Chapter 52
Elphaba closed her eyes and sighed. Opening her eyes and turning around to face the wall, she looked back into the courtyard, scouring every inch that she could see. All was quiet. She looked at the window, back to the courtyard, and back to the window again.
"I have to know," she said quietly to herself. Elphaba took a moment to gather up her courage. After a few moments she took a deep breath. "No time like the present."
Boq sat quietly in the dark of the upstairs loft in the Ozma room. From his position he held a commanding view of the courtyard and the area beyond its walls. 'Ah, the vantage of wisdom that often comes with age,'he mentally congratulated himself. His was a well formed plan. He was just about to lean back in the chair when a hint of a shadowy figure appeared at the wall. He couldn't see who it was, but still he knew. He stood and moved closer to the window, but not so close as to invite the moonlight to reflect off of his mirrored tenement.
Finally, he would have some measure of revenge against this woman who ruined his life. She'd turned him into this abomination, and as a result the love he might have shared with Glinda was forever ruined leaving only a very crenelated friendship with the object of his desire. Now that dream was gone. It was eradicated the moment Elphaba used that book to destroy his life. Now he would destroy hers.
The realization that his reprisal was finally within his grasp elicited a smile from the tin lips. All he had to do now was hide and watch.
Elphaba's stomach was in a knot. She was ignoring her intuition and she was fully aware of that fact. Nonetheless she took a deep breath, pulled the hood further down over her forehead and stepped out from behind the protection of the wall that shielded her presence.
Before she could take two steps, and hand gripped her tightly around her right elbow and pulled her back. Elphaba was pinned back against the wall by a large man in uniform whose hands were firmly on her shoulders.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said softly but sternly.
Elphaba reacted quickly, pushing her arms up and out causing the man in front of her to lose his grip on her shoulders. She tried to run but he quickly grabbed her and pulled her back. The two fought in a muted struggle. The only sounds coming from the act of resistance.
The man tried to wrap his arms around Elphaba in an attempt to contain her and gain some control. Elphaba was having none of it. She elbowed him in the gut, turned in place and pushed the man back with a hard thrust of her foot against his chest.
The man nearly lost his balance in front of the entryway to the courtyard, but quickly found his bearings. His persistence was beginning to get on Elphaba's nerves. She turned to face him as he ran back towards her. Counting on his over zealous efforts to charge her, Elphaba timed herself precisely, jumped in the air and delivered a roundhouse kick intended for his jaw. What she didn't count on was that he was ready for her. He grabbed her leg midair and pulled her off balance towards him.
Boq watched as the shadowy figure peaked around the courtyard fence. He waited with splendid anticipation. The cloaked figure finally emerged from behind the wall and took a step towards the courtyard when suddenly…….
"What? What happened?" Boq said to himself. The figure he knew was Elphaba had made a move towards the courtyard and was suddenly jerked back.
Boq waited. He saw her run out in front of the entryway only to be pulled back behind the fence again. Boq let out an incredulous breath. Before he knew it, he saw one of his officers stumble out in front of the courtyard entry only to regain his balance and charge back behind the fence.
"Damn! Damn him!" Boq screamed out loud as he slammed his fist against the wall. Turning on his heels, Boq quickly made his way down the stairs and out of the Ozma Room.
Elphaba fell to the ground with a hard thump. The man quickly pulled her up again with her back towards him, placed his large arms around her, finally restraining her as he had originally intended to. He pushed her up against the wall for added support and brought his left hand up to cup her mouth.
"Listen to me," he whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help you. Right now there are guards hidden in that courtyard, and they're looking for you."
Elphaba turned her head slightly towards him. As much as her current position would allow. She eased up and momentarily stopped struggling against him.
"If I let you go, do you promise not to make a sound, and let me explain?"
Elphaba nodded slightly and the man gently eased his grip on her. The man stepped away from her, allowing her a little space. Elphaba looked him over as he straightened his uniform coat. He had very pleasing features. An older man, seemingly late in his fourth decade. Dark hair with a hint of grey around the temples, short sideburns, a trim goatee, and emerald green eyes to go with is chiseled features.
