Disclaimer: Tin Man, Wizard of OZ or anything associated with it belong in no way, shape, or form to me. Sadly, this includes Cain's gun. For some reason, there's no money either. ::pouts::
Azkadellia, Heir to the Outer Zone and once called the Witch, watched calmly as the accustomed Council members and some close friends of the family assembled in the meeting chamber. Most of them were in a high state of excitement or agitation, since by this point, nearly everyone on the grounds had heard of the attack on the royal family. They tended to whisper loudly to each other and gesticulate wildly as they told each other one wild rumor after another. She mentally rolled her eyes, but was careful to keep her expression nearly totally neutral, with perhaps just a touch of concern. She knew that few people outside of her family were in danger, but nobody else believed that and it was important that everyone be kept as calm as possible.
Although a low hum of conversation continued to sweep across the chamber, people were becoming more and more apprehensive the longer the meeting took to start. Az bit her lip very gently on the inside where no one else could see; where was her sister anyway? Wyatt Cain promised to have her up and at the meeting as soon as possible. In fact, it was imperative that DG be there since Az simply refused to tell anybody what the Outer Zone was up against without her younger sister present to hear everything firsthand.
After a few more minutes, the guard swung the door open and ushered DG and Wyatt Cain inside before locking the doors securely behind them. It was merely a custom of the OZ Council, but hearing the locks click in the hollow chamber made more than one person look nervous and unsettled this time. Az ignored the others and watched her sister carefully. The younger princess looked tired and even Cain taking her arm to ease her into a chair did not prevent the pain from flashing across her features. Az fought down rage. Short of resurrecting DG's attacker to kill him herself, there was nothing to be done except to focus on preventing a future occurrence.
Then the Queen rose smoothly to her feet and everyone fell instantly silent. "Everyone is here now. Good. I am sure that rumors of an attack on palace grounds today have spread across the city by this point. The rumors are true." Low murmurs broke out among the councilors but the Queen continued to speak over them. "I don't think I need to tell everyone in this room that keeping what you hear in this room is in your own best interests. You are here as a courtesy and to help me do some damage control in the city until we are certain the danger is past. Since the Consort and I believe that you can only do your jobs with the actual facts, let me share the events of today with you so that we might discuss them."
The Heir heaved a strictly mental sigh. She could not remember Mother always being this formal and wordy, but supposed that it must have always been this way. Perhaps I was just too young to remember clearly, she thought wryly. Certainly, most of her memories regarding official meetings and other acts of a ruler came from the Witch. There was definitely no comparison between the two styles. The Witch ruled through fear and coercion while the Queen won her support through compassion and by making everyone feel involved in making her decisions. Not that Az really thought that fear was better, but it definitely took less time to get to the point. She made an effort to drag her attention back to the meeting.
"Early this morning, two men managed to infiltrate the palace grounds. Two perimeter guards were killed during this process and the unknown men found a place to hide and wait for the princesses." DG paled so much that she looked as if she might faint in a moment. She started to stand, but Cain gently pushed her back into the chair. Az was pretty sure that she was the only way that noticed how her younger sister trembled. The Queen had bowed her head a moment in sorrow and did not even notice her daughter's reaction.
"Apparently, they waited until they saw the princesses step outside and separated to attack them once they were out of immediate sight of the guards in the gardens. Azkadellia remained unharmed, and killed her attacker. She summoned the guards at the same time DG was attacked. Azkadellia and her guards were too far away to help, but Tutor managed to raise the alarm in time for nearby guards to help. DG also managed to kill her attacker, but sustained serious injuries in the process." For the first time, everyone on the council actually looked at DG and the young princess squirmed under the weight of their gazes. It was clear that she came to the meeting directly from the healing hall. Other than the too baggy clean shirt, she was a mess. Blood and dirt streaked her pants and part of her face where one of the nurses had not gotten it completely clean. Her hair was tangled and hung in limp, dirty strands around her face, although it was clear that someone, probably Cain, had taken time to pick out any leaves or sticks. Azkadellia was struck suddenly by how similar she looked to the girl she was six months ago when she saved the OZ from the Witch. DG was weary, in pain and exhausted, but still trying to pretend she was okay long enough to do her duty.
"How badly are you injured, Princess?" a kind voice asked. It was the Lord Marshal and not for the first time, Az blessed his calm presence on Mother's Council. It would be much more in keeping with his position to ask about the attackers first, or how two young women managed to defeat them without any guards nearby. Instead, he took some time to ask about her wellbeing. Az was surprised to feel a rush of gratitude at the consideration. She was used to people not caring about her, but she refused to let people shun her younger sister.
"I am well enough, thank you, Lord Marshal," DG responded, a little bit of surprise coloring her voice. After a moment, he gently encouraged her to tell her side of things. "Tutor and I were in the garden for our normal magic lesson when we were attacked." She kept the story concise and simple, neither exaggerating her injuries nor downplaying them.
At the end of her recitation, the Consort leaped to his feet and paced. Ahamo was incensed that his daughters were attacked during broad daylight. "Do we know anything at all about these men?" he asked impatiently. "Is it just a run of the mill assassination attempt against the royal family or is something else going on?"
Lieutenant Mikkelson stood up. "The bodies had no identification on them. Their clothes were plain. They had no remarkable weapons except for these." He left two wrapped bundles on the council table. Ahamo stalked over and flipped up the cloth covering one of them. The Consort went a little bit pale and reached over hesitantly to uncover the other one. He shut his eyes very briefly.
"What is it, man?" The Lord Marshal also stood up to lean over and look at the weapons. "Huh. I have never seen anything like this. If I had, I would remember it. They're certainly distinctive enough, if totally impractical. Is there any sign of poison on them?" At the lieutenants' negative, the Lord Marshal reached over and picked one up gingerly. "They look very old." The rest of the Councilors and guards gathered close to look at the copper weapons. Azkadellia stayed in her seat. She already knew what the knives looked like and she had no desire to view one close up.
"So what is it?" DG's voice cut through the babble. She sounded nervous. "I mean, outside of being some kind of weird ceremonial copper knife that doesn't seem to tarnish, what's so special about it?" She reached out for it in curiosity.
"Don't touch it!" Azkadellia and Cain shouted in unison. Cain grabbed her hand and yanked it down. DG winced in pain as the abrupt movement stretched her wound, but pride made her bite back the yelp that tried to come out.
The Lord Marshal dropped the dagger he was holding. The clatter it made on the Council table was jarring in the sudden silence. "I thought the Lieutenant said it was safe," he snapped.
"The lieutenant said they are not poisoned," Azkadellia corrected coolly. "However, it is as safe as any blade ever is if you are not a magic user, Lord Marshal."
"Then you recognize this weapon, Princess?" the Lord Marshal asked.
"Oh, yes," the Heir said. "I recognize it. I would think that any member of the House of Gale should recognize it." DG flushed and the imposing figure of her sister unbent enough to flash a reassuring smile at her. "You couldn't know, DG, you were just a little girl when Mother sent you out of the OZ."
The Queen approached, looking very shaken. "It has been so long. I- I didn't even think to ever consider…" the Queen let her words trail off and grasped her Consort's hand for comfort. He twined his fingers with hers and squeezed in reassurance. After a second of accepting his strength she pulled herself up and released his hand. "Is this what I think it is, Azkadellia?"
"Yes, Mother. It is a ritual weapon of the Lourden." The expressions of the people gathered in the room ranged from grim comprehension to confusion. Azkadellia looked directly at her sister. "I fear that you are in great danger, DG."
A/N: The Great Writing Spirit is upon me! Everyone seems to be interested in the story, which only makes me want to write more. So thank you!