Perfunctory Disclaimer- Broken record plays over and over: Warp, skip, scratch, pop: I don't own any of the characters or places except the ones I made up.
Chapter 4- Ozma Pays a Visit
Letters arrived from the same carriage driver that had brought Glinda from the train station on a regular basis. Mr. Duff, as he was called, delivered the outgoing and collected the incoming on a weekly basis. It wasn't long before Glinda started getting mail. Her first deliveries were from her father and her grandmother, of course. But, surprisingly, even her brothers dropped her a line from Broden Boys' every now and then. The Boys' Academy was located on the opposite side of the Emerald City Palace, and was actually about another hour's travel away if one took the long roads. If one were to cut through the palace itself, the journey would be much shorter.
'Dear Glinda,
I betcha didn't hear the juicy gossip! The only reason I know it is because I got suspended for a week for a hallway fight, and had to go home. Now, I don't know if they censor your mail, so I know I have to 'keep it clean'. But, I gotta tell you the news. Several local spinsters, scandalous divorcees and widows have been waving their hankies at Father! You know what that means! Something tells me that Grandma is behind this. You also know that he'll be giving up the house and moving back in with his family once Gandy goes to school. Watch the unmarried old crows make a move then!
'I've tried to talk to Minor G about this, but as usual, he only cares about school and books. He's getting to be a real bore. Doesn't even look at girls! Guess what my scrap was over….
Gosh. I never thought I'd care about a girl so much! Not that I really care about every girl…but…well, never mind. Usually, I don't, but she's a friend of mine, and you know how I get to protecting my friends. No one calls my friends names, boy or girl. And besides, I may have teased Gandy a lot, but so help me, if anyone else ever called him names besides us, you remember the hammering I'd give them, right?
'Needless to say, G-Ardell was pretty sore with me, and my bottom saw the business end of her wand. You'd think that since I'm going on fourteen, I'd be too old for spankings, but not in her eyes. Gandy cried, but I didn't dare, even though it smarted like no one's business! Then, she took after Gandy for spying on the whole affair and for bawling about it, and he started wheezing, and that ended that business.
'I hope things are good for you. You must know I hate school except for when we get to cut things open! Let me know what you think about the father situation.
'Grimmz'
Glinda was properly mortified at the thought of her father remarrying! What more could she say than that, which was exactly what she penned back to her brother. However, she did not wish for her father to be lonely and miserable for the rest of his life, either. With a sadness echoing around in her heart, she reached up and fingered the pendant around her neck. What would her mother want?
Suspended! Grimmz had gotten suspended! Oh, dear!
Glinda also had a letter from her Grandmother to read, and she thought that perhaps she'd seek the shelter of the rear courtyard, on the bench beneath the Enchanted Tree to read it. However, just as she opened the door and prepared to step outside into the last warm days of the fall, she realized that the Headmistress, and one of the senior teachers had already beaten her to the spot. The angle of the tree blocked her from their view, but not them from hers, if she was skillful about where she stood. She was just about to turn around and leave, but something in the conversation she could just barely overhear prompted her to stay.
"When did this happen?" the teacher asked, somewhat nervously.
"I'm not given a specific date, but Ozma states most emphatically that she was successful."
"So she has indeed wrested complete control of the Western region from Mombi?"
"I'm relieved to hear this. We all know what Mombi did with herself."
The teacher made some 'tsk-ing' noises.
"Further more, Queen Ozma is coming here, and she does give a specific date. She'll be arriving in three days," Mistress Stanhope announced.
"She's never been one to give much notice. We'll just have to get things in order quickly. What are your plans for the girls?"
"Oh, everything is proceeding just as it should. In fact, I've already sent Duff out to notify Landa that Mira needs to be made ready at once. I suspect Landa already knows what's afoot, but Mira, no doubt, will inherit the Western aspect now that Mombi's been dethroned."
My word. Isn't Mira a bit young? She won't be twelve for another month yet!"
"Every once in awhile, exceptions must be made. She'll be twelve soon enough."
"Lile won't take well to this…"
"Lile will have to get used to it. I run this school, not Lile," Mistress Stanhope replied in a voice that sounded like curdled milk.
"You have a valid point," the teacher demurred.
Three days later, the school was scrubbed from top to bottom. Janitors had made repairs to anything that needed fixing. Dorm rooms were inspected with white gloves to insure that everything was dust free and completely orderly. Even though classes were cancelled for the day, the girls were told to dress in their best looking uniforms and to polish their shoes. Everyone, even the Headmistress, tucked their napkins into their collars at breakfast and kept another one in their laps to prevent an accidental spill from staining their best clothes.
Bright painted banners festooned the hallways to welcome Queen Ozma. Finally, around 10:30, a carriage could be heard approaching outside. Everyone knew it wasn't Duff. He would not be sent to fetch the Queen, for she would be arriving with her own royal entourage.