"Who are you?" Elphaba asked.
"I'm Captain Torio," he said.
"You're Captain of the Guard," Elphaba replied. "Why would you help me?"
"First of all, you're right. I am Captain of the Guard. A position I believe was once held by another man who spent a very long time looking for you. Your friend Fiyero."
"You know Fiyero?" Elphaba asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"I do. I'm also very good friends with another acquaintance of yours. Dr. Frinly."
"Dr……you know….." Elphaba stammered at the unexpected revelation.
"Yes, I know Dr. Frinly. You see, here, within these walls, I'm Captain Torio, but outside of these walls I'm in charge of the doctor's Emerald City network. My real name is Aldebaran. I am your friend, and you are in danger."
Elphaba was stunned into silence.
"The first thing we need to do is get you out of here. Did you bring a horse?"
"Yes, but I left it at Restwater Creek, just down the trail from the old signpost."
"Ok then do me a favor. Wait here while I go get us a horse. I'll take you back to yours then we'll head on over to my center of operations. Your friends should be there by now."
Elphaba nodded. Aldebaran nodded back and turned to leave.
"Wait," Elphaba called after him in an elevated whisper. "What about Glinda. She's also in danger. I need to get her out of here."
"She's not here Elphaba. She was here earlier, but she's left. That whole story in the newspaper was planted. It was meant to bring you here tonight. You were supposed to go into that courtyard to have a look through the windows. Once you were inside, my men would have surrounded you. You're a great fighter, but you wouldn't have escaped that situation. I guarantee it. We're really lucky that there's a façade of evergreens in front of the entry blocking the view of the guards on the other side of that wall. Otherwise they'd already be on you. So just stay here for now and stay quiet. I'll be right back," he whispered back at her.
Elphaba nodded again. As she watched Torio/Aldebaran leave and disappear around the far corner of the wall, she felt a rising anger within her. Who was she mad at? The ones who planted the story about Glinda, or herself for disregarding her intuition?
Torio's guards must've been excellently trained. Elphaba moved to the edge of the wall again and chanced another peek into the courtyard. Those evergreens did obscure the view, but she could still see into the courtyard from between the branches. It still looked so calm and clear. If she didn't know better, she'd still swear it was empty.
"Hello Elphaba," came a familiar voice behind her.
Elphaba spun around to face her addressor.
"Boq!"
"Yes, it's me. It's so good of you to grace us with your presence again. "
"What have you done with Glinda?" Elphaba asked with an incensed tone.
"Glinda's fine. She was here earlier, but she left."
"So I'm told. Where? Where did she go?"
"I have no idea really. And to be honest with you, it's not really my concern. In fact, my only concern is you."
"You planted that story in the newspaper," Elphaba accused.
"Guilty," he said putting his hand over his allusive heart and raising his right hand as if to swear to Oz. "I knew that you would come for her. After all, you're lovers now," he said, putting distasteful emphasis on lovers.
"So that's what this is really about isn't it? You're so insanely jealous that you can't see straight. You're entirely consumed with revenge on someone who means you no harm."
"That's some of it, I will admit. The thought of Glinda choosing you instead of me makes my stomach turn, or it would if I had a real stomach. Instead all I have is this metal prison you've put me in. You turned me into a Tin Man. You stole the only woman I've ever loved. YOU RUINED MY LIFE!"
Desidiroso heard Boq yell from beyond the courtyard walls. It sounded a bit muffled due to the natural baffling created by the curtain of evergreens in front of the courtyard entrance. He motioned to a few of the men to wait even as his hand grasped the handle of his pistol.
"Boq, believe me, it was never my intention to ruin your life. I was trying to save it. Nessa didn't know what she was doing when she picked up the Grimmerie and began chanting a spell that she thought would make you love her. Her spell caused your heart to shrink. If I didn't act fast, you'd be dead right now."
"You should have let me die," Boq snapped.
"Surely you don't mean that. There must be something in your life that's good. Someone?" Elphaba asked.
