They made their way back towards the Tower a fast as they could. Jeb was right as much as Cain did not want to admit it, they had to get DG back first. They had not brought another horse so DG sat in front of him in the saddle, his arms keeping her from falling off. Cain figured if he had to have someone sitting in front of him on the journey back, DG was the only one he wanted. They rode fast and hard, trying to make it back as fast as they could in case Azkadellia wanted to ride out to help in the upcoming battle. Frankly though, Cain thought it was a better idea to just let the most hardcore resistance fighters go at it and exterminate the Longcoats. God knows they wanted to.

The fire in DG's eyes was burning more and more brightly with each day, she had even teased him about his hat. Still Cain could not shake the feeling that it couldn't last. He tried to push it down but everything had happened so fast the first time around only to end so quickly that he could barely imagine that this time it would be any different. Even so, when he would dream about DG falling to the floor in his arms about to die, waking up with her alive he felt like the weight on his chest had lifted. He deeply hoped that Jeb would find his peace. No parent wants their child to suffer.

As they rode farther and farther away, Jeb rode closer and closer to the Northern Isles and what was rapidly becoming the final battle between the Longcoats and Resistance fighters that had no happened on the day the Witch died. He and Airofday rode together in a kind of comfortable silence that usually seemed to allude them. They both seemed to know they were riding to revenge but not entirely sure how to voice that. So they rode in silence and at night they took comfort in each other. Finally though they were with the rest of the resistance fighters. SOme of them greeted Jeb cooly, some of them greeted him warmly but they all seemed to be united on the fact that they wanted to kill as many people as they could.

"Not to be the voice of reason but if this doesn't work, what then?" Airofday asked him one night. He shrugged, "I mean who do you get revenge on then?"

"Don't tell me you're suddenly going to tell me to 'let it go'," he said looking over at her. She rolled her eyes, "thought not. I don't know but I'll figure it out," he said.

"Fair enough," she said adjusting herself against his body before closing her eyes, her breath warm against his chest. He stayed awake a while longer, letting the gentle rhythm of her heartbeat lull him to sleep.

He woke up at dawn's first light and gently untangled himself from Airofday tucking the blankets in around her to make sure she was warm when he wasn't there. Just for a moment he let his hand touch her cheek in an uncharacteristically kind gesture. He frowned, wondering what it would be like if he were a whole person. Would he love her? Could he love her? And if he did what would they be like? Could she love him too? He removed his hand and stopped the questions from assaulting him. It was pointless to think about them at the moment, he had more important things to do.

Back at the palace Azkadellia paced the throne room like a caged animal. She knew they were getting close but she didn't know how close they were and the wait was killing her. Most of the army, which was largely comprised of resistance fighters anyway, went with the first wave to the North. There was just another thing the Witch had been disgustingly successful at, building a mindless army. What was more was that Zero seemed to have a magic user on his side. How anyone who was not brainwashed could throw their power in with Zero was absolutely baffling to her.

But apparently someone had.

Someone good enough to create a travel storm that could change directions. Someone with a lot of training, a lot of power and a very wicked soul. She frowned and tapped her lip. She had not felt a being with that kind of power save for her and her sister since the Witch. Frowning she closed her eyes, thinking back through the memories of her time being captive with the Witch. She had lived in the palace of the Northern Isles while she scorched the Outer Zone and built her tower. Sighing she realized that it was all mostly blank, she did not remember.

"But my power does," she clasped her hands together before pulling them apart, making a haze of light in between her palms. She found herself looking at herself in the haze, sealing travel storms and placing them over the palace so her Longcoats could travel more quickly. There were so many of them it was hard to count, "damn it," she swore absorbing the power back into herself.

"Az?"

"DG!" Azkadellia turned around to see Raw, Cain, Ambose and DG standing in the center of the room. She ran forward, throwing her arms about her younger sister who laughed in delight and hugged her back fiercely before holding her at an arm's length and inspecting, "oh I was so worried, are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine Az," she said, "Cain saved me."

