A/N: Shoutouts to Lexis and my anonymous reviewer. Thanks so much for reviewing and I certainly hope that you enjoy the remaining chapters. :)
Chapter 36
"Miss Fae! Miss Fae!" The shouts of her name, made Elphaba look up from her work but she did not stop what she was doing. One of the men she had been helping had a nasty infection despite her magic attempting to remove it, she wasn't having any luck. Knowing that there must be something left inside the poor man, she heaved a sigh.
"We're here! What's going on?" Sergeant Zetti asked.
"We're up to our eyeballs in casualties. Do you have the medical supplies?" Mrs. Dillamond wanted to know.
"Some of them. Miss Fae left in such a hurry, we all chased after her. I left the remainder of the supplies with two of my men," Zetti explained.
"Then we shall fetch them," Brrr rounded the corner. He had bandages on his right shoulder and some covering a good portion of both of his paws.
"At night?" Private Roth asked.
"Best time to travel," winked an Owl by the name of Bert.
"Go my friends on swift wings," the Lion smiled.
"Yes, your Highness," Bert nodded and from behind him came three more Owls, all of whom Elphaba recognized as Hubert, Cuthbert, and Bobby. She smirked slightly at Bert's brother's names before knocking her patient unconscious and magically cutting him back open.
"Sweet Oz," Corporal Stevens practically lost his lunch and the Sergeant sent him outside.
"The Captain?" Zetti asked.
"He was hit badly and he's fighting an infection and slight fever. He'll be better in the morning with the help of some of that medicine," Mrs. Dillamond assured him.
"Status report?" Zetti looked around hoping that the Captain's second was around.
"Twenty dead and burned, thirty wounded some of them badly," Lieutenant Ronin approached him and Zetti quickly gave a salute.
"At ease Sergeant, you're my second while the Captain is out of commission," Ronin smiled.
"It is good to see you my friend," Zetti smiled back.
"And you. I am hopeful that the message we sent is enough to keep the villagers away but we will need to leave men here on a more permanent basis," Ronin told him.
"Most of the men I have are either newbies or old enough that they should have retired. We need to drum up recruits," the Sergeant said.
"Not to worry. If Lady Glinda will have them, my people will be more than willing to join the Gale Force and protect themselves. You have shown great courage in the face of danger protecting those who most consider less than dirt. We would be honored to join such men in battle," Brrr spoke up.
"That is very noble of you your Highness," Ronin smiled.
"Of the twenty who perished, how many were on our side?" Zetti asked.
"Five. We lost three good men and two good Animals," the Lieutenant responded.
"That's fairly good. What of the remaining enemy?" The Sergeant questioned.
"We captured ten wounded men. The rest turned tail and left, if you'll pardon the phrase," Ronin filled him in and looked at Brrr. The King gave him a smirk and spoke up.
"I would tell you what I think we should do with them but I fear I am probably outnumbered when I say that they must pay. More Animal blood has been spilled because of them."
"Very true your Highness and I have a good idea for them as well but they must be brought to trial. This must all be on the up and up otherwise they will be used as martyrs," Zetti pointed out.
"That is true. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen, I must deliver the bad news to the wives of the fallen and visit the wounded," Brrr gave a tight smile before turning and leaving.
"Who did we lose precisely?" Zetti wanted to know, now that they were alone.
"We lost Private Smyth, Corporal Witten, Sergeant Oldach, Penny's brother, Michael, and Mr. Trumbull, a wonderful Goat, who sacrificed himself when the enemy attacked, he was out lighting the lanterns and they…" Ronin paused and Zetti could see how painful it was. Everyone in the village had gotten to know each other quickly in order to keep each other alive and Trumbull and Ronin spent quite a bit of time together and shared their love of architecture while discussing the architecture of the structures needed to protect them. Trumbull had been a rather famous Architect before the Wizard and Morrible had sent out their decrees. The enemy had done something terrible to the Goat and the Sergeant clenched his fists hard enough to almost draw blood from his palms.
"What did they do?" Zetti pushed.
"They beheaded that poor Goat and then they used his body like a shield," Ronin was slowly losing it. The Lieutenant had never been an emotional man but seeing a friend killed in such a manner would change anyone.
"We'll make them pay," Zetti said resolutely, half-tempted to take out his revenge on the remaining captives.
To Be Continued…