Emerald vibrated. DG reached towards it and took it into her hands, clasping the shaking jewel tightly as it echoed her own feelings of pain and distress. But somehow it was like being embraced by a loved one, as the soft green light slid over her skin like a blanket.
He must be saved.
The words were so clear, as though they had been spoken directly into her ear. DG closed her eyes, pressing the Emerald to her chest.
"He must be saved."
"What?" They were looking at her in confusion and she licked her parched lips.
"The Emerald told me that he must be saved. Which means that he needs saving."
"DG, your father has gone to send someone." Lavender said firmly. "You mustn't go after him, there could be more assassins."
DG couldn't even think of an argument; her head was swimming and even with the Emerald's beat, she couldn't stop her eyesight from blurring over. She pressed her face against her mother's shoulder and allowed herself to slip into unconsciousness.
~*~
Azkadellia followed her father and Glitch out of the sitting room where they'd left Lavender and Tutor tending to an unconscious DG.
"What will you do?" She asked Ahamo.
"I'm sending two men to scout McKinnon's land. They'll be able to send word and let us know if more force is needed." Ahamo looked at them both and his face was stony. "We've got an army. What has he got?"
"Something dangerous enough to affect a magical being over five hundred miles away." Glitch said solemnly. Azkadellia wrapped her arms around herself, shivering at the shock of emotion she'd felt emanating from the Emerald. Her magic wasn't nearly as powerful as DG's; she couldn't even imagine the agony DG must be in.
Ahamo disappeared, no doubt to find some scouts and Glitch turned to her, taking hold of her arms.
"Are you alright?"
"It's more than just Cain being prisoner, Glitch." Azkadellia said quietly, "There was powerful magic coming from the Emerald. I don't think an army will be enough."
~*~
Tomlin was found by the scouts about a hundred and fifty miles from Central City, having driven all day and night. They instantly turned their vehicle around, rushing at full speed back to the palace.
DG was sat with Azkadellia and Glitch in the sitting room. She'd barely spoken since the day before, throwing looks out of the window and at the clock. Raw had tried to comfort her but her frantic emotions had been upsetting him so badly he'd had to excuse himself to sit with Lavender. It hurt DG that she was causing him this pain, but she could barely concentrate, her mind flittering from one terrible scenario to another as she waited impatiently for news.
Azkadellia's touch on her shoulder made her jump out of her musings.
"Are you hungry at all?" Her sister asked but DG shook her head.
"No… you guys eat." Glitch called for a servant to bring sandwiches, but neither he nor Azkadellia did more than pick at them when they arrived. DG's fingers tapped against her leg as they sat in silence. It was only when a raised voice came from the corridor that they looked up.
"I have to see her!" Came a young male voice and there was the sound of a scuffle as the door opened and a harassed servant poked his head in.
"I'm sorry, I told him you weren't to be disturbed, Highness." He said as a yelp came from behind him.
"I need to see the princess, it's about Lord Cain!"
DG's heart pounded so much that it hurt as Glitch ordered the servant to let him in. It was a young guard that DG faintly recognised. He bowed, out of breath and apparently unaware of the blood spatters on his clothing.
"You have news about Cain?" DG said, standing with hands clenched in fear. He nodded.
"Yes, Highness. We went to McKinnon's land and…" His head dropped, shaking, "It was a trap. They… they killed all of them. All except me and Lord Cain."
"He's alive?"
DG swayed and Azkadellia put an arm around her shoulders, equally dazed by the news. Tomlin swallowed hard and held out his hand to DG. From it dangled the silver locket she had given Cain the night before his departure. DG took it, gripping it tightly in her fist.
"What happened, Tomlin?" Glitch said, pushing a chair forward for the weary guard to sit in. Tomlin fell into it, hands shaking with exhaustion and adrenaline.
"He knocked Cain out… and said that if you wanted him back, you had to go to him. Alone. He said if anyone else shows up, he'll kill Cain."
DG looked down at him and then held out a hand. Tomlin tentatively took it and she squeezed his fingers with a gentle smile.
"Thank you." She said quietly, "Thank you for telling me."
And then she rushed from the room. Glitch darted after her, catching her arm.
"Don't even think about it, DG!" She turned and looked at him with a weary expression.
"You think you can say anything to stop me, Glitch?"
"No, but at least take soldiers. They can escort you there and wait whilst you go and get Cain." He said and then smiled. "And if you think I'm not coming, you're as brainless as I was."
"Az won't let you."
"She'll understand." He said certainly. "But you're my best friend and you have a terrible habit of getting yourself into trouble."
"That's what Raw said." She admitted.
Glitch disappeared to find some guards and DG went upstairs to change into some trousers and a t-shirt. Tying the locket around her neck, it tapped lightly against the chain of the Emerald. She looked down at the jewel.
"He needs saving."
We will save him, came the certain reply.
A/N: That McKinnon! What a scamp! And silly ol' Cain. So busy expecting an ambush, he didn't see it coming! This really is a lot of setting up for the next couple of chapters which I hope you will think are awesome. But we will see, eh? Usual thanks for the reviews, they are very much appreciated!
Lots of Love
Katie
