AN: I don't own Tin Man. I'm just borrowing the characters for my own twisted ends. :D
Recommended Listening: "Air" from the Angels and Demons soundtrack, then "An Historic Love" from the Tudors soundtrack (Season One) for the last scene
A hush fell over the entire camp at Az's words.
"Well, you heard the Horsemistress!" Jem barked. "Don't stand there and gawk! Pack up and assemble here, ready to move out. Now!" The camp erupted into organized chaos as the Riders moved as one towards their tents, ready to be packed up.
"If we move out in fifteen minutes, we should be back at Central by nightfall," Jeb began.
Az shook her head. "No, there's no time. Mother needs us back now."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Wyatt said skeptically. "I know your Riders can push your horses pretty far without causing them any harm, but Army horses are different. They'd founder. Even nightfall is asking for too much."
"There is no need for Sixth to accompany us back, Mr. Cain," Az replied, all business. "Army horses wouldn't be able to handle a travel storm, so they may move out when they like. Mother would like the Riders back as soon as they are able."
Glitch blinked. "Azkadee, maybe I'm glitching again, but did you say 'travel storm?'"
"You heard right." DG crossed her arms, hoping that her tight grip would assuage her trembling hands. Her first and only experience with a travel storm had been riding it. This time she would be flying blind, literally, depending on Az to guide her through the process of creating and directing one.
"That's insane," Wyatt said flatly.
"Mother's orders, Mr. Cain." A brief look of concentration passed over the older princess' face before she made a quick gesture in the air. With a faint pop, the bags of everyone who'd been staying at the castle appeared at her feet. "I suggest you saddle up your horses now, minus Nick and Popsicle," she said calmly.
DG stared between the bags and her sister. "Az, this scarily efficient mode of yours is kinda freaky."
"No kidding," Glitch agreed. Nevertheless, his face was serious as he picked up his bags and headed towards the stables. As the Queen's Advisor, he knew when a situation was serious and called for absolute cooperation. Raw, Wyatt, and DG followed, leaving Az and Jeb alone.
Jeb had to admit that he liked this side of her. It was easy to forget that she'd been trained from birth to handle situations like this. She shied away from being a leader, but it was clear to anyone that it came naturally. Now, with the confidence that she'd built from her time in the desert, her strength from overcoming the witch, and a newfound willingness to use her magic, she was a force to be reckoned with. Suddenly there was no doubt in his mind that she would be queen.
"I wasn't staying at the castle," Jeb remarked, shouldering his bags easily.
A smile lurked at the corner of the elder princess' lips. "Scarily efficient, remember?" she said wryly, picking up her bags. "Besides, someone needs to tell Sixth the plans-"
"Father's taking care of it, I'm sure." He tilted his head to the side as they followed the stream of people towards the stables. "Travel storm, huh? I think the horses are the only ones who know what's in for them."
"It's not so terrible," Az replied. "It only looks turbulent from the outside. The only way you'd feel anything is if you're thrown into it. Since DG and I will be raising it around everyone, it will be a relatively smooth ride. It helps that the Cloudrunners won't even flick an ear at it. The Traveling Sands are much worse."
He was glad that she was so blasé about it. He wasn't sure that he wanted his body hurtling across the O.Z. in a tornado, but if he had to do it then he would. "Any idea what the mission is?"
"No," she sighed as they entered the stables. "I imagine that she will tell us once we return to Central." She petted Freeheart affectionately. "It seems somewhat dire. I haven't seen that expression on her face in a long time."
"Then it's a good thing you and DG can get us there." Jeb clapped her shoulder lightly and moved to saddle Strongwind and organize the Riders.
Az watched the commander for a moment before she copied his actions. "I'm worried, my heart," she confessed to Freeheart. "I have a bad feeling about this and to use a travel storm so soon…"
The black stallion nosed against her soothingly. If there had been room in the stable box, he would have twined around her like an affectionate cat. Az buried her face in his mane, allowing herself a brief moment of vulnerability.
Not for the first time, she marveled at the relationship she had with the Windrunner. He was her guardian and her guide, a true gift from Sheba. She wondered just what she'd done to gain the favor of the Vedu goddess.
Freeheart nudged her shoulder and she looked up into those unfathomable eyes until she was falling, falling into their obsidian depths. In that moment he was more than a horse, his presence burning brightly in front of her.
