Chapter: A Change of Plans: 15 of ?
Author: Sam
Series: A Deeper Magic
Last Chapter: Dylan helps Az and they meet some resistance fighters who aid them on their journey. Jeb and Toto are injured and get helped from a stranger. Mariah introduced.
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After two hours, DG hadn't come up with a way to transport the unconscious, bed-ridden royal advisor. She glanced over at the figure of Wyatt Cain, lying still and sleeping on the simple bed. A frown had settled on his face, and she wondered what dreams were disturbing him.
Leaning over, DG carefully reached to stroke the lines from his forehead, but the sound of a door latch lifting had her whirling, drawing the heavy revolver. Holding the unfamiliar weapon in both hands, she took aim, not at the hall door but the one she assumed led to the bathroom. Carefully, she slid from the bed while the door eased open. Not waiting for Randu to sneak in through the connecting bathroom, DG called out steadily, "that's far enough. You back off or I'll . . ."
Her words cut off as the door swung open to reveal not the Long Coat commander but a woman perhaps the same age as Azkadellia.
DG didn't lower Wyatt's gun as she studied the long flowing pale blue dress, the loose hair so black it looked almost violet, and the pearl-like white eyes of the stranger. "Who the hell are you?" she asked in a stage-whisper, hoping not to wake the exhausted man sleeping behind her.
In response, the woman held her slender-fingered hands completely visible, a glass of water clasped in one, a soft frown on her pale face. Slowly, watching DG with caution in those translucent eyes, the woman slowly put one hand over her own throat and awkwardly dipped two fingers from her other hand into the glass she held. She spoke in an echoing alto, "my name is Arista. Lady Rimi sent me, but I lost my companion on the way." She kept her hand to her throat as she continued, "you have the right to kill me as a spy, but I beg you to hear our plea."
"Arista," DG studied the other woman, mildly surprised that totally white eyes weren't blind. "Rimi . . . okay, I'm listening, but I'm keeping the gun." She had always trusted her instincts about the people she met in the O.Z., so she determined she'd give this odd woman a chance, as well.
The woman called Arista nodded and gestured back to the room behind her then again lightly grasped her own throat. A faint liquid blue light seemed to glow where she touched. "May I refill my water? I feel dehydrated."
DG frowned and nodded. "Go ahead," she said, blue eyes narrowing.
Arista dropped her hand from her throat and turned, stumbling slightly as she moved to the sink just inside the bathroom door. Quickly she drank the water already in her glass then refilled the tumbler from the sink. Arista slipped two fingers back into the water, holding the glass carefully in the rest of her hand then turned, again placing her free hand at her throat. She looked quite serious as she said, "thank you, Princess."
"Whoa!" DG shifted her stance and adjusted her grip on the gun. "Why do you call me that?"
A gentle close-lipped smile crossed the older woman's blue-tinged lips. "We used to play together as children, when my sister would visit with your parents," she replied. "Of course, that ended when you were five." She turned back to the bathroom sink, drank her water and refilled the glass, slipping her fingers into the water yet again as she turned back to DG. Her eyes moved past DG to take in the sight of the man sleeping on the bed. "Oh! Is he your husband, DG? He's beautiful."
DG glanced over her shoulder at the still frowning figure of Wyatt. His regular breathing told her that he slept on. Recalling his warning about revealing her single status, DG turned back to their odd visitor and said, "Yeah. You came here with a message?"
"Yes. The Witch of the Darkness may be gone," she bowed her head regally, "my sister, Lady Rimi, thanks you for your sacrifices. However, the witch's troops have attacked both Aquam and Spiritus. We request Clan Peace Cooperation. I would have come with my treaty companion, but we were attacked and separated. I can prove my claims to parlay, Princess."
"Don't call me that," DG hissed, glancing towards the hall door. "If you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly free here, either." Eyes narrowing, DG asked "how did you get in here? We're four flights up and surrounded by Long Coats."
Arista nodded and lifted the glass of water, releasing her throat. The hand in contact with the water began to glow a soft blue liquid light. The water and light swirled up into the air, shimmering into a gossamer pattern before falling into the glass with a soft splash. She once more placed her free hand on her throat and the faint blue light became noticeable as she touched fingers to skin.
Unsure what she had just witnessed, the image of a glowing symbol on her palm came to mind and DG suddenly figured that her guest had just shown the Aquam passcode.
"The water tells me who to find and where to go," Arista said, odd white eyes meeting DG's vibrant blue ones. "I used the waterway to travel here as my companion was no longer with me to risk becoming lost."
