Fic: Redemption & Reconstruction (16/?) (DG/Cain UST) (PG-13)
Title: Redemption & Reconstruction (16/?)
Author: caroly_214
Characters/Pairings: Pretty much everybody, DG/Cain UST (eventual overt DG/Cain)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4,350
Disclaimer: I may share the same name as someone on the show, but that still doesn’t mean I own anything (shame, that). Telly Northway is the joint property of myself and queenof1000days. Kenley Stratford is the red-headed Resistance fighter in Jeb's cell that we see fighting in the miniseries; queenof1000days was kind enough to come up with her name.
Spoilers: Set immediately after the end of the miniseries.
Summary: The royals pass judgment on the Long Coat Resistance spies, DG teases Lord Wyatt, Jeb apologizes, and the troops leave for Central City.
Comments: As always, many, many thanks to my brilliant betas daisycm83 and goodisrelative. And thanks to queenof1000days for her brainstorming, encouragement, and general awesomeness, and to my sister sugardoodle10 for her suggestions as she read over my shoulder as I wrote.
Author's Note: Okay, so here's the thing. Work is so nuts I don't want to think about it. We're at half strength, which means lots of working and less writing for me. So, I hope to get Ch 17 out soon, but who really knows.
Cross-posted to my journal, tinman_fic, and dg_cain
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
As the first of the Long Coats was brought into the room, DG straightened, trying to look as regal as possible while wearing her jeans and t-shirt. As hard as she tried, though, she knew she couldn’t compare to her impossibly regal mother sitting next to her.
Intelligence Officer Baker and Raw had finally completed their review of the Long Coats and were ready to present those they believed had been working with the Resistance to the Queen. According to Baker and Raw, while some of the Resistance spies were good men, others spied for less savory reasons and would not be good candidates to work for the royal family. So it was up to the Queen to decide what to do with the Long Coats: keep them in detention pending formal judicial proceedings; set them free; or ask them to continue working with the Resistance/Royal Army. And the Queen had asked for her empathic daughter’s help in deciding. DG wasn’t sure if her mother actually needed the help, but it was nice to feel like she was making a contribution.
That was why DG now sat on a makeshift throne to the right of her mother - the traditional position of the heir apparent - waiting to pass judgment on the Long Coats brought before them. But at least it wasn’t just the two of them: Ahamo sat on Lavender’s left, Glitch was on Ahamo’s left, Cain was to DG’s right, and Raw was to Cain’s right (Glitch had insisted that they had to sit in that arrangement - apparently, there was some crazy royal protocol for seating arrangements at formal events and this counted as a formal event). And of course, everyone’s bodyguards were hovering in the background, and there were lots of Resistance fighters, including Baker, all around the room. If not for the depressing setting and tedious task ahead of them, they could have a party.
Bringing her thoughts back to the task at hand, DG looked up at the first Long Coat and realized she’d met him before - during her time as the witch’s prisoner. She was pretty sure he had been the Sorceress’ assistant; he had accompanied the witch when she killed the Mystic Man. On one hand, DG was surprised that someone who would be so close to the witch could have worked for the Resistance; on the other hand, however, DG remembered seeing, out of the corner of her eye, the uncomfortable look on his face when the Mystic Man was killed, so it made some sense. And who better to pass on the witch’s plans to the Resistance than someone who worked closely with the witch? If he really had been a Resistance spy, it would have been quite the coup for the Resistance.
The man, flanked on either side by guards, stopped in front of the royals and bowed. Straightening, he met the Queen’s gaze, his expression serene, but DG could tell with her empathy that he wasn’t nearly as calm as he pretended to be. Off to the side, Baker announced, “Your Majesty, this is Brayden Myers, also known as Vy-Sor.”
The Queen regarded the man coolly. “Why do you have two names?” she asked.
He shifted under her scrutiny. “I was born with the name Brayden Myers, Majesty, and it was under that name that I began working for the Resistance. I chose a different name when I joined the Long Coats, to hide my involvement with the Resistance.”
Knowing she was there to use her empathy to read the Long Coats, DG focused her magic on the man, trying to see if he was telling the truth. It wasn’t easy; the man’s emotions were tightly controlled, which made sense for an intelligence agent, especially one who had to work so close to the witch. But DG couldn’t sense any deception from him, so she tilted her head and caught her mother’s eye, nodding nearly imperceptibly.
The Queen nodded slowly. “Very well, then, Mr. Myers. Please explain to us how you came to be a member of the Long Coats.”
Myers took a deep breath and began his tale. “Several annuals ago, Majesty, when I came of age, I joined the Resistance to fight against the evil of the Sorceress. My main responsibilities were as a courier. But then, less than two annuals after I joined the Resistance, I was conscripted into the Long Coats.” DG blinked, startled. She hadn’t realized that the witch had forced people to join the Long Coats, though it did make her feel a little better about the people of the OZ - maybe there weren’t as many evil people as she’d thought.
The former Long Coat continued, “The penalties for refusing to join the Long Coats included reprisals against the families of those who refused, and I could not endanger my parents, sisters, and cousins. I discussed the situation with others in the Resistance and we agreed that I should use my position in the Long Coats to obtain information to help the Resistance. Several months ago, I was able to rise to the position of assistant to the Sorceress, and from that position I was able to pass on a great deal of information to the Resistance.”
There was silence as all the royals and their advisors studied the man. It was Ahamo who broke the silence.