Your destiny will decide the fates of many, my sister, he seemed to tell her. Gather your strength and strengthen your heart, for you will need both.
Suddenly she was released. Az blinked and stumbled back. Freeheart snorted at her and walked out of the box.
What, she thought dazedly, was that? Had Freeheart really spoken to her? Surely that wasn't possible. Nevertheless, when she thought back to the cave, it was as though he'd spoken to her then as well. What were the Windrunners, truly?
Freeheart's impatient stamp brought her back to the present. "I'm coming, I'm coming," she said, eyeing the stallion suspiciously before she mounted up.
The Riders were already gathered and in formation at one end of the clearing. Some of them bounced with barely restrained enthusiasm like Windy and Sula. Others were pale with trepidation, like Anka. Bo, Az noticed, was wearing his trademark expression of lazy concentration.
Jem spotted her and made his way over on Sandstrider. "Lieutenant, I assume you've already briefed everyone on our…unusual mode of transport."
"I have, Horsemistress. You might want to say something before we go, reassure them or something."
"I intend to, Jem, don't worry." Az rode to the center of the formation, where DG, Glitch, Raw, Wyatt, and Jeb were already waiting. Wyatt and DG's bags were distributed amongst various horses and as Az rode up, DG came up to her sister, holding out her hand. Az pulled her up so that she could sit behind her. Wyatt, she noticed with no small amount of amusement, was already sitting behind Jeb on Strongwind, glowering. He had not liked the idea of leaving Nick behind to return with Sixth.
"Are we ready?" Az asked.
"Just waiting on you to address the Riders," Jeb said.
Az nodded and nudged Freeheart around so that she could face the Riders. "No doubt you are apprehensive about this mode of transportation," she said, pitching her voice so that everyone could hear her. "But the situation is urgent. No one less than your Queen has called you to duty. Now you have the opportunity to prove your worth to the O.Z. All I ask is that you trust that Princess DG and I will get you there safely." As she spoke that last sentence, her gaze fell on Micah. The redhead met her eyes without flinching before nodding sharply.
Az looked as many Riders in the face as she could, relieved to find even the tiniest hint of trust from all of them. "Thank you. Please stay calm and still. It will be over quickly."
She turned Freeheart back towards the center. "Hold my hands, Deeg," she said quietly. She felt her sister reach around and lace her fingers with hers. Their hands glowed brightly. "Now, just focus your mind on what I do with the magic. Once you understand, join in."
"How do you know that I can-" DG began.
"Just concentrate, Deeg. You can do it. I have faith in you."
DG shut her eyes and obeyed, pushing her quivering nerves aside as she fell into a trance-like state. She reached for the Light within her, summoning it so that it burst into her inner vision. As she did so, she realized why she had to concentrate so hard.
Travel storms were born from primordial magic, as all elemental magic was. This was magic in its purest, most volatile form, as it had been for eons. Only the strongest and the most gifted could use magic in this way, even in the times when more witches and wizards had roamed Nonestica. It was the Ancients who studied the properties of magic in detail until they could understand its structure and bend it to their will. The Ancients had all but tamed magic, corralling it with words and gestures so that the practice of it became easier, especially for those who lacked the strength and discipline to use it in its basic form.
Knowledge of most of the elemental magics had been lost to the centuries as the number of people who could use it dwindled. In the O.Z., only the way to use a travel storm remained because of its utility. Still, calling a travel storm was far from simple. There were no words or movements here, only a pure connection between nature, magic, and its wielder.
DG watched as Az used the Light within her to call forth the power threaded in the wind. Those strands gleamed silver-bright in her sight as they streamed down from the sky to twine with ropes that Az fashioned with her own well of power. Once enough of the wind was bound with her magic, she began to bend it to her will.
The wind fought her. All elemental magic did – it was not easy to coax nature to do man's bidding. That was why each "strand" of wind had to be tangled with Az's own Light, because there was no manipulating the wind itself. Not knowing exactly what to do, DG settled for adding her strength to her sister's, feeding her own Light into Az's strands until she could get a sense of the shape of the travel storm itself.