With a nod, DG sighed. "So, Randu attacked more than just us? He took over the tower, said Princess Leona was claiming the throne." She finally lowered the heavy gun. "What did the Long Coats do to Aquam?"
Drinking and refilling her water again, Arista made no move to come further into the room than the door nearest the bathroom sink. "The gillikinese man who came brought a large troop of men dressed in the witch's regimentals," she said, her voice echoing softly as she held her throat lightly. "Lady Rimi and our warriors turned back these attackers, but . . ." she sighed, apparently thinking through the words she wanted to use.
Patiently, DG nodded and waited. She would be just as worried in the same circumstances . . . coming to strangers for help, attacked along the way, slipping into what might be the heart of the enemy stronghold . . . actually, it sounded very much like her own recent adventures against the witch.
Finally, Arista spoke again. "We know we cannot stop these men for long and so I was sent for help from the Spiritus Clan in Finnaqua."
Surprise coursed through DG as she realized that going to a people living in lake country made perfect sense for a people who used water magic, even though she had rather expected to hear Arista say they were sent directly to the Gales. She was puzzled, though, by the magical balance: if the Aquam people used water magic, what did the lake country's Spiritus Clan use for magic energy?
"My companion fell ill and the House of Aeris graciously sent a messenger in his place so we could continue to ask for aid. We were forced to travel the slow way," Arista sighed, apparently frustrated with the limitations of the other clans. "We tried to find the Sapientiam Clan in their underworld lair . . ."
"The Unwanted?" DG asked and flushed at Arista's frown.
The other woman continued, "the witch's troops attacked and separated us. I had to escape through the water and, as I knew the House of Gale recently fought this enemy and triumphed, I came to you. I do not know the fate of Mariah." She finished her water and replaced it a fifth time. "I've no idea if my companion even survived." She sighed then glanced at Wyatt sleeping on the bed, a look of interest crossing her features.
DG stepped into Arista's view. She didn't want the other woman's attention on the Tin Man . . . he was pretty much helpless in his sleep, she told herself, and it was her job to protect him. "I don't have access to a messenger I can send with you, but we need this clan cooperation, too." She sighed in an unconscious echo of the Aquam Clan woman.
The sound of heavy boots outside in the hall sent Arista backing into the bathroom, softly closing the door. DG raised the revolver, pointing it at the hall door. The sound stopped right outside and someone tried the latch, but the door remained locked just as Randu had left it.
Planning to get a surprise attack in, DG stepped over to the door and listened carefully.
Another booted figure stopped at the door. "Well?" Randu's voice sounded impatient. "Have you found her yet?"
The first man spoke, his voice lighter and unfamiliar to DG. "No, Sir! We've checked upstairs and down. No sign of Princess Leona. And when we checked on that patient you were told about, it looks like he escaped, too. There was vomit and stuff everywhere, but no identifiers as to who he was."
DG's hand shot to her mouth in case she let out any noise. Cousin Leona was missing? Did that mean she was a prisoner, rather than a conspirator? And the patient could only be Glitch . . . what had happened to him? Where could he have gone?
"Find her!" DG held her breath at the growl from the other side of the door. "You realize we cannot hold sway with these people if she is not here . . . I need her, willing or not, to make my claims of royal lineage. I cannot produce an heir without a bride, you ass! How the hell can the most idiotic woman known to exist elude my men?" Anger vibrated through Randu's deep voice, chasing away any images of geniality he'd previously displayed.
"Sir, what if she got out? A couple of men thought a woman may have gotten through the sewers. She may be with that patient . . ."
Randu's voice lowered a notch and DG leaned even closer to hear the threatening tones. "If she has escaped, I will punish a man for every day of incompetence I have to deal with." His voice seemed to soften ominously. "Fortunately, I have a backup . . . but I have to get her from her moronic husband first. Imagine marrying a royal off to a stupid guard . . . I don't fancy tangling with an idiot of a Tin Man, Captain, even if he's almost as big a dolt as that woman."
"Sir!" the Captain responded, accompanied by the sound of a stamping boot. Running footsteps followed.
As the hall fell silent and DG straightened, the sound of a key in the lock brought instant alertness and DG scampered back to the bed. She slid onto the mattress, the gun under her, and buried her face in Wyatt's neck, hoping he would not wake up and praying that he would. She placed a hand on his chest, curling her fingers around the opening of the jacket, all too aware it would look strange for a honeymooning couple to be completely dressed. She had to pray their captor would think the "idiot of a Tin Man" was too tired to enjoy his husbandly rights at the moment.
The door swung open but DG pretended to be sleeping. Apparently whatever Randu saw satisfied the man as the door swung closed once more and his footsteps retreated down the hallway.