“You say that you were able to pass along information to the Resistance from your position as the Sorceress’ assistant, but did you do anything to stop her? Or did you stand by as she murdered hundreds of people and worked to destroy the OZ?” he demanded, his tone hard, fulfilling his self-appointed role as ‘bad cop.’ Having pretty much been a spy himself in the Realm of the Unwanted, he’d volunteered to ask questions to figure out the Resistance spies' loyalties and priorities. He’d pointed out that the spies’ explanations for their actions were just as important as their actions.
It was a good thing that DG had been warned about Ahamo’s role, because the change in his outward personality was pretty shocking. Although she’d met him as the creepy and threatening Seeker, it seemed like Ahamo had been going out of his way the past few days to present himself as an affable and doting husband and father. DG wouldn’t be surprised if he’d done that, at least in part, because she’d confessed in the balloon that his ‘kidnapping’ had freaked her out. But the Ahamo here was different than both of the versions of her father she’d already met. Instead, he was almost a cross between the two: genial, but with a slightly dangerous edge. She was beginning to see the Prince Consort in her father.
To his credit, Myers didn’t bat an eye at the Consort’s interrogation, though some emotion - pain, mixed with anger - leaked through his stoic façade. “With respect, Highness, I couldn’t interfere. As much as I wanted to do something - anything - to stop her, I knew it wouldn’t do any good. She was so much more powerful than I was, and any hint that I was working against her would have led to my instant death. I saw it often enough even before I became her assistant. I wouldn’t have been any use to the Resistance dead. The most I could do was funnel information to those who could fight and hope they could do something to resist her.”
DG considered his words. His explanation made sense, but she couldn’t help but think that a lot of people - especially those who suffered because of the witch - would think that he should have done more. Although not really practical, she could understand the feeling because a part of her felt that way. Standing by helplessly while the witch killed the Mystic Man - and while Myers did nothing - was not something she’d forget. Though, she had to admit, she didn’t know what Myers could have done to stop the witch. From what she could tell with her empathy, Myers really believed what he said, and she felt guilt and pain mixed in with his conviction. Although she wasn’t sure whether her mother needed her magic lie detector services again, she nodded imperceptibly.
The Queen gazed at Myers several long moments, her expression thoughtful. Myers met her eyes for a moment before wilting under the scrutiny of his Queen. DG wondered if her mother would take Baker’s recommendation for Myers; namely, that he be allowed to join the Royal Army. Regardless of Myers’s motives, the Intelligence Officer thought the information Myers would be able to provide would outweigh any potential problems. Raw, on the other hand, thought Myers was sufficiently trustworthy and DG saw nothing that would lead her to believe otherwise. If it were up to her, DG would probably ask him to join the Army, but it wasn’t her choice.
Lavender turned her head and locked gazes with her husband. DG watched their silent communication, seeing that her parents were closer than she’d realized. After a moment, the Queen looked away, briefly looking at each of the members of her Council. Finally, Lavender nodded. “Very well, Mr. Myers. We thank you for your efforts in resisting the witch of the dark. While some may question why you did not do more, we accept that you were in a very difficult and dangerous situation and that you did what you could. Now that the witch has been defeated, we ask that you continue to work to heal the hurts caused by her reign. If you wish it, you will have a commission in our Army, working under the command of Intelligence Officer Baker. Will you accept the commission?”
Myers stared, dumbfounded, at the Queen. DG guessed he hadn’t expected to be offered a commission; he’d probably been hoping to be allowed to go free. But he quickly regained his composure and knelt.
“I would be honored, Your Majesty. Thank you for your confidence in me. I will not let you down.”
Lavender smiled gently. “I have no doubt of that, Mr. Myers. We accept your service. Report to Captain Cain outside; he will tell you where to go.”
Myers rose and bowed before walking out of the room. DG sighed as he left. That hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared, but he was just the first.
On the other side of her mother, Ahamo smiled wryly. “Well, that’s one down. How many are left?”
Baker consulted her notes. “Eighteen, your Highness.”
DG bit back a groan. They were going to be at this for hours. For her mother’s sake, she tried to put on a game face, though, judging by Cain’s amused expression, she hadn’t hid her frustration very well.
Her mother turned toward her. “Are you ready for the next one, darling?” Lavender asked with a smirk as DG realized she was a complete failure at hiding her emotions.
“Yes, Mother,” she answered meekly. It was going to be a long morning.
****
Several hours later, DG sighed happily as she bit into her sandwich. The expected shipment of food had come in, and though there wasn’t much to go around, it was so much better than rations. DG knew, due to the physical activity of the past week and how little she’d eaten, she’d probably lost a few pounds. In fact, her mother had commented the day before that she was looking a little thin. But now, with actual bread and something close to turkey (Cain had told her what it was called, but right now, she was sticking with ‘almost-turkey’), and even something sweet, she was on her way to making up what she had lost.
Of the 19 former Long Coats Baker and Raw had presented to the Queen, 4 had been offered commissions in the Royal Army; 3 accepted and were now being corralled by Baker, and the other had been given permission to leave. Five former Long Coats had also been granted permission to leave. The remaining 10 had been placed back in custody to await trial. It had been a long and tiring morning, but at least that task was over.
Leaning back into the couch, DG turned to face Cain and smiled warmly at him. Cain hadn’t been too happy at letting former Long Coats - even Resistance spies - go free, but he had grit his teeth and accepted the Queen’s decisions. Now DG wanted to make sure he didn’t start brooding again - she had had enough of Cain’s brooding to last a really long time.