The shock of her magic meeting the wind was almost enough to knock DG out of her trance. Wind, more than any other element, wanted to move on its own accord. It struggled against the ropes that bound it, and to DG it was like Az was holding the reins to a thousand unruly horses. However, Az never faltered, tightening her hold until they were all firmly in her grasp. To this DG added her own measure of control.
Then, Az began to spin the threads of wind and magic until they swirled together, forming a dizzying funnel of silver and gold in DG's sight. Again, all she could do was add her power to Az's, though now that the wind was finally able to move, it was slightly more tractable. It would be even more biddable once the travel storm was unleashed and allowed to travel, though it would still require a guiding hand to get it to the final destination.
DG was vaguely aware that in the real world, a real tornado was taking shape around the group of Riders, darkening the sky over Finaqua with swirling gray clouds. Their life energies glowed in her magical sight, flaring with nerves that were either well-controlled or not controlled at all, depending on the person.
DG. Az's mental voice hummed down the connection between the two of them. Hold the travel storm for a moment while I cast a net over the Riders.
You want me to hold that? DG stared at the magical spindle that rotated fiercely in front of her older sister's face, the terminus for all of the magical energies that shaped the travel storm.
Just control it for a few seconds. Unless you want to create the net that will bind all of the Riders to the storm?
She gulped. You know, that sounds like one of those things that's simple in theory but much harder in execution. I was always bad at both when it came to magic. You'll do it quickly, right?
Of course. Time is of the essence.
Right. Got it. Concentrating with all of her might, DG seized the spindle with her Light, flinching slightly as the sheer magnitude of the working blasted through her. Still, she gritted her teeth and continued to nudge it into spirals, keeping the shape of the travel storm.
In no time at all, she felt Az rejoin her. We're ready to go. Just keep doing what you were doing before, Deeg. You're doing great. Though there was no room for corporeality in this plane, DG felt the affectionate brush of her sister's magic against hers, like the fluttering of a butterfly's wings.
What can I say; I've got the best teacher. However, DG was sure as all get-out that she wouldn't be helming a travel storm anytime soon.
As Az spurred the travel storm into motion, DG took the time to explore the workings of the travel storm. She encountered the glowing net that her sister had cast earlier. It was an intricate little masterpiece, incorporating the life energies of all of the Riders into a web that was worked into the structure of the storm. So that's how this is able to transport people. How were Mom, Popsicle, and I able to use one, though? We jumped into it.
Once integrated, the web becomes a part of the storm. Any large life energies that get caught in the structure will become a part of the entire working. Think of it as a spider's web. Once you're trapped, you're in it until the end. Az's mental voice was beginning to sound tired. DG was starting to feel the strain, herself. Travel storms were really meant to handle half a dozen people at most. This one was carrying thirty-five people and thirty-three horses.
So, I hate to sound annoying but…are we there yet? How do you steer this thing, anyway?
You have to have a strong sense of direction. Strong sensor spells on the outside help, too.
You're juggling a travel storm and sensor spells? Az, you've been holding back on me. How strong are you, really?
Strong enough, Deeg. But I couldn't have done this without you. Cheer up, we're here.
Great. How do we stop this thing?
Watch. Slowly, ever so slowly, Az began to withdraw the tendrils of her magic from the wind. Even so, she directed the wind up and away so that the newly released element could not wreak havoc on the ground. DG followed her example, slowly loosening her grip as well. The last thing to go was the web of energy tied to the Riders.
DG opened her eyes and found the massive walls of Central City towering in front of her. "Cool," she managed, then slumped against Az, who was already leaning gratefully on Freeheart's neck.
"Are you two all right?" DG cracked open an eye to find that both Cains were hovering quite anxiously at their side. Jeb had one hand on Az's shoulder and she tried to ignore their moment as much as possible.
She just flapped a hand at Wyatt. "M'alright."
"No you're not, you've overreached yourself," he replied. "Come on, let's get you back to the palace. Tutor-"
"Whoa there, cowboy." DG's eyes flew open and she glared at the former Tin Man. "There was no overreaching here. Az and I could turn around and take us back to Finaqua if we needed to." Then they'd collapse, but she wasn't going to say that.
"Right." Wyatt's voice dripped with skepticism and concern. If it weren't for the last bit, DG would have hit him – or tried to, anyway. "We'll save that adventure for another time. You two look like you need some food."