DG let out the breath she had been holding and lay still against her bodyguard, trying to quiet her racing heart.
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First came heat then pressure then he lost all control. It felt like he was flying, and Wyatt Cain briefly wondered if he'd be seeing his wife again. The moment lasted forever before he fell fast and time sped up. A heartbeat. Two. Three.
The pain of his back impacting on the frozen surface of the lake was nothing compared to the absolute fire overloading every nerve in his body. He would have thought ice water would feel cold . . . not this all-encompassing burning. He took a deep breath in shock and began to choke on the freezing water invading his lungs, hardly feeling the bruising, blinding starburst of pain still radiating from his heart.
In sheer defense, Wyatt passed out as he sank towards the bottom of the lake.
He would doubt his memory later. He'd been dying, and men were known to become delirious for less. Everyone knew that even touching one of the people from the Aquam Clan resulted in horrible ice burns and infection, unless magical means were involved. Since he'd never been known to be magical, Wyatt couldn't trust the memory. After all, he actually recalled not only being caught and lifted by a woman under the frozen waters - - but kissed as well.
Her lips felt warm as they closed over his. Liquid pearl eyes, large and luminescent in the dark depths, entranced him, holding his attention. Framing pale skin, violet-tinted black hair tangled them together, her body lithe and graceful against his larger, sturdier bulk. She tilted her head to seal her lips over his and rather than blowing air into his lungs, as one would do on land for a drowning victim, she drew the water from his lungs. A soft feeling, like that of a mother caressing her infant's cheek, came over him, and the burning subsided. He felt no pain from any of his wounds.
That feeling of flying returned, but this time he rushed upwards rather than falling downward.
Wyatt opened his eyes to the sight of Glitch. The other man put wood into a small stove. Just the sight of the garish bedclothes and colorful ceiling told Wyatt that they were inside Demilo's wagon. He had no idea how Glitch had gotten him out of the lake . . . his memory too fantastical to be trusted. Somehow, he owed the brainless ex-convict his life. Wyatt didn't like being indebted to anyone, but he couldn't fight it right then. Exhausted, he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
The sensation of a warm body sliding up against his and a face burrowing against his neck brought Wyatt out of his dreams . . . or were they memories? He encircled his arm around the unknown feminine waist and tried to gain his bearings before opening his eyes. The sound of a door had the Tin Man thanking his luck that he'd kept his eyes closed. The woman beside him burrowed her face deeper into his neck and he vaguely wondered if it could be DG, but his memories and awareness were too clouded with dreams and exhaustion.
After what seemed a very long time the door closed once more and footsteps faded down the hallway. Wyatt opened his eyes; as the room came into focus so did his memories. He carefully shook the woman in his arm and she trembled slightly. "DG?"
She lifted her head, wide cerulean eyes staring into his lighter crystal ones. "Randu's lost Leona," she said in a hoarse whisper. "She's a prisoner. And we've got a messenger in the bath . . . uh water closet next door."
"A messenger?" He sat up, drawing his arm from around the princess.
She sat as well then pulled his revolver from under her and re-holstered it, slipping out of the bed. "Her name's Arista, and she's from the Aquam Clan."
"Aquam?" Wyatt frowned, standing and trying to straighten his uniform. Next time he would take the jacket, belt, and boots off at least. He hated sleeping dressed. "I've heard they can't leave the water."
The bathroom door opened softly and Arista stepped gracefully through, two fingers once more dipped into her glass of water and the other hand resting lightly over her own throat. "Hello," her voice echoed softly. "I remember you." She smiled as she spoke, revealing a double row of sharply pointed teeth.
"You?" Wyatt felt as if his world shifted and he frowned at the pale woman before him.
"Wait . . ." DG's voice sounded less than approving. "You two know each other?"
"I have no interest in your husband," Arista soothed and DG flushed while Wyatt sighed.
Their cover identities had been meant for the Long Coats, not the outside world. Unfortunately, he couldn't figure a way out of this particular situation. "She saved me from the lake at the Northern Island," Wyatt explained, frowning.
DG seemed to accept that and she nodded. "Oh."
Their visitor studied them a long moment before asking, "is there a way I can help you both? Without a partner I cannot continue the treaty parlay, but perhaps I can deliver a message to someone before I return to Lady Rimi for another partner."
"Actually," Wyatt nodded, feeling slightly out of things but jumping at her offer none-the-less, "you can contact someone for us. I might be able to solve your partner problem, too." He glanced at DG. "The others split up to try to contact the different clans for help. Jeb went after your parents to warn them about the attack." He turned back to Arista. "DG and I were supposed to go to the Guild Fighters for help."
