Chapter 9

Cain urged his mare on, weaving in and out of the wood while keeping his eyes focused on DG's footprints. His heart thudded in time with the hoof beats as dread clawed at the edges of his singular thought...

DG.

His horse skid to a stop causing Cain to grip the reins tightly to keep from being thrown. They had reached the edge of a frozen lake and his mare tossed her head in protest to any attempt to lead her further. Cain climbed down, searching for any sign of DG. Squinting in the distance, he thought he saw a light. It glowed golden, low, and steady. Giving the mare one last pat he set off over the ice. He was soon close enough to make out the forms of two people, one of which was clearly DG, closing her eyes and giving a quick nod. He watched as the other figure withdrew a glowing cord which then wound itself around the princess. Cain started to sprint as the glow intensified, nearly blinding him in his advance. He felt the shock wave before he heard it, throwing him to his back onto the ice. He rolled to his side and coughed, trying to force air back into his lungs. Driving his fist into the ice, he propelled himself to his feet taking off in the direction he last saw DG. Only cracked ice and open lake now remained.

He spotted DG slumped over the edge, the weight of her body slowly pulling her into the water. Cain slid across the ice, grasping her trailing wrist as her head went beneath the surface. He hauled her up in his arms. his hand falling to her neck and he let out an involuntary cry of relief at the steady thrum he felt at her carotid.

"DG?" He whispered placing his hand on her pale damp cheek. There was no response. He layed her down and removed his duster, wrapping it tightly around her before lifting her into his arms.

"Hold on, darlin'," he muttered racing back to his horse.

DG woke with a buzzing in her ears that slowly morphed into the hushed whispers of those around her. She opened her eyes to see her family crouched over her, worry etched in all of their features. In the far corner, his face a stony mask, stood Wyatt Cain leaning against a wall.

"DG you're awake! Thank Ozma!"

"I wouldn't thank her just yet," DG said, letting out an amused huff of air. Her family exchanged confused glances when she didn't elaborate. DG sighed and pushed herself upright On the settee.

"I followed the voice again-"

"DG how could you-" interrupted Az, shock and disappointment on her face.

"I know but... I couldn't let more people get hurt, not without looking into it."

She chanced a glance at Cain and swore she could hear his jaw clench from where she lay.

"What happened, Doll?" asked Glitch from his place near the fire in her room.

"It was Ozma. She was the voice-"

"Are you sure? It could have been a trick-"

"It was her, Mother. I'm sure of it. She told me I had to meet her or we'd lose everything... So I did. I went to the shrine she told me and she gave me her magic. She said I would need it to save our people and defeat Roquat the Red."

Her mother's eyes knit together, shaking her head slowly.

"Roquat? DG, that's a story..."

"It's not."

"Roquat the Gnome King?"

"I know it sounds ridiculous but Ozma told me she trapped him deep inside the mountain many years ago after he tried to steal her magic. He's finally made his way back up and he wants to take over the O.Z. again. He's as ancient as she is... no wonder his story has only survived as a fairy tale."

Everyone exchanged wary glances. The Queen sighed before continuing.

"DG, I believe you but please be patient while we investigate. After the witch we would be fools to blindly trust this voice or her magic," she finished before turning towards the back of the room. "General Cain...you were there, what did you see?"

DG looked at him with confusion.

"You followed me?"

"I only got there at the end. She was speaking to a woman and then there was this great flash of light. Next thing I'm on my back and she's out cold, doing her best to drown."

His words were clipped, indicating he had a lot more he wished to say on the matter but that it wasn't the time. DG for the first time noticed her damp hair and clothes with Cain's duster pooled about her waist.

"You said she gave you her magic? What does that mean?" asked Tutor, chin between his forefinger and thumb

"She gave me control over the O.Z. The rocks, the wind, the water, air...all of it. She said I'd need it to free our men from the mountain."

"How do we know she didn't possess you?"