He swore that DG was going to drive him to distraction to the end of his days. Hell, he'd known that within a few minutes of meeting her. She was always spoiling for a fight and he knew that there were going to be times when he was just going to have to back down. This was one of them.
"Food would be lovely," Az said serenely. "Shall we go?"
"That was terrifying!" Glitch said somewhere behind them. "Can we do it again?"
Later, after a very strong pot of tea and a meat pasty, DG was feeling slightly human again. There was certainly color in Az's cheeks now, she observed, watching as Az tried her best to get their mother to tell them why the Riders were needed. Jeb sat at the other end of the conference table, deep in conversation with Ahamo and Wyatt, while Jem conversed with Raw and Glitch.
"Darling, we need to wait for General Trevelyan. He must be privy to this news as well." Queen Lavender smiled patiently, patting her daughter's hand. She'd sensed the change in her eldest as soon as she'd stepped past the wards to the palace. However, urgent business waited for no one, and it was imperative to brief Commander Cain and several others before she could focus solely on Azkadellia.
Right on cue, the doors to the small meeting room opened. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I came as soon as I received your summons." General Geoffrey Trevelyan had been one of the last generals to remain loyal to Queen Lavender after the witch took power. His popularity and influence had made him a formidable enemy, and having failed to turn him, the witch had him incarcerated in one of her maximum security cells. After her defeat, he had been found and immediately promoted to Supreme Commander of the Royal Army.
General Trevelyan was the kind of man Sheikh Jaasir would have trusted on the spot. He believed in order, honor, and tradition without being a slave to any of them. He was also, according to Ahamo, "allergic to bureaucracy and command," which made him an odd, if admittedly perfect choice to lead the Royal Army. He was extremely serious, though possessing of a dry sense of humor that often appeared from out of nowhere. The general was a kind man: Az had memories of him slipping her candy during crown functions.
He was also what DG called a "silver fox." Az didn't want to dwell on that – the man was old enough to be her grandfather!
General Trevelyan settled down next to Jeb. "Commander Cain," he said easily, nodding to both father and son.
Both Cains stood and saluted. "General."
He focused his gaze on Jeb, though he addressed Queen Lavender. "Your Majesty, I'm still upset that you've stolen one of my most promising officers." A hint of amusement crept into his brown eyes. "I was going to promote you, you know."
Jeb shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, sir." He'd been loath to disappoint the general. He'd grown to respect and admire him greatly during his short time as an official member of the Royal Army.
"His skills were needed elsewhere," Lavender laughed.
"Speaking of skills," Ahamo said pointedly. "There is a reason why we had to call the Riders back so quickly, not to mention disturb the general."
General Trevelyan snorted and Jeb looked down, hiding a grin. It was likely that the general had been in the middle of paperwork – and everyone in the Royal Army knew that he despised paperwork.
"Yes, thank you dear." Lavender looked grave. "I have received an alarming report from my spymaster."
All around the table, spines stiffened. Reports from the infamous Shadow Man were always interesting, but almost never good.
The queen continued. "A force of former Longcoats and bandits, numbers unknown, have taken advantage of the decrease in population in the north due to the weather. With fewer eyes on them and fewer repercussions, they have grown bold. We already have reports of one village bordering the Great Gillikin Forest being sacked and burned. Rumors say that they are preparing to move south."
"Fifth Company has been snowed in at Ugabu and Seventh at the Emerald Mines," General Trevelyan murmured, taking stock of the military resources at hand. "First has been patrolling the Realm of the Unwanted, Third the territories of the Eastern Guild, and Fourth the Vinkus."
"Leaving the Second and Eighth companies here with Sixth making its way back from Finaqua," Wyatt finished. "Central would be vulnerable if one or both of the companies left, not that they could move very fast in this weather."
Lavender nodded. "This is why we need the Riders. They are the only ones who can assess and if necessary, contain this threat until a company of the army can come to their aid."
Jeb and Jem exchanged glances filled with barely contained excitement, anticipation, and determination. This was exactly the kind of job the Riders were meant to do. "The Riders are at your service, Your Majesty," Jeb said.
She smiled. "I was hoping that you would say that, Commander Cain. How soon can the Riders be ready?"
"We can move out now, if Your Majesty wishes," was the quick reply.
