Chapter 21

Fiyero, Liir, Boq, and Besim arrived at the village a day later. They had managed to hitch a ride from a passerby who had been more than happy to drop the weary group off as it was on his way to Oz.

"What happened here?" Besim asked as he helped Fiyero, with his young son, exit the wagon in the Town Square.

"I have no idea. What is that Unnamed God-awful stench?" Boq replied with his own question.

"Gentlemen! It is good to see you!" Mr. Trauthill ran up to greet them.

"Mr. Trauthill! It is good to see you. Care to explain the scorch marks and smell?" Fiyero wondered as he tried to avoid gagging.

"Come. Miss Elphaba will explain," the bear smiled as he turned and headed toward the house owned by Elphaba and Fiyero.

"Now how did I know your girlfriend would be in the middle of this?" Boq teased him as they walked behind the bear. Besim jabbed the Munchkin in the ribs with his elbow.

"Thanks Besim. I'm more interested in what she is doing here already. No way Iffix was handled so quickly," Fiyero's concern was forgotten when Elphaba opened the door to the home with a big smile on her face. He then found her arms around him and the baby.

"I'm glad you're home." She told him after letting go.

"I'm glad too but Mr. Trauthill owes us an explanation or maybe you do," Fiyero said as she ushered them into the house.

"Well I think it's best if we tell the story. I have to get back to my kingdom," Glinda smiled before jumping into Boq's waiting arms.

"I completely forgot about that," Elphaba shook her head. Once again the group would be split up with no way around it. They all sat down at the dinner table and had some tea while the girls began to explain.

About thirty minutes later, the story was wrapped up and the boys stared at the girls with looks of wonderment.

"So that explains the scorching and the smell but not where Iffix's body went," Besim said.

"After we piled all the parts together, Glinda used one of her bubbles to transport it to the nearest volcano," Elphaba explained.

"So there is no way this guy is coming back," Boq looked pleased.

"Yes we are safe from him. We could not allow him to be dug up. Once he died, he stayed in dragon form due to the nature of the spell. Dragon horns, scales, and claws can all be used in powerful spells," the green-skinned woman said.

"Well I suppose we should start helping Mr. Trauthill and his crew with reconstruction. All those damaged roofs must be replaced before the next rain storm," Fiyero stood from his chair.

"That and the smell needs to go. Some of those roofs had dragon parts and blood on them. I could see the stains," Besim made a face.

"Before anyone goes anywhere, there is more to discuss," Glinda spoke up.

"I suppose that's true," Boq nodded solemnly.

"I am a Queen now. I have responsibilities that I cannot pass to anyone else. Reginald and I were expected to produce heirs as he was the last of his family," Glinda paused.

"No one is challenging your right to be Queen?" Besim wondered.

"How could they? They just fought out their King was murdered yesterday," Glinda told him.

"So what do we do?" Fiyero asked.

"I must go back. If no one challenges me then I must reign over all of this country and Oz. However Oz council delegates have already expressed their wishes as far as being their own country. They have made it very clear that they do not want me in charge," the White Witch explained.

"So someone needs to take over Oz," Elphaba said.

"And I have just the couple in mind," Glinda smirked.

To Be Continued…