She took a bite of her sandwich, the grin on her face making it difficult to chew. So he'd been freaking out about this…he was really bothered by the prospect of her not liking men…
Hmm…
It wasn't much, but it was a light at the end of the tunnel.
"So she's tagging Jeb, huh?" DG asked and Wyatt's face flushed for a fraction of a second at her bluntness.
"They're…seeing one another…yes." He said with a smile, taking a large bite of his own sandwich to prevent her from seeking another answer for a while.
"They're 'seeing one another', huh? Is that what we call it here in the OZ?" She snorted. "Of course if either of them were royalty this wouldn't be such a laughing matter." She said with a smile, though it melted away rather quickly as she came to the realization of her fate.
There was to be no sex before marriage for her…
Or rather, no MORE sex before marriage…
She let out a choppy sigh. How was she supposed to live with that? Especially with this smoldering hunk of a Tin Man following her around all the time making her fantasize about late night…riding lessons…
Wyatt had been chewing as slowly as possible, but it was almost time to give up his self induced inability to speak. He discretely rolled his eyes.
Great, now he would have to console her because she couldn't have sex whenever she wanted? While parts of him had other ideas about how that consoling could be managed…
What could he possibly say? That she should think about chirping birds or something when she had the urge?
That if she did decide to do it she had better be damned sure of the man's ability to keep his mouth shut and be beyond discrete?
That thought alone scorched his insides.
The idea of her taking some nameless guard to her bed and allowing him to…
Wyatt cringed realizing that as her 'secret friend' he'd be the one posted at her door turning a blind eye to the arrival and departure of her chosen lover.
With that he immediately began compiling a list of guards that would be kept at a distance from her from that point forward to prevent any temptation, if a woman could find them even slightly attractive they were now a threat to DG's safety in his mind.
It was settled. He would need to recruit overweight, facially deformed and odiferous men like pronto…
Maybe with lazy eyes, bad teeth and worse breath...
Acne…
Tons of back hair…
Eunuchs, even…
Wyatt nodded to himself that the availability of eunuchs was definitely worth checking into.
"So…" She began and he breathed a sigh of relief that she was going to change subjects and put an end to the awkward silence. "When we were in Central City I overheard people talking about the Long-Coats…they're still around?"
And way to lead into another topic he didn't want to discuss with her.
Wyatt's muscles went rigid and he took another quick bite to buy himself a few seconds before answering. He couldn't blame her for asking, she had a right to know what was going on and back at the palace no one told the 'young Princess' anything that could be considered troubling.
"Yeah…they're 'still around', DG." He said softly.
DG tilted her head to the side and spoke in that matter-of-fact tone, not questioning the truth of her words. "And that's why you were so angry that they took me into the city without telling you."
He shook his head and smirked before looking up at her. She wasn't going to show him any mercy here.
"Yes. That's precisely the reason." He said shortly, hoping these quick answers would tell her to drop it, but he knew better.
She bit her lip and locked eyes with him, knowing how he would react to her next statement. "I heard them saying a few of the Long-Coats were caught…that the Tin Men were only able to get out of them that they intend on coming after my family."
Wyatt groaned inwardly.
Firstly, the only reason the Tin Men hadn't gotten more details out of those bastards before they'd killed themselves was because he hadn't been involved in the interrogation. Damned rookies….
Secondly, the Long-Coats weren't focusing on DG's 'family'…they were focusing solely on DG and Azkadellia.
"That's the gist of it, yes." He said, not wanting to voice his concerns.
DG shook her head and laughed softly. "Can't they just get jobs like normal people? Doesn't the whole 'rape, pillage and plunder' scene get old after a while?"
Wyatt smiled despite the sadness in his eyes. "I guess not, kiddo."
"Zero is still locked up tight though, right?" She asked.
His jaw flexed at the shock of hearing the name but he had to give her credit, she was thinking rather strategically about what the Long-Coats might be after.
"They're not going to be able to break him out." He answered; at least he'd had a hand in that much of it. The witch herself would have had a hell of a time getting Zero past the level of security around that prison.
"Good." DG said, giving a nod of approval before standing and putting the empty containers of food back into the basket.
Wyatt watched her in discrete awe as they packed everything away; she wasn't worrying about the impending danger, she was simply asking him to make her aware of it. She'd never cease to amaze him.
"I've got an idea." She said once they were back on their horses.
"God, what now?" He asked as he rolled his eyes and laughed.
"No, no…hear me out on this one." She said, and he cast her a sideways glance noting that all amusement was now gone from her voice. "You yourself told my parents that there were security benefits to me learning to ride a horse. You didn't say the words but it was implied that if a situation ever arose where I was alone and needed to escape it would be useful for me to have that knowledge, correct?" She asked in an unfamiliar tone.
Wyatt eyed her curiously.
Yet another layer in the complex puzzle that was DG. Her voice was confident and mature, her eyes flashing with intelligence as she thought something over in great detail. This was the woman who would rule the OZ one day speaking, not the quirky Princess he had befriended.
With great dismay he found himself just as intrigued by the future Queen.
"Right…" He answered cautiously, feeling like he was being led into a trap.
"So if I were to learn other things, say for instance…how to use a gun…" She began.
"Oh for the love of…" Wyatt cut in but she raised a hand and continued.