"There was someone. Someone who made being incarcerated in alloy bearable, but you took her away from me," Boq said. He was careful not to shed tears. It was well documented just how easily he rusted.
"Boq please, you have to believe me, I never intended for any of this to happen to you. If there was anything I could do to make it up to you I would. Is there? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"You can rot in prison until the Kumbric Witch claims your soul," Boq said through gritted teeth. "GUARDS! OUT HERE! SHE'S OUT HERE!"
"GO, GO, GO!" Desidiroso yelled.
The men quickly responded and ran to the front of the courtyard.
Elphaba tried to get away, but Boq grabbed her wrist preventing her escape. She twisted her wrist violently in his hands until she wrestled it free. Within seconds the guards came pouring through the open entryway, surrounding her with their spears at the ready. Desidiroso came quickly up the rear with his gun aloft.
Elphaba could see that there was no way out. She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender as Boq stepped back. Desidiroso was already on a very nervous edge.
'Now there's some other things you need to know that are very important. Elpha... the witch is extremely powerful and magically gifted. She uses her hands to cast her spells, so under no circumstances are you to allow her to get her hands into position to cast a spell on your or the men and escape.'
Desidiroso heard those words clearly in his head. He didn't see a woman about to quietly surrender, he saw a witch about to cast a spell. Without hesitation he fired a shot from his handgun. The bullet caught Elphaba on the left shoulder, ripping across the base of her deltoid muscle just above the biceps.
"NO!" A yell startled the would be captain as the real Captain Torio came out of nowhere and grabbed his arm, putting pressure on his wrist until the gun dropped to the ground. Torio pushed Desidiroso away and quickly picked up the gun, aiming it at the would-be captain.
"STAND DOWN! EVERYBODY STAND DOWN!" Torio yelled.
The men looked confused, but reluctantly lowered their spears.
Elphaba grabbed her shoulder and bent down slightly in pain. She saw the men lower their spears and took the opportunity to run.
"Don't let her get away!" Boq yelled with exasperation.
"I SAID STAND DOWN!" Torio yelled moving around the men.
The men looked at Torio, waiting for some guidance, and truth be told, they were resentful of the Tin Man for putting such a low ranking guard in charge. They would do as Torio asked. Torio moved his gun from Desidiroso to Boq.
"Captain, this is outrageous!" Boq said angrily.
"No sir! What's outrageous is the stunt you pulled here tonight," Torio spat back.
"I'll have you court marshaled for this," Boq fumed.
"Just try," Torio responded. "Now I'm going to go find her. If anyone follows me they'll be shot on the spot." Torio raised the gun to make his point. He began to back away from the crowd. Slow steps quickened until he turned around and began running in the direction he'd seen Elphaba take.
Boq angrily turned to Desidiroso. "You and I will have a word young man. I want to see you back inside the Palace right now!"
The young soldier deflated quickly. He had the witch and he'd allowed her to escape. He wasn't looking forward to whatever it was the Tin Man had to say to him.
Kerrick locked the last clasp of the carriage's convertible soft top.
Opening the carriage door, Tanon offered his hand to the women. "Ladies," he said politely as Sarina took the offered hand.
Tanon helped her into the carriage and turned to offer Glinda the same courtesy. She smiled and took his hand when suddenly a chill came upon her. Glinda stopped short, took a quick breath and brought her hand to her chest just below her neck. Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard.
"Glinda?" Tanon called her name with concern in his voice.
"Glinda dear, what is it?" Sarina asked.
Kerrick turned to look as well.
"Elphie," Glinda said more to herself than anyone else.
"What?" Tanon asked
Glinda came out of her temporary catatonia and looked pleadingly at Tanon. "We have to go back. Something's wrong."
Glinda walked over to Kerrick and put her hand on his arm. "Please. Please take me back there to have a look. Earlier tonight I had a very strong feeling that Elphie was coming for me. Now there's a chill down my spine and I can't help but think that she's here and she's in trouble. I can't explain how I know this, I just do. Please Kerrick."
"Say no more. You don't even have to ask." Kerrick looked at Tanon. "Care to ride up front with me?"
