Chapter 5: Head Mistress

It was time to fight dirty. Langwidere needed the help of the Wheelers. They were a trouble-making tribe that had wheels instead of hands and feet. They could roll around very swiftly, and they took pleasure in harassing anyone who came into their territory. Langwidere had used them as enforcers during her reign. In exchange, she had given them fancy clothing and access to the Royal Dinner Pail Trees.

To deal with them firmly, she needed a powerful head, and her strongest was number 24, with long dark hair with a large white streak on the left side. She had aquiline features and thin lips. The woman had been caught stealing puppies to make into fur coats. She had a harsh beauty all her own, but Langwidere valued her head for authority purposes more than for its attractiveness.

She got her guards to summon the chief of the Wheelers to her sitting room. The Wheeler arrived not long after, wearing his finest embroidered blue jacket with silver buttons. A yellow straw hat was perched on his head.

"The copper man is not still around here, is he, Your Highness?" asked the Chief Wheeler, looking around nervously.

"No, I was going to keep him as a statue when he wound down, but when the Oz people came they wound him up again and took him away with them," said Langwidere. "But you are here to do something for me."

"What can we do for you, your Highness?" asked the Chief Wheeler.

"I need you to get a message to the Nome King," said Langwidere. "The return of the royal family is causing me great trouble. I want him to take them back."

"The Nome King?" asked the Wheeler. "But he is so far away, over rough terrain. How can we get to him?"

"You figure it out," said Langwidere.

"But there is the Giant With a Hammer on the road," said the Wheeler.

"I heard that the Oz people made it stop," said Langwidere. "But if it has been started up again I'm sure you will be fast enough on your wheels to get past it."

"What can we tell the Nome King to get him to listen to you?"

"Tell him that I will have a chance soon to get back for him a valuable item that was stolen from him by Queen Ozma. He will know what I am talking about."

"This is very difficult," said the Wheeler. "It is too risky for my people to approach the Nomes."

"I don't care. If you don't do this for me I will have your access to the Royal Dinner Pail Trees cut off, and your people will starve. There will be no more pretty garments for you either."

"We can get along without them," said the Wheeler.

"I will also tell the world that you are afraid of the copper man," said Langwidere. "It will damage your fierce reputation and your enemies will come after you."

"Not that! Very well Your Highness," said the Wheeler. "It shall be as you command."

"It must be done quickly," said Langwidere. "Time is running out for me to keep my head collection."