Chapter 4
Natalee and I arrived with Lady Glinda in her manor once again. The white marble still cooling off the same room where once again our armor waited for us. The burn marks and dings from the War we fought three years ago had been mended, and it was good as new. Anthony thought about it for a second and then spoke, with a puzzled look.
"Glinda, for as much walking an running as we are going to do in our new mission, do you think it wise to wear such heavy plated armor? Wouldn't something lighter be more practical?" Anthony asked. Natalee grabbed her old armor off the table though.
"Just get Anthony's, mine is fine it wasn't all steel, it has a lot of leather. Thank you though." Natalee said.
"You're right. It didn't even occur to me. One second dear." Glinda left the room, her large poof and sparkling gown swishing as it slid along its' self. Natalee and I were alone in the room, and she was sitting down at the table and staring down not blinking. I could tell something was wrong, so I sat next to her.
"I know what you're thinking, but don't worry, the Nome King won't be a threat until about a week from now for us." Anthony said.
"What makes you say that? You heard Ozma, the Wheelers and Nomes are everywhere!" Natalee pointed out.
"Yeah but, there is always a way to win, you know that." Anthony grinned to himself, he knew how to scare the Wheelers, and the Nomes, but how to do it? Where on Oz would he find a Chicken?
"What do you mean? How?" Natalee saw my grin and knew what I was thinking to my self.
"Well, as long as we can find something that lays eggs, we will be fine, trust me. It's just where to find it, that's the thing. Well, anyway, we should finish up here, and then figure out a way to cross the deadly desert." Just as he said that, a few pebbles fell from a tree where the window was, and fell on to the table, right next to Natalee. Glinda came back in and with both my staff, and her own, aimed at them, and fired a jet stream of ice cold water causing hastened erosion, and the 'pebbles' turned to dust, and then as they reformed themselves, rolled back out of the window away from us.
"There, that's better. Now, Anthony I have your staff and Natalee's bow, but I would like to also give you something knew. Something I tactfully acquired from Ev a few centuries back." Anthony looked puzzled and grabbed his favorite weapon as Natalee harnessed her bow once again. Her emerald still glowed around her neck.
"What is that?" Natalee asked. Glinda handed us a jar of magical powder substance, in a emerald topped, bronze container. I knew it was the Powder of Life, but Natalee didn't.
"The Powder of Life. Sprinkle it on anything, and it breathes. Remember to say the three words before it though." Glinda nodded her head when I said this, and Natalee raised her eyebrows; impressed with the ability of this Powder.
"Yes you must say to whatever you sprinkle it on, Fiat Spira Permoveo and then it will work." Anthony asked Natalee to put the powerful Powder into her purse and then Glinda handed them both chain mail armor. It was still heavy, but considerably less so than the steel plates they wore before. Natalee's was gold, and mine was silver. We put it on under our clothes, and Natalee changed from a dress to a shirt and shorts instead.
"Glinda, let's talk about our plan so we can prioritize. We need to find the Tik-Tok armada and return them to Oz, we need to learn more about the Nomes and the King, and lastly to defeat the Nome King himself." Anthony began.
"Yes that is so. But in order to do all that you must leave Oz, and cross the endless Deadly Desert. Did either of you bring a broom this time?" we shook our heads no to Glinda, "well then you will have to cross the Deadly Desert your self. I would say take the tunnel that the Nome King dug years ago, but it's too dangerous. The Wheelers patrol that area those filthy scum bags on wheels." Anthony felt like he missed something, and Natalee began putting two and two in her head.
"What happened?" asked Anthony.
"Do you know what the Wheelers do to people? Why they are so disgusting even for villains?" Glinda asked. She was surprised I hadn't heard of these incidents before. Anthony didn't know.
"They physically abuse women and murder the men. Ozma believes they are trying to show the Nome King their worth as a force for him because he doesn't think they are sexist enough, but they still persue, and now every now and then, we get reports from the Courageous Lion you know, Brr, that another 'violation' has occurred, it just sickens me." She answered. Anthony and Natalee both were getting mad about this just from hearing it.
"We shall take the tunnel, I want to give those Wheelers a lesson they'll not soon forget!" Anthony exclaimed.
"The tunnel is South, almost in the Quadling Country. But you must reach the Lesser kells, past Kumbricia's Pass, and cross through to the westerly side of those mountains. More than that I cannot say. But beware, they are fierce men on fast wheels. But they have a very loud ear screeching squeak to their wheels, they are easy to detect. Just be careful. Keep that key close to you Anthony, it unlocks every door in Oz. Now if you will excuse me, I have some business with the Scarecrow in Munchkinland I must attend to. When you get to the other end of the Tunnel, look for Tik-Tok himself, he will help you along the rest of your mission. Oz speed my friends, be safe." She summoned her purple now bubble, and off she went. Natalee and I were both very ready to whoop some Wheeler butt, but she was still afraid, once we cleared the Tunnel, the comforts of Oz would be miles away, and we would be intruding in the Nome King's Dominion. So we headed southwest this time, and began hiking down hill, searching or the Tunnel to Ev. The sun was about to set, and Anthony could feel the Wheelers were close.