"I knew he would," she said giving Cain a look that said her threat still stood. Cain gulped but said nothing, "I'm going to ride with the troops," she added, "I was waiting for you to come."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" DG asked worriedly, "what if you get hurt or--" the question hung unspoken.

"I need to be there," Azkadellia said, "I was so wrapped up in the good that I didn't realize that this isn't over. I need to be with the rest of them, for me and for them."

"I'm coming with you," DG said.

"You can't," Azkadellia said. DG's eyes widened in horror, "I need you to stay unless something does happen to me. I don't have any children and a daughter from our line must be on the throne. Mother cannot take it over for me, you're the only one."

"But Az, I just got you back--" DG said, her eyes filling, "I don't want to loose you again."

"You couldn't loose me if you tried," Az scolded, "but I need to be in this fight, its mine as much as theirs. Do you understand that?" DG nodded, "I knew you would," she said, "you and Cain stay here, you're regent for now," she straitened up and looked at Ambrose, "Ambrose--"

"Don't even say it," he cut her off, "I'm not staying," she looked away, letting out a frustrated breath, "if your sister needs an advisor she has your mother. I'm coming with you Az."

"The Outer Zone needs you Ambrose," she said touching his hands.

"The Outer Zone needs you Az," he retorted, "and I need you far more than the Outer Zone needs m--" he stopped and looked at her, horror blossoming in his eyes, "Az," he said, his voice coming out as a hoarse whisper.

"I"m sorry," she said lifting their joined hands and kissing his, "but I won't have you getting hurt because of me, not again," she lowered her hands from his, letting her own fall away as his eyes struggled to focus, "Raw!" she called, swiping angrily at her cheeks as the Viewer came forward and caught Ambrose, "I love you," she whispered.

"Love yo--" he never finished as the spell finished its work and he fell unconscious in the Viewer's arms.

"Jack will keep you safe," she said turning to her sister, her eyes calm, "Jack and Cain of course."

"I will take care of them--both of them," Cain said stepping forward to stand by DG, "you take care of yourself," Azkadellia nodded. DG let out a small sob and ran forward, hugging her tightly.

If someone had told Wyatt Cain a month ago that he would be worried about Azkadellia he would have been torn between the urge to laugh or kill the person with his bare hands for making such a suggestion. But watching DG hug her he realized that if the woman he had once hated were to die he would miss her. It was one of the oddest sensations he had in a while but odd was becoming more and more ordinary for the former Tin Man. His heart really went out to Ambrose who had probably just been saved by the woman he loved, potentially at the cost of her own life. Finally the sisters pulled apart. He walked up to DG and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Azkadellia cast one last regretful look at Ambrose before walking out of the throne room.

It was a shock, to say the least, when Azkadellia appeared in the middle of the camp. She had used the Travel Storm to drop herself a bit away from the camp and walked the rest of the way on foot. Still she seemed to command attention from everyone around her. Her eyes scanned the crowd for Jeb, knowing he was somewhere among them. She spotted Airofday standing on the ridge of a hill looking at the castle with her eyes half closed. Sensing what she was trying to do, Azkadellia walked over to her and gently touched her shoulder.

"Your Majesty," Airofday gasped spinning around.

"Hello," Azkadellia said, "I have your money back at the palace if you want to leave," she continued. Airofday shook her head, "you're staying?"

"Some things are more important than money," the Witch said looking out at the castle.

"Very true," Azkadellia raised her eyebrows at the large chunk of palace missing, "did you land a travel storm in the middle of the palace?"

"No, I landed a travel storm in the corner," she said, "then it moved the wrong way and then it went the right way," she crossed her arms, "besides I gave us a distraction, they're so damn busy with Zero's ego that they haven't even noticed you've got an army two hills away."

"True," Azkadellia nodded approvingly, "we're going to need to get you some proper training."

"I'm not the only one," Airofday glared, "half these idiots can't even fight. They're going to their deaths and they're too hell-bent on revenge to know it," she sighed, "though I suppose reasoning with them would be useless."