Tanon nodded affirmatively. He quickly helped Glinda into the back with Sarina then made his way to the front of the carriage and climbed up to the front seat with Kerrick.
"YAH!" Kerrick snapped the reigns as he yelled to get his horses moving.
The carriage quickly exited the lot and headed down the road towards the palace.
Glinda's heart was racing. She just couldn't dismiss this feeling. She hoped to Oz she was wrong about everything. That Elphie was safe with the rest of her friends right now, but deep inside she knew better, and all she cared about was getting back to the Palace as soon as possible.
Elphaba was out of breath from running. She was nearly at Restwater Creek now, but she was beginning to feel weak and light-headed. Slowing down, she took her hand away from the wound on her shoulder and looked at it. Her hand was covered in blood and she could see the darkened stains coming from her cloak as well. She was bleeding profusely.
'A breach of the cephalic vein? No, no! Damage to the thoracoacromial artery. In fact, the Deltoid Branch of the thoracoacromial artery. That's what it is. No wait…what? Oh shut up Elphaba! Who cares!' Such was the clutter of nonsensical thoughts racing through Elphaba's mind.
Hurt and bleeding, her mind was trying to make sense of what had just happened. She closed her hand tightly around the wound again and pressed on. Her feet began to feel weighted with every step. Each subsequent stride began to take its toll as her feet began to drag along the roadway. Finally she could see the signpost up ahead. Thoughts of Glinda propelled her forward until she reached the landmark.
Upon arriving at the sign, Elphaba stopped and looked around, surveying the road for any sign that she had been followed. She saw no one, and heard nothing but the occasional soft rustle of what remained of the leaves in the deciduous trees and bushes. Relief washed over her as she took another moment to catch her breath. After a time she decided it would be best to get to her horse and get away from this place, but weakening at an accelerated pace, she wasn't prepared for her first step away from the signpost.
In one step she felt like she'd been placed on a lift and unceremoniously dropped. Her knee buckled and her legs refused to support her anymore. Before she knew it, Elphaba had fallen to the ground. In a dazed and confused state, she managed to roll over onto her back and prop herself up on her right elbow. The grounds around her seemed to move on their own, as if their foundation consisted of a turbulent sea. The weakness, the motion, the pain all joined together in a confluence of sensory overload. Elphaba fell onto her back again and stared at the starry night sky. She just needed to rest. If she could just close her eyes for a moment, she would gather herself again and move on. Elphaba gave into the feeling. She was out the moment she closed her eyes. Outside of some croaking frogs and chirping crickets the night was still. She was injured, and she was alone.
Kerrick hurried the carriage through the nearly abandoned streets of Oz back towards the Palace. Apparently the land shakes had frightened people enough that they chose the secure confines of their own homes as opposed to going out for the evening. The paucity of people allowed Kerrick some uncharacteristic bravado while driving his carriage through the streets. He didn't know why, but he believed in Glinda's intuition where Elphaba was concerned. The women seemed to have an uncanny connection that couldn't be explained. He felt her sense of urgency and acted on it.
The Palace was just up ahead. Glinda could see it, but her instinct lead her to issue instruction to Kerrick.
"Turn left up here," she said edgily.
Kerrick pulled the reigns, guiding the horses left down the road that lead for some way around the perimeter of the Palace. The road curved to the right. Kerrick urged his horses forward. As they rounded the corner and the road straightened, the group spotted a faction of the guard standing around quite casually.
Kerrick pulled up to the gathering and stopped his horses.
Glinda poked her head out of the carriage. She had a sense of foreboding, still she remained calm and addressed the men in a general fashion. "Pardon me, did something happen here that I should be aware of?"
"Nothing to worry about Miss Glinda. We had a disturbance here earlier, but it's under control now," one of the men answered.
"A disturbance? What kind of a disturbance?" Tanon asked.
The men looked at one another trying to decide how much of the truth they should divulge. Seeing as Glinda was with this group, and was, after all, a member of the Ozian hierarchy, the men nodded to one another in tacit agreement.
"The witch was here earlier. We almost caught her, but she got away," said one of the guards.
