Chapter 4

Cain walked briskly from the military barracks towards the main castle of Finaqua, buttoning his collar, and straightening his cuffs. He had arrived only an hour ago, barely having time to bathe and dress before the solstice celebration. He nodded to the guards at the door to the royal apartments and they jumped aside to let him pass.

He waited at the base of the stairs, hand absent-mindedly thumbing the space his wedding band used to occupy. He resisted the urge to tug at his collar or adjust his medals. He hated these trussed up regimental blues.

Sound like a damn dinner bell when I walk.

The suffocating feeling around his throat wasn't helping. It had been over a year since he had seen DG and their correspondence had left him in completely uncharted territory. The world had shifted ever so slightly and now everything that should have seemed familiar was skewed as if viewed through water.

"General Cain" a soft voice brought him out of his revelry. He looked up to see Azkadellia descending the stairs, lavender gown shifting near soundlessly with the movements of her feet.

"Your Highness," he replied with a bow before offering his hand for the last few steps.

She took it with a small smile, releasing him at the base of the stairs.

"DG should be down shortly. She was just having trouble with-" A shriek pierced the air and Cain started up the stairs two at a time, one hand falling to his ever present side arm. He stopped short in confusion when a baby mobat streaked down the stairs towards him, scampering up his pant leg to perch on his shoulder. DG came running through the ajar hallway door immediately after.

"Kong!" She shouted, eyes darting wildly until they came to rest on the general and the winged monkey peering from behind his head. For a second she just stared in shock before bursting into laughter. Cain scowled swatting at the creature, trying to get him off. The monkey shrieked in protest.

"A mobat, DG? How come this evil little bastard didn't go the way of the witch?"

"Oh they aren't bad. It's all in how they're raised."

Kong growled at DG as she tried to dislodge him from Cain.

"What the hell is wrong with this thing?"

"They're like cats apparently. They love the meanest thing around," she replied finally scooping up the baby and giving him to her handmaiden. The little guy snapped at her finger but she didn't seem to notice. Cain tried to smooth out his displaced hair but was interrupted by the princess launching herself at him, arms winding tight around his neck.

"Hey there Princess" he replied hugging her back.

"I missed you," she said close to his ear and sighed, her breath tickling the nape of his neck.

"Yea, me too," was all he managed, loosening his grip, allowing her to step back.

She wore a boat necked silk navy gown with long sleeves and hemline that stopped just below the knee. Gone was the jagged, feathered mess of her hair when he knew her previously. Now it was softly coiffed into a french twist, bangs swept to the side, a small circlet adorning her head. She was radiant, her smile broad and welcoming.

"You clean up nice, kid."

"Not too shabby yourself, Tin Man," she replied, crooked smile crinkling her eyes as she gave him a once over.

"DG, we really should go. Mother will be waiting on the grand staircase."

Cain offered her his arm and they started back down the stairs into the hall. Azkadellia had already made her way to the end, greeting her mother and father.

DG glanced up at him, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Everything alright, Cain? I mean, besides the obvious-"

"I destroyed the suit."

DG stumbled from her abrupt stop.

"You did?" she asked, her grip slipping from his arm.

"And the cabin. It was time."

She gave him a nod and squeezed the back of his arm in reassurance.

"If that's what you needed."

Cain started walking again, looping her arm back in his.

"Come on. I'm dying for an excuse to shoot some nobles."

DG fastened her bracelet to her wrist as her handmaiden finished the final pins in her hair. She was taking deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.

He's arrived, he's made it in time. What if he brings up the picture I sent him... oh god...

DG saw her reflection blanch as she envisioned a disgusted Cain tossing the sketch back at her, followed by a firm lecture on boundaries.

If magic can revive the dead, can it turn back time? Because that seriously might be my only option.

She groaned gently before letting her forehead smack her dresser and her handmaiden jumped in alarm.

"I'm fine... just let me be a minute," said DG, still staring at her feet. It had been easy to forget about the sketch initially with its recipient hundreds of miles away and her days being consumed with lessons on diplomacy, political science, and magic. But now, with him nearly on her doorstep...

She felt ridiculous, with all the things going on in the realm and this, this is what she choose to obsess over? The disappearances of the militia in the North were unsettling to say the least. Then there were grumblings among the people that the Queen's rule was weak as she was lightless. As a result, her mother was constantly hosting diplomats in an attempt to regain a foothold in the politics of the land. Az was still not back to normal, often succumbing to nightmares and fits of weakness. Many still saw her face as that of the sorceress. And perhaps most upsetting, the royal guard's covert section recently uncovered a coupe to put DG on the throne. It was quickly squashed but it made her ill just to think of it.

"Me, Queen? At the expense of my mother and sister's lives? Fuck that. Besides, I don't even want to be Queen!" she had exclaimed during the debriefing, causing more then one head to look at her slightly aghast. She smiled now, thinking of their shocked faces.

See? Shouldn't be Queen anyway. My Other-Side-ness has made me too uncouth.

She heard glass shattering one room over, interrupting her introspection. Sitting up and detaching the sketch paper that had gotten stuck to her forehead, she took off for the hallway. She met Az who had also come to see what the commotion was about.

"Az, can you head down and see if Cain is here? I don't want to keep him waiting."

"Of course," she replied serenely, but giving the source of the noise a wary look before heading towards the doors. DG turned her attention toward the continued screeching to see Kong, the baby mobat she had adopted, scaling the curtains and partially shredding them in his haste.

The monkey had been found in the forest and rescued from angry villagers who saw it as a bad omen. DG had insisted on adopting the thing, thinking raising it would be good for Azkadellia's rehabilitation. The plan was not going as well as she had hoped. Huffing out a small breath, DG climbed the window seal, using the curtains for balance, and extended her arm toward the creature.

"Kong! Get down! You could not have picked a wor-"

She was interrupted by Kong flinging himself from the curtain rod, landing on her shoulder, and using it to propel himself into a small glide towards the hallway doors. DG let out a scream as she regained her balance and jumped to the floor before taking off after the creature.

I wonder if this is what Cain feels like when he has to deal with me... Poor bastard.