Chapter 5

DG extracted herself from a particularly smarmy earl and made a beeline for the balcony to get some air. The start to the party had been nice, despite the hovering dignitaries, all anxious to establish discourse with her. An unamused Wyatt Cain was an excellent deterrent. More than one ambassador had veered off suddenly in a different direction after eye contact with with the Tin Man. She, being royalty, had to employ more diplomatic ways to excuse herself from the ones less inclined towards self preservation. However, as more guests arrived, she was drawn into a discussion of trading routes across the Shifting Sands and he stepped aside to catch up with another former Tin Man. It had been well over an hour since they had crossed paths and she was just taking a deep breath when Cain's voice sounded at her side, much closer than she anticipated.

"You want to get the hell out of here?"

"God yes."

"Jeb said there's a party in the barracks, mostly his old men. He's heading that way now."

"Can Az come?" she asked hesitantly, bracing for his reply.

Cain turned the thought over in his head.

"They're mostly former resistance fighters but loyal to Jeb and the house of Gale so she should be alright."

DG jumped briefly, squeezing his forearm in thanks.

"Great! Meet us at the kitchen, we'll head out the back way."

The sounds of the security barracks reached DG before they had even exited the palace. The steady hum of the energy within made her heart skip with excitement and she gripped Azkadellia's hand. Her sister tried to return her enthusiasm but instead smiled nervously through pinched lips.

"What?"

"I'm not sure this is a good idea. Many of them may blame me for their troubles."

"Az, that wasn't YOU and you can't hide forever. These are your people. The only way to change their minds is to get out there and do it. "

"I know but-"

"-and we've got Cain with us."

Az glanced around DG to the Tin Man who just gave her a reassuring nod.

"See? You'll be fine!" DG announced as she pushed open the door to the barracks.

Everyone inside immediately hushed upon seeing the princesses in the doorway. The fiddler's bow dropped as she stared wide eyed. One man's pants were smoking as ash from his pipe fell unhindered on to his leg. An uncaught glass of ale being slid across a table smashed upon the well-trodden floor.

"Seriously!" sighed DG, throwing one hand in the air.

Movement from the back of the room caught their attention as Jeb stepped forward. He stopped before Azkadellia and bowed, offering his arm and she gave a small grateful smile before taking it. While leading her to an empty table, Jeb made an exasperated motion to the band. They all glanced at one another before resuming the music. Slowly the room came to life again.

DG and Cain followed close behind, his hand ghosting on the crook of her elbow. After a brief absence, Jeb came back to the table with four mugs of ale. ĐG sputtered into hers on the first sip.

"Great Ozma, that's awful. "

"It's not so bad, " said Az grimacing into her cup. "Ugh, ok, maybe it will improve with the quantity consumed."

Cain couldn't help but laugh to himself. The two royal princesses, dressed to the nines, making faces into their mugs of ale...

"What?"

"Are you going to glare at it or drink it? Because I think that wide-eyed stare can only manipulate living subjects."

Narrowing her eyes, she took a large swig of her mug and opened her mouth to reply but was soon distracted by a chorus of shouts for 'Lurline!"

"What-" She started to ask.

"It's a dance, popular with the common folk." Cain shouted over the din.

"Oh yea? Do you know it?"

"Last I checked, I was common folk."

"Well come on! Let's go!"

"It's got some complicated parts, DG."

"Oh just try to give me a heads up, say 'spin left' or 'jump' or something. I'll be fine."

Cain glanced at the floor, relieved to see there were plenty of couples to get lost in as they muddled through. Heaving a put upon sigh, he stood, offering his hand.

"Az, are you ok here? I'll be right back" DG shouted mostly to Az's side as she took off out of her seat.

"Uh..yea...sure," came her reply but DG was already out of earshot. The music started with a fury that strongly reminded DG of Kentucky bluegrass. They along with the other couples took off in a fast step across the room, spinning and turning at the end of the line. DG laughed at the frenetic pace as she tried to keep up.

"See? Complicated," said Cain in mock superiority.

"Bah, I'm doing just fi-" Her word were cut off as she and the other women were lifted and spun.

From her seat, Az smiled as the Tin man and DG came briefly into view before disappearing again. The room vibrated and hummed as many of those watching the dancers sang and stomped their feet in time with the song.

"The people adore her..." She said almost absently, her mind a little buzzed from the ale. "She really should be Queen."

Jeb cleared his throat nervously.

"Your Highness?"

"Sorry. I was just thinking about the succession. DG is very popular and the people seem to love her. I often wonder if it would be best to abdicate."

Jeb looked around the room and saw most people were grinning making small gestures toward the dance floor, likely toward the princess. He spotted DG and Cain as they swept by. DG was staring at Cain's feet, trying to keep up. His father was watching her, a faintly amused appearance upon his face. Something hollow settled in Jeb's chest as he watched them.

"Does DG want to be queen?" he asked finally, bringing back his attention to the eldest princess.

Azkadellia let out a snort that caught Jeb by surprise.

"Of course not. DG wants her freedom. She's fine with responsibility as long as it is on her own terms." she replied with a mildly caustic tone.

"Well... who does your mother want to succeed her?" Jeb asked, feeling this moment was a bit surreal. He was talking to the former Sorceress in a makeshift bar filled with resistance soldiers while his previously-thought-to-be-dead-dad danced with the previously-thought-to-be-dead-other-princess, both of which had been thought killed by the previously mentioned sorceress. He took another hasty sip of his drink.

Azkadellia looked thoughtful for a moment, "I don't know. DG can do no wrong in Mother's eyes but I'm not sure if she thinks she can rule... I'm not sure if she thinks I can rule."

Jeb wasn't sure what to say in response, instead settling for draining his cup. Az returned her gaze to the dance floor.

"Do you think she's in love with him?" she asked suddenly.

Jeb spit out his ale and Az looked at him in alarm.

"What? Who?" he asked in between coughs.

"The fiddler... she keeps staring at the barkeep. I thought you would know them..." she stated raising her eyebrow.

"Not a clue," he replied, mopping up his ale.

Azkadellia just smirked and returned to her own drink.