Chapter Fourteen: Water-Bend

In Central City the Princess Azkadellia was not happy.

The news that their youngest daughter had taken it upon herself to join the pursuit of several dangerous criminals had not impressed her parents. They had argued with Azkadellia about why DG felt she could be of any use to the investigation. They had argued about why Az hadn't tried to stop her. Then they argued with her about the duty of Jeb Cain's care. At that point Az had, as she thought of it, channelled her inner DG.

'That is not your business!'

'Of course it is! You're our daughter. The care of someone so severely injured and suffering from the Sickness too... it's best left to-'

'To who? I was put in charge of his care. Cain chose me.'

'General Cain may not have understood quite...'Lavender trailed off.

'I doubt very much whether there is anything General Cain doesn't understand. Least of all his own son.'

'I think on this, my dear, Az is right.' Ahamo spoke up, putting a hand his wife's wrist. The Queen looked in shock from her husband back at her eldest daughter.

Azkadellia was stood straight and tall in front of them. She was wearing a neat and sensible green dress... the likeness between her and DG was clear. It wasn't simply their looks either, the queen realised, it was the same solid determination. She had made her decision, it was that simple.

'Okay, my darling.' She said giving in. 'Just be careful.'

Azkadellia had been allowed to go back to Jeb's rooms then. She wasn't angry at DG for leaving... it the right place for her to be but, she felt a little resentment. DG was the people's darling. She defaulted to action, even after they'd got rid of the Witch. That was why visiting the sick, working out big plans to better the O.Z and running off after Longcoats was just DG's style.

'I however, get to stay here and do all the usual Princess things...' Azkadellia murmured to herself.

'Azkadellia sad.' Raw said from the other side of Jeb's room.

'No, I'm just... thinking.' She said bending to look at Jeb more closely.

'Azkadellia sad. Think DG more than her... Not true.' Azkadellia looked up at viewer, and smiled.

'We're different... different roles...'

'Different good. One path for each of you. O.Z need both.'

'Yes... it's just- Raw!' Azkadellia's train of thought was derailed by movement in Jeb's chest. She gently concentrated on the breathing spell, pulling it back.

Raw put a hand on to the young man's chest and closed his eyes.

'He breaths.'

Azkadellia let the spell dissipate and grinned at her friend. Sighing in relief and joy she sat in a nearby chair.

'You know what Raw?'

'Raw does not...'

'I'm glad I'm on my path.'

(#)

It was quiet on the Brick Route. Glitch had to admit he was much more comfortable this journey than the last. Cain was riding ahead, scouting he called it, and the two young guards were bringing up the rear. He and DG rode quietly alongside one another.

The advisor was thinking over their journey so far. Or he was trying to, what he was actually doing was missing Azkadellia. If there was upside to the Turning Malady, (and Glitch felt there probably wasn't one) it might just be that he gotten to spend time with the Princess. Admittedly they were researching, making lists, and doing experiments. But that wasn't important, simply being around her made him feel glad to exist. The more time he spent with Az, the more time he wanted to spend with her.

'Glitch?'

'Oh sorry, DG. I was... thinking about something else.'

'I guessed.' DG said grinning at her friend. 'Here, thought you might want this back.' She passed him Azkadellia's bracelet, the one she'd taken from his jacket earlier that morning.

'Thanks.' Glitch coloured but took the bracelet and slid it into his pocket.

'Do you think he'll send me back?' DG lowered her voice so the question wouldn't be overheard.

'Cain? You're here now aren't you?'

'Is that a no?'

'Yes. I mean No... I mean... I mean... I mean...' Glitch had to physically shake himself. 'Cain won't make you do anything you don't want to. He just worries for you.'

'I get that.' DG said looking at the back of the Tin Man riding in front of them, outlined against the storm cloudy sky.

'Would you go, if he asked you?'

'I... No... Well... Yes, probably.' Her voice was flat and she kept her focus on the back of Cain's head.

'Then why not listen the first time he asked?'

DG looked at Glitch; it was her turn to blush. 'I don't know.'

They exchanged a glance and both turned away to stop the laughter coming. They rode on for a while in companionable silence.

'Can you smell smoke?' DG asked suddenly looking around her.

'No...' Glitch sniffed dramatically. DG smiled but urged Eli into a faster trot to catch up with Cain.

'Cain, can you-'

'Yes. There's a village up ahead. It's called Water Bend.'

'You think there's a fire at the village?' DG asked studying the concern on Cain's face.

'Hm...' Cain stirred his horse to move faster. DG followed.

(#)

The smell of burning was much stronger a few minutes later but there something else bothering DG. She couldn't put her finger on it, it something in the back of her mind, like a taste she'd rather forget.

Unexpectedly there was a sound of running feet and a blur of green cloth of to the right.

'Head into the village, I'll catch up.' Cain said turning his horse and following the running person into the wood.

'Be careful!' DG called after him.

Past the next set of overhanging trees was the reason for the burnt smell. DG pulled Eli up and slid of his back. She felt a wave of nausea hit her.

Water Bend had not been a big village.

Now it was nothing but ash and burnt wood. There was one building which had been made of stone: it had half a roof left but was still fire blackened. There was burnt furniture in the remains of the houses. A cart wheel was alone in the centre of the village, the rest of cart destroyed.

DG at the entrance to the village and bit her lip to stave of tears. 'I need to help...' the thought filled her mind and DG did the first thing she could think of, she let her magic snake out of her in search of people... There was nothing but ash... The only people around were behind her, four near the tree line the glowed in the back of her mind she couldn't tell them apart... There was someone right behind her.

Turning she let Cain pull her into his chest.

'I knew it was you.' She whispered.

'Course. I'm here.' The Tin Man stood with her held against him for well over a minute, one hand holding her and the other in her hair. 'You okay Darlin'?' He said finally pulling back.

DG had composed herself and nodded grimly.

'There's no-one here.'

'They all fled, they're at the Keep two hours away.'

'How?' DG said but turned to look at the fifth person she'd felt. He was about 15 with dark hair and he looked terrified but defiant. 'Oh.'

Before Cain could say anything more there was a thin keel from one of the burnt out buildings. Moving towards the noise DG saw a falcon shuffling and flapping one wing in the ashes. It keeled again, the Princess figured it had a broken wing and she saw now several completely burnt and a few singed feathers.

'Wyatt?' She called over her shoulder not taking her eyes off of the bird. The Tin Man came to her.

'Laner Falcon... a female.'

'She's beautiful. Can you catch her?' Cain looked at her in puzzlement but moving far more quickly than a man his size should be able to, he gripped the bird taking care not to hold the broken wing.

DG stroked the undamaged wing gently. The bird keeled gently in Cain's hands but didn't fight him. Closing her eyes against yet more tears DG felt her magic pull at her. It was something she hadn't felt since she'd touched the tree in the field of the Papay...

Her eyes slammed open when the bird shook under her hands, it stretched its two perfect wings, roused its un-singed feather's and took off.

DG swayed as the energy left her with the bird. The sense of a nasty after taste in her mind returned strongly.

'DG?' Wyatt Cain looked into the eyes of the girl in front of him. She was staring at the falcon in flight.

'Was this the Longcoats?' she asked still looking up.

'Yes.'

'Where are they?'

'There's a chance they're at the Keep hiding in plain sight.' DG met his pale blue eyes. For a long moment they looked at each other, a conversation without words.

'Let's go.'