"I imagine so," Azkadellia greed, "maybe it is better to let them have their revenge and be able to move on with their lives," she looked around, "speaking of, where's Jeb?"

"Scouting," Airofday grumbled, "the fool thinks he'll feel better sticking his neck out for any Longcoat with eyes," she crossed her arms and tried not to pout in frustration, "what?" she demanded forgetting that Azkadellia was Queen and could easily throw her back in prison.

"You like him," she stated.

"I like him well enough," she said, ignoring the cold feeling creeping through her body, "not like that," she continued looking away, "don't be ridiculous, he's a--he's too nice. I like men who are dangerous, brooding--not men like Jeb Cain," Azkadellia said nothing, "stop looking at me like that, we don't do love."

"Everyone does love," Azkadellia said, her eyes softening.

"Even you?"

"Especially me."

Airofday sighed and looked away before turning and walking down the hill to where she had last seen Jeb. She found him crouched on a ridge with another man who seemed to be timing the guard changes. She walked over to him, staying low and inched up until she was almost next to him. She knew he knew she was there from the way his face contorted and then quickly smoothed out. Reaching up she touched his arm, forcing him to acknowledge her. He nodded at the other man before turning to look down at her, his dark eyes unreadable.

"What?" he whispered, "we're a little busy."

Her eyes narrowed in anger and he felt a little worried. Airofday looked beautiful most of the time but at the moment she looked more like Azkadellia when she was possessed--beautiful and dangerous. He nodded over at the man who shrugged. Sliding down the ridge he heard Airofday follow him. He led her a safe distance back to the camp and turned around to face her, towering over her and trying to use height to his advantage. Unfortunately Airofday was used to being short and had perfected the art of looking down at people who were taller than her.

"Do you have a death wish?" she demanded, glad her voice was strong and angry, "you're going around sticking your neck out for every Longcoat with eyes. You're not wearing armor but you're armed--do you want to get yourself killed?"

"What I want is revenge," he hissed, his dark eyes boring into hers, "I want to see Zero's eyes when I kill him."

"Not to point out the obvious but that's not going to happen if you get yourself killed first," she said jamming her finger into his chest.

"What do you care if I die?" he demanded, "what is it to you? You'll be missing a warm pair of arms at night? Well you can find another one, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for you considering you're a wh--"

She smacked him across the face, hard enough to make a sound and leave a mark. His head snapped to the side before it turned back to her, his eyes blazing. But he made no move to do anything in retaliation.

"You don't get to call me a whore," she hissed, her eyes blazing, "I am not a whore."

"I know," he said running a hand through his hair, "I shouldn't have--I"m sorry."

"I know you want revenge but running out there recklessly is not going to give it to you," she said, her voice soft, "its going to get you killed or captured or worse. Why do you think you're so broken? Is it a 'Cain' thing?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Then help me to," she said, a single note of desperation creeping into her voice, "because I don't understand how someone--someone as smart and brave and handsome can be so stupid sometimes."

"Did you just say I'm handsome, brave, smart--"

"You missed stupid," she pointed out.

"I was getting to that," he said.

"Good," she glared at him.

"You are the most confusing girl I've ever met," he said after a moment.

"I'll take that as a compliment," she said.

"You should," he replied, "did you just come here to yell at me?"

"Yes, I mean no, I mean I'm not exactly sure," she stopped, "I'm here to ask you not to get yourself killed," he opened his mouth to point out that was rather difficult, "I mean," she stopped again and glared at him, furious with herself for letting him make her flustered, "I know this will be hard for you but don't do anything stupid," she said putting her hands on her hips, "This is the one time I'm not going to be there to help."

He rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to lie and say that she hadn't been much help to begin with when he thought back. Actually she had been a lot of help, they would probably be in Zero's version of a prison--not a place he wanted to be--without her. She may have been able to be bought but that was far more about survival than her own wicked nature, despite what she had claimed in the dressing room. He ran a hand through his hair again, frustration welling up inside him before he turned away. He heard her give a huff of frustration.