“So, Tin Man, not a bad day’s work, huh?” she teased.
Cain cocked an eyebrow at her, probably realizing she was provoking him. “The day ain’t over yet, Princess, and we have a lot more to do.”
“Spoilsport,” she muttered, trying to stifle a smirk, glancing at Cain out of the corner of her eye. To her delight, she saw a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Don’t be mad at me, Princess. You’re the one who asked me to be your advisor. If you wanted someone to slack off with, you shouldn’t have given me a job. It’s my responsibility to keep you in line.”
DG rolled her eyes. While snarky Cain was better than brooding Cain, he was still a spoilsport. “Whatever you say, Lord Wyatt.” That’d teach him to rain on her parade.
Cain growled. “If you know what’s good for you, kid, you won’t use that title unless absolutely necessary.”
DG put on her best innocent face. “Oh, but Lord Wyatt, I think everyone should call you by your proper title. After all, you earned it. In fact, I think we should issue a royal proclamation that you should only be addressed as Lord Wyatt.”
Somehow, she managed to keep a straight face while Cain’s expression became more and more irate. “Not funny, DG. You know I’m only doing this because you asked. I couldn’t care less about any titles.”
Well, that killed the playful mood. DG smiled at Cain. “I know,” she said. “And I’m really glad you’re my advisor, even if you hate your title.” Cain’s expression softened, and out of the corner of her, DG saw that their conversation had caught the attention of her parents, Glitch, and Raw. Deciding she didn’t want their audience to see any more mushy stuff, she smirked. “But you have to admit, your reaction when I use the title is priceless.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “It’s a good thing I like you, Princess. Otherwise, I might just have to teach you a lesson.”
“Yeah, well, good luck with that Cain. I never did pay much attention in school.” DG’s smirk grew as Cain growled in exasperation. It was so much fun baiting Cain - and it was so easy, too.
Their audience laughed and DG smiled impishly at her partner in crime, who just rolled his eyes.
Still chuckling, Ahamo said, “DG, don’t torture the poor man. We need him intact to get everything done.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she said with a mock-resigned sigh.
Her mother shook her head at DG’s antics. “As amusing as this has been, your father and Mr. Cain are both correct: we have a lot to do this afternoon. How are we in the preparations for Captain Cain’s forces leaving for Central City in the morning?” the Queen asked.
Surprisingly (because DG was still trying to equate her scatterbrained friend with the competent advisor he occasionally was), it was Glitch who responded. “The troops have been chosen and are readying their supplies. We still need to make sure they have enough food and weapons. And we need to finalize the intelligence reports before they leave.”
Lavender nodded. “I think we can accomplish everything without too much difficulty. Ahamo and Glitch, please make sure the troops have all their supplies. DG, Mr. Cain, please finalize the intelligence reports and brief Captain Cain. I want the troops to have the most up to date information we have.”
Everyone nodded. “The Queen has spoken, so I guess we have to get to work,” DG said while rising from the couch. Smiling, she offered her hand to Cain to help him up. He rolled his eyes but took her hand and DG grunted as she pulled him up. “You’re heavy, Tin Man.”
Cain just shook his head. “The things I put up with because of you, kid. What did I ever do to deserve this?”
DG grinned at him. “Just lucky, I guess.”
Taking advantage of that DG was still holding his hand, Cain started to haul the princess out of the room. With her free hand, DG waved merrily at her parents and friends as she was pulled through the door. “We’ll be in our office if you need us,” she called.
***
“Do you have any questions, Captain Cain?” DG asked when they finally finished the intelligence briefing. She felt like she’d been talking for hours, which was probably because she had been.
They’d received reports from all over the OZ for the past few days and so there was a lot of information to pass on. The good news, though, was that nearly all the Resistance cells across the OZ had attacked Long Coats during the eclipse and almost half had outright won their battles and a lot of battles had ended in a draw. Very few Resistance cells had lost. They had all been planning for this for a long time and had been ready.
Now Long Coats were on the run throughout the lands. There were only a few areas where the witch’s troops were still in control; unfortunately, one of those areas was Central City. There were just too many Long Coats garrisoned there for the Resistance to overcome. That was why the city was the Royal Army’s first destination. Plus, the ‘shining city on the hill’ was a symbol of the OZ that the Long Coats couldn’t be allowed to keep. Once the Army, working with the Resistance in the city, defeated the Long Coats, DG would travel to the city to give her spiel, explaining things to a large percentage of the OZ’s population in one fell swoop. At least, that was the plan, but DG knew better than to count on things going as planned.
Across from her, Jeb shook his head. “No, your Highness.” He looked at his lieutenants, Telly, Baker, and man DG hadn’t met before named Ross, beside him. All three shook their heads as well. Relieved that everything was clear, she smiled.
Next to her, Cain spoke up. “Do you have any estimates how long it will take to defeat the Long Coats in Central City?”
Jeb looked down at a pad of paper in front of him. “Optimistically, three days, but it could take a lot longer. These Long Coats have already resisted the call to surrender to the Resistance, so I’m guessing they’ll put up quite a fight.”
DG nodded. Central City and the Northern Gale - the latter apparently the traditional home of the non-royal Gales - were the most heavily garrisoned and with the most fanatical Long Coats. Those areas would be the most difficult to reclaim.
“All right, then. We’re done here, so you can finish your preparations to leave in the morning.”
