*/*
The closer they got to the territory of the Western Guild, the more on edge the group began to get. It started when they realised the forest around them had fallen silent, with none of the usual birdsong or rustle of leaves as small animals made their way unseen under the foliage. It continued when they eventually heard an unusual sound, one that stopped them in their tracks as they all stopped to listen.
"Sounds like wind chimes," Rafe commented, his hand flexing over the handle of the sword fixed at his waist. "Some of the smaller tribes used to use 'em to try and scare the Longcoats so they wouldn't get too close."
Jeb nodded. "They're meant as a warning as much as a defence. We'll go slow. Everyone on guard, keep close together. Princess, Raw, Glitch, you three keep to the middle."
"We're not exactly defenceless, you know," Glitch grumbled even as he directed his horse to fall into step with DG surrounded by the guards. "I can fight just as well as you."
"I'm sure you can," Jeb answered calmly, "but for the purposes of this trip, you're here as a diplomat and not one of the Princess's guards."
"This Princess isn't useless when it comes to a fight, either," DG piped up, arching an eyebrow when Jeb looked at her. "I'm not arguing with you, I'll do what I'm told. But I'm not good at playing damsel in distress, just FYI."
"FYI?" Jeb queried, glancing at his father for clarification. Cain shrugged, showing he was as clueless as his son.
"For your information." DG rolled her eyes and sighed. "It's an Other Side thing."
"Good to know," Jeb said drily. "Eyes ahead, people, We're heading straight into Western Guild territory."
They continued to ride undisturbed for almost two hours. By that time, DG had started to feel restless being sandwiched between all of the guards, and she knew Raw was picking up on it as he shifted uncomfortably beside her despite the shield she'd tried to keep up between them.
"DG not need to shield self from Raw," the Viewer murmured at one point. "Raw can't help if not know DG need him."
"You'll know when I need you, Raw," DG responded with a wide-eyed smile full of affection. "You always do." They continued in silence for a little while and then Glitch sighed, shifting uncomfortably in his saddle. "Are you okay, Glitch?"
"Fine, Doll," but it was said with another sigh so she wasn't entirely convinced. "Don't you think we should've seen something by now? Some sign that the Western Guild are here, or at least that they know we're here?"
"The wind chimes are a sign someone's here, or used to be," Cain told him, his expression tense. "Don't assume there's no one watchin' just 'cause you can't see them, Zipperhead."
His terse voice made DG sit up straighter in her saddle. "You think we're being watched."
"Pretty sure of it," Cain murmured, speaking out of the corner of his mouth. "Keep your guard up and be ready to defend yourself if you need to, Deege."
She didn't need telling twice, and concentrated on the light inside her. Summoning it near to the surface but not visible to the outside, she readied a defensive shield spell and an offensive energy blast spell just in case. Beside her, Glitch and Raw sat up straighter, their attention fully focused on their surroundings.
Their pace slowed, appearing casual to the outside eye though DG knew it was caution causing Jeb and Rafe to slow down up front. She herself didn't know where to look, whether to look to the front, to the sides or behind. Anticipation hung in the air, all of them prepared for some sort of assault but not knowing from which direction it would come.
When it did, it took them by surprise.
The ground opened up in front of Jeb and Rafe's horses, making them rear up. As the rest of their horses reacted skittishly, thick nets were dropped on them from above.
"Damn it! DG!" Cain called out for her even as he tried to keep his horse from panicking. "Stay in the middle!"
She didn't have a choice but to obey the barked order, the net leaving their horses little room to manoeuvre. There were several curses, some muttered and some not, as the group struggled to control their mounts and keep their wits about them. Jeb got down from his horse to better control it, and the others followed suit.
When the net was removed, they were surrounded by female warriors, all armed with sharp swords and spears.
"Who sent you?" The leader hissed, her face concealed by the mask she wore. "Why do you trespass on our territory?"
"I think you'll find this is the territory of the House of Gale, as the whole of the OZ is," Jeb responded.
"The House of Gale is gone," the woman told him. "The Sorceress is no more Gale than you or I."
"The Sorceress is dead," Jeb told her. "She was killed by the Princesses DG and Azkadellia at the Double Eclipse."
