Chapter 10

Azkadellia stuffed her night clothes in a small bag along with some basic toiletries, not even noticing the duplicates as her mind raced.

What was she thinking!? First the witch, then that creature in the woods, and now she's meeting spirits out on frozen lakes because 'they told her to'... I swear I'm going to implant one of the witch's trackers in her one day at this rate.

She huffed, placing her hands on her hips, and surveyed her room for anything else she may need. Her eyes fell to her journal and she gingerly picked it up, wondering if she should show DG the contents. She opened it just past midway and ran her hand over the passage there. It was messy and scattered, just little blurbs half formulated ideas.

It's a start, at least.

Az winced as a crushing headache swept over her and she flattened her palm on her nightstand to keep from pitching forward. A few slow breaths later, the worst of it subsided and she sat on her bed to gather herself before returning to DG's room. She wiped at the beaded sweat on her lip.

They're getting stronger. No matter.

Az pushed herself up and started back down the hall. She entered without knocking and froze in the doorway to DG's room, hand still on the knob. Cain sat in a chair near her bedside, hands clasped in front of him. DG was sitting much as she had left her but Az could feel her sister's magic bubbling, waves of anxiety and fearful hope pouring off of her. Cain was on his feet in an instant, grabbing his fedora off the desk and moving to pass Azkadellia toward the hall. He paused and gave a furtive look in Az's direction before turning back to DG.

"I'd like to keep it, if that's alright with you?" he asked, voice low.

DG swallowed and gave a jerky nod in response. Az watched as the Tin Man's ears pinked before he turned to continue down the hall. Jaw slightly open, she looked back to her sister and raised her eyebrow in question.

"Oh, he was just...asking...about...his coat!" DG explained triumphantly after looking around the room before spotting the worn duster still in her hands, "He wants to keep it... for himself... I mean, he wants it back."

Az pursed her lips to clearly convey she wasn't buying whatever DG was selling but let it go with a wave of her hand.

"It's fine, little sister. You're allowed some secrets but you've got to spill about everything else that happened tonight-" she continued, wrinkling her nose and plucking a twig out of DG's hair "-after you've had a bath, of course."

DG gave a grateful smile and dove from the bed, snatching up her robe in the process. She returned half an hour later, warm and clean before sinking into her bed next to Az who was scribbling in her journal.

"Whatcha got there?" She asked peaking over her shoulder.

"Just some ideas that I want to discuss with Ambrose... possible defenses, fortifications... Everything preliminary of course but I figure it cannot hurt," Az smiled at her sister but dropped her book as another headache hit her. She sucked in a sharp breath and massaged her temples.

"Az, are you ok?"

"Yes, it will pass "

"They're happening daily now aren't they?"

Az nodded, not having the heart to tell her their true frequency.

"I'll be fine," she said patting her sister's hand. She was surprised to feel DG snatch it up, nearly crushing it in her grasp.

"Holy shit" she heard DG mutter, "I can feel her."

"What are you talking about? Who?" asked Az through clenched teeth as another wave of nausea hit her.

"The witch, she's still in there."

Az's eyes flew open.

"What!" She tried to jerk her hand out of DG's but she held fast.

"She's still in there! With all those souls she stole! She's making you sick!"

"What are you talking about? We defeated her! You-" Az tried to get out of the bed but she was interrupted by DG laying her palm flat over her heart. A languid warmth infused her chest. She watched in shock as DG pulled back her hand, a trail of black smoke as dense as ash, trailing behind. Soon the cloud coalesced together and disappeared with a roll of DG's wrist.

"Whoa," breathed DG.

Az let out the air she was holding and clutched at her chest where DG's hand had been. Her little sister watched warily as a sound she never heard before erupted from Azkadellia. She had started to laugh and continued until tears pricked her eyes.

"I can breathe and it doesn't hurt! I can think and it doesn't hurt! DG..."

Her laughter had dissolved into free flowing tears as she gripped her sister's nightshirt.

"Am I free? For real this time?"

DG gently touched her sister's hand before nodding confirmation.

"Thank Ozma!" cried Az, throwing her arms around her sister.

"Yea, thank Ozma," said DG quietly, patting her back.

Cain walked, crumpling his well worn hat in his hands as DG's words echoed in his mind.

To see what you would do about it.

Well, what was he going to do about it?

"General?"

Cain had nearly made it out of the royal apartments when he turned to see Ahamo standing outside of his study, tumbler of whisky in his hand.

"Care for a drink?" he said motioning with his free hand toward the room, "I think we could all use one."

Cain couldn't deny the observation and followed him.

"How's your son?" asked Ahamo as he made himself busy at the bar but paused to look back at Cain, "You take it neat?"

"I've had my fill of ice for the day," Cain replied, nodding and taking the glass, "Jeb has settled in to his post well. Met a nice girl, talking marriage. Seems happy."

Ahamo sat in his heavy over chair, indicating for Cain to do the same in the one just opposite him. The Consort looked tired, fine lines etching around his eyes, and he slumped down into the seat.

"That's all any of us could want, right? Our children to be happy? I find myself willing to settle for safe most days."

He spun his glass around, inspecting it in the firelight before continuing.

"My daughters are special, General, and not just because they are Gales. I truly believe they are the only hope our country has at healing and that responsibility means they can't be put in gilded cages like pretty little birds to charm the populace and foreign ambassadors. To attempt to do so will just lead to more devastation; they will have to get their hands dirty and at great risk to themselves."

Ahamo's face was twisted in a grimace of pain that had nothing to do with the bite of the whiskey.

"I want to thank you for what you did for DG tonight. There are precious few things I value in this world and even fewer that I trust to look after them."

"It's my duty and an honor, you Highness."

"Duty?" asked Ahamo, a hint of skepticism in his voice, "Very well. Then you will understand when I ask you to remain here instead of returning to the front. I know your obligation to your men but I need someone I trust to walk with DG on this indubitably insane path she's found herself on once again."

Cain took a sip of his drink. He felt torn, but he couldn't deny that DG was the best bet for resolution considering the developments within the past few hours. The fact remained that if she died, what little support was left for the Gales would collapse, causing a vacuum of power and civil war, all while the threat in the North would continue to go unchecked.

And could you live with yourself if she were killed, knowing you could have been there?

There really was no choice when he thought about it. Cain finished his drink, rolling the tumbler in his palms.

"I'll send a missive in the morning. My second is more than capable but this will make it official. But I do ask that if there's ever a point I'm not needed, I would like to return to the encampment, finish what we started there."

Ahamo nodded in agreement, rising to shake Cain's hand.

He was about to exit the room when the Consort spoke again.

"Thank you, Wyatt. I know you will do everything in your power to keep her safe."

"It might not be enough."

Ahamo shrugged sadly.

"It is a horrible feeling to not be able to protect the one's we love. I pray you never have to feel it again."