Everyone rose and the four Army officers bowed to her, but while the lieutenants started to leave, Jeb lingered behind.
“Is there something I can help you with, Captain Cain?” DG asked.
Jeb hesitated, then said, “Actually, your Highness, I was hoping to speak with you privately.”
She blinked. Well, that’s unexpected. “Sure, Jeb.” Turning to Cain, she suggested, “Why don’t you wait out in the hall with Kenley?” Cain didn’t look happy, but he nodded and followed his son’s lieutenants out of the room.
DG leaned back in her chair and waved for Jeb to sit back down. He shook his head and instead remained standing at attention before her. After waiting several moments for him to speak, she prompted him, “Captain?”
Jeb looked down before raising his eyes to meet hers. “I wanted to thank you, Princess, for what you said to me the other day. I guess I needed a wake up call.”
“I won’t disagree with that.” Jeb looked a little surprised, so DG smiled reassuringly. “There’s a lot of stuff going on and sometimes we get so bogged down, we lose track of things. And sometimes we need someone else to remind us what’s important. That’s all I did.” It wasn’t the most coherent explanation, but Jeb seemed to get it.
Nodding, Jeb continued, “I also wanted to apologize. I haven’t been fair to you. I just haven’t been sure what to make of you. After so long under the rule of the Sorceress, I wasn’t sure how to relate to royalty, and you were not what I expected of royalty. And you were close to my father and I’m not sure how to relate to him, either.”
DG hadn’t been expecting that level of honesty from Jeb - and she was pretty sure that was the most Jeb had ever said to her. While part of her wanted to be smug about how well her plan had worked, the rest of her knew she should just be grateful that she hadn’t completely screwed everything up.
Still smiling, she stood and walked over to Jeb. “I understand. It’s been a difficult time for all of us. And I’m not sure how to handle this princess thing, so I can’t expect anyone else to know, either.” Considering a moment, she tilted her head and asked, “Now that we’re getting along so well, can you do me a favor?”
Jeb looked a little alarmed, but nodded. “Of course, your Highness.”
“Spend some time with your dad this evening. I don’t care if you still have things to do to prepare for tomorrow; ask for his help. Who knows how long it will be until you see him again.”
Jeb looked at her closely a moment before nodding. “All right, Princess.”
DG grinned her approval. “Good. Come on; let’s go get your dad.” She walked out of the room, not surprised to find Cain and Kenley hovering right outside the door (and she noted that Cain had somehow managed to get out of having a bodyguard; she was going to have to change that. If she had to suffer, so did he).
Turning to face Jeb, she looked at him expectantly. She considered hiding her involvement with this plot from Cain, but he’d figure it out, so she may as well acknowledge it.
Jeb cleared his throat and looked at Cain. “Father, I was wondering if you could help me with some of the preparations this evening.”
Cain blinked, surprised, and glanced at DG before turning back to Jeb. “I’d be happy to, if the Princess can spare me.”
DG waved her hand airily. “I think I can handle a few hours away from you, Cain. And you’ll just miss me singing with Az some more.”
Cain smirked. “Well, I can’t say I’m sorry I’ll be missing that.”
Annoyed, she lightly smacked his arm. “Hey, we sing well. And just for that, tomorrow, you get to sing along.”
The Tin Man groaned and rolled eyes. “Let’s leave, Jeb, before she punishes me any more.”
Jeb seemed confused, but turned toward DG. “With your permission, Highness,” he said. After DG nodded, he bowed and began walking down the hall, Cain following after him.
“Have fun,” DG called after them. Chuckling to herself, she walked down the hall herself, looking for her family.
***
Early the next morning, DG, her parents, Cain, Glitch, and Raw stood in front of the tower. Before them, the troops were arrayed, ready to set out and now waiting for the Queen’s blessing. Because of the situation, however, the ceremony was much more low-key than tradition called for.
Jeb, surrounded by his lieutenants, approached the royal party and bowed.
“Are your troops ready to set off on your mission, Captain Cain?” the Queen asked, her voice ringing out in the pre-dawn silence.
Jeb nodded. “We are, your Majesty.”
The Queen smiled brilliantly at them, catching all the troops in her gaze. “Then go forth with the blessings and best wishes of the Royal House of Gale. Our thoughts and hopes will be with you on your mission. We look forward to hearing of your victories over the enemies of the OZ.”
As pre-arranged, DG stepped up to her mother and took the Queen’s outstretched hand. Together, as they had practiced, they pooled their magic and created a spark of light that hovered over them a moment before spreading out over the troops. As far as magical displays went, it was fairly modest, but such a benign display from the royal house seemed to reassure the troops and a cheer rose up.
Jeb bowed again and moved to the front of the troops. Slowly, the troops, men and women, young and old, marched away to fight for their Queen. DG and Lavender kept up the glow of light until all the troops had left the area in front of the tower, and the entire royal party stood there watching until the troops were out of sight.
Finally, the Queen and Ahamo went back inside, but Cain ignored them, still staring after the troops his son led. Moving in unison, the three friends went to surround the Tin Man. DG went to Cain’s side and slipped her hand into his, squeezing it reassuringly. On Cain’s other side, Glitch clapped a hand on Cain’s shoulder. Raw moved to Glitch’s side and smiled understandingly.
“He’ll be okay, Cain,” Glitch said.
Cain nodded absently. “Yeah,” he murmured.
Realizing that nothing she said would make it any better, DG laid her head on Cain’s shoulder, settling in until he was ready to leave. The four friends stood, looking into the distance, long after the suns rose over the horizon.