"Lies!" The warrior woman hissed. In the blink of an eye, the blade of the sword she held was pressed against his throat. "Azkadellia is a princess no more; she is the Sorceress. And the Princess DG is dead,"
"Um, no, actually." DG fought her way out from beside her horse in the middle of the group, hurriedly shoving its reins to Glitch. She heard Cain mutter something under his breath but side-stepped him so she could be seen by the woman holding the pointy end of her sword to Jeb's throat. "Rumours of my death were over-exaggerated. Well, not really, because I did actually die, but I'm back now and my sister is not the Sorceress. She was possessed by an evil witch but she's not now. We killed her. The Witch, not Az." Aware she was babbling, DG moved to stand beside Jeb and came to a stop when she was sure she had the full attention of the leader. "I'm sorry you think we're trespassing; we did try to send word ahead that I was coming. I'm DG, Princess DG. Would you be from the Western Guild?"
The leader glanced away from Jeb to look at DG but kept her sword where it was. "How do we know you are who you claim to be and this is not a plot of the Sorceress to access our lands?"
"Tell me what I can do to prove I am who I say and I'll do it." DG held her gaze unflinchingly.
The woman lowered her sword but the warriors around her continued to aim their weapons at the group. She motioned to the woman on her left and whispered something into her ear. Within moments, the other warrior turned to leave, walking no more than a few feet from where the ground had given way before she vanished seemingly into thin air.
DG schooled her features into a blank expression, knowing any reaction she made would be noted. She waited, holding the green-eyed gaze of the woman standing before them. DG wished her opponent wasn't wearing a mask as it revealed only her eyes and nothing of her facial expression.
After what felt like an impossibly long time, the second woman returned, with a cloaked figure in tow. Even without Raw's low murmur behind her and before the newcomer pushed back the hood of their cloak, DG knew that that the cloaked figure was a Viewer.
"Step forward," the leader of the group ordered.
Cain touched her arm before she could. "Be careful, DG,"
Smiling in appreciation that he didn't tell her not to, DG gave him a small nod before doing as she was commanded. She stopped in front of the leader and the Viewer, a female, and waited.
The Viewer gave a speculative look and reached out to take her hand. As their palms connected, the Viewer closed her eyes, lips parting in a gasp. Her eyes moved under their closed lids, her brow furrowing as DG felt her search her mind.
After another long moment, the Viewer dropped her hand and lowered her head in respect. "It is true. Princess DG has returned."
As one, the female warriors sheathed their swords and dropped to one knee before her.
"Welcome, Princess DG, to the Western Guild."
*/*
The magic veil that kept the Western Guild's territory from being discovered by any outsiders felt ancient and somehow familiar. DG pondered it as their group passed through it, turning her head to look at the ripples of light she could see across its surface.
"How do you sustain it?" She asked the leader of the warriors, who had identified herself as Ishta, second daughter to Commander Wynn of the Western Guild. "Do you have magic users here?"
"We have some, but none strong enough to maintain the barrier. It was gifted to our people many, many annuals ago by Lady Glinda herself," Ishta informed her as they walked side by side towards the village that was starting to become visible through the trees.
Wooden huts of all sizes surrounded a larger building that seemed to be a communal area given the number of people in the area. Men, women and children, all dressed in either the leather garments of the warrior women or in simple tunic dresses or shirts and pants set about their usual daily activities, paying the returning members of their tribe no heed at first. When they noticed the strangers with them, they paused for a moment but continued on when none of the warriors signalled there was danger.
"Glinda was known to your people?" Glitch asked, his eyes wide.
"She was. She gifted us with the shield as protection against those who would do is harm or enslave us," Ishta told them. "Our people were prisoners for a long time, forced to work for an evil witch."
"The Witch?" DG, startled, almost tripped over her own feet.
"Perhaps not the same Witch, perhaps a relative. It was many, many annuals ago," Ishta's said. "When your ancestor first arrived in these lands, she is said to have killed the witch who treated us so badly. Glinda felt badly that she'd been unable to help us so provided the shield so no other could do to the Western Guild what had been done to us before."
"I'm sorry to hear what was done to your people," DG told her sincerely. "And I'm glad you were able to escape detection from the Witch when she rose to power. Not enough were."
"We wish to hear all about it, Princess." The voice was older, male, and belonged to the man who had moved to stand outside of the largest building. Decked out long robes decorated with coloured feathers, a leather belt at his waist and a headpiece of both leather and feathers that made him stand out as an important person amongst the tribe.
DG lowered her head in a mark of respect before lifting her gaze back to his. "I would be honoured to speak with you and answer any questions you and your people may have."
The man, Commander Wynn, flashed her a grin of approval, his teeth white against the darkness of his skin. "My daughter Ishta will show your people where they can rest for the night. If you are amenable, I would like for us to speak now."
