Chapter Thirty Two: The Heart of the Reed Lands
'Shortest honeymoon ever.' DG moaned as Cain tugged the small bell laden boat alongside the dock in the city. Glitch and Sebastian Cook were waiting for them.
'What's a honeymoon?' Cain asked pulling himself onto the jetty with Glitch's help and turn to help the Princess clamber up behind him.
'Really?' DG asked staring at him. 'What do you call the time after a wedding here?'
'The time after a wedding…' The Advisor offered giving her a confused look.
'Don't people go away after they get married… for a holiday?' DG asked. Looking from her husband to her friend and back again.
'No. Do they in your world?'
'Yes. Somewhere hot and far away from everyone they know. For at least a week!' DG said smoothing her dress with her hands.
'I like the sound of a honey moon.' Cain told her touching her face gently. He pronounced the word as two making DG smile despite her nervousness. 'Once this is all over we will take one.'
'Promise?' She asked in a soft voice. Cain nodded once and kissed her tenderly.
'Ahh… I'm so happy!' Ambrose said it an elated voice. The couple laughed turning to him. He had a bright grin on his face which flattered after only a moment. Then it faded completely before the advisor continued: 'But we have other things we need to talk about.'
(###)
It was early evening. Not even a full day since the General had married the Princess. The perfect end to every one of the stories that was whispered in Central City... The General was in love with the Princess but he kept his heart in an Iron Box so they did not bother him... The Princess so loved the older General that she was looking for spells to make her older... or he younger...
The memory of them made Glitch laugh a little in the privacy of his divided mind. Two of his closest friends had married. For loved and not out of duty, a thing he saw too often in Court life. It made him glad. It gave him hope... But Glitch knew they couldn't afford to waste time on moons made of honey or on his own foolish hopes.
Walking together the four of them made their way to the room they had been kept it on their arrival in the city. Since DG had forged the treaty with the Ishlar-Nari they were no longer prisoners but honoured guests. However they simply meant they were given more freedom to use the rooms already given to them. Glitch and Seb had slept in the low large hut. On beds made from reed mattresses bundled in by Sisara and her helpers. They had been taken away again this afternoon. Probably, he reasoned, to be aired.
'How long until my mother gets here?' DG asked. She had settled onto a bench on the side of the hut facing the door, Ambrose sat opposite her and Cook paced nearby. Cain was sat next to DG closer than he would normally, one hand grazing her leg. They looked, Ambrose realised, more comfortable together than they had in a long time. As if this was really how things should have been all along. They looked right.
'My best guess is a little after dawn.' He answered. 'We are in the very heart of the Reed Lands now. Even the Queen will have difficulty reaching us swiftly.'
'But still that soon?' Seb asked seeming disappointed.
'She can move quickly.' The advisor admitted flatly.
'Will she try to over-turn the agreements I have made?' DG asked him, her eyes asking for his honesty. Glitch looked down.
'Yes.'
'And the matter of our marriage?' Cain asked him.
'Will not please her. She may remove you from your position.'
'That's fine.' Cain said a wolf like smile on his lips.
'What do we do?' DG asked.
'Honestly?' The advisor shook his head. His broken mind refusing to give him an answer. 'I have no idea.'
(###)
They had talked. They had planned. But none of them could accurately predict the Queen's reaction to the news her youngest daughter had not only forged an alliance with the Gypsies but also married the rebellious older General. There was ideas. In some way these were a comfort to them all. It was not as if they had nothing there were the beginnings of plans to work from.
However there was really little else to do but wait. So they waited. Together.
Sebastian Cook could not believe he was stood shoulder to shoulder with General Cain, Princess Dorothy Gale and Ambrose the Queen's Advisor. The thought of being involved in their conversations made him giddy. He was part of their adventure! Now they were stood watching the water line horizon for the Queen to come. But all he could think was how he understood everything. How they had been able to defeat the witch… all of it. Because they were together. They had pure hearts… it sounded corny. Even in his head. But he thought in his deepest of thoughts... It was true.
DG stood as tall as she could. Cain was behind her, one hand on her waist. On her left ring finger was a band of silvery metal… a gift from Glitch. He had bartered for them himself. It had cost him his pocket watch and a song he had learnt as a child... the Islar Nari loved songs. They were a gift: A matching band was on Cain's own ring finger now. She felt Cain's chest moving as he breathed in and out steadily behind her. She forced her own breathing to match his. Letting the calm it brought douse her panic a little.
Ambrose waited for the queen he served to arrive. For the Queen he had advised for many many years. For the Queen he had betrayed to arrive. The feeling was not panic. It was just expectation. This was right. He knew it. But that did not mean it would be easy.
Cain saw the ship first. Pulling his wife slightly tighter against himself he straightened his shoulders. He let his mind clear as he had always done. One thing at a time, Wyatt, he told himself. One thing at a time.
They stayed there as the ship raced towards them moving on a magical wind. It rushed through the reeds and turn gracefully to dock a few hundred metres from them. It had taken barely twenty minutes to reach them. As the sound of voices reached the four of them, DG nodded once.
'Show time.'
Author's Note: I'm so thrilled people are still reading this story! Thank You! I'm working hard to make sure I keep updating I promise...