A/N: A shout out to the anonymous reviewer! The Wizard's book will get some attention next chapter. ;) Thanks!
Chapter 34
Boq had been moving right along through Morrible's book. There were no more earth-shattering reveals regarding Elphaba but there certainly were more insights on what the plans had been prior to discovering the green woman. Glinda and Lieutenant Bayram had only stopped in for a few minutes before disappearing again.
"Any luck with the random code?" Sergeant Zeki wondered. He'd taken a seat on top of Morrible's desk, across from the green woman, who sat in Morrible's chair.
"Using the translations, I'm still struggling on how it all fits together. It's not like there are indications where the first word ends and the next word begins," Elphaba frowned.
"Because you don't have all the letters?" Zeki asked.
"Yes, partially. I'm not entirely sure if all the words are in Ozian. Yero, can you take a look at this? Any Vinkun in the there?" She wanted to know. Fiyero came over from his seat in one of the cushy chairs and took a look at the piece of paper with Elphaba's attempt at codebreaking on it.
"Doesn't look like it to me," he shrugged apologetically before handing back the piece of paper. He retook his seat in the chair.
"No Munchkin either. I'll have Glinda take a look when she gets back and see if there is any Gillikinese in there. That only leaves us with someone who could speak Quadling," Elphaba said.
"That is a tall order. Only Councilman Pepi speaks it around here, as far as I know," Private Schultz spoke up from his spot across the room on the couch.
"How would you know that?" Zeki gave him a look, hopping off the desk.
"My roommate when I first joined the Gale Force was from Quadling Country. I learned a little but I'm not fluent. I heard Councilman Pepi muttering it the other day when we were in the temporary Council chamber," Schultz explained.
"Where's your roommate?" Elphaba asked.
"He quit the Gale Force and went home. The service wasn't for him. I might recognize some of it," the Private said.
"Take a look at what I have, see if you recognize it. You don't, you don't, at least we tried," the green woman smiled. Schultz nodded and took a look at it. A few minutes later, he shook his head.
"Sorry. Like I said, I'm not fluent."
"What is Glinda up to anyway?" Boq piped up without looking up from the page he was decoding.
"I honestly have no idea. She promised to be right back," Fiyero said.
"That was like twenty minutes ago," the Tin Man pointed out.
"She's with Lieutenant Bayram. How much trouble could she get in?" Elphaba asked.
"Schultz, man the fort. I'll scoot out and see if I can find those two," Sergeant Zeki said before quickly ducking out the door. They slipped into silence for a minute or two before Elphaba spoke up.
"What if this code starts from the back of the book?"
"You mean like you've got the end of the code and not the beginning?" Boq stopped what he was doing.
"Yeah. I mean what would prevent Morrible from going to the back of the book and starting there?" She asked.
"Absolutely nothing. She's done everything else the hard way, why not this?" Fiyero wondered.
"Well, I have about ten more pages to go before we get there," Boq admitted.
"Means that we can make sure everyone gets dinner. We're way past snacks at this point," Private Schultz said.
"He's right. It's almost eight o'clock," Fiyero realized. Schultz nodded and was about to head back out into the hallway to instruct the guard when the door opened.
"Captain, I think you better come with me," it was the guard from the hallway.
"What's going on?" The former Prince asked.
"Sergeant Zeki is requesting you join him in the Wizard's office," the Corporal explained. The room was literally just two doors down the hall. Fiyero nodded and exited the room while Schultz asked about dinner for the people in the room.
The Vinkun knocked on the door just a few moments later and Sergeant Zeki opened the door, escorting him inside, before shutting the door behind him. Fiyero looked at Glinda and the Lieutenant and then turned to look at Zeki.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"You'll never guess what I caught these two doing," Zeki frowned. Fiyero turned to the blonde and Bayram.
"Lin?" He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Go on and tell him," the Sergeant gave the two of them a look.
"Fiyero… I…" Glinda started.
"Captain, I'm sorry. I never should have said anything. Do not blame Lady Glinda," Bayram spoke up.
"There were necking, sir. Quite ardently," Zeki finally spilled since the other two hadn't seen fit to tell him. Fiyero drew his lips tight.
"I don't know what came over me," Glinda said as the Vinkun held up his hand.
"Don't apologize. I won't be apologizing either," Fiyero told her, making everyone in the room confused.
"For what?" Zeki asked.
"I'm in love with Elphaba. I have been for a long time," the former Captain admitted. Zeki's eyes went wide.
"You are?" Glinda's eyes were wide as she was discovering something about herself – she wasn't as upset as she thought she'd be.
"I am and Elphaba loves me. We just didn't know how to tell you," Fiyero said. The blonde opened her mouth and then closed it again.
"You were mutually cheating on each other?" Zeki couldn't believe it.
"In all fairness, I just told Lady Glinda how I felt. She did not know until now and before I knew it, we were…" Bayram started.
"No apologies, remember. The truth has set all free. Well almost all of us. There is still work to do in setting our friend free," Fiyero said.
To Be Continued…