DG glanced at the Cain men over her shoulder, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed. "If you'll agree, I'd like Mr Cain to stay with us while we speak. He and his son were in charge of capturing the rogue Longcoats who escaped at the Double Eclipse so would be best placed to answer any questions you have regarding the Crown's efforts to track them down."
It was a smooth extension of the truth, a quiet compromise DG offered both Cain and Jeb as neither were willing to leave her alone and unguarded no matter how genuine their hosts may seem. It appeased both Commander Wynn and Cain, who nodded his agreement at his son.
"Perhaps your Viewer could also remain," Commander Wynn suggested amicably. "He can assure you of the truth of our words, as much as Gem can assure us of the truth of yours."
DG glanced at Raw to see him nod. "Master Raw was a witness to the events at the Tower. I'm sure he will be able to put to rest any uncertainties you have."
"Then it's agreed. Ishta?"
"Father." Ishta bowed her head towards the Commander before turning to Jeb, an eyebrow arched.
"Lead the way," Jeb murmured to Ishta, who inclined her head and headed towards some smaller huts towards the edges of the settlement.
Once they were alone, the group entered the larger building, which DG noticed was very similar to the conference room in the palace at Central City where her mother's meetings with her Council took place.
Commander Wynn took his place at the head of the table and DG took hers opposite, with Raw sitting beside her while Cain remained standing and took up his position behind her chair.
"Your guard is very protective," Commander Wynn commented. "Does he not wish to sit and rest?"
"He can speak for himself, Commander," DG rebuked softly. "And Wyatt is more than my guard." She sensed Cain's jolt of surprise behind her and saw a small smile play on Raw's face before it was hidden behind an impassive expression. Gem, the female Viewer, ducked her head to seemingly hide her amusement. "What would you like to discuss first, Commander?"
He smiled at her, a twinkle in his eye. "We could start with the battle of the Eclipse and work back from there. My sources tell me it was foolhardy but brave of those involved."
"I'd say your sources were right," DG said with a shrug. "The Resistance fighters were indeed brave, while I won't deny I was perhaps a little foolhardy myself. The Witch planned to send the OZ into eternal darkness so she could bring those who continued to resist her to their knees. Due to the efforts of my companions, of which Wyatt and Raw are two of them, Lord Ambrose, who has gone with your daughter, was the third, combined with that of the Resistance fighters, led by Captain Jeb Cain, they were able to get me to my sister's side. Together, we were able to free her of her possession and defeat the Witch within."
"Possession, you say?" Commander Wynn looked at Gem, who paused for a moment before nodding. "Your sister was possessed by the Witch; she was not evil herself?"
"Azkadellia is as far from evil as any living thing can be," DG told him with quiet conviction. "It is remarkable that she has survived with her spirit and her strength intact."
The Commander nodded and was quiet for a moment, his gaze intense on her. "May I enquire how it is you came to be here, Princess DG? Your death was widely known throughout the realm, and widely mourned. A tragic accident, I believe, at the Ice Palace?"
"The Witch murdered me and used my sister to do so. It was as much to break my sister as it was to remove me from the equation," DG answered matter-of-factly. "My mother sacrificed her light to bring me back but was not in a position to defend me from further attempts on my life. She made the decision to send me to the Other Side so that when the time was right, I could return and help my sister defeat the Witch."
Again, it was a version of the truth. Her mother had sent her away in desperation and with the hope that she might one day return, but the Queen hadn't truly believed there was a chance both of her daughters would survive. The prophecy had been taken too literally, Azkadellia was right about that, but in DG's mind, only in the part where it said 'only one and one alone'. Many, their parents included, had believed that line meant only one of their daughters would survive the events of the Eclipse.
The conversation continued, with Cain filling in the blanks DG couldn't provide on how the Resistance fighters had survived so long despite the best efforts of the Sorceress and her Longcoats to catch and kill them all. As the story inevitably wound back to the beginning, DG sat up straighter in her chair and sensed Cain move a little closer before she felt his hand on her shoulder in support.
"How did your sister come to be possessed by the Witch?" Commander Wynn asked, just as his daughter returned with Jeb and Glitch in tow. He paid the new arrivals no heed, his attention fixed firmly on the princess sat opposite him.
"I accidentally released the Witch," DG answered honestly, tilting her chin a little higher even as her hands clenched into fists on her lap beneath the table. "Azkadellia and myself were exploring the forests near our home in the South. I heard what I believed was a child's cry and went to see if I could help. Az wanted to go back and find our parents but I insisted so she came with me. I broke the seal keeping the Witch contained in the cave, and when she tried to scare us, I let go of Azkadellia's hand and ran. It left her vulnerable and the Witch was able to take possession of her."
