Chapter 9
"I'm confused," Boq said suddenly as the three men sat with Liir. The baby had been quiet which they found strange, especially since they all knew he had a set of lungs that had proved to be very capable of making a loud racket.
"What about?" Besim asked.
"Well Glinda once said that men don't tend to be magically inclined. It's very rare that they can do more than levitate small objects or make those small objects explode. So how come our attacker is so talented?" The former Tin Man wondered.
"Morrible was very powerful. Maybe she concocted a spell to enhance his magical abilities," the King suggested.
"Maybe but even someone with very little magical aptitude can repeat a spell until they get it right," Besim pointed out.
"I don't know. I would think weather spells would be very tricky. Never once has Elphaba tried it," Boq said. Besim nodded. His friend had a point.
"Perhaps the girls can better answer your question when they get back," İzmir told them.
"I hope they get back soon. I'm nerv…" he didn't finish as guard burst into the room. He had gashes on his upper torso that looked like claw marks. He was breathing heavily and bleeding profusely. Quickly the King grabbed a spare bed sheet from the closet and the three men tried to help stop the bleeding.
"What happened?" İzmir wanted to know.
"There was this…" the guard stopped and winced in pain as Besim pressed harder onto his wounds. They were deep and if they didn't get a doctor fast, the man would die.
"ROOOOAAAARRR!"
"Sounds like our bear friend is back," İzmir shook his head.
"Yes it does. This man needs a doctor quickly," Besim told them.
"I'll create a distraction. You get him out of here," the King said.
"What kind of distraction?" Boq asked. That's when İzmir pulled his sword from its scabbard.
"Your Highness, no offense but you're nuts," Boq said.
"None taken. Come on," İzmir told him. Carefully Boq and Besim picked up the wounded man by the shoulders and feet. The King opened the door and moved out into the hallway. Sure enough the Kodiak was back.
"ROOOOOAAAARRR!" It wasn't happy.
"Make a dash down toward the study. Have the other servants call the doctor. I'll catch up," İzmir told them. Both men wanted to object but he was the only one with a weapon so they did as they were told.
"Come and get me ugly!" İzmir shouted. Neither Boq nor Besim looked back as they moved as quickly as they could.
Elphaba and Glinda landed on the balcony they had left from. Quickly they entered the palace and were confronted by a sight out in the hallway. İzmir lay on the floor motionless, a pool of blood surrounding him. The two raced to the downed King and Glinda checked for a pulse. It was thready and he was breathing with some difficulty.
"Help me Elphie!" She practically screamed even though her friend was right beside her. Despite being in love with Boq she had reserved a little bit of her heart for İzmir. He was a kind man who loved his people and his country. Elphaba cursed under her breath as the two of them worked to try to heal the King. Their spells were powerful but there was no telling how long he'd been lying like that.
"Where are Boq and Besim?" Glinda asked as they worked furiously.
"Right here!" The two shouted as they approached the two. They were covered in blood. Elphaba only shook her head as the last of the King's wounds sealed up.
"What happened?" She asked.
To Be Continued…
