Chapter 10
"HALT!" Came the cry from the front to the back of the columns of soldiers. Queen Ayla and Prince Fiyero rode at the front of the group. Next to Fiyero, Elphaba sat upon a borrowed horse, a cloak over her head and gloves over her hands. The queen had loaned her a pair of pants, that she had had made for long horse rides. Having never worn pants before, the green woman was beginning to wish that they had been an option when flying on her broom. Ladies of the time all still wore dresses and no advancements were being made to wear anything else.
"The city gates are unguarded? I don't like it," Ayla frowned.
"Neither do I," Elphaba spoke up as Fiyero scanned the surrounding walls. He quickly put up his right hand and made a motion for the troops to take cover in the woods. He and the two women he loved the most did the same so as to avoid any surprise attack. Chistery and his friends took to the sky to see what they could see. It wasn't long until they were spotted however as screaming and panic could be heard filling the streets of the Emerald City. All of the Flying Monkeys retreated to the safety of the troops and Chistery quickly informed Elphaba of what they had seen.
"Palace walls abandoned. No Gale Force noticed," the witch told them.
"Advance!" Fiyero shouted out and quickly the troops reassembled and began their march into the city. The Vinkuns were out front with the small amount of troops the Quadlings could spare bringing up the rear. Since taking over all the Gale Force outposts in their own country, the Quadlings could not offer much but they made their wishes to join the Vinkus in the fight against the Wizard. At the other gate into the Emerald City, Lord Highmuster Arduenna, Glinda, and a small contingent of Munchkins, who had officially decided to join the party, started their advance as well.
"Did Connor say what the distraction was?" Elphaba asked Fiyero.
"He didn't get specific but of course he may not have known until he arrived the other day," he replied. The Resistance had left the safety of the Vinkun Palace three days prior so that they could infiltrate the city and meet up with their counterparts prior to the planned invasion.
"I think I have an idea of what they did," Ayla pointed in the direction of the Emerald Palace. There on the side of the Palace appeared a blackened spot.
"Good Unnamed God, how'd they manage that?" Fiyero asked.
"I have no idea but I'm guessing by the sudden lack of people in the streets that everyone is already been prepared for our arrival," Elphaba noted. She was right. Since the shouting they heard when Chistery and his kin went up into the skies, the Emerald City seemed empty and silent. The eerie silence was starting to bother the green woman and she pulled her broom from the bag attached to her saddle
"They've sheltered in place for their own well-being. Smart," Ayla said. By now they had almost reached the walls surrounding the Emerald Palace with no resistance. Fiyero signaled to Balfour who quickly ordered the troops to take up safe positions behind the buildings that were closest to the walls. Once that was done, Fiyero shouted out,
"Wizard of Oz, show yourself! The subjects of Oz will no longer be held under your thumb! Morrible is dead! This is your one chance to receive clemency!" Once he finished someone peeked their head above the wall.
"You dare to challenge the Wizard?" They called down.
"For the betterment of Oz, we will go to the ends of the earth!" Fiyero responded.
"All Hail Queen Ayla! All Hail Prince Fiyero! All Hail Miss Elphaba!" The troops shouted. As they called out it had become apparent to those on the inside of the walls that they were outflanked and outmanned given that the shouts came from two different sides of the Palace. Then the sounds of fighting could be heard but no one on the ground could see what was happening. Fiyero looked at Elphaba and she just shrugged.
"All Hail Queen Ayla! All Hail Prince Fiyero… All Hail Miss Elphaba…" a weakened voice came over the wall along with a bloodied fist. Without a second thought, Elphaba jumped up onto the back of the horse, her broom in her hand. She was on it in seconds and flew up to the wall.
"Attack!" Fiyero yelled. The troops moved out of their positions and stormed the gate, easily breaking through.
To Be Continued…