Chapter 7

Cain frowned as he settled into his watch for the second night of their trek north. The days had been grueling as he pushed the caravan to reach their destination by the next sunsets. The strenuous pace had the added benefit of keeping him so busy he barely had time to think. But now, when all was quiet... He buttoned up his duster and flipped his collar up to protect his neck from the frigid breeze.

He eyed DG's tent briefly before returning to skim the horizon. When she had joined him the night before, her hair pinned up and dressing gown tied, she bore a striking resemblance to the sketch he always kept on his person.

Even now he could feel it pressing against his chest in the pocket just over his heart. Did she know the likeness she cut at that time? Judging by her mildly perplexed look when he averted his eyes, he doubted it. It made him second guess the intent if the photo completely. Maybe it was just a picture of what she was doing at the moment like many of the others...

Lecherous old man he cursed himself.

Looking for a distraction, Cain started to sharpen the knife he carried on his holster, the repetitive action giving focus to his scattered thoughts. He was just admiring his handiwork when he heard a branch snap far in the distance.

He withdrew his revolver and started in the direction of the snap, stopping briefly to glance into the princesses' tent.

"DG" he muttered to himself as he spotted her empty cot.

He tracked her footprints in the snow, at least relieved to see she had put on winter boots before leaving. He found her a quarter mile ahead, still wrapped in her dressing gown. The wind whipped her hair as she stood in a clearing, seemingly indecisive of her next direction. He positioned himself next to a tree directly behind her and spoke.

"You lost?"

DG whirled around, an expression of panic on her face. She didn't respond and instead just worried her lower lip.

"Out with it."

"You won't like it."

"No, I reckon I won't. "

"I heard someone calling me...she said I had to find her."

Cain narrowed his eyes, feeling a mixture of anger and fear ignite in his chest. His next words came out brittle and cold.

"You heard a voice calling to you in the woods and you decided to follow it? Alone? You do recall what happened last time you did this exact thing, right?"

DG nodded emphatically, looking apologetic.

"I know Cain, you're right, but she said I had to see her if I wanted to save your men."

"Have you learned nothing? Gods, DG, did you ever stop to think-"

"I was thinking! I was thinking about your men, my people! If I got hurt it would be a small price to pay if it meant we could find them. "

He stalked angrily towards her.

"A small price?" He asked incredulously. "Do you have any idea of how important you are? The realm is barely holding together. Your mother is viewed as too weak and your sister is still despised. If something happens to you, the house of Gale will fall. "

DG shook her head in protest, "I don't want the throne."

"This isn't about what you want but if you really want to help your people? Stay alive. They've suffered enough without being thrown back into civil war because you ran off again."

DG scowled and pushed down her guilt.

"Are these the thoughts of 'others' or your own?" she asked.

Cain drew himself back a step, his jaw setting into a hard line before continuing quietly.

"I am loyal to your family and I will defend you and yours...but you can't deny the people got a right to be angry. They got a right to question why their lives were ruined and they got a right wonder if the Queen couldn't do it when she was whole, how can she protect them now? She didn't stop the witch, DG. You did."

"So did Az."

"That's not how they see it."

DG folded her arms and pushed past him back towards camp. She heard him sigh, his hand reaching out to grasp her arm.

"DG," he spoke, his tone much gentler than before but she wrenched her arm out of his grasp, continuing on her way.

"DG, you have to speak to your mother or tutor about these voices!"

She didn't turn around.

She had covered about half the distance when something shot out of the ground, latching on to her ankle. Cain immediately withdrew his pistol, firing a shot into the creature's hand and it released DG, retreating back into the earth. She scrambled away as Cain reached her side. They stood back to back, looking for any sign of movement. After a few tense moments, the creature sprung from the ground onto Cain and his revolver fell soundlessly into the snow. DG pulled at her light to concentrate in her hands then released the force to strike into the beast, launching it into a tree and giving Cain time to draw his knife. This time when the creature advanced, Cain was able to quickly maneuver to sink his blade deep between the plates on its chest. The creature howled as it collapsed to the ground, azure colored blood staining the snow.

"You ok?" asked Cain, reaching for her.

"Yea, you?" waving him off. She was still smarting from their early conversation.

He gave a curt nod in response, looking hurt for a second. It was soon wiped away and he toed the creature with his boot.

"It's dead."

He flipped it onto its back. It was fairly short in stature, about five feet tall with long limbs ending in fierce looking digits. The face was grey and oblong with pointed chin and nose.

Cain rapped the back of his knuckles on the plates on its chest.

"Stone," he murmured surprised, "but with weak spots at the joints."

DG knelt down and ran her fingers over the grey fleshy spans between the creature's natural defense.

"What the hell is this thing?"

"This," said Cain standing, "is what took the men up North."

"Do you think there are more out there?"

Cain's mouth thinned into a grim line glancing around him.

"No. They'd be on us already. Likely this one is just a scout. Saw the royal princess out alone and decided to take its chances. Come on, let's get you back to camp. I'll send someone for the body."

They trudged back the way they came, both silent, DG staring at her feet, Cain scanning the deep of the forest. They parted with out words at the camp perimeter and Cain briefed his men before heading back out.

Soon after the royal family and its advisers had convened around the creature's corpse as it lay at their feet..

"I've never seen anything like this," said Glitch, "It's a fascinating mixture of inorganic and organic material. The body contains the vital organs but has these protective granite plates...oh! He's cold blooded, and uses these-" he paused here to lift up a long limb brandishing talons "to move underground. I have not seen any references to creatures like this in all the scientific literature! This is all preliminary of course. With further examination, I'll likely know more. I could write to my old professor at Shiz..."

"Any signs of magic?" asked Cain, glancing in DG's direction. He was wondering about the voices.

Glitch's eyebrows furrowed.

"No, not that I can tell so far. But they may be like us with some being magic wielders. I don't see any sign they are conduits like Raw's people."

"What could they want? If they're not with the Longcoats, I mean?" asked the Queen.

"What does anybody want?' replied Azkadellia leaning over to get a better look at the body, "Power resources, security... does it matter? They want us gone. They already tried to take DG."

"What were you doing out in the forest, Angel?"

DG shifted uncomfortably for a moment.

"I heard something calling me. Like it needed my help."

"DG you know better than that! It was likely a trap and you were nearly taken, or worse!"

DG opened her mouth to protest but after a quick glance at the admonishing look from her mother and the horrified disbelief on Azakadellia's features, she closed her jaw and nodded her reluctant acquiescence..

The Queen eyed her youngest daughter for moment before continuing. "We leave at first light and don't stop until we reach the Norther Isle."