Chapter 10
Chistery flew in over the Vinkun Palace to find destruction. He could easily spot Avantador and the Griffins along with his fellow Flying Monkeys picking through the battlefield outside the Palace walls. Inside the walls, bodies, equipment, and debris laid everywhere. The stench of death was in the air and he quickly landed near his brethren.
"Ashok!" Chistery approached his friend and discovered his wing bandaged.
"Chistery! Thank Oz you have come. Where are the rest of the troops?" Ashok asked.
"Not far behind. I was only scouting ahead. What are you doing out here?" He wanted to know.
"Cleaning up. Any wounded that remain are being brought inside the walls. All the dead are being transported with their belongings further away from the Palace. We could be dealing with a lot of disease if we don't," Ashok explained.
"What of Miss Elphaba?" Chistery swallowed hard.
"Inside the walls," he said. Chistery thanked him and quickly headed to the gates and the soldiers quickly let him pass. He was picking his way through the grounds, surprised at the damage done. The troops who had been attacking had vast numbers but he expected there to be less casualties seeing as Miss Elphaba and Avantador could strike massive blows and allow for things to end quickly. Something must have gone terribly wrong.
Someone screaming in pain shook him from his thoughts and he redirected himself toward it. Soon he discovered a tent that had obviously been setup as a field hospital. He made his way inside and the sight disturbed him. Victims inside were burned, bloodied, and broken.
"Chistery!" The familiar yet weakened voice of his friend called to him and he moved to find her. Her skin, though pale, stuck out in the mass of red and brown and the Flying Monkey easily found her.
"What happened?" He asked as he realized that she was lying on one of the hospital beds, her skin tone was more diminished than he had previously thought. The last few days of fighting had done a number on her.
"Burcin had students. Five of them. We did what we could but it ended poorly. What of the Emerald City?" She wanted to know.
"Captain Asli is not far behind with the troops and medical supplies. Are you all right?" He was concerned for his friend.
"Just exhausted. I was battling witches and assisting in whatever way I could medically. Right now my powers are kaput," Elphaba tried to reassure him.
"Chistery!" Fiyero made his way over to the Flying Monkey and his wife. He wasn't holding onto anyone which was a good sign.
"Your highness! It is good to see you up and about," he said.
"Agreed. Now if we could only get my wife better, we'd be all set," Fiyero gave a lopsided grin and turned to the aforementioned person.
"You are being transferred to the infirmary. You're not going to get any sleep out here," he said.
"What if I'm needed?" She gave him a look.
"They'll have to suck it up. You don't recover and I don't know what I'll do," it was Fiyero's turn for a stern look. Surprisingly, she only nodded her head and the Prince scooped her up and out of the bed. Chistery immediately grew more concerned seeing as his friend did not put up much of a fight.
"Gale Force at the gates!" Came a shout from a soldier at the opening to the hospital tent. Chistery headed back outside and met Captain Asli not far from the entrance to the Palace grounds.
"Dear Oz Almighty," Asli breathed.
"Miss Elphaba informs me that things went sideways," the Flying Monkey said.
"Couldn't have gone too sideways, they won," the Captain pointed out.
"Captain! It is good to see you," Sergeant Licek walked up to them, his arm in a sling.
"And you my friend. What can we do to render assistance?" Asli wanted to know.
"Anyone with medical training and any supplies you brought with you are desperately needed in the hospital tent. We could use some bolstering of the prison camp we've set up for the POWs and then there is cleanup," Licek told him. Asli turned to his troops and said,
"Sergeant Licek's orders are my orders. Do as he requires of you."
"Sir, yes sir!" The troops shouted back and saluted before they were dispersed to the locations they were needed.
"How fairs the Royal family?" The Captain asked.
"I'll take you to the Queen," Licek nodded.
To Be Continued…