For a long moment, the Commander said nothing. DG saw Jeb and Glitch move to stand near her in silent support out of the corner of her eye while Ishta move to stand between her father and Gem.
When the silence was broken, it was by the female Viewer.
"Princess feel much guilt. Much remorse. Blames self." Gem's eyes were dark and warm, bright with empathy. "Remembers fear, so much fear. Could not have known."
"DG child," Raw agreed, his eyes locking with Gem's across the table. "Azkadellia child, too. Both too young to fight strong evil."
Commander Wynn nodded slowly, his gaze growing sharp. "Where were your parents?"
The question took DG by surprise and she stared at him for a moment. "I'm sorry?"
"Where were your parents?" The Commander repeated gently. "Or guardians? Surely two children were not allowed to wander the forest unaccompanied?"
"I... We..." DG faltered, searching her memory. She remembered her mother being on the swing in the gazebo, taking a rare day off from her royal duties. Her father hadn't been so lucky; he'd been unable to join them in Finaqua, his presence required in Central City to fulfil his Consort duties. The plan had been for him to join them after a few days but DG couldn't remember if he had. She couldn't remember anything about the days between Azkadellia's possession and her eventual death at the Witch's hands in the Northern Palace.
"Finaqua was considered a safe place," Glitch supplied, seeing her flounder. "The Princesses were often permitted to explore its grounds. There was usually a guard assigned to shadow them, or a Lady's maid."
That was something she hadn't heard before, something she hadn't thought about, and it took all of her effort not to look at Glitch in surprise.
"Then where was the guard that day?" Commander Wynn queried, an eyebrow arching as he turned his attention to her mother's advisor. "Or the lady's maid responsible for protecting her charges?"
"The Queen asked that very same question when the truth was revealed," Glitch replied. "The guard assigned to them that day was dismissed for failing in his duties. It would appear he was distracted at the time, by a dalliance with a maid assigned to the palace kitchen."
"You look surprised, Princess," Commander Wynn commented after taking a moment to consider Glitch's words. "Did you not consider that perhaps there was someone else to share the blame? A responsible adult, other than your parents?"
"I didn't..." DG lowered her head for a moment before lifting it to look at him. "I still don't have a lot of memories of my childhood, of my life before the Witch killed me. It's a side effect of the spell my mother cast to protect my memories. I've never thought about it like that before."
"Perhaps it is because I am the father of two daughters that I think as your parents surely would have done," Commander Wynn told her softly, casting an indulgent glance at his youngest daughter. "No parent would allow their children to wander so far without either being there themselves or sending someone they trust to ensure their safety."
"You certainly never did when I was younger," Ishta agreed affectionately. "Shreya and I could never get far without you knowing."
"I still now keep track of my daughters. Only a parent to daughters can truly understand how much trouble they can find themselves in if left to their own devices."
From what she did remember about her childhood with Azkadellia, and mostly through what she'd been told by other people, DG suspected it was true. 'Your adventures have a way of getting me into trouble.' Weren't those the words Azkadellia had uttered to her on that fateful day? Words that clearly suggested she was forever leading her big sister astray and that her big sister, ever the protector, had always followed to keep her safe.
And now their roles were reversed, with DG acting as Azkadellia's self-appointed protector, out of love, guilt and necessity.
"Princess loyal to sister," Gem said softly. "Loves deeply. Very much like Ishta and Shreya. Very strong bond."
Commander Wynn gave another small nod before getting to his feet. "The Western Guild thanks the House of Gale for visiting us. We are honoured to have you here as our guests."
"And we're honoured to be here." DG got to her feet, too, and was immediately flanked by both Cain and Jeb. "Part of the reason for my travelling the realm is to offer assistance to those who need it. I appreciate the Western Guild was able to defend itself from the Witch but please know if there is anything we can assist you with, myself and my family would be pleased to do so."
The Commander glanced at his daughter before responding to her. "Unless either yourself or your companions are particularly gifted at tending the land, there is little the Western Guild requires at this time. But we thank you, Princess DG, for considering us."
"If there's a problem, perhaps we can take a look. If we can't help you, I would be able to make arrangements for someone to visit who can."
Ishta glanced at her father and shrugged. "It can't hurt, father. Should I show the Princess to the walled garden?"
The Commander gazed at DG for a long moment before he, too, shrugged. "As you say, it cannot hurt. Perhaps if the Princess or her party cannot give us advice, we will accept the offer of another coming to help."
*\*