A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Things get a little hairy in this chapter. Glad you're enjoying it!
Chapter 30
"Miss Elphaba, we did not realize that you were bringing someone with you," Councilman Barat spoke up upon the green woman entering the temporary Council headquarters with Boq and Private Schultz.
"May I introduce Boq, son of Bfee, of Munchkinland," Elphaba smiled slightly. She took a seat across the table, opposite of the members of the Council. Boq tried to sit as well but it wasn't as easy for him and Elphaba quickly hopped up to help him get into the chair next to her. The translations he'd managed to complete were placed on the table.
"Welcome Master Boq," Councilman Arif nodded at him.
"Thank you, Councilman," Boq bowed.
"What causes you to grace us with your presence?" Fekri asked.
"A diary of sorts was found inside Madame Morrible's office and Miss Elphaba knew of my penchant for solving ciphers," the Tin Man explained.
"Ciphers?" Pepi raised an eyebrow.
"The book uses a combination of numbers that were found on and in the file cabinet inside her office. Those numbers represent letters. Each page was written in a different cipher in an attempt to confuse the average citizen who found the book. Without the numbers that were found on and in the filing cabinet, it just looks like a jumble of numbers. I recognized it and immediately thought of Master Boq," Elphaba spoke up.
"How do you know Master Boq?" Barat wanted to know.
"We grew up in Munchkinland together and went to Shiz University," the green woman was completely honest.
"You went to Shiz?" Fekri was surprised.
"I was allowed to go to Shiz to assist my sister and while I was there, I was allowed to obtain an education," more honesty from the only woman in the room.
"Before we get any further, I must ask. What is your lineage? You say you were raised in Munchkinland but forgive me, you do not look like a Munchkin and neither does Master Boq," Arif asked. Elphaba knew this was coming. She thought she'd prepared herself, but she supposed there was nothing she could really do to prepare.
"Master Boq's current condition is due to my sister. She attempted something she should not have, and this was the best I could do in order to save his life. My attempt however has left him in a terrible state for which I have yet to find a cure. I fully intend to fix him and give him back everything that he has lost," Elphaba dodged the original question.
"Is this true Master Boq?" Pepi asked.
"It is," the Tin Man nodded.
"Miss Elphaba, why are you so reluctant to talk about yourself?" Barat pressed. The green woman heaved a sigh before answering,
"I am third Thropp Descending, heiress to the title of Eminent Thropp," there it was. There was no going back now.
"I'm guessing you left that part out earlier given the Munchkins' reaction to your sister's death?" Arif wondered.
"Indeed sir. It is better that the Munchkins do not know who I really am. The rest of my family is gone, and my guess is that the bulk of the Munchkin population like it that way," Elphaba said.
"We will leave that part stricken from the record. No one wishes to start an uproar over who is really in charge in Munchkinland. They are unstable enough as it is," Fekri told them.
"I appreciate it. I have no wish to rule over anyone, but I especially hold no love for Munchkins given my childhood," the green woman said.
"Moving on, what have you found in Morrible's book?" Pepi asked.
"What I have found so far is disturbing. Given Miss Elphaba's talents, Morrible had big plans for her originally. It does not discuss why the plans shifted to where we are today but Morrible was finding ways to get what she wanted," the Tin Man explained.
"How so?" Barat wanted to know.
"She was looking for a specific spell book, which only Elphaba could actually read. Once she had it, she intended to capture Elphaba, and then force her to give over her magical powers. Of course, once this was complete, Elphaba would then be murdered in the name of the state, and no one would be able to take on the Grand Vizier," Boq handed over the pages he had with these translations.
"How would she get Miss Elphaba to turn over her powers?" Arif had never heard of that.
"It is an ancient spell. A person could borrow another's powers to multiply their own. It was meant as a last resort. You see once the person "borrows" someone else's powers, there was no guarantee they could be transferred back. Quite often, it is used as a last resort because the person needing the extra power was heading to their death. You see all that power could overload the person's body when fighting another powerful magical being," Elphaba explained.
"But if the original person is dead…" Fekri trails off.
"Then it gives time to the person with the added powers to learn how to control their new found magic," the green woman nodded.
"It gets worse I'm afraid," Boq spoke up.
"I'm not sure how much worse it could actually get Boq," she was confused by his comment and gave him a look.
"Morrible writes in her diary about suspicions she had regarding the Wizard," the Tin Man wasn't sure he should be doing this in front of the Council, but he knew it would get out once he turned the deciphered books over. Elphaba remained silent, thoroughly not understanding what he was getting at. Boq grabbed the stack of pages and quickly flipped to the one he was looking for.
"He has something he calls his "Miracle Elixir". It is a green liquid inside a green glass bottle with a stopper in it. When he drinks it, it loosens him up, his lips, in particular. I warned him about drinking it around others, but he told me that it was best when drunk with others," Boq stopped when he felt Elphaba's hand on his arm. He looked at her confused; he hadn't gotten to the bad part yet. The move was not missed by the Councilmen.
"He said the miracle was that it lowered inhibitions and makes the person more pliable. He has offered me a taste, but I have never taken it, afraid of what his other worldly concoction may contain. I have no doubt that he used it on other women to get what he wanted out of them. After he starts drinking the liquid, he often speaks of a woman whom he would never forget. She was tall and had red hair and he called her "his rose". He spoke of her like a long-lost love and has never spoke of anyone else in that way. I haven't found out who she was but given his penchant of taking what he wants, I have to wonder if this woman would look at him in the same light," Boq swallowed hard before looking at Elphaba. Her green had changed shade and she looked like she was about to be ill. Private Schultz stepped in and quietly asked her if she was all right. Elphaba only managed a slight shake of her head – 'no'.
"What is it Miss Elphaba?" Councilman Barat grew concerned give her reaction. Private Schultz went to the door and quickly asked the guard for a doctor to be called. It was a good thing too as Elphaba passed out.
To Be Continued…
