Chapter 9

"Sergeant Khalil we have much to discuss," the Wizard said from his spot on the throne. The troops had just returned from the Vinkus but already word had begun to spread that Morrible was dead. Of course it had been almost three days ago that they had left the witch to fend for herself. Now the Sergeant had been called into the throne room to speak with the Wizard.

"I should think so your Wizardship," Khalil agreed.

"First there are the rumors…" Oscar trailed off.

"That the Vinkuns have Morrible's head on a pike? To be honest, I would not put it past them, especially since we left her to fend for herself," the Sergeant said.

"To be honest, I did not think she wouldn't be able to handle it. Just some crazy citizens thinking that they no longer had to listen to me," the Wizard told him.

"In all fairness, Sir, Lady Glinda was there since the attempt on her life. Perhaps she and the Vinkuns were enough to defeat Madame Morrible. Surely if there was not a kernel of truth to the rumors then your Grand Vizier would have been back before the troops and I arrived," Khalil was blunt.

"Yes so that makes me wonder if they did not have more help. Perhaps from the Wicked Witch," the Wizard frowned.

"If she was there, she did not make herself known to us before we left," the Sergeant said.

"Another trick by the Vinkuns perhaps. At any rate, you have proven yourself more than worthy in your service to Oz and as you know with the death of Lieutenant Kasim, we are short on officers. That being said, effective immediately, you will be given the rank of Lieutenant and all the perks that come with it. Tomorrow morning I intend to hold a meeting of all my Lieutenants and we will discuss what is to be done about the Vinkuns and their blatant acts of treason," Oscar told him.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you Sir," Khalil smiled, glad to be having the promotion. Should the time come to join Balfour and the others, he would have more authority and his troops would be more willing to listen. There was a sudden knock on the door and in walked a Private.

"Excuse me sirs. An urgent message for Sergeant Khalil has arrived," he was trying to keep it together in the presence of an officer and the Wizard himself. The new Lieutenant gave the solider a look as he handed him the letter. Quickly Khalil opened the wax sealed letter and read it.

"It's my wife. She's sent for the doctor," he announced.

"What's wrong?" The Wizard asked.

"She's expecting our first child. The fact that she's called the doctor is not good as she's not due for another month," Khalil swallowed hard. The Wizard clapped his hands and the two guards at the door came forward.

"Get my new Lieutenant to his home immediately! If need be bring her here and we'll have Doctor Adnan look at her," Oscar told them. They saluted and quickly escorted the new Lieutenant outside to where his horse was waiting. He quickly climbed onto the magnificent animal and spurred him toward the gate. The two soldiers quickly did the same and they made their way through the city streets.

"Aytac! Aytac!" Khalil jumped off his horse before the animal came to a stop and burst through the front door. The soldiers quickly grabbed the Lieutenant's horse before it could go anywhere. They then went into the house behind him, staying in the living room.

"Khalil! Oh thank goodness you're here," she breathed a sigh of relief as he found her in their bedroom. Doctor Berk looked up from his work, listening to Aytac's belly, with his stethoscope. The Doctor had the patient lying on the bed.

"What is going on Doctor?" Khalil asked, taking his wife's hand in his giving it a squeeze.

"She was feeling like she was having contractions but I believe that they are just false ones. No other signs of the baby being ready to come into this world," Berk smiled slightly.

"Is that normal?" Aytac was concerned.

"They are quite common actually. What I would recommend is that you stay off of your feet as much as possible and try not to have a lot of stress in your life. They may continue but you'll know when they become more like true contractions. I think I should make a visit once a week until the little one is born. This way we will not be unprepared when he or she comes," Berk said.

"Thank you so much for coming so quickly," Khalil said, shaking the doctor's hand.

"Of course. Now I'd like you to show me what you have in your kitchen that may help Aytac relax," Berk told him. The new Lieutenant smiled at his wife who was now rubbing her stomach, whispering to the baby. She smiled at him before watching him disappear into the kitchen with the doctor. Once in the kitchen, Berk pulled a note out of his pocket and handed it to him.

"From a mutual friend. Glad that we could get you out of there before…" Berk didn't finish, wanting to make sure the soldiers couldn't hear him. However, the doctor didn't get a chance to finish as the sound of an explosion could be heard closer to the Emerald Palace. The soldiers in the living room rushed outside to see what had happened.

"That happened," Berk said.

"Balfour?" Khalil asked.

"He sends his regards," the doctor winked before the two headed outside to see what had happened and what could be done.

To Be Continued…