Chapter 22

"She didn't say anything else? Not how to contact him, not even why?" asked Glinda. She, Fiyero and Boq were on their way to the attic, where Elphaba kept all her sorcery books, including the Grimmerie.

"No, nothing. The only thing she said was that he is the only one who might convince Luke to bring Elphaba back," said Fiyero.

Boq lit several candles as Glinda took a couple of books off the shelf. "What am I even looking for?" she wondered aloud.

"Something, anything," said Fiyero.

She raised her head from the pile of books on the table before her. "Why thank you, Fiyero, that was very helpful."

"How can we possibly contact somebody from another world?" asked Boq.

"Do you know anything about weather changing?" suggested Fiyero. "You can summon another twister."

"One twister was enough, I believe," said Glinda wistfully. The thought of Nessarose's crushed body under Dorothy's house would haunt her forever.

Fiyero raised his arms in silent defense. "Just a suggestion."

"Is he really her son?" asked Glinda while she flipped through the pages.

Boq nodded. "This is what she said. Unbelievable. I didn't even know that she was married back than at Shiz."

"I don't think she was," said Glinda and turned another page in the book.

"If we get nothing from these books, are we going to do as she said and get her out of prison?" asked Boq.

Fiyero shook his head. "I thought about that from the moment we left the prison, and I'm still not sure I have an answer."

"I think we should give these books a chance," said Glinda as she turned to the Grimmerie. As always, she couldn't make out one word of it. "Ah, how I hate this book! I don't understand how Elphaba can…" her voice trailed off. She stared at the page in front of her.

"Glinda?" asked Fiyero, touching her arm.

She turned to look at him and Boq, sort of hesitantly. "Please tell me that my eyes are not playing tricks on me."

Boq leaned closer to the open book. "Why? What is it?"

"I could never read this book. Ever. Elphaba is the only one who can read it, but her ability is also very limited. No one was ever able to read and understand the whole book. Well, now, from a strange reason," she said and turned the book so that both of them would see it.

A chant can lead to open a gate

To help to save another's fate

"Sweet Oz," murmured Fiyero.

"Do you think…" started Glinda.

"Worth a try," Fiyero replied seriously. "Can you do it?"

"I don't know," Glinda said honestly. "I have never tried any spell from the Grimmerie before, not to mention summoning someone from another world."

"Well, you have to try now. For Elphaba's sake."

Glinda checked the written words more closely. She raised her glance to Fiyero and Boq several moments later. "Alright, I'm ready. Leave me here, I'll join you downstairs once I'm finished."

Boq didn't look so reluctant to leave her there alone. "Are you sure?"

Glinda nodded. "I better do it alone," she said quietly. "Go, I'll be fine," she added, flashing a reassuring smile at both of them.

They hesitated for a moment longer, then left. She waited until she could no longer hear the sound of their footsteps. She turned to look at the book. "You'd better work," she said to the ancient words. Then she blew off all the candles except for three, and started chanting.

They drank their tea in silence. Outside, the storm worsened.

"Even if it did work, no one is crazy enough to go out in this weather," said Boq.

"I did it hours ago, I'm not even sure it-"

The bell ring erupted Glinda's speech. They looked at one another. Could it be him? They heard muffled voices from the main hall but couldn't quite understand them. There was a knock on the library door, and in came Garth, a confused expression on his face. He motioned someone inside and then quickly disappeared, closing the door behind him.

Glinda, Fiyero and Boq stared in amazement at the small old man, who once was known as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.