Glinda's first glimpse of the Queen was impressive. Suddenly, she understood why her grandmother insisted on making her wear those ridiculous, frilly dresses. Ozma truly was a queen, both in looks and in bearing. Her golden hair was pulled into a graceful upsweep, with two delicate tendrils framing either side of her heart shaped face. A tasteful diamond tiara was perched ceremoniously on her head. Delicate, arched brows rose above intelligent, observant, yet kind looking lilac colored eyes. Her mouth was almost too small, yet the color was a lovely rosebud pink, and her nose was the sort of a regal kind one would expect a queen to have. Most of all, Ozma had a way of gracefully floating into the room. Her posture, of course, was perfectly proper, which exuded confidence; and her beautifully tailored gown accentuated her tiny waist and straight shoulders. The floor length also helped to add to the floating illusion.
"We welcome you back to Brisbe Girls' Academy, Queen Ozma," Headmistress Stanhope gushed, her voice raising an octave out of nerves.
"I'm very glad to be back. I will be the first to maintain that you have a wonderful program here," the queen returned pleasantly. Her voice was melodious, and Glinda liked her all the more for having a voice like that.
"Hello, girls. I trust you have all been studying hard. I am very pleased to see you all here, and I know that I will be seeing some of you at the Commencements this spring!" Ozma announced.
A few of the girls at Table Three tittered excitedly, as they knew they would be graduating.
"Girls, you're dismissed now!" a teacher called, and rang the bell.
Mistress Stanhope ushered Queen Ozma into her office with two of the senior teachers and two of the queen's advisors. Glinda was stunned and sorely disappointed that this was the end of the entire visit!
"Wow. So that's what this whole assembly was all about? I could have slept through the whole thing!" Jadis complained, making a mock yawn.
"She didn't even come last year, so we should be so fortunate," Tambra said, "Besides, the rest of the day is ours. No classes!"
"Miss Glinda, you're being summoned to Mistress Stanhope's office, at once!"
Glinda wheeled around to hear the high pitched voice of Darris, the porter. His eyes were boggled in surprise and his face was flushed at the enormity of his errand. Beside him stood Lile, pretending to look annoyed, yet not quite able to hide her excitement. Apparently, whatever business Mistress Stanhope had with Glinda, she also had with Lile, for when she detached herself from her small party with a look of nervous apprehension to follow Darris, Lile followed along with them. They were led into the quiet confines of the Headmistress's office, where the queen and her two escorts were still meeting with her. Also seated in a simple, cane backed chair was a woebegone looking girl with enormous brown eyes, straight jet hair, and skinny fingers and ankles. In fact, this girl was so thin, that her cheekbones looked like blades beneath her skin, and her nose could peel an apple! Her eyes followed every move Lile made as Lile daintily crossed the room and took the seat that the Headmistress indicated she should. If the girl noticed Glinda at all, it did not register.
"I'm quite sure you two are wondering just why it is that you've been singled out when there are so many at the school…but then again, you are both bright girls. You may have already figured that out. First, let me introduce our newest student to you. Lile, I'm quite sure you need no introduction, but Glinda; this is Mira. Mira; Glinda."
The two girls regarded each other in turn, silently studying one another.
"Mira joins us from the East. She's Lile's younger sister, and she'll be having her assessments tomorrow. Glinda, here, recently joined us. She's from the North. You two will share the same mess table, and you may even have some classes together," Mistress Stanhope concluded.
"Now, onto why you've both been brought in. The Queen and I are aware that all three of you are inherent to some unique circumstances, and now, with Mombi neutralized, at least for now, it is time to educate you to your full potentials. This will ensure that should Mombi become a threat prior to you assuming power, you will be capable of rendering aid as a capable and competent back up. Then, when the time comes for you to take the reins in your respective regions, no one will doubt your abilities, and your transitions will be much smoother. No secondary and unsavory power will have a decent chance of getting a toehold in before your succession to power. Achieving this will require extra study on your parts. You'll each be required to take an extra course each term. You'll start with 'The Theory of Good and Evil.' It's a very necessary course, and your Queen is demanding that you start learning it now."
All three girls shifted their gazes to Ozma, who merely nodded her confirmation of this matter. Mistress Stanhope brought out three leatherbound books. The pages were edged in gold, and the title was embossed in gold script. It was not a thick book, but it was, by far, the fanciest book Glinda had ever laid eyes on; even fancier than Grandma Ardell's most ornate spell books.
"These are a gift from me, and they are yours to keep," Ozma proclaimed to them.
Glinda was given her text book, and when she cracked open the front cover, she found that the Queen had even signed it!
'Glinda, may you use your gifts for the Betterment of Oz and its People and Creatures. Here are some words of guidance that were passed to me that I always share when I can: Being wise seldom means you know it all. Love sometimes means you hold on tight, and sometimes means you have to let go. A smile never hurt anyone. Don't carry grudges; they get quite heavy after awhile. Vengeance is a sure way to curdle the soul, laughter is a sure way to brighten it.'
