Chapter 11
"Well I can't seem to locate the Queen," Elphaba frowned. She had tried three times with the crystal ball but it had come up empty. The group had remained in the study, knowing that they may need to act quickly.
"That's odd," Glinda said.
"Regrettably, not if she's already dead. With no heartbeat to find, the crystal ball would not be able to locate her. There is another option but I don't think it's very likely," the green woman told them.
"Magic," Glinda frowned.
"Yes but I know of no one powerful enough to mask a location spell, especially when a crystal ball is being used," Elphaba agreed.
"With Shiz mostly empty, I don't think it would be a student," Fiyero said.
"We learned to mask a location spell in junior year so it would certainly narrow the field if it was a student. I need to speak to Bonescraper," his wife told the group.
"What can he tell you?" Arduenna asked.
"He can sense magic. He knows the feeling of everyone here so if there is a new player on the scene, he could confirm it. Meantime, I would suggest sending a letter via Bird back to the Council. They need to know you made it here and they need to know our suspicions. Our next communication may be in person," Elphaba said before leaving her chair and heading for the door. She slipped out into the hallway and bumped into her kids, their cousins, and Glinda's children. Chistery must have sent them.
"Is it true Papa is here?" Izzy nervously bit her lip. Derya put her hand in the blonde's and Bartholomew put a hand on her shoulder.
"He is. Things are complicated in the Gillikin right now. Your grandfather is writing a letter home but I am sure he would want to see you. I must speak to Bonescraper. Zara, please join me," the Princess said. Her daughter nodded and quickly joined her mother as they headed down the hall, leaving the others to stand in front of the study room door.
"What's going on Mom?" Zara asked.
"The King of Gillikin is dead and the Queen is missing. I can't locate the Queen with my crystal ball, which has me concerned," she had never shied away from telling her daughter the truth so there was no point in starting now.
"Yeah that's not good. Now I'm really glad I didn't apply go to Shiz," Zara heaved a sigh as they exited the palace.
"We will be talking about that but for now, I too, am glad you didn't apply," Elphaba smiled slightly.
"Good evening Princesses. How may I assist you?" The former Lieutenant Ash asked.
"You haven't seen our friendly neighborhood dragon have you?" Elphaba wondered, giving the man a smile.
"He has returned from his little fly-about. I heard Miss Izzy is here. It must be good to see her again," Ash smiled.
"It is," Zara smiled back but he could tell there was something more going on but he did not push. He would speak to Bahram and Chistery later.
"Well I'll leave you to it. All civilians are back home and the visiting troops are all set up," Ash bowed and then left them. Elphaba called to the dragon and he quickly came to the Palace wall and reached over the wall so that the two could climb into his hand. The situation was quickly explained.
"I hate to admit it but I do not feel any different source of magic which only leaves one option, which is not good," Bonescraper frowned.
"My thoughts exactly," Elphaba shook her head.
"Maybe it was an accident. They might have meant to harm her publicly but something happened during her kidnapping. Since there is no new magic person detectable, then that means the kidnappers had inside help," Zara said.
"Things are definitely not safe in Gillikin. We need to make sure Glinda's mother is safe and then we need to sort this out before a war starts," her mother told them.
To Be Continued…