TBC
Author: caroly_214
Characters/Pairings: Pretty much everybody, DG/Cain UST (eventual overt DG/Cain)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4,350
Disclaimer: I may share the same name as someone on the show, but that still doesn’t mean I own anything (shame, that). Telly Northway is the joint property of myself and queenof1000days. Kenley Stratford is the red-headed Resistance fighter in Jeb's cell that we see fighting in the miniseries; queenof1000days was kind enough to come up with her name.
Spoilers: Set immediately after the end of the miniseries.
Summary: The royals pass judgment on the Long Coat Resistance spies, DG teases Lord Wyatt, Jeb apologizes, and the troops leave for Central City.
Comments: As always, many, many thanks to my brilliant betas daisycm83 and goodisrelative. And thanks to queenof1000days for her brainstorming, encouragement, and general awesomeness, and to my sister sugardoodle10 for her suggestions as she read over my shoulder as I wrote.
Author's Note: Okay, so here's the thing. Work is so nuts I don't want to think about it. We're at half strength, which means lots of working and less writing for me. So, I hope to get Ch 17 out soon, but who really knows.
Cross-posted to my journal, tinman_fic, and dg_cain
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
As the first of the Long Coats was brought into the room, DG straightened, trying to look as regal as possible while wearing her jeans and t-shirt. As hard as she tried, though, she knew she couldn’t compare to her impossibly regal mother sitting next to her.
Intelligence Officer Baker and Raw had finally completed their review of the Long Coats and were ready to present those they believed had been working with the Resistance to the Queen. According to Baker and Raw, while some of the Resistance spies were good men, others spied for less savory reasons and would not be good candidates to work for the royal family. So it was up to the Queen to decide what to do with the Long Coats: keep them in detention pending formal judicial proceedings; set them free; or ask them to continue working with the Resistance/Royal Army. And the Queen had asked for her empathic daughter’s help in deciding. DG wasn’t sure if her mother actually needed the help, but it was nice to feel like she was making a contribution.
That was why DG now sat on a makeshift throne to the right of her mother - the traditional position of the heir apparent - waiting to pass judgment on the Long Coats brought before them. But at least it wasn’t just the two of them: Ahamo sat on Lavender’s left, Glitch was on Ahamo’s left, Cain was to DG’s right, and Raw was to Cain’s right (Glitch had insisted that they had to sit in that arrangement - apparently, there was some crazy royal protocol for seating arrangements at formal events and this counted as a formal event). And of course, everyone’s bodyguards were hovering in the background, and there were lots of Resistance fighters, including Baker, all around the room. If not for the depressing setting and tedious task ahead of them, they could have a party.
Bringing her thoughts back to the task at hand, DG looked up at the first Long Coat and realized she’d met him before - during her time as the witch’s prisoner. She was pretty sure he had been the Sorceress’ assistant; he had accompanied the witch when she killed the Mystic Man. On one hand, DG was surprised that someone who would be so close to the witch could have worked for the Resistance; on the other hand, however, DG remembered seeing, out of the corner of her eye, the uncomfortable look on his face when the Mystic Man was killed, so it made some sense. And who better to pass on the witch’s plans to the Resistance than someone who worked closely with the witch? If he really had been a Resistance spy, it would have been quite the coup for the Resistance.
The man, flanked on either side by guards, stopped in front of the royals and bowed. Straightening, he met the Queen’s gaze, his expression serene, but DG could tell with her empathy that he wasn’t nearly as calm as he pretended to be. Off to the side, Baker announced, “Your Majesty, this is Brayden Myers, also known as Vy-Sor.”
The Queen regarded the man coolly. “Why do you have two names?” she asked.
He shifted under her scrutiny. “I was born with the name Brayden Myers, Majesty, and it was under that name that I began working for the Resistance. I chose a different name when I joined the Long Coats, to hide my involvement with the Resistance.”
Knowing she was there to use her empathy to read the Long Coats, DG focused her magic on the man, trying to see if he was telling the truth. It wasn’t easy; the man’s emotions were tightly controlled, which made sense for an intelligence agent, especially one who had to work so close to the witch. But DG couldn’t sense any deception from him, so she tilted her head and caught her mother’s eye, nodding nearly imperceptibly.
The Queen nodded slowly. “Very well, then, Mr. Myers. Please explain to us how you came to be a member of the Long Coats.”
Myers took a deep breath and began his tale. “Several annuals ago, Majesty, when I came of age, I joined the Resistance to fight against the evil of the Sorceress. My main responsibilities were as a courier. But then, less than two annuals after I joined the Resistance, I was conscripted into the Long Coats.” DG blinked, startled. She hadn’t realized that the witch had forced people to join the Long Coats, though it did make her feel a little better about the people of the OZ - maybe there weren’t as many evil people as she’d thought.
The former Long Coat continued, “The penalties for refusing to join the Long Coats included reprisals against the families of those who refused, and I could not endanger my parents, sisters, and cousins. I discussed the situation with others in the Resistance and we agreed that I should use my position in the Long Coats to obtain information to help the Resistance. Several months ago, I was able to rise to the position of assistant to the Sorceress, and from that position I was able to pass on a great deal of information to the Resistance.”
There was silence as all the royals and their advisors studied the man. It was Ahamo who broke the silence.
