Drabble request for avari_maethor)
Of all the indicators that their beautiful kingdom had gone to hell, it was the most simple of gestures that told those watching the moment they all had been utterly screwed.
Glitch may not remember but Cain had seen it in the mantle mirror, in the resistance family’s cabin.
It wasn’t when Ambrose told the Queen about the defection of their top General. Nor was it when Azkadellia approached defiantly with her band of followers.
The moment that shattered their fragile world was when the Queen stood and with the sweep of one arm, placed her most trusted advisor, Ambrose, behind her. She had made the bold mistake of displaying his value, protecting him from the Witch.
That seemingly simple motion had not gone unnoticed by Azkadellia.
Ambrose was the most well-kept secret in all the realm and in a desperate, final attempt at sheltering him, his importance was revealed.
***
The vision they had all witnessed ended with a terrifying visage of Ambrose begging for his life, his sanity, but those few sickening seconds told Cain everything he needed to know about the man they had befriended.
Ambrose had forfeited his future in a last effort to keep Azkadellia from destroying the world. Cain wasn’t sure he could have done the same, facing a mad alchemist holding surgical tools.
After Raw had pulled his hand from Glitch’s head and then gently led the former advisor from the room, Cain’s stomach was still turning.
The next time they all had a chance to stop and rest, Glitch had curled up against a boulder and fallen asleep with DG leaning against his back.
Cain sat far from them, watching Glitch sleep and thinking about what he now knew about the man.
With the stealthy silence of a predator, Raw joined him and sat on the floor of dry leaves covering the forest ground. He was quiet for a long time before he finally bumped his shoulder against Cain’s. “Glitch vital. Will save O.Z.”
“A few days ago I would have said you were madder than him, saying something like that,” Wyatt answered, not taking his eyes off the sleeping advisor. “Now, though. The Queen sent her own daughter away to be cared for by robots. But she put herself between him and Azkadellia, using her own body to protect him.”
“Glitch must be protected,” Raw agreed in his enigmatic way.
“The Mystic Man said that DG was the key,” Cain argued.
“Key to stopping Azkadellia,” the viewer pointed out. “DG have magic. Glitch control magic.”
Cain looked at Raw sharply. “That’s how he knew so much about the Moritanium. He’s the one who can command how the magic is used.”
“Yes.”
***
When it was all over and they had won the battle to reclaim their kingdom, Cain was still bothered by what he knew of Glitch’s past.
The four of them were relaxing in one of the expensively furnished lounges littering the Tower’s middle levels. Raw was sprawled across a wide chaise lounge while DG reclined in an overstuffed chair in a most unladylike fashion. Cain and Glitch took up the room’s largest couch, the latter happily ensconced between Cain’s legs and tucked up against his chest.
DG was idly spinning her doll above her hand, mesmerized by her newly remembered power.
Nudging Glitch’s shoulder, Cain pointed. “Glitch, do you remember how to manipulate someone’s magic? Without the other half of your brain, or Raw’s help?”
Glitch stirred against him. “What are you talking about? I can’t do that.” He looked across to where DG’s doll spun freely, noticing that the Princess was looking their way curiously.
“Humor me for a second,” Wyatt moved his hand down to rest on Glitch’s hip. “Try to stop the doll.”
Frowning, Glitch shook his head against Cain’s chest. “I’m not magical, Cain.”
“No, but neither is the Tutor,” DG pointed out. “Maybe some people just have a different kind of ability. Tutor taught me how to use my magic.”
“And the Queen stood between you and Azkadellia the day the kingdom fell,” Cain told him.
Eyes wide, Glitch raised his head slightly. “Why would she do that?”
“To protect her most valuable asset,” Wyatt informed him. “The royal family may have the most powerful magic, but you were their keeper. You controlled how it was used.”
“Show us, Glitch,” Raw encouraged.
And with a hesitant wave of Glitch’s hand, DG’s doll fell to the floor.
***