The girls each graciously thanked the queen, forgetting that the gift they'd just received meant an extra class per day. Meanwhile, a tik-tok servant rolled a teacart into the room and served up tea and finger sandwiches. Suddenly, Glinda was transported back in time to that long ago conversation with her grandmother about taking tea with Ozma of Oz. And now, today, here she was! Oh, she was glad now she'd listened to the droning and drilling manners lessons. Even though she didn't particularly care for the slightly bitter spread on the sandwiches, Glinda knew not to make any faces. Instead, she politely accepted what was served and ate them anyhow.
Shortly thereafter, Glinda, Lile and Mira were dismissed. Darris was waiting to show Mira to her room, almost looking as if he was ready to pounce on the poor child the minute she left the Headmistress's study. He already had her bags, and she followed him, looking lost and a little forlorn. Lile had little regard for her younger sister, and without a second glance towards her, she went off in search of her friends, proudly carrying her new book with her as if it was some merit badge. Glinda didn't need to look very far for her party. They were almost in the exact spot she'd left them, with expectant and impatient looks on their faces. Tambra, in particular, looked ready to burst at the seams, as she thrived on gossip, and couldn't stand it when she knew there was juicy morsels of news floating around that she could know about.
"Well, I'm positively dying to know! Was the Queen still there when you went in?" Tambra exploded.
"She was," Glinda replied calmly.
"So, what did Her Grace have to tell you? Gosh, it must be some sort of political news…I hope it wasn't bad …"
"No, not at all. We got to meet a new girl that's starting, for one. Lile's sister, Mira. She was there….and because Mombi's been neutralized, the three of us have to study 'Concepts of Good and Evil'…or something like that. Because of our political positions, we have to take extra courses each term. That's all the meeting was about. Oh, and we each got a text book to study from."
Jadis sneered.
"And you said it wasn't bad news! I call that bad!"
"We did get to sit at tea with her, and she signed our book, too," Glinda added, opening the cover of the text so the others could see Ozma's graceful notes on the title page.
Tambra gazed admiringly at it, and then she turned her attention to the raucous that was being made down the corridor where Lile had gathered with at least seven or eight of her closest classmates.
"So that must be what the big commotion is down there," she commented wryly.
"I'm certain it must be, because she doesn't seem to care about her sister's arrival. I tell you, I'm so homesick that if one of my brothers were to come here, I wouldn't let him out of my sight for a moment!" Glinda cried.
"I'm homesick too," Jadis sniffed, "But I haven't any siblings to miss."
"Nor have I. But I just bet Lile's a bit jealous. Now that Mira's here, she'll have to share attention. Especially since Mira has practically been handed the Western region on a plate, while Lile will have to wait for her mother's retirement. What a pity," Tambra clucked.
"Is that so?" Glinda asked.
"Oh, if what you overheard is true, than it is so. And, so far, it seems to be so, for after all, Mira is here now, isn't she? Was she given the same book you and Lile were?"
"Yes, she was. And, she has to take the classes, too."
"There you have it. She is being groomed to take over the West so that Mombi can't regain control. My guess is they'll train her to be as powerful as her abilities will allow, so that Mombi cannot overthrow her. By the way, were you aware that Mombi and Landa, and therefore, also Lile and Mira, are related?"
"No! Do tell!"
"Not closely," Tambra continued, "But closely enough, which is how it is that Mira is inheriting the Western Title. Through some default, since Mombi has no issue. I think they're cousins once removed or something."
"Which could then mean that Landa's mother and Mombi's mother were sisters…"
"I believe so."
"Well, back to the family feud, here. That's more interesting," Jadis pressed, "Lile's all in a huff because Mira will be titled before she'll be?"
"Weeeellll…That's debatable too. However, I've learned to take anything I hear on this account with a grain of salt, since my mother is somewhat biased, and most of my information about Landa comes from her. My mother used to go to school right here at Brisbe with Landa, and they never got on well together…. But anyways, Landa is the Good Witch of the East, and she's not near as popular as Glinda's grandmother, who's the Good Witch of the North. Now, keep in mind, Landa is not a bad witch….she's just sort of vain, self centered, and ineffectual. And, because of her blood relationship to Mombi, some people don't trust her, either. There's been lobbies in Munchkinland for Landa to step down, but the majority of the people still support her, mainly because there's no one of age to succeed her…yet. At least, according to my mother. But, my mother feels that once Lile comes of age and is fully trained, the lobbies to remove Landa from power will step up, and Landa may actually cave to the pressure. She's not one to do well under stress, so I hear. Landa would much rather be enjoying spa vacations and mud facials at the Siminese Hot Springs, and getting in touch with her 'Inner Witch' at the Temple Communes. Conflict is bad for her heart and gives her wrinkles. So, because of all of this, Lile may not have to wait long to inherit her position. It may just be ready for her when she graduates…assuming she ever passes arithmetic without cheating on her tests! I can't believe you caught her cheating! Wait a minute…yes I can. What an airhead!"
After Tambra's long winded explanation, it was easier for Glinda to see why Lile ignored her younger sister. She was just one more person for the older girl to feel superior over. It seemed to be the way Lile regarded everyone, and Glinda found herself wondering just what kind of witch Lile would turn out to be.