“You say that you were able to pass along information to the Resistance from your position as the Sorceress’ assistant, but did you do anything to stop her? Or did you stand by as she murdered hundreds of people and worked to destroy the OZ?” he demanded, his tone hard, fulfilling his self-appointed role as ‘bad cop.’ Having pretty much been a spy himself in the Realm of the Unwanted, he’d volunteered to ask questions to figure out the Resistance spies' loyalties and priorities. He’d pointed out that the spies’ explanations for their actions were just as important as their actions.
It was a good thing that DG had been warned about Ahamo’s role, because the change in his outward personality was pretty shocking. Although she’d met him as the creepy and threatening Seeker, it seemed like Ahamo had been going out of his way the past few days to present himself as an affable and doting husband and father. DG wouldn’t be surprised if he’d done that, at least in part, because she’d confessed in the balloon that his ‘kidnapping’ had freaked her out. But the Ahamo here was different than both of the versions of her father she’d already met. Instead, he was almost a cross between the two: genial, but with a slightly dangerous edge. She was beginning to see the Prince Consort in her father.
To his credit, Myers didn’t bat an eye at the Consort’s interrogation, though some emotion - pain, mixed with anger - leaked through his stoic façade. “With respect, Highness, I couldn’t interfere. As much as I wanted to do something - anything - to stop her, I knew it wouldn’t do any good. She was so much more powerful than I was, and any hint that I was working against her would have led to my instant death. I saw it often enough even before I became her assistant. I wouldn’t have been any use to the Resistance dead. The most I could do was funnel information to those who could fight and hope they could do something to resist her.”
DG considered his words. His explanation made sense, but she couldn’t help but think that a lot of people - especially those who suffered because of the witch - would think that he should have done more. Although not really practical, she could understand the feeling because a part of her felt that way. Standing by helplessly while the witch killed the Mystic Man - and while Myers did nothing - was not something she’d forget. Though, she had to admit, she didn’t know what Myers could have done to stop the witch. From what she could tell with her empathy, Myers really believed what he said, and she felt guilt and pain mixed in with his conviction. Although she wasn’t sure whether her mother needed her magic lie detector services again, she nodded imperceptibly.
The Queen gazed at Myers several long moments, her expression thoughtful. Myers met her eyes for a moment before wilting under the scrutiny of his Queen. DG wondered if her mother would take Baker’s recommendation for Myers; namely, that he be allowed to join the Royal Army. Regardless of Myers’s motives, the Intelligence Officer thought the information Myers would be able to provide would outweigh any potential problems. Raw, on the other hand, thought Myers was sufficiently trustworthy and DG saw nothing that would lead her to believe otherwise. If it were up to her, DG would probably ask him to join the Army, but it wasn’t her choice.
Lavender turned her head and locked gazes with her husband. DG watched their silent communication, seeing that her parents were closer than she’d realized. After a moment, the Queen looked away, briefly looking at each of the members of her Council. Finally, Lavender nodded. “Very well, Mr. Myers. We thank you for your efforts in resisting the witch of the dark. While some may question why you did not do more, we accept that you were in a very difficult and dangerous situation and that you did what you could. Now that the witch has been defeated, we ask that you continue to work to heal the hurts caused by her reign. If you wish it, you will have a commission in our Army, working under the command of Intelligence Officer Baker. Will you accept the commission?”
Myers stared, dumbfounded, at the Queen. DG guessed he hadn’t expected to be offered a commission; he’d probably been hoping to be allowed to go free. But he quickly regained his composure and knelt.
“I would be honored, Your Majesty. Thank you for your confidence in me. I will not let you down.”
Lavender smiled gently. “I have no doubt of that, Mr. Myers. We accept your service. Report to Captain Cain outside; he will tell you where to go.”
Myers rose and bowed before walking out of the room. DG sighed as he left. That hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared, but he was just the first.
On the other side of her mother, Ahamo smiled wryly. “Well, that’s one down. How many are left?”
Baker consulted her notes. “Eighteen, your Highness.”
DG bit back a groan. They were going to be at this for hours. For her mother’s sake, she tried to put on a game face, though, judging by Cain’s amused expression, she hadn’t hid her frustration very well.
Her mother turned toward her. “Are you ready for the next one, darling?” Lavender asked with a smirk as DG realized she was a complete failure at hiding her emotions.
“Yes, Mother,” she answered meekly. It was going to be a long morning.
****
Several hours later, DG sighed happily as she bit into her sandwich. The expected shipment of food had come in, and though there wasn’t much to go around, it was so much better than rations. DG knew, due to the physical activity of the past week and how little she’d eaten, she’d probably lost a few pounds. In fact, her mother had commented the day before that she was looking a little thin. But now, with actual bread and something close to turkey (Cain had told her what it was called, but right now, she was sticking with ‘almost-turkey’), and even something sweet, she was on her way to making up what she had lost.
Of the 19 former Long Coats Baker and Raw had presented to the Queen, 4 had been offered commissions in the Royal Army; 3 accepted and were now being corralled by Baker, and the other had been given permission to leave. Five former Long Coats had also been granted permission to leave. The remaining 10 had been placed back in custody to await trial. It had been a long and tiring morning, but at least that task was over.
Leaning back into the couch, DG turned to face Cain and smiled warmly at him. Cain hadn’t been too happy at letting former Long Coats - even Resistance spies - go free, but he had grit his teeth and accepted the Queen’s decisions. Now DG wanted to make sure he didn’t start brooding again - she had had enough of Cain’s brooding to last a really long time.
