A/N: Shout outs to James Birdsong and my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked the previous chapter. More on our possible culprits this chapter. :)
Chapter 22
"Captain!" The men protecting the Wizard's cell quickly stood at attention as Fiyero and Elphaba entered the room.
"At ease boys. Sergeant Bailey, a word?" Fiyero asked as he caught his breath. A man about the same height as the Prince moved off to the side to speak to his commanding officer and the former Wicked Witch.
"What is going on Captain?" The Sergeant was confused as to why the Prince of the Vinkus would be running down to see the prisoner.
"As anyone been caught where they don't belong recently?" Fiyero wanted to know.
"Not down here, sir. You think someone will be trying to get where they don't belong?" Bailey wondered.
"Yes. We think today's little show was part of a distraction," Elphaba spoke up.
"You think they wanted everyone to be looking at the shooter while they did some hanky panky?" The Sergeant asked.
"Hanky panky indeed," Fiyero nodded.
"I haven't seen anything, but I can double the guard if you think it wise. Sergeant Malachi was on the early shift, perhaps there were some shenanigans he dealt with," Bailey said.
"And he did not say anything to you?" Elphaba thought that odd.
"If he didn't think it was a big deal, then he would not. We've got our hands full inside the Palace. I know tradition and previous orders demand that we do not let our allies inside all of the Palace but perhaps in order to be sure we are safe, we must make an exception," the Sergeant suggested.
"Extreme measures for extreme times. Since I already have Vinkun troops guard my parents, a few more might not be a bad idea down here with you and the squad," Fiyero said.
"It would be an honor, sir. Now I bet you can catch Malachi getting some dinner. Maybe he has more of a story to tell. I know that if he thought it was important, he'd have said something to me," Bailey reiterated.
"Stay strong Sergeant. I'll send help down before I find Malachi," the Prince promised.
"Very good sir," Bailey gave a quick salute before the three split up. Fiyero and Elphaba quickly went to find Lieutenant Dilek. Since it was dinner time, the mess tent was the first place they had to check. If they were lucky, they'd find Malachi there too. It took all of five minutes before they found the Vinkun they were looking for. He was eating his meal with the men he kept close at all times.
"I'll send some men over to the cells immediately. You think someone would try and bust the Wizard out? Or maybe they attempted and were surprised to find more than one guard there?" Dilek wondered.
"I'm willing to bet that they figured the distraction would allow for a rescue. Problem was, no one was removed off of making sure the Wizard stayed put. They arrived to find ten soldiers still guarding the Wizard," Elphaba said.
"Ah so if we can identify those that tried, then we may be able to ferret out more people who helped them," the Lieutenant smirked.
"Indeed. Now off to find Sergeant Malachi," Fiyero said. The two left the Lieutenant and searched around the mess tent some more, asking anyone who they came across if they'd seen the Sergeant. A few minutes later, they found him, eating by himself, in a quiet corner of the tent. Fiyero frowned as he remembered Malachi as a bright young officer who was often surrounded by others.
"Malachi…"
"Captain!" The young man bolted upright out of his seat and quickly saluted.
"At ease. You ok?" Fiyero was concerned.
"It's been a long day, sir. I just needed some alone time," the words didn't seem to fit and Elphaba could sense that something was up even though she didn't know him at all.
"Let's have a chat," the Prince said.
To Be Continued…