"Of all Realms, they are least likely to accept a lone messenger . . . except Phlogiston Clan . . . but they are generally self-absorbed, autocratic barbarians . . ."
"I don't want you to go alone," Wyatt cut through her complaint. Clan rivalries were a major problem since the fall of the Mortem Clan. "Once Jeb's given the queen his message, he'll head to the abandoned Academy north of Central City . . . Shiz Academy."
"I know it," she said then drank her water and replenished it from the sink.
The Tin Man nodded, "Good. Once he gets there, he can be sent on the parlay if he has a partner who has the passcodes. You could accompany him east." Wyatt ran a strong hand through his short blond hair.
"That's a good idea," DG sounded thoughtful. "And you can let them know that we're prisoners . . . and so are Glitch and Leona."
Blinking luminescent white eyes, the Aquam woman looked at DG. "Glitch?"
"Ambrose, the queen's advisor," filled in Wyatt, impatient to send the message now that the plan had been formed.
Another smile spread across the pale woman's face. "Ah . . . Ambrose. Did you know that he's most amusing when he's confused?" She drank and refilled her water, eyeing the faucet. "This man Jeb . . . if he doesn't know the passcodes, how will he trust me? A written missive will not last when I travel through the water, Mr. Gale."
Wyatt stiffened and shock coursed over DG's face. Of course, if they were really married, he would be expected to take her name . . . the Gales had always been a maternal-lineage clan. Not correcting the assumption, Wyatt said, "give him this." He reached into the left inside breast pocket of his uniform and pulled out a painted tin horse with a bullet crushed into its flank. "Tell him 'Sawhorse' . . ."
She asked, "a child's toy?" Arista took her hand from her throat and carefully took the toy without making skin contact. She studied the small black figurine.
"He's my son," Wyatt said softly.
Arista studied the Tin Man then turned to the bathroom, slipping the toy horse down the front of her gown, between her breasts. Putting her hand to her throat, she looked back at the couple. "Thank you for allowing me to prove myself, Lady DG." She placed the glass down on the back of the sink. Her body began to glow that soft liquid blue light and she shimmered and fluctuated then disappeared up the faucet.
"Whoa!" DG breathed, sounding impressed, eyes wide in amazement.
"What else did you overhear, DG?" Wyatt turned to the younger woman, trying to catch up on what he'd missed while he slept. He wished he felt more rested.
"Right," DG turned. "Leona escaped and he couldn't find Glitch. He knows who we are . . . but he does think you're stupid. He also thinks we're married." After a moment, she said, "he wants a royal kid and he's not particular who the mother is."
Inexplicable rage swept through the man and he clenched his hands, crystal blue eyes narrowing. Softly, voice a near growl, he said, "I'd rather they had no clue who you were." Without looking at her, he stepped over to the other door in the bathroom. Lifting the latch, he opened the door easily, finding the key in the lock. He pocketed the small bit of metal.
She seemed to sense his distress, because DG slid a hand to his shoulder and softly said, "Wyatt, we'll get out of this. I know we will."
He stiffened then sighed and nodded. "Come on. Let's find Glitch . . . and your cousin." He led her into the other bedroom, pocketed the key from that door, and listened carefully. Putting a finger to his lips, he slipped the latch off its hook and eased the door open.
Glancing out, he turned to DG and offered her a grim look. Signaling her to stay close, Wyatt stepped into the hall.
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Continued in Chapter Sixteen: Dramatic Revelations
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The Twelve Clans of the Outer Zone with the Ruling House of Each Clan:
Aquam Clan/ House of Rimi . . . (Ice- Mount Runcible)
Cogitatio Clan/ House of Idae . . . (Milltown)
Corde Clan/ House of Animum . . . (Viewers)
Fortitudo Clan/ House of Greyhatt . . . (Guilds- Munchkins)
Lux Clan/ House of Gale . . . (formerly House of Ozma- Gillikin)
Mortem Clan/ House of Shiz . . . (Alma Mata- Gillikin)
Nature Clan/ House of Terrae . . . (Vinkus- Thousand Year Grasslands)
Papay Clan/ House of Somniabunt
Phlogiston Clan/ House of Pyre . . . (Fire- Desert surrounding O.Z.)
Sapientiam Clan/ House of Quinolui . . . (Quadling- Realm of the Unwanted)
Spiritus Clan/ House of Aeris . . . (Air- Lake Country)
Tenebris Clan/ House of Fugae . . . (Witch's Dark Tower- Gillikin)
