Chapter 2: Annual Two: March

3/28

DG,

Sorry it's been so long. This letter isn't proper, just a quick note to let you know the kids and I are all still alive. Which is why it's coming by glass, otherwise you know I'd rather not.

It has been a hard winter. We lost some good folks though we managed to gain a couple of good ones, too. That young couple that bought the old cabin? Jeb and I have been mighty concerned for them. Their baby won't come until the tail-end of summer, but there were some real bad snowstorms and it was weeks before anyone could go up or down the mountain to see about them. I mentioned how they pushed to get settled before the snows started, and they just made it. Personally, I think it would have been better to winter a little lower down the mountain just this one year. They certainly cut it mighty fine.

We've had our property and livestock to be concerned over, too. It's only a few horses, a cow, two goats and the chicken, but add the land and a woman who's 5 months pregnant, and that's more than enough for 3 adults to handle.

But spring's coming.

-Cain

March 28

Dear Mr. Cain,

I know how you feel about over-exuberant displays of affection, but I am not at all ashamed to say I jumped around and danced like a little girl when I saw your letter waiting for me in the glass. It's been so long since I've heard from any of you! And with no real news coming out of that part of the OZ except for how awful it's been I was really starting to worry. People actually tried to console me by telling me their winter horror stories! As if that was going to help!

"Well I remember the year it snowed mid-November and didn't seem to stop until Solstice." Which is a scary long time on the Other Side, but is even further away here! Or this one: "I'm sure they haven't started eating the cats yet, Highness." What? Eat cats? Please tell me that last one was actually a bad joke, because I've had cat-nightmares ever since. The barn cats we had on the Other Side were way more likely to eat ME in a bad winter, and in my dreams they've got me on trial for Crimes Against Felines. When I try to explain to them that I wasn't around during the cat-eating years, that I was, in fact, on the Other Side getting scratched bloody trying to feed them they tell me that as the reigning monarch I get to represent the entire country. When I point out that it's neither fair nor possible to punish everyone they reassure me that it's only me who's going to be whipped with a cat o' nine tails! Help save my sanity, Mr. Cain!

Of course now I've lost my train of thought. And Tutor has discovered me. Or I should say one of his pages has. These little squirts may be cute, but I swear they're chosen for their tracking abilities.

And Colin the Page just turned into Colin the beagle. Ha. That explains a lot. Did you know that tiny little Portia turns into a snarling mountain cat? And because cats have shorter lifespans, she's nearly full-sized as a cat? Or so says Colin the Page. (This kid is so adorable it hurts.)

In less happy news, Az hasn't been the same since the poisoning. Not that anyone else is calling it that but me, mind you. I don't know if she's still feeling the effects of her illness or if she's depressed. As if either would be better. It hurts me to see her like this. And not just me but Mom and Dad and the robo-rents and Glitch. Everyone we're close to. It's certainly revealed who really believes she was possessed vs. who doesn't. Except that Mom can't exactly banish someone for not liking Az, so long as they aren't disloyal to the crown.

Colin's getting anxious. Send everyone my love. Amalie must be HUGE! I miss you all so much.

Sincerely,
DG