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November 12. Day 51. Somewhere in NW Munchkinland.
Frex watched Elphaba disappear into the woods. Though he harbored resentment against his elder daughter, the idea of her leaving made him a bit... sad? She was the only person he knew and (though he loathe to admit it) trusted in the camp. How could he trust soldiers and spies whose jobs it is to fight and discover secrets?
He didn't want to be with the soldiers and spies. It wasn't that he didn't want to be in control per wanted to be in control from the safety and warmth of the Governor's Mansion.
But that wouldn't work. The only communication available was telegraph (which could only be set up at long-term encampments) or messenger (reliable but, sadly, expendable).
"Commander Thropp," a voice next to him. "A word?"
Frex jerked back into reality. The General had one hand on Frex's shoulder, the other holding a cigar.
"Yes."
The two men walked behind a nearby carriage in order to keep their conversation private.
"Commander Thropp," the General began. "We seem to have a problem with the western side of the country. The most recent information from the camps around there say that carriages of soldiers have been found crashed with the dead scattered in the brush along the Yellow Brick Road."
"The Yellow Brick Road? You mean the Wizard's new connecting road from the Emerald City to Munchkin Rock? Why in Oz would men be found dead there? There are no battles or fights anywhere near there. Guerrilla warfare? Do you really think the Gilikinese have gone that far south?"
"I don't know sir, but I have a feeling that it's not the Gilikinese. The informant told me that the men had been killed using what appeared to be a double-pronged close-range rifle. Not even the richest Gilikinese backer could provide them with those. They are only found in the Emerald City. And there was something even more suspicious than that."
"More suspicious than possible Emerald City involvement against us? What could possibly be worse?"
"They were soldiers from both sides. All dead. And there was a large contraption in the woods near them. A box of some kind. Made of a metal grid. Rumor from inside the green gates calls it a 'cage'. For animals. And, I guess, Animals. They house the creatures inside of the cages to keep them safe. And the cage found with the bodies was quite large. And something had broken out of it."
" Any word from the Emerald City on a break out? A theft?"
"No. Not a word. They are remaining as they have done the whole war. Silent."
Frex wiped his brow, now dripping with sweat. Soldiers working together to break animals, or Animals, out of the Emerald City in the middle of a war? What could possibly bring this about?
"But," the General announced, dropping his cigar and crushing it underfoot, "we cannot let this bother us too much. We have a war to win."
THe General gave a jovial smile, and clapped a hand on Frex's back, pushing him back to the camp.
But Frex couldn't forget this. Despite all of the tasks he completed that day, he couldn't stop thinking of this new problem arising in the Emerald City. And what it could mean for the future of Munchkinland.
