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Chapter Twenty-Six: The Pier

Did it really matter? DG wondered on the walk back to the smaller hut her friends were kept in. Did it really matter if she gave away some land that no one but the gypsies used anyway?

The discussions between herself and the leaders of the Islar-Nari had gone around and around in circles. DG had refused them the land. Therefore they had refused her the magicians and more importantly the cure. They would not give her the cure for anything less than their land. DG had begged. She had told them she was only a Princess. Not a Queen. She had even wept openly asking if they would not spare her people. There was no pity forthcoming for her or the people stricken with the Turning Malady. Eventually DG had asked for time to consider her decision and to discuss with her mother. She had been given three hours.

(###)

Wyatt Cain was sure if he separated from DG for any longer he was going lose his temper. Each pace across the floor felt like needles being dug into his feet. The minutes were passing like hours and each one of them was weighing on him. There had been plenty of times in his life when Cain had felt useless, powerless even. However the sensation was always redoubled when DG was involved. Their conversation on the ship had opened some door on his emotions. He had heard her say that she loved him. There had been no trace of the pity he had always imagined. She had not seemed like the young princess full of gratitude towards the man who had helped her. Instead she had seemed sincere. DG was in love with him.

Glitch watched the General pace the floor for what must be nearly the thousandth time. Four hours. The princess had been gone for four hours. It was incredible that Cain was not breaking down doors by now. Glitch watched Cain getting more and more, tense as he paced. It was making him tense himself. There was a board in the floor of the hut that creaked each time Cain stood upon it. The noise was making Glitch twitch. Each time he tried to speak he failed so he had allowed the group to lapse into a strained silence.

Seb was counting. It was a trick his mother had taught him to keep him calm. So now he counted his breaths. The sound of the General pacing across the floor. The number of times he saw a shadow pass in front of the door to the room they were being kept in. Anything really. Anything to make sure he did not have to think about the fact that they had been forced to let the Princess walk out of there unprotected. Four hours ago.

For Lyle Day the majority of the time had passed fairly quickly. He had dozed a little, able to do so because he sure that the others were more concerned about DG than him. But the last few minutes had begun to make him nervous. He was suddenly realising that he was shackled and trapped. He was also realising that there was, after such a protracted time, a very real possibility that DG could be harmed. He was in short: stuck in a room full of the people least likely to take that news well. It would not go well for him. Lyle sat on his wooden bench staring at the silver haired General. Was he going to kill now, if something happened to DG? He felt bile rising in his throat.

Just then DG pushed the door to the hut open and stepped into the lamp lit room her face pale. She seemed to catch her friends by surprise. Cain was pacing away from her but turned on his heel with scarily fast reflexes. He came towards her in a half run.

'Are you alright?' he asked sharply checking her over with his eyes. That made her smile a little. Glitch was on his feet coming towards her too. She glanced at Day and Cook, they were both seated and looking relieved to see her. Seb Cook smiled in greeting. She tried to return the gesture. Her mind was utterly full. She felt dizzy from trying to hold in so much information and weigh up so many different options.

'I…' DG managed. The door behind her shut with a snap and she felt herself crumple. Cain caught her seemingly instantly. One moment she was beginning to fall then she was completely in the Tin Man's arms. Cain carried her, literally sweeping her off of her feet, over to one of the benches and set her down upon it. He knelt in front of her, bright blue eyes searching her face.

'What happened?' he asked in a quiet voice.

'Are you hurt?' Glitch said looking panicked. DG shook her head. Then she shook herself. She was of no use to anyone if she became too overwhelmed and wasted the time she had to make the decision on being ill. Deal with things one step at a time. Tutor had taught her that, when using magic it was important to have sound priorities. Then do one thing at a time and do it well.

'They made me an offer.' DG said opening her eyes and steadying herself. Then she told them all of it.

(###)

'Just tell them yes.' Cain said firmly. His voice was hard and there was edge to it that DG recognised. It made her shiver.

'No.' Glitch said his own face even paler than usual. 'You cannot. It would mean war.'