“So, Tin Man, not a bad day’s work, huh?” she teased.
Cain cocked an eyebrow at her, probably realizing she was provoking him. “The day ain’t over yet, Princess, and we have a lot more to do.”
“Spoilsport,” she muttered, trying to stifle a smirk, glancing at Cain out of the corner of her eye. To her delight, she saw a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Don’t be mad at me, Princess. You’re the one who asked me to be your advisor. If you wanted someone to slack off with, you shouldn’t have given me a job. It’s my responsibility to keep you in line.”
DG rolled her eyes. While snarky Cain was better than brooding Cain, he was still a spoilsport. “Whatever you say, Lord Wyatt.” That’d teach him to rain on her parade.
Cain growled. “If you know what’s good for you, kid, you won’t use that title unless absolutely necessary.”
DG put on her best innocent face. “Oh, but Lord Wyatt, I think everyone should call you by your proper title. After all, you earned it. In fact, I think we should issue a royal proclamation that you should only be addressed as Lord Wyatt.”
Somehow, she managed to keep a straight face while Cain’s expression became more and more irate. “Not funny, DG. You know I’m only doing this because you asked. I couldn’t care less about any titles.”
Well, that killed the playful mood. DG smiled at Cain. “I know,” she said. “And I’m really glad you’re my advisor, even if you hate your title.” Cain’s expression softened, and out of the corner of her, DG saw that their conversation had caught the attention of her parents, Glitch, and Raw. Deciding she didn’t want their audience to see any more mushy stuff, she smirked. “But you have to admit, your reaction when I use the title is priceless.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “It’s a good thing I like you, Princess. Otherwise, I might just have to teach you a lesson.”
“Yeah, well, good luck with that Cain. I never did pay much attention in school.” DG’s smirk grew as Cain growled in exasperation. It was so much fun baiting Cain - and it was so easy, too.
Their audience laughed and DG smiled impishly at her partner in crime, who just rolled his eyes.
Still chuckling, Ahamo said, “DG, don’t torture the poor man. We need him intact to get everything done.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she said with a mock-resigned sigh.
Her mother shook her head at DG’s antics. “As amusing as this has been, your father and Mr. Cain are both correct: we have a lot to do this afternoon. How are we in the preparations for Captain Cain’s forces leaving for Central City in the morning?” the Queen asked.
Surprisingly (because DG was still trying to equate her scatterbrained friend with the competent advisor he occasionally was), it was Glitch who responded. “The troops have been chosen and are readying their supplies. We still need to make sure they have enough food and weapons. And we need to finalize the intelligence reports before they leave.”
Lavender nodded. “I think we can accomplish everything without too much difficulty. Ahamo and Glitch, please make sure the troops have all their supplies. DG, Mr. Cain, please finalize the intelligence reports and brief Captain Cain. I want the troops to have the most up to date information we have.”
Everyone nodded. “The Queen has spoken, so I guess we have to get to work,” DG said while rising from the couch. Smiling, she offered her hand to Cain to help him up. He rolled his eyes but took her hand and DG grunted as she pulled him up. “You’re heavy, Tin Man.”
Cain just shook his head. “The things I put up with because of you, kid. What did I ever do to deserve this?”
DG grinned at him. “Just lucky, I guess.”
Taking advantage of that DG was still holding his hand, Cain started to haul the princess out of the room. With her free hand, DG waved merrily at her parents and friends as she was pulled through the door. “We’ll be in our office if you need us,” she called.
***
“Do you have any questions, Captain Cain?” DG asked when they finally finished the intelligence briefing. She felt like she’d been talking for hours, which was probably because she had been.
They’d received reports from all over the OZ for the past few days and so there was a lot of information to pass on. The good news, though, was that nearly all the Resistance cells across the OZ had attacked Long Coats during the eclipse and almost half had outright won their battles and a lot of battles had ended in a draw. Very few Resistance cells had lost. They had all been planning for this for a long time and had been ready.
Now Long Coats were on the run throughout the lands. There were only a few areas where the witch’s troops were still in control; unfortunately, one of those areas was Central City. There were just too many Long Coats garrisoned there for the Resistance to overcome. That was why the city was the Royal Army’s first destination. Plus, the ‘shining city on the hill’ was a symbol of the OZ that the Long Coats couldn’t be allowed to keep. Once the Army, working with the Resistance in the city, defeated the Long Coats, DG would travel to the city to give her spiel, explaining things to a large percentage of the OZ’s population in one fell swoop. At least, that was the plan, but DG knew better than to count on things going as planned.
Across from her, Jeb shook his head. “No, your Highness.” He looked at his lieutenants, Telly, Baker, and man DG hadn’t met before named Ross, beside him. All three shook their heads as well. Relieved that everything was clear, she smiled.
Next to her, Cain spoke up. “Do you have any estimates how long it will take to defeat the Long Coats in Central City?”
Jeb looked down at a pad of paper in front of him. “Optimistically, three days, but it could take a lot longer. These Long Coats have already resisted the call to surrender to the Resistance, so I’m guessing they’ll put up quite a fight.”
DG nodded. Central City and the Northern Gale - the latter apparently the traditional home of the non-royal Gales - were the most heavily garrisoned and with the most fanatical Long Coats. Those areas would be the most difficult to reclaim.
“All right, then. We’re done here, so you can finish your preparations to leave in the morning.”
Everyone rose and the four Army officers bowed to her, but while the lieutenants started to leave, Jeb lingered behind.