"Yeah, but not before we shot her," said another man sounding as if he were the one to pull the trigger.
Sarina put her hand on Glinda's arm and gave her a supportive squeeze.
"SHOT HER?!" Glinda yelled. "WHO SHOT HER? WHERE IS SHE?" Glinda was almost beside herself.
"Our interim Captain," explained another guard. "Unfortunately in the ensuing confusion she managed to get away. But not to worry. Captain Torio went after her."
"Which way did they go?" Kerrick asked.
A few of the men pointed in the direction that Elphaba and Torio had gone. Without a word Kerrick snapped the reigns and urged the horses into a full run. Glinda fell back onto the seat of the carriage. She looked around aimlessly, trying to sort out what she'd just heard.
"They shot her," she said out loud. Slowly her eyes moved upward until they met Sarina's. "They shot her." Glinda put her head in her hands then began rubbing her own temples. She felt an intense pressure building up.
Sarina's brows furrowed. She shook her head and moved from her seat across from Glinda. She sat next to the frightened blonde and put her left arm around Glinda's back. "She's going to be ok. You heard them. She got away."
Glinda dropped her hands, looked up and away. Tears began to form in her eyes as the image of an injured Elphaba played in her mind. "We don't even know where she is, where they shot her or how badly she's injured."
"Maybe they missed," Sarina offered, not believing it herself.
Glinda looked at a sincere Sarina. "They didn't say they shot at her. They said they shot her. Sweet Oz Sarina, we have to find her."
"And we will," Sarina said with determination. "Kerrick will make sure of that."
Torio's pace never slowed. He kept moving along the road as quickly as his legs could carry him. He wished he'd had time to get his horse, but he'd heard the Tin Man's elevated voice calling for the troops, and he knew he had to get back as soon as possible.
He was grateful that he and Elphaba had talked long enough for her to tell him that her horse was at Restwater Creek. He was positive she was headed there. Up ahead he spotted the signpost. Within moments he arrived at the marker. His heart pounded from the exertion as well as the sight of Elphaba lying on the ground in front of him.
Torio quickly knelt next to her. He could see the blood stains on the cloak. "That's not good," he said to himself. Unbuttoning the top buttons of her cloak, he pulled the heavy material away in order to have a look at her arm. The sight of the injury caused him to inhale sharply through his teeth. He put the cloak back in place and cupped her face in his hands.
"Elphaba………..Elphaba," he kept calling her name trying to wake her.
Elphaba slowly opened her eyes.
"Elphaba, can you understand me? I need to get you out of here."
"My horse," Elphaba whispered with half closed lids.
"I'll get your horse, but I need to get you out of sight. I'm going to carry you to a safe place do you understand?"
"Uh huh," Elphaba barely managed.
Torio gently moved his right arm behind her shoulders, placed his left arm under her knees and lifted her off of the ground. Her injured shoulder was pressed against his chest, helping to stop the continued blood flow. Torio carried her along the road until he found a large boulder to the left, just off the roadway. He hastened his steps until he reached the boulder and gently put her down. Her eyes were closed again, and he thought briefly about waking her to tell her he was going to find her horse, but thought better of it. Time was of the essence. He needed to get her back to his place and Dr. Frinly as soon as possible.
As he stood up, he heard the unmistakable sound in the distance of an approaching vehicle. A carriage. That would be a much more desirable mode of transportation than a horse. He felt confident that he could get the passersby to stop for him as he was still in uniform and the Ozian proletariat was very accommodating more often than not.
Torio hurried to the edge of the roadway. He could see the carriage approaching. It was covered. 'Perfect,' he thought.
He moved out to the middle of the roadway, waving his arms above his head in a back and forth motion.
"Oh for the love of…." Kerrick said as he slowed his horses until they stopped just in front of the officer.
"Pardon me officer, but we're in a bit of a hurry," Kerrick began.
Torio moved over to the driver's side of the carriage. "Excuse me sir. I'm very sorry, but I have an emergency and need your assistance."
"YOU!" Glinda leaped out of the carriage.