General Trevelyan coughed and Wyatt rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Show-offs."
The queen ignored them. "That is not necessary at this time, Commander Cain. For now, it is only a rumor that this rabble is moving south. Mid-morning tomorrow should be adequate enough."
"We will be ready," Jeb promised. His eyes were bright and almost feverish. "May Jem and I be excused? We have to prepare a strategy before we debrief the Riders."
"Of course." Lavender glanced at General Trevelyan. "I trust that you can have a company on the move tomorrow morning as well?"
The general looked affronted. "They may not move as quickly as the Riders, but they will be there." He drummed his fingers on the table. "I'll send Second Company. They've been itching to get out into the field. You'll have your backup, Commander Cain."
Jeb nodded gratefully as he got to his feet. "I appreciate it, sir." With a quick bow to the royal family and a salute to the general, he moved from the room as quickly as dignity would allow, with Jem hot on his heels.
Az watched them go wistfully. Was it already time for her to be excluded from Rider activities? There was no denying just how badly she wanted to be a part of this. Perhaps if she approached it the right way…
General Trevelyan cleared his throat. "Well, I'm off to the kitchens. There's a rumor going around that there's cake to be had. Would anyone care to join me?" He raised a scarred eyebrow in Glitch and Raw's direction.
Glitch's stomach rumbled. "Well, you know what my answer is!" He turned to Lavender. "If we may…"
"Please, Ambrose." Lavender hid a smile at the mental image of the Supreme Commander of the Royal Army, the Queen's Advisor, and an ambassador begging cake from the palace kitchens.
Once the royal family was left alone, Ahamo stood and crossed to Az's side. He pulled her to her feet, ignoring her startled protest. "Look at that," he murmured. His eyes, so like DG's, were suspiciously bright. "My baby girl's got the light back in her eyes. I never thought I'd see that again."
All thoughts of the Riders flew out of Az's mind. Once the travel storm had set down outside the city, they'd been swept off for the briefing. There had barely been enough time to eat, let alone tell her parents just what had transpired at Finaqua. "Oh Daddy." She threw her arms around him. "So much has happened."
Lavender carefully nudged her husband aside. She too looked into her daughter's face, searching her eyes for the truth she sought. Slowly, she reached up to cup Az's face in her soft, tiny hands. "Oh my darling," was all she could say. The queen could feel the Light inside her; unfettered, bright, and powerful. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
"It's cleansed now," Az said softly. "Darkness holds no sway there."
"Nor does it have any hold on you, my daughter," Lavender whispered. Her heart was full, almost overflowing. "And it never has. You are truly a Guardian of the Light." She embraced Azkadellia tightly.
"Okay, there is no way that I'm getting left out of this family moment," DG announced. She threw her arms around her mother and her sister. Ahamo laughed and joined in. The four remained that way for quite some time, just as they had on that day when the Light had returned to the Outer Zone.
Finally, Lavender drew back from the group hug, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Come," she said. "We will have tea, and you will tell your father and I everything that happened at Finaqua."
"All right," Az agreed. "But first, I want to ask you something, Mother."
"Yes, darling?"
Az swallowed but squared her shoulders. "I want to go with the Riders tomorrow."
Later that night, Az paced around the elegantly manicured gardens of the Central Palace, still mulling over the request she'd made earlier. Both her mother and father had "hit the roof," as DG would say, immediately forbidding her to go. Lavender had been very vocal about the promise Az had made to withdraw from active Rider duty, while Ahamo pointed out the very real danger of dealing with former Longcoats. The family had ended up missing tea, instead spending the next hour or so in the meeting room debating the subject.
DG had unsurprisingly supported her older sister. Az was grateful that DG's time on the Other Side had strengthened her independence and headstrong ways. Her little sister refused to be coddled and balked at the thought of trivialities getting in the way of doing something important. DG understood Az's need to be with the Riders on a mission like this. For Az it was more than a sense of duty: it was a chance to prove herself and a chance to gain some closure. If she could help to eliminate the threat of the Longcoats forever…in any case, her parents had promised to think it over.
A warm hand fell on her shoulder. "Az."
"Jeb!" She spun around. "Don't you have planning to do?"
He grinned crookedly. "If I do any more planning, my head is likely to explode." He'd also felt that inevitable pull towards the gardens. Az needed him. When she needed him, it didn't matter where he was or what he was doing, he was going to go to her. He sighed inwardly. Boy, was he in deep.