“Is there something I can help you with, Captain Cain?” DG asked.
Jeb hesitated, then said, “Actually, your Highness, I was hoping to speak with you privately.”
She blinked. Well, that’s unexpected. “Sure, Jeb.” Turning to Cain, she suggested, “Why don’t you wait out in the hall with Kenley?” Cain didn’t look happy, but he nodded and followed his son’s lieutenants out of the room.
DG leaned back in her chair and waved for Jeb to sit back down. He shook his head and instead remained standing at attention before her. After waiting several moments for him to speak, she prompted him, “Captain?”
Jeb looked down before raising his eyes to meet hers. “I wanted to thank you, Princess, for what you said to me the other day. I guess I needed a wake up call.”
“I won’t disagree with that.” Jeb looked a little surprised, so DG smiled reassuringly. “There’s a lot of stuff going on and sometimes we get so bogged down, we lose track of things. And sometimes we need someone else to remind us what’s important. That’s all I did.” It wasn’t the most coherent explanation, but Jeb seemed to get it.
Nodding, Jeb continued, “I also wanted to apologize. I haven’t been fair to you. I just haven’t been sure what to make of you. After so long under the rule of the Sorceress, I wasn’t sure how to relate to royalty, and you were not what I expected of royalty. And you were close to my father and I’m not sure how to relate to him, either.”
DG hadn’t been expecting that level of honesty from Jeb - and she was pretty sure that was the most Jeb had ever said to her. While part of her wanted to be smug about how well her plan had worked, the rest of her knew she should just be grateful that she hadn’t completely screwed everything up.
Still smiling, she stood and walked over to Jeb. “I understand. It’s been a difficult time for all of us. And I’m not sure how to handle this princess thing, so I can’t expect anyone else to know, either.” Considering a moment, she tilted her head and asked, “Now that we’re getting along so well, can you do me a favor?”
Jeb looked a little alarmed, but nodded. “Of course, your Highness.”
“Spend some time with your dad this evening. I don’t care if you still have things to do to prepare for tomorrow; ask for his help. Who knows how long it will be until you see him again.”
Jeb looked at her closely a moment before nodding. “All right, Princess.”
DG grinned her approval. “Good. Come on; let’s go get your dad.” She walked out of the room, not surprised to find Cain and Kenley hovering right outside the door (and she noted that Cain had somehow managed to get out of having a bodyguard; she was going to have to change that. If she had to suffer, so did he).
Turning to face Jeb, she looked at him expectantly. She considered hiding her involvement with this plot from Cain, but he’d figure it out, so she may as well acknowledge it.
Jeb cleared his throat and looked at Cain. “Father, I was wondering if you could help me with some of the preparations this evening.”
Cain blinked, surprised, and glanced at DG before turning back to Jeb. “I’d be happy to, if the Princess can spare me.”
DG waved her hand airily. “I think I can handle a few hours away from you, Cain. And you’ll just miss me singing with Az some more.”
Cain smirked. “Well, I can’t say I’m sorry I’ll be missing that.”
Annoyed, she lightly smacked his arm. “Hey, we sing well. And just for that, tomorrow, you get to sing along.”
The Tin Man groaned and rolled eyes. “Let’s leave, Jeb, before she punishes me any more.”
Jeb seemed confused, but turned toward DG. “With your permission, Highness,” he said. After DG nodded, he bowed and began walking down the hall, Cain following after him.
“Have fun,” DG called after them. Chuckling to herself, she walked down the hall herself, looking for her family.
***
Early the next morning, DG, her parents, Cain, Glitch, and Raw stood in front of the tower. Before them, the troops were arrayed, ready to set out and now waiting for the Queen’s blessing. Because of the situation, however, the ceremony was much more low-key than tradition called for.
Jeb, surrounded by his lieutenants, approached the royal party and bowed.
“Are your troops ready to set off on your mission, Captain Cain?” the Queen asked, her voice ringing out in the pre-dawn silence.
Jeb nodded. “We are, your Majesty.”
The Queen smiled brilliantly at them, catching all the troops in her gaze. “Then go forth with the blessings and best wishes of the Royal House of Gale. Our thoughts and hopes will be with you on your mission. We look forward to hearing of your victories over the enemies of the OZ.”
As pre-arranged, DG stepped up to her mother and took the Queen’s outstretched hand. Together, as they had practiced, they pooled their magic and created a spark of light that hovered over them a moment before spreading out over the troops. As far as magical displays went, it was fairly modest, but such a benign display from the royal house seemed to reassure the troops and a cheer rose up.
Jeb bowed again and moved to the front of the troops. Slowly, the troops, men and women, young and old, marched away to fight for their Queen. DG and Lavender kept up the glow of light until all the troops had left the area in front of the tower, and the entire royal party stood there watching until the troops were out of sight.
Finally, the Queen and Ahamo went back inside, but Cain ignored them, still staring after the troops his son led. Moving in unison, the three friends went to surround the Tin Man. DG went to Cain’s side and slipped her hand into his, squeezing it reassuringly. On Cain’s other side, Glitch clapped a hand on Cain’s shoulder. Raw moved to Glitch’s side and smiled understandingly.
“He’ll be okay, Cain,” Glitch said.
Cain nodded absently. “Yeah,” he murmured.
Realizing that nothing she said would make it any better, DG laid her head on Cain’s shoulder, settling in until he was ready to leave. The four friends stood, looking into the distance, long after the suns rose over the horizon.
TBC