"I have to do this!" he burst out turning around and walking back over to her, "that man is all I can see when I close my eyes. Every night I woke up terrified, burning for revenge, relieving my father and then me being shoved in that Gods forsaken suite--" he stopped abruptly, "i haven't had that dream for days," she said nothing, "since I started sleeping with you. But it's only a matter of time before it comes back unless I do this--can you understand that?" he asked searching her face.

"Yes," she said, "of course I can understand that but its no good if you go and get yourself killed," she added.

"I'll do my best not to," he said, "do the same," he instructed her and walked away.

Airofday bit her lip and slowly sat down, running her hand through her black hair. She had never understood why people fell in love so quickly. It seemed rather silly to her. But as she watched Jeb Cain walk away an unsettling feeling coiled inside her. She told herself to stop being ridiculous, love was for people with nothing better to do. Half the money she collected at the window was from people with questions on love. She wanted to tell them to save their money and buy love from one of the many inhabitants of the Realm of the Unwanted that sold it. It seemed pointless, she wondered if Zero wasn't a little in love with Azkadellia, or rather, with the Witch that had possessed her. Love seemed pointless to her rational mind.

Like didn't.

She could do 'like'. She liked herself, she liked money, she liked a lot of things. Maybe love would come later but right now she could do like. Stepping to her feet she realized she had to tell Jeb that she 'liked' him. But the second she stood up she realized something was terribly wrong. An arm of white was wrapped around her and a cloth soaked with some kind of funny herb was pressed to her face. She tried to use her magic or to scream but nothing really worked. She struggled but her struggle felt weak even to her.

"Jeb," she whispered, the name falling from her lips like a prayer. Dimly she heard shouts before everything went blissfully white.

Back at the tower DG followed Raw as he carried Ambrose into one of the rooms. Cain was by her side as always. The second the four of them were alone she slammed the door shut and locked it with a turn of her finger. Cain felt his stomach drop as he sensed the beginnings of a crazy plan. DG looked at them and back at Ambrose and then at him again.

"DG--" he began to protest, "Azkadellia said you had to stay," he said, "it makes sense."

"I know," she said, "I'm thinking about him," she said looking at Ambrose. Cain opened his mouth, "think about it Cain, if she dies and he's not there he's never going to get over her. They've loved each other since they were six," he still shook his head, wanting to obey what was possibly the last wish of Azkadellia. Sensing his resistance DG went in for the kill, "what if it was me?"

"What?!" Cain all but screamed turning to face her.

"What if I put you under a spell to save you and I rode off to a battle that was possibly my last? Would you want to stay here or would you move heaven and hell to get to me?"

"First off, you are never and I mean never riding anywhere without me--especially not into battle. Second that is not even a question. I have moved heaven, hell and a lot more to get to you."

"Right so let give him a hand," DG said looking at Ambrose, "I can't bear the thought of them apart."

"I'm just not sure how sending him into battle is going to help that cause," he admitted looking doubtfully at Ambrose's still form, "I mean sure he can fight but in a battle?" he sighed, "that's a different game."

"You've led men into battle," DG said as if stating a fact. Cain looked over at her and nodded, his eyes unreadable, "come on Cain," she said, "Wyatt--"

"Okay okay fine!" he said throwing up his hands, "your sister's already threatened to kill me once, lets see if she's actually willing to go through with it," DG smiled brightly, "what?"

"I'll protect you," she said walking over to Ambrose.

"As sweet as that is it's not making me feel all that much better," Cain commented, "you sure you know what you're doing?"

"No," she said squaring her shoulders and touching Ambrose's hand.

It took barely a touch before Ambrose was sitting up in bed. He looked around before groaning and putting his hands to his throbbing head. DG bit her lip as he slowly dropped his hands and searched the room, obviously for Azkadellia. His eyes landed on DG and she shifted her weight guiltily, figuring he was going to hit her. But the Queen's consort jumped to his feet and hurried over to her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you," he said.

"Just come back safe--and bring her back safely too," DG said.

"I will," he said heading for the door.

"Uh, Ambrose?" DG called, "be careful."