"Not for use on a daily basis, just so that I would have the knowledge in case I ever needed it..." DG explained but Wyatt shook his head.
"Listen to me DG, that is why you have bodyguards. That is exactly why your parents posted me and Jeb to watch over you. You're not going to be out there fighting the bad guys while there's still air left in my lungs." Wyatt said determinedly.
DG didn't have to say another word.
The way her eyes locked with his and mouth formed a tight line said enough.
And what if there was no longer air left in those lungs?
His features softened slightly at the unspoken words and he averted his eyes. "Damn it, DG…" He breathed as he gritted his teeth.
Why did she always have to make so much damned sense all the time?
He closed his eyes and shook his head. She had a point and it was absolute bullshit that he was finding himself agreeing with her on it.
"You and I both know they don't see my mother as a threat, Wyatt." DG said softly.
Cain's eyes opened again quickly, widening in surprise as he looked over at her. She really was thinking this through from a rational stand point…she was putting words to something he never would have said to her and was remaining level-headed about the issue.
She was staring him straight in the eyes as she spoke, every bit of that inner strength shining brightly behind the blue. "They know she can be taken from power because they've already seen it done in the past. It's us. It's me and Az who scare them. Don't you think I should prepare in case something happens? Personally I find the ability to use a gun to be more valuable to my future in the OZ than learning how to use the correct fork at the dinner table."
They rode in silence for a few moments before he could get himself to speak.
The girl had a whole lot of wisdom hidden up her sleeve that she seemed to bring out on special occasions. He'd seen it several times before the eclipse, now here it was again to change his mind.
"If anyone finds out…" He began but sighed and trailed off. "We can't tell anyone about this." He said softly and waited for her to nod her understanding.
After another long moment of silence he thought aloud. "I'll have to tell the men that you're going to sketch or something…that I'm planning on doing target practice out here to keep myself entertained… that way they don't come running if they hear shots in the distance…"
"Next weekend." She said with a grin and waited for his reluctant smile in return.
"Next weekend." He agreed.
They began their riding lesson immediately after that, each retreating to their own private thoughts regarding the Long-Coats and what might lie ahead on the distant horizon, too distracted to bother joking around about terms such as bare-backing or what could be taken as double entendres.
DG was an exceptional student, all puns aside.
He was astounded by the difference in her abilities since the week prior and knew it had a great deal to do with the saddle. Riding a horse without one was a challenge; he decided that once she had mastered riding with full tack he would let her get a lot more practice in without it.
He withdrew into his mind at some point, reflecting on the difference in his existence from eight annuals prior…the days had passed so slowly, yet somehow it seemed to have gone by impossibly fast.
And here he was, with this energetic, caring sprite of a girl who had set him free...
Blue eyes cast upward; he gauged how long it would take to return and sighed, calling out to her that it was about that time.
He watched her approach and couldn't bring himself to look away for whatever reason, a strange sensation forming in his chest.
What if something really were to happen to her?
She fell in beside him, each of them walking next to their horses as conversation became surprisingly light.
That laugh…that easy, heartfelt laugh of hers…it echoed in his mind and never failed to bring a smile to his face.
The way the wind played at her hair, the way her bright blue eyes lit up when she smiled at him…the sunslight dancing over her porcelain skin…
He felt like he was dreaming, the world surreal to his senses…
A stir of echoed whispers, barely audible at first and growing in intensity hissed in his ears causing him to stop and look around in confusion.
The pendant heated against his flesh suddenly, searing him and the instant his hand moved to pull it away he snapped back to reality.
He opened his mouth to call out in pain…
"DG, STOP!"
Eyes closed, he heard himself scream out to her in warning as he clutched the pendant and she froze, staring at him in shock as he struggled to catch his breath.
The world was slowly returning to normality again, sounds of birds and creaking trees rushing in on him as he blinked and tried to understand what the hell was happening.
"Why am I stopping?" She said softly, eyeing him with concern straining her features. "And are you okay?" She asked fearfully, not wanting to approach until he'd clarified his warning.
"I'm…"
He had no idea. His hand was still clutching his chest, the metal cool in his palm now despite the heat and pain of a second earlier.
The thoughts that had been swirling around in his mind, those whispered fragments of warning all fell into place and his expression changed to startled realization.
He knew…but how did he know?
Without saying a word he walked to where DG was standing, motioning for her to back up a few paces. Part of him prayed he was wrong, mind you…but he knew he wasn't.
He knelt down and with a shaky hand he reached out and began pulling away the limbs and overgrowth that were covering the chasm, shielding it from view completely. The more he pulled away the more his worry grew.
The pit that was slowly becoming visible would have easily claimed the lives of her and Seraph both…
DG peeked over his shoulder and her jaw fell open. "Holy…how did you see that?" She stammered, eyeing the back of his head in shock. "Damn, you're good! Oh God…that was way too close…" She said and backed the horses further away, much more wary of the ground she was walking on as she did so.
But Wyatt stayed in place long after he'd finished clearing the annuals of camouflage that had accumulated over what had so nearly been a rocky grave for the Princess and the stallion.
He stared down into its depths, his hand idly checking the pendant at his neck as he realized some research into the origins of this little 'gift' was definitely in order…