Chapter 3: Air Head

Langwidere went back to her room to pick out a new head and plot her next move. Talking to the former Queen had failed. It might be better to appeal to the new King through his younger brothers: Evrob, Evington, Evroland, and Evring. Or his sisters: Evanna, Evrose, Evella, Evirene, and Evedna.

Which of her heads was best with children? The first head, the one she had acquired from the head-swapping club. Silly, fun-loving, pinkish-red-haired Rose would do.

She took Head #1 from the cabinet and tried it on. The hair was a little too bushy and curly. She spent a few minutes combing it, but then decided it would do just fine for talking with children.

She went to the suite of the princesses first and knocked on the door.

"Hi!" she called. "This is your cousin, Princesses Langwidere. Wanna play?"

"We're busy," called the oldest, Evanna.

"We're playing dress-up," said Evedna, the youngest.

Languidere pushed the door open a crack. "I like to play dress-up, too, But I dress up by changing heads."

"Eww," said Evella. "That's kind of weird,"

"It's fun," said Langwidere, She couldn't help being cheerful with this head. "But some awful people are trying to take them all away from me. I need you to help me persuade King Evardo not to let them do it."

"I don't want to," said Evanna. "It's none of my business."

"Me neither," said Evirene.

"I'll even let you girls play with them. You can wear the ones I don't like as much any more, like Head #24."

"No, thank you," said Evanna. She motioned to a lady in waiting, who shut the door firmly in Langwidere's face.

Langwidere decided to be less direct in her approach to the boys. She would try to persuade the youngest, Evring. She found him alone in a courtyard, playing with a rubber ball.

"Hi Evring," she said with a grin. "I'm your cousin, Princess Langwidere."

"Hi," said Evring.

"How are you doing? Wasn't that a great adventure, getting rescued from the Nome King?"

"Dorothy saved me from being a purple kitten," said Evring. "She made a lucky guess. Then her chicken snooped on King Roquat and learned the secret to finding all the rest who were turned into ornaments."

"Was it strange being a kitten ornament? I think it would be sort of boring," said Langwidere.

"I don't remember anything about that part," said Evring. "But there were some scary things after that. The Nome King got really mad when the chicken saved everyone. He set his guards on us, but Dorothy and her lion and tiger protected me."

"Wow," said Langwidere. "That's exciting. Dorothy really something, isn't she?"

Langwidere had her own unpleasant encounter with Dorothy and her hen Billina, but her happy-go-lucky head helped her to stay positive.

"Dorothy saved us all when Roquat got really mad and threatened to kill us. She took off his magic belt when he was distracted by an egg the Scarecrow threw at his face."

"I heard something about that belt. Is it really powerful?"

"Yes, it opened the passage to get us out of there. Then when Roquat sent his army after us, she turned some of the Nomes in front into eggs. That made the rest run."

"Did she ever turn them back? That's like killing them."

"No, but they were soldiers sent to kill us, so I guess it was all right."

"Everyone got out safely?"

"All but the Tin Woodman. They thought he was lost forever, but it turned out he was a whistle I had taken to play with. A green tin pig whistle I really liked. When they turned him back they promised me another whistle, but they forgot."

"I'll tell you what. I'll get you another whistle, a lot more whistles, if you'll do something for me."

"Okay, what do I need to do?"

"There are a bunch of mean people trying to persuade your oldest brother to make me give up my head collection. Would you talk to him about it, and try to get him to let me keep the heads? Your mother promised me I could keep them, but she's gone back on her word."

"I can try... I'm not sure he'll listen to me."

"I bet he would. You're his youngest and cutest brother."

"Maybe I should just remind Mother about the whistle. I'll try that first."

Later Langwidere saw Evring running around, happily blowing a new tin whistle.

She was going to have to try something else. His story of the Nome adventure was giving her ideas.