"Az, it's me! I swear. Raw can wander around in my brain if you want to be sure."

The Queen nodded at the seer to approach and he tentatively took DG's hand. After a moment he released her, nodding.

"It still just DG."

"Great." DG announced, swinging her legs off the sofa and standing with a slight sway as it took a minute for her blood to catch up with the rest of her.

"Take it easy DG," said Ahamo.

"I need-"

Her father just shook his head, gently pushing her back down.

"You need to rest. It's late, whatever you need to do can wait until tomorrow. Someone should stay with you tonight."

"I'll do it," replied Az quickly. "I'll just need to get some things. I'll return shortly."

Still uncertain, everyone bid her good night and left the room. Everyone except the stone monument in the corner that was Wyatt Cain. Slowly he removed himself from his position, snatching her desk chair on the way. He didn't bother to lift it, dragging it along the floor, causing a horrible screeching noise until he settled it just opposite DG. Folding his arms across his broad chest he started, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

"I wonder if it has occurred to anyone but me, that you are not the 'Princess of Light'."

DG blinked a few times but said nothing. This was not this conversation she expected to have.

"The way I see it," he continued, "you are the one that just can't leave well enough alone. Danger seems quite taken with you as well."

DG worried her lip briefly, still silent.

"Why did you leave me behind?" he asked after a moment, finally bringing his eyes to meet hers

"I knew you would try to talk me out of it."

He gave a slight nod of his head in muted agreement.

"I'll always try to keep you safe. I won't apologize for that. But I can't stop you either."

"Why? Because I'm royalty?" she asked sharply.

"No, because you are your own person and a body has a right to do as it sees fit. But... I would have gone with you... If you would have told me hell or high water you were going, I would have gone with you."

DG shook her head side to side firmly.

"I can't ask that of you anymore."

Cain raised an eyebrow in question and DG glanced away toward the fire.

"You fulfilled your promise to the Mystic Man a long time ago, Cain. You don't have to keep protecting me. Standing between the Gales and everything that has it out for us just may get you killed and you don't want that... I don't want that."

"You so sure about what goes on in my head, Princess?" he asked quietly, "You so sure about what I'd live and die for these days?"

"Do you blame me for everything that happened to you?" she blurted out, the question burning to be asked.

"No."

"If I hadn't let go... if I hadn't run away...none of those terrible things would have happened."

Cain sighed, seemingly conflicted on how to proceed.

"When I first learned all the details, I was angry with your parents. I wondered how the witch could have been trapped so close to Finaqua and they not know it... I was angry at Tutor for not teaching you how to protect yourself... I wanted to know how your mother didn't know something was terribly wrong with Azkadellia from the start and why she didn't stop her before she had no choice but to give away her power... But none of those things matter. The truth is that no one, no one, other than the witch is responsible and 'what ifs' won't change a thing. I've let it go. I think it's time you did the same."

DG swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. She'd been holding on to that for ages, able to push it down until their confrontation in the woods set the insecurity free again.

"Thank you," she tried to say, but it came out as barely a whisper.

They were both silent while she blinked back tears.

"DG?" he asked, leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands in front of him. She could see the torn skin on his knuckles and wondered how that had happened this time. If she didn't know any better, she'd say he looked hesitant to continue.

"Yes?"

He looked up at her, that earnest look back from nights ago near the fire.

"Why did you send me that sketch?"

Oh.

DG could feel the heat rising in her face. A few panicked thoughts flit across the landscape of her mind. She could play dumb and just reference the landscapes she sent or laugh and try to explain the long tradition of pin-ups and military men on the Otherside... but in this moment, she couldn't lie to him, not with him looking at her like that, like the only patch of grass in all of the Shifting Sands.

"I... I wanted you to have it," she breathed out, fingers twisting the edge of his coat in her hands.

"Why?"

She let out a strangled little laugh before fortifying herself with a deep breath and meeting his gaze.

"To see what you would do about it."