Chapter 6

DG walked out of the barracks, laughing as she lost her balance, and righted herself with a small shove off the railing. The crisp night air chilled her flush skin and she wrapped her arms around her torso for warmth.

"Here" she heard Cain say a half second before the weight of his jacket settled over her shoulders.

She threaded her arms in and wrapped it tightly around her body. The tall collar grazed her jaw line and when she turned to thank him, she briefly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply into its warmth.

I swear he smells like cedar and gunpowder.

She opened them to see him looking at her oddly before snapping his eyes forward again. He said nothing, just continued to walk by her side towards the castle. DG eyed him subtly over the collar. He wore no vest tonight, just crisp white shirt and dark blue trousers, all part of the regulation uniform.

They don't all look like that in them though.

DG sighed internally. Things were so different from the last time she saw him... they still conversed easily and enjoyed each other's company but she swore there was something heavy between them now. Every look was slightly guarded, every touch was both thrilling and terrifying. She smiled into his collar, thinking about dancing with him. It was a disaster but she was determined to learn the steps. He didn't seem to mind, leading her with gentle pushes and maneuvering. She had heard him laugh when she nearly fell trying to turn and he caught her against his chest. The deep baritone rumbling had reverberated through her and she imagined hearing it again, this time with her ear pressed to bare flesh. Her face flushed in response to her thoughts and she prayed he would attribute it to the cool air if he noticed.

"Too bad Az had to leave early. It was nice of Jeb to dance with her, even if the activity was a bit much. I think she made a good impression on the militia though," she said finally, the silence feeling too stifling.

"It'll go a long way in getting them to accept her. It was a good call on your part to bring her."

"I just wanted to get her out among people, show her she didn't have to hide."

"A gamble, but I think it paid off."

She nodded in agreement.

"Your mother wants to leave in the morning for the Northern Isle," he sighed, nodding towards the cars lined in the garage.

"Yea, she told us. We've been packing and preparing all month. We're ready. I don't think she'll be inclined to let me sleep off my hangover though..." DG frowned, thinking of the pain awaiting her.

Cain smirked as he opened the castle door.

"Muglug in the morning with satarmon root. You'll feel fine in an hour."

"Yea?"

Cain nodded, "Old family remedy for generations of bad decisions."

Dg snorted a laugh as they stopped at the base of the stairs to her apartments. She reluctantly shrugged off his jacket and handed it back and Cain glanced down to take it from her.

"Well, goodnight Cain. I'll see you in the morning."

Do something...her mind screamed at her.

When he looked back up she leaned forward. Placing a hand on his chest, she went up on her toes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek, her aim a little more center than could be considered entirely proper. She held it there for a long second, taking solace that he did not pull away. When she stepped back, with her heart pounding, she smiled, and retreated to the safety of her rooms while Cain stood expressionless at the base of the stairs.

He watched her form until she was through the doors, the clicking noise jarring Cain into movement. He shrugged back on his jacket, still warm, and exited the palace. His mind was strangely quiet as he crossed to the royal garages. DG's kiss had landed at the corner of his mouth, her lips partially grazing his. He could still feel the ghost of their caress and the weight of her hand as it pressed into his chest. He closed his eyes briefly, letting it replay once more before pushing the memory aside. Shifting his focus, he headed towards the Office of Royal security to review tomorrow's preparations. He would be in charge of the move as he knew the land North better than any palace guard.

Everything has to be in place and no better time to check than now. Not as if I could sleep anyway.

Via motorcade, the trip to the Northern Isle would take three to four days if the driving was done in shifts and they bedded down at night. The long trek would leave them vulnerable at multiple points along the route. Cain had plotted the course carefully, choosing areas of high ground with their backs protected as best he could at night. As an extra precaution, DG and Azkadellia placed protective enchantments on the vehicles at his request. He could feel DG's magic as he ran his hand along the side of the cars mixed with something tense like wire cable but vibrating soothingly.

Must be Azkadellia.

He shook out his hand before continuing on the office. Once he was assured all was done to his satisfaction, he returned to his bunk, changing into his clothes and duster as first light was breaking over the horizon.

DG sighed and grabbed her overnight bag, trying to work out the kinks in her neck and back. Cain had pushed the caravan to cover a significant portion of the travel in one day and everyone was feeling the effects. She entered the tent to find Az sliding off her boots, flexing her ankles with a grimace.

"If I'm never in a car again, it'll be too soon. What do you think he means by keeping this breakneck pace?"

"He's worried."

"I should have figured a worried Cain manifests as fits of glaring and growling personified."

"He wants to get off the road and in a fortified position as soon as possible. The disappearances up North really have him on edge."

"Understandable. Only two more days, right? I'll have to change out my pack tomorrow, already it is starting to feel colder."

DG rubbed her arms in agreement and changed into her night clothes, wrapping her dressing gown around her tight for extra warmth before crawling into her cot. Despite her fatigue, she spent most of the night in that restless state of half awake, half asleep. She had just started to doze again when she felt a warm breeze ruffle her hair.

Dorthea...

DG's eyes flew open, darting wildly about the room, looking for the source of the whisper. She could hear the faint crackle of the fire outside her tent and Az's breathing but all else was silent. She just started to close her eyes again, when just near her ear, she heard it again.

Come find me.

She bolted out of the bed, spinning in a circle with her heart in her throat, but there was no one there. She leaned against a nearby chair, taking a minute to calm herself.

That wasn't real... it was one of those hypnagogic hallucinations brought on by being in a light stage of sleep. Not real... It can't be real...

After waiting a few more minutes in the silence and sufficiently convincing herself it was all in her imagination, she went to warm up next to the fire and clear her head. To no one's surprise, Cain was awake, sitting on an upturned stump.

"Do you ever sleep?" she asked, stepping up to sit in the chair he'd tossed his hat in. She picked up the fedora and set it on the crate behind her head.

"I'll get relieved here in a few minutes. What about you?" he replied quietly, turning. His speech faltered slightly at the end when he actually saw her and he turned his attention abruptly back to the fire.

"Couldn't sleep. Hearing things. Guess it's a side effect of sleeping in the wilderness again," she responded, taking a quick glance down at herself to make sure she was decent. She found nothing amiss.

He rose up on one knee to throw another log on the fire when a flash caught her eye.

"Hey! You're wearing them!" she said smiling, grabbing his trailing hand and pointing to her cuff links. When she glanced back up, he was still on one knee, but now facing her, practically at eye level.

He was so close. The flint edge that was constantly around his eyes was gone, replaced by something open, intent, and terrifyingly earnest. DG couldn't figure out if the feeling clawing up her back was panic or excitement. He leaned in and reached past her shoulder to grab his hat off the ledge behind her. His eyes didn't leave hers until the fedora was secure and he tipped the brim.

"My relief is on the way. Goodnight, Princess."

Turning away, he slid his hand out of hers and he stalked toward his tent, nodding to the soldier coming round the corner to take his place. The torrent in DG's ears eventually calmed enough to hear herself think again but there was no sleep to be had by the princess that night.