"Glinda?" Torio said with surprise.
"I recognize you. You were the officer at the Palace. The one who was talking to the Tin Man."
At that moment, Glinda spotted the blood stains that had transferred from Elphaba's cloak to his uniform.
"Who's blood is that?" she asked with a quivering voice. "Is it hers? Where is she? What have you done with her?"
"Miss Glinda please. I'm trying to help her, not hurt her," Torio said placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Glinda moved out from under his touch. "Where is she?"
"I put her over there, behind that boulder, I wanted her out of sight in case anyone came looking for us," he said pointing to the boulder.
Glinda looked at the large rock and took a couple of tentative strides towards it before breaking out into a full sprint.
Kerrick and Torio were right on her heels. Tanon stayed at the carriage with Sarina who was busy looking in the back of the carriage for a first aid kit. It was something that Kerrick had insisted they have on hand.
Glinda reached the boulder quickly, running around to the backside of it. "Elphie!" She quickly dropped to her knees beside the recumbent woman.
"Elphie, Elphie can you hear me?" Glinda cupped Elphaba's cheek with her right hand. She ran her thumb in a circle over that cheek as she continued calling her loves name. "Elphie. Wake up. Elphie look at me."
Elphaba slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Glinda in front of her, she thought she was dreaming. "Glinda," she said with a weak smile.
"I'm here sweetness. I'm right here, and I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to take care of you."
"Let me get her," Torio said. He placed his arms around Elphaba just as he had before and lifted her again.
Glinda got up and kept her hand lightly in contact with Elphaba arm. The trio hurried back to the carriage. Glinda climbed in first at Kerrick's urging. Kerrick climbed in next and help Torio place Elphaba inside on the seat next to Glinda.
"Let's get that coat off of her. Where is she injured?" Sarina asked.
Torio unbuttoned the cloak as he'd done before and moved it off of Elphaba's shoulder.
"Oh my, " Sarina gasped.
Glinda pulled Elphaba's head to her chest, using her hand to keep the green woman in place. She kissed her forehead and closed her eyes, not wanted to be confronted with what looked like a severe injury to her love's shoulder.
"Give me the gauze and a large pad, " Kerrick said.
"Should we disinfect it first?" Sarina asked.
Kerrick nodded and Sarina handed him a bottle of peroxide. He looked at Glinda who'd opened her eyes by now. They both knew that if Elphaba was conscious on any level that this was going to hurt. Glinda braced herself and hugged Elphaba tighter. Kerrick opened the bottle and poured some of its contents out on Elphaba's shoulder. The wound bubbled up furiously. Elphaba groaned, and grimaced. Her muscles momentarily tensed then relaxed as she slumped into Glinda's arms. Glinda ran her fingers though the dark hair trying to ease her own tension as well as the woman in her arms.
Kerrick placed a pad over the wound and used the gauze to tightly wrap it. "It'll have to do until we get her back to the house," he said.
"If you don't mind," Torio interrupted, "I'd like to take her to mine. Her friend Dr. Frinly is there, and I have a very advanced medical facility on the property."
Kerrick raised an eyebrow.
"I'll explain along the way. Right now, we need to get her out of here and get her some help as soon as possible. My house is just on the outskirts of the city. We can be there in only a few clock ticks," Torio said.
"What are we waiting for?" Tanon asked.
"Your place it is," Kerrick agreed. He jumped out of the carriage and took his position in the drivers seat with Tanon next to him.
Sarina and Torio were in the seat across from Elphaba and Glinda. Kerrick snapped the reigns again and headed out, listening for direction from Torio. As they passed the signpost, Torio chanced a glance down the narrowing trail that lead to the creek. Elphaba's horse was down there, and he'd promised her that he would fetch the animal.
"Remind me when we get there that Elphaba's horse is at Restwater Creek," he said. "Right now we have to get her to the doctor."
"I'll make sure of it," Tanon responded
Glinda just shook her head and held onto Elphaba for dear life. She kissed her forehead and placed her cheek on top of the green woman's head once again. "I've got you, love. I've got you, and I'm not letting go."
