Chapter 14

"Any ideas?" asked DG to Cain who stood on the side of the courtyard with his arms folded over his chest. He contemplated her inquiry for a moment.

"They're cold blooded and live in snow covered mountains... Can you make fire?"

DG shrugged.

"I don't know. I've never tried. Az can, though."

"Fire and wind would make a hell of a blow torch. Might work to beat them back if you were ever overwhelmed."

"What do you say Az? "asked DG as she looked over at her sister on a near by bench.

Az stood, brushing off her skirt before extending her hand, palm up. A small fireball erupted upward, flickering in the gently falling snow. DG sent a gust of wind forward and the flames billowed forth into a giant plume. Az nodded her head in approval.

"I can teach you in case I'm not with you when you need it," she started as something caught her eye. "DG, when Ozma gave you control of the OZ, did she specify if that included plants?"

"No, it was kind of a 'you have to do this or everything you know and love will die' conversation. It was pretty low on the details."

DG followed Az's eyesight. There was a tangle of vines wrapped around a statue almost appearing to strangle the subject. With some concentration, DG found she could coax the vines into twisting tighter or relaxing their hold. After a few attempts, she noticed Glitch had joined them, his back to DG as he greeted Cain.

With a smirk DG snaked one of the vines over to Glitch and wrapped it around his ankle.

"Oh hello there. How are you-" he managed to to say before DG lifted him into the air. He glanced around from his up turned position and started to clap.

"Wonderful doll! Now if you could get me down I'd like to show you something."

Azkadellia's eyes lit up.

"Is it ready?" she asked leaning into his eye line. Glitch gave her an upside down thumbs up in response.

After setting Glitch down, they made their way down the stairwell to Ambrose's laboratory. Az and Glitch chatted animatedly about his latest invention, Raw interjecting the occasional question. DG and Cain followed behind, his hand pressed into her lower back. DG couldn't help the thrill she felt at the contact. The regiment had arrived a few days ago to take her parents to the Northern Encampment and she had hardly seen Cain except in passing.

She nearly jumped at Cain's voice as he leaned over to whisper in her ear.

"What do you think the over/under is on whatever he's got down there blowing us up?"

His words were joking but his tone serious. DG glanced back at him.

"Aw. Are you worried? I'll protect you," she smiled and flashed a small golden shield from her fingertips. Cain gave her a half glare in response. As they stepped into the lab, she felt Cain's hand ball up her jacket into his fist, ready to yank her back to safety.

Glitch flitted to a side room before returning with a mound of cloth in his arms. Cain's hand relaxed at DG's back.

"You're sewing?" she asked stepping forward to inspect the fabric that seemed to shine despite the lack of light in the room.

Azkadellia shook her head and grabbed a section to lay on a nearby wooden table.

"It is a fine netting that can camouflage itself to its surroundings. It's flexible but nearly unbreakable. We designed it so it could be placed on the ground to prevent an ambush from below. It could help secure the encampment from further attack."

DG watched as the netting became near invisible where it lay on the table. Cain inspected the section from a few different angles.

"Could also be used as clothing for the scouts and ranged fighters. They'd be damn near impossible to see and this could provide some extra protection. Anything ideas for the ground troops? They would need to be visualized during a fight, " he asked, glancing between Az and Glitch.

"Well, DG and I could enchant their boots with shields. They couldn't be snatched from below if they were wearing them and caught away from camp in a skirmish."

Cain frowned.

"But then you would both have to be at the fro-"

"Oh! I have also perfected my smoke bombs! Need to get away? Just throw one on the ground... still trying to improve the smell though. Here, let me show you..." Glitch interrupted, turning to grab some small balls off a shelf but was halted by Cain's hand.

"We'll take your word for it."

Glitch just shrugged, "Ok! Let's see... what else...? Here we go! This one's for you Cain!"

Cain warily eyed the adviser's back as he reached to remove a mahogany case from a shelf and set it on the table.

"You have a disturbing attachment to that piece of scrap metal in your holster but I thought you might appreciate an upgrade."

Cain lifted the lid and withdrew a piece of glinting black metal. His eyebrows lifted as he tested the weight in his hands.