"Still, you should be getting some rest," she scolded.
"And I will." Az was definitely anxious about something. He could see it in the tight set of her shoulders and the way that she paced around the clearing like a caged animal. He had a feeling that he knew exactly what was bothering her. "About the mission," he began.
"I don't want to stay behind!" she burst out.
Jeb could have said that he was surprised by her reaction, but that was a lie. "Then don't."
Instead, it was Az who was surprised. She stopped in her tracks and stared at him. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting from him, but it certainly hadn't been easy acquiescence. "You agree with me, Jeb? Should I come, even if my parents forbid it?"
He shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed. He couldn't deny that he wanted her to stay at the palace. He knew that she could blast him into oblivion with a thought, but that would never stop him from wanting to protect her in any way he could. Her power didn't matter because her power was meaningless in the face of the fact that he loved her. "Well, not if they forbid it, Az. You can't go around defying your parents. Even if you are the heir, they're the ultimate authority." He sighed and turned away. "Maybe it's best if you don't go," he murmured, almost to himself.
However, Az had keen hearing and took that statement in a very different way. "And why is that, Jeb Cain?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
He was in serious trouble if she was using his surname. He could only be happy that she probably didn't know his full name, since the last one to say it in that tone of voice was his mother, and she had been petrifying when she was that angry at him. "Az, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that if you didn't come, I wouldn't have to worry about you-" He knew as soon as the words came out of his mouth that they were the wrong ones to say.
"Worry about me? Since when have I asked you to worry about me, Jeb? Am I a distraction?" Az couldn't believe what she was hearing. Jeb was one of the last people she would have expected to say such a thing, especially since he'd been the one to believe in her the most, next to DG.
"No!" Why was he getting the feeling that he was caught in a pool of sinking sand? "You're not a distraction! That's not what I'm trying to say!"
"Then what are you trying to say?" she asked furiously. "You, of all people, know what this means to me. You know I'm not asking to come with the Riders every time there is a mission! If I'm such a liability, I'll make a glamour!" Her eyes glittered with determination. "If I make up my mind to go, who can truly stop me?"
"Az, I do know what it means to you!" Jeb stepped forward, his hands coming up in an attempt at placating her. "I'd be damned if I tried to hold you back from something that important, I mean it." This was the first time he'd been so truly clumsy with her and it was turning into the worst sort of misunderstanding. Somehow, the words were not coming to him. Additionally, the thought of her just coming along anyway was enough to stir a bit of panic in him.
Frustration bubbled up and through her, along with the beginnings of a headache. "You have an interesting way of saying it, Jeb."
She sounded tired, hurt, and angry. Jeb had never felt more helpless in his life. "Az-"
The glowing white light of a speaking spell caught their attention, but it was Jeb the spell went to. He put out his hand and the globe hovered, turning blue. "Commander Cain." Queen Lavender's soft voice wafted out of the ball of light. Please join me in my chambers. I would like to hear the plans that you and Lieutenant Switzer have for tomorrow."
"Right away, Your Majesty." As the spell dissolved, he glanced at Az. "This conversation isn't over," he promised.
Az had already turned her back on him, her arms folded tight across her body. She snorted, something she must have picked up from DG. "Go," she said shortly. "But don't attempt to find me after your meeting with my mother. After all, you need your rest for tomorrow, don't you?" Before he could utter another word, she dissolved into the background, disappearing from his sight.
Jeb almost kicked the stone bench beside him. It was their first real fight, and thanks to his clumsy mouth, he'd truly bollixed it up. He put his face in his hands and groaned. There was nothing else for it. He would go and report to the queen. Tomorrow, he would find Az first thing in the morning and apologize. Then he could ride off with a clear conscience.
Please review!
Right, show of hands: who saw the Longcoats coming? Haha, it had to be done. This is an Az-centric story, after all. There was a lot of lead-up in this chapter, but there should be enough teases in there to whet your appetite, yes (please say yes)? It'll be worth it, I promise! Y'all will have to be patient with me though, since this whole peril-drama-angst thing is still pretty new to me. You have MatsuMama to thank for wringing out every bit of the aforementioned trio from me. :)