'The crown will have to support her decision.' Cain said through gritted teeth. DG let her eyes flick from one to the other. They had been presenting her with their varying arguments for over twenty minutes. Admittedly they were passionate and they gave good logical reasoning for their points of view but it was not helping DG.

'What happens if I do it?' DG asked finally. Directing her question at both men and making her voice was hard as she could to make sure they understood she needed utter honesty.

'There will be uprisings from the farmers on the edge of the Reed Lands.' Cain said his voice was grudging as if he was admitting something he would rather forget about.

'We lose our access to the sea. Trading could be crippled.' Glitch added.

'If they chose to the Gyp- The Islar-Nari could using the land legitimately however they wished. Including selling it. It could make a huge chunk of the OZ inaccessible. If they chose to shut us out of the Reed Lands completely…' Glitch trailed off his eyes huge.

'They could plan and run a rather successful war effort from here.' Cain said flatly.

'But the Turning Malady goes away. Hundreds… Thousands of people get to live.' DG mused. Neither of the men replied.

'I have to speak with my mother.' DG said finally. She stood up and walked out of the room without looking back. She trusted Glitch and Cain more than anyone and she relied on their advice endlessly. But right now neither of them could give her a satisfactory solution. If they had a few days between them she felt confident they could work something out but three hours… less now… it was not long enough.

(###)

It took her less than thirty minutes to set up the spell she needed to use to reach her mother, and so she expended a little extra time to include Azkadellia into the conversation, knowing she would value her sister's support and input. Once it was complete DG took and deep breath and concentrated. Their images appeared reflected in the water before her. DG had chosen the edge of a nearby pier to create her 'conference call' spell. The guards had allowed her to leave the hut after she had explained what she had to do.

'DG!' Lavender's voice was sharp. 'Where are you?'

'DG! Mother!' Az said surprised. Her dark hair was a mess and she looked exhausted. DG felt a pang at seeing her sister like that.

'I'm in the Reed Lands.' DG said quietly.

'What?!' The Queen said in an even sharper voice. 'You need to return immediately.'

'I can't mother.' DG said forcing herself to keep calm.

'Why ever not? This had better not have anything to do with General Cain!'

'What?' DG said in shock and for a moment everything else went out of her head.

'You go off chasing him across the OZ, DG! You HAVE to be aware of how ridiculous it looks? People at court are… talking!'

'Mother!' Az said sharply her voice a passable impersonation of her mothers.

'Talking?' DG said her mind buzzing again.

'Yes DG. NOT a good thing. We really must sort this out once and for good when you return. Which I assume will be soon?' the queen had a strict tone in her voice, like a particularly unpleasant teacher DG had, had at grade school.

'Mother!' Az said again.

'Azkadellia, I am well aware of your opinion on this matter. But your sister cannot be allowed to continue to think that such an inappropriate relationship can be allowed to continue.'

'Mother!' Az and DG said in unison. The queen froze.

'Mother. The gypsies… the Islar Nari. They have a cure for the Turning Malady.' DG said trying to focus on the matter at hand.

'They do?' Mother and eldest daughter said together. DG nodded.

'They will share it with us in return for something.'

'For what?' The queen asked her voice low and suspicious.

'Their land back.' DG said flatly.

'No.' Said Lavender without even a moment of hesitation or thought.

'But why not?' Azkadellia asked after a stunned silence.

'Because they cannot. The Reed Land is strategically too important.'

'But we can save so many people!' Az protested weakly. They were obviously in different areas of the Central City Palace. DG thought, Lavender seemed to be in the throne room, the rich tapestries behind her were just visible. Her sister, DG suspected, had been sleeping when she had contacted her.

'We will. The Gypsies will have to take something else.' The Queen said simply.

'They won't. I only have an hour or so before the deal… expires… it is this or nothing.' DG told them both twisting a piece of her dark hair between two fingers.

'Who negotiated with them?' Lavender asked her face a mask of confusion.

'I did.' DG replied.