"Forged from obsidian steel from the mines of Flutterbudge. Larger than what you carry now but half the weight and double the shooting capacity."

Cain continued to admire the weapon, flipping the barrel out and back before looking back up.

"I'm not getting rid of my old piece... but I don't see why I can't find room for this one."

"I believe that is supposed to translate to a 'Thank you'," said DG, lightly elbowing Cain in the side.

"No sweat, DG. I speak 'grumpy Tin Man' well enough to get by most days. Now," he said, clapping his hands together, "on to the incendiary mines!"

He was stopped by a resounding chorus of "NO!"

DG woke, clutching her blanket as she took deep steady breaths to slow her heart rate.

Please, please tell me I didn't scream, because if I did-

Her door flew open to reveal Cain with his revolver drawn, eyes scanning for danger. His hat and vest were missing and his hair was mused, as if he had been sleeping.

"Just a dream! Sorry, I'm fine, it's nothing," she exclaimed, getting out of bed and grabbing a nearby shawl to wrap around he shoulders.

His eyes narrowed as he holstered his gun.

"Your dreams are never just 'nothing'."

DG pursed her lips before moving to sit on the sofa near the fire.

He said you have to talk to him...

She clasped her fingers together and gently twisted them back and forth before continuing.

"In the dream I was falling... it took forever before I finally hit the ground. When I did, it was pitch black, cold, and damp... I was smothering, like I was being buried alive and a voice kept whispering that no one would come for me, no one would find me. It said I'd be forgotten and I'd die there. It felt so real."

Cain came around the sofa and sat next to her, placing his hand over hers to still their agitation.

"I wouldn't pay that dream any more mind. No one who's ever met you could forget you. The entire country would look for you if you went missing...And I-"

Cain paused, giving DG a chance to look up at him.

"I will always find you."

DG took in the resolute expression on his face and the sincerity in his eyes. She felt like all these loose feelings and thoughts were falling into place, synapses of her brain finally hitting in sync.

Poor Glitch, she thought, He must feel this thunderstruck all of the time.

Cain raised an eyebrow as DG's eyes blinked in rapid succession.

"You alright there, Princess?"

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He started a bit in surprise before pressing back firmly against her. After a moment, DG pulled back to see his expression, to make sure she hadn't overstepped. He was looking dazed, eyes still on her mouth. She bit her lower lip self consciously and he surged forward, hands coming up to cup her face. His lips were surprisingly soft as they realigned to fit over her bottom one before pulling on it gently. That tingling, all over hot feeling she always felt from his aura was starting to intensify and she gripped at his shirt, balling her hand into fist as she pulled him closer. His lips parted and she ran her tongue along the tip of his; he responded by deepening the kiss and all DG could think was that she wanted him closer. Never breaking their contact, she flattened her palms against his chest, pushing him against the sofa back and sliding one leg over his lap. Her night gown hitched up to her mid-thigh as she pressed her weight against him. The hands that had now moved to her back, spasmed in response, gripping tightly at her nightgown. Cain broke off the kiss, his breathing heavy. His eyes traveled her form as she leaned over him, a look that DG would almost say was reverent. His hands slid to the hem of her gown at her thighs before moving, almost reluctantly, up to her back again.

"DG," he said, voice gravely and deep as he looked into her eyes, "There is nothing I would like to do more than continue this, but for tonight we should stop."

His aura continued to slide up her spine, creating goosebumps on her flesh but she nodded her agreement. As appealing as going cowgirl on Cain was at the moment, she had to admit this thing between them was new and fragile and they just weren't there yet.

"You'll stay the night, though?"

"I'll stay. But on the sofa."

She gave him a last kiss before moving and he seemed relieved when she slid off his lap to press against his side. He put his arm around her and they both watched the fire burn down to embers, speaking little, as his hand ran the same trail up and down her arm.

When she awoke in the morning, she was back in bed and fire put out. She knew he was gone before she even looked, his aura faraway in the castle.. Getting up, she noticed a thermos and a note on her desk.

I have a feeling you'll need this.

WC

She open the thermos to the heavenly smell of coffee and a small smile graced her face.

Thank Ozma for Wyatt Cain