Chapter 16

The tick tick of the hallway clock was grating in the heavy silence in the room. Cain opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by Raw's paw gripping his shoulder. He glanced out the corner of his eye to see the empath give a slow shake of his head. Glitch continued to fidgit restlessly on his other side.

The Gale sisters sat separate from them, seemingly frozen as they absorbed the news just delivered. DG stared out of the window with her arms wrapped tightly around her middle, a faint rock swayed her back and forth. Az sat in a chair, her back ramrod straight, the letter from the messenger dangling from her fingertips.

"We have to go," spoke up DG, her voice sounding stretched and thin.

"I know."

"It's what he wants."

"Undoubtedly."

"He'll try to kill us."

Az sighed and folded the paper gingerly before continuing, "He'll keep them alive until we are dead. There is no point in killing them as long as heirs survive. We at least have that in our favor, but I think we should move quickly as to not tempt fate."

"Cain," said DG voice rising to reach the others in the room, "when can we be ready to leave?"

"The remainder of the forces should have reached the encampment by now. My second, Commander Bowen, will be expecting us now that the Queen and Consort never arrived. We could leave tonight with a small group. Moving quickly, we would reach the encampment by tomorrow evening. From there we can set up the defenses and start to track Roquat and his followers."

The sisters made brief eye contact before nodding their consent. Cain moved quickly to the door, stopping only briefly to tip his hat to DG with a meaningful look. She gave him a small grateful smile and he turned, motioning to Glitch.

"Come on, Headcase. I'll need your assistance."

Ambrose started in a bounding step, giving a hasty bow as he trailed the Tin Man's retreating form. Raw moved toward the sisters, standing next to DG, and offered his hand in comfort.

"They will attack soon after we arrive and try to kill us before we get our bearings," said Azkadellia, continuing their previous conversation.

DG nodded, "It makes the most sense. There won't be a moment to lose."

"We'll have to set up enchantments and the nets immediately. After the first attack, you and Cain will have to leave to track them. We'll stay, pretend you have been killed, while you try to free Mother and Father. "

"We'll can leave a trail with the trackers so you can all follow later. Do you still know how to make them?"

"Yes. And once you and Cain have found them, we'll attack with the army; the distraction should allow you to escape."

"What about Roquat?"

"I don't know DG. The priority is to get Mother and Father, then our people, then to capture the Gnome King. All three goals may not be achievable."

DG watched her sister's steely countenance. She hadn't seen her look so severe since she was possessed by the witch.

"Az, it'll be alright. We'll get them back."

Azkadellia scoffed, not looking away from an undetermined spot on the wall.

"You don't know that, DG. Some of us don't get a happy ending all of the time."

DG drew back from the sting in her sister's words and Raw gripped her hand tighter in support. DG squeezed to let him know she was ok.

"They know you love them, Az. Don't doubt that."

DG released Raw's hand and passed behind her sister, pausing to lay a hand on her shoulder before continuing out the room.

DG had just shrugged on her coat when a soft knock came from the door.

"Yep, I'm ready!" she shouted, reaching for her bag and slinging it over her shoulder as Cain opened the door for her to pass. She paused in the hallway, glancing a few doors down.

"Your sister's already down," he answered, taking advantage of her distraction to take her bag from her.

"How did she look?"

"Like she's got a heap of unfinished business."

DG just nodded. If anyone recognized the grim lines of single minded focus and regret, it would be him.

"How are you holding up?" he asked after a moment.

"Mostly I'm numb. Like my brain is refusing to believe this is happening again. Also I think it just won't comprehend we're going to fight gnomes... I keep picturing drop-kicking the Travelocity mascot."

Cain just gave her that bewildered look he usually did when she started to reference the Other-side and she waved her hand in a 'nevermind' gesture. They were approaching the door to the waiting vehicle, when she suddenly stepped in his path, her gloved hand on his chest to halt his progress.

"But," she started, "this has got me thinking... I yell. A lot. And often it is directed at you... and if something were to happen, I don't want the last thing I say to you to be something angry."

She paused to swallow her nervousness as she stared up at him, his eyes unreadable.

Why is he so effing tall?

"So just know that, you doing this for me, it means the world to me, and I...well, I..."

Her stuttered words were cut short as the door behind her flew open, the blast of cold air sending her jumping as Glitch's cheerful eyes peered over the top of his scarf.

"Oh there you two are! Come on Deeg, I think you'll be quite impressed with our adjustments. Cain already sent out the decoys so we've got to get moving," he announced with a slightly muffled voice and threaded his arm into hers. He practically bounded around the corner before releasing her arm, not giving DG a chance to glance back at Cain.

"Isn't it amazing?" he cried, throwing his arm wide.

DG stared at the empty driveway, brows furrowed when she saw a small hand appear out of thin air to seemingly pull back a curtain. Azkadellia's face then appeared immediately behind, floating disembodied in the air.

"How does it look?" she asked, a small glimmer of pride in her voice.

"This is the netting?" DG asked incredulous. The effect was seamless. She watched as Cain brushed past her to load her bag into the back of the vehicle...which appeared to be huge if how far back Cain had to walk was anyway to judge.

"Just need a silencing charm on it and we should be able to move undetected," he replied, revealing the entrance for her to take he seat next to her sister.

The step up was large and he held out his hand to assist, seemingly reluctant to let her go before leaving to take his place next to the driver. Raw was already inside and Glitch hopped up behind her pulling the door closed and rapping on the wall, to signal them to go. Az extended her hand to DG and they murmured in unison placing the silencing charm along with a few other protective enchantments on the outside of the vehicle. With a great groan, the vehicle jerked into motion.

They heard a muffled, "Dammit!" echo from the cab and DG looked at Az confused.

The eldest princess grinned.

"Kong wanted to ride 'shotgun'."