'Well that is ridiculous. Tell them I am on way.'

'They won't care, mother… it's now or-' DG began. She had asked if the Islar Nari would wait for her mother to come to them herself. She had been told no. She was the Storm Child. The Storm Child was the one they would deal with.

'DG. You are not able to do this. I am on my way.' Lavender said. Then abruptly her end of the communication spell cut off.

'Sorry sis.' Az said seeing the horror on DG's face.

'They won't wait for her.' DG told her sister feeling sick.

'I know.'

'What should I do?'

'I don't know.' Az said quietly. But then she wiped one hand across her face and continued: 'There are nearly eight hundred people sick.'

'Eight Hundred?' DG barked in shock.

'It's spreading quicker now.' Az replied dully. No wonder she look exhausted DG thought. She turned her eyes from her sister for a long moment staring out across the water. Her mind reeling.

'DG…'

'Yes?' DG asked turning back to her sister.

'Mother is serious about Cain. She is furious with you. Both of you. I think she intends to send him away… some mission to the Inner Zone.' There was an icy note in Az's voice that made DG want to cry. Her mother meant to keep her away from Cain by any means necessary.

'I… I have to go.' DG said eventually. Az nodded, the pain in her face obvious.

'I love you DG. I trust you. Tell the Islar Nari whatever you can.' Az smiled once. Then she too disappeared.

DG stared into the water for a long time. She knew it was wasting her time but there was a part of her that did not care. A part of her that wanted nothing more than just to sit there and let the world explode around her.

'What are you going to do, Kiddo?' Cain asked from behind her. DG idly wondered just how long he had been there. Had heard about his Queen's plans for him?

'I have no idea.' DG said with a sigh, she did not turn to look at him.

'The Head Case and I want to apologise. We threw our opinions at you. This is your decision. We trust ya to make it.' Cain said and DG heard him take a few steps towards her.

'Cain did you hear my mother…' She began.

'I did. I told ya this…' DG got the impression he was gesturing from himself to her. 'Wouldn't be popular.'

She wanted to rant and rail at him. Did he not care? Did he not think it was ridiculous? Then something else caught her attention. It was not a visual thing or a sound it was a thought. One that been dancing around in the back of her mind for a little while. Now she let it come to the forefront.

'Do you trust me?' DG asked turning to look at the Tin Man suddenly. Her face was still pale but her eyes danced.

'Yes.' If DG had expected Cain's answer to require consideration or thought she was utterly wrong. He answered almost before she finished speaking. She thought, for a moment, about asking him the question again but there was no point. He had answered from the heart she had seen it in his eyes. It was enough to prompt her into action. Enough was enough, she thought.

'The Islar Nari call me Storm Child.' She told him getting to her feet.

'Because of how you came?' Cain asked watching her. There was a tiny smile on his lips and his eyes were twinkling

'No. I thought that but I asked Sisara. She said it because I cause upheaval wherever I go.' DG said and grinned. Cain returned it easily. 'And because after the storm things are always different… but calmer… greener.'

'Restored.' Cain said and he reached out to touch her cheek gently. DG took two steps towards him and kissed him. He responded straight way, looping his arms around her waist and tugging her into him. After she pulled away they stayed stood close together for a long silent time. Then DG stepped away.

'This is my decision right?' DG asked him her small form seemingly taller somehow. The Tin Man nodded.

'It is. You're Majesty.' He said tipping his fedora to her. She grinned again. Then her expression grew more serious.

'There is going to be fall out… Trouble.' DG told him.

'Good.' He replied and dropped to his knee in front of her. 'I am at your service.'

'Then I have a question for you Tin Man.'

'Yes Ma'am.' He replied climbing back to his feet his expression serious.

'I need you answer this for yourself.' DG told him her bright eyes locked on to his. 'Not as a General. Or as my protector. Or as a Tin Man. Regardless of the probably consequences. I need your honest and real answer.'

'Okay.' Cain said his heart begin to race a little. What was the Princess planning?

'Cain- will you marry me?'