A/N: Shout outs to James Birdsong and my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked the chapter. We'll get some more insight soon. ;) Thanks!
Chapter 32
The soldiers quickly took up their weapons and defensive positions on the walkway they'd found the bed on. Baki used his excellent vision to try and suss out how many of the opposition they were dealing with through the broken windows and openings in the building. Elphaba wondered if the Falcon could make it back to the Palace and get Chistery and the other Flying Monkeys.
"I count ten men, well-armed. They haven't completely surrounded the building but there would be no way to get to the horses to try and make a break for it," Baki announced. He kept his tone as quiet as he could. The large building amplified sound but if one kept one's tone down, the words would just sound like mumbling to someone on the outside.
"That's good to know," Fiyero said, following the Falcon's lead in tone volume.
"What that they have more than they need to kill us? That our one way of escape is blocked?" Private Roth asked.
"They don't have a witch," Elphaba gave him a wink. Roth smiled slightly. It sort of made him feel better but only sort of. The young man had never really been in this type of combat situation. Building to building warfare wasn't part of the original training and Fiyero had just started to implement it before everything went sideways.
"If I'm them, I don't come charging in here. It would be a shooting gallery. They're going to try and lure us outside," Zetti spoke up.
"I concur," Sergeant Duncan nodded.
"Hold positions until we hear from them. They could be trying to be silent to ambush us as we exit the building. My guess is their patience will not hold that long," Fiyero said.
"Might I suggest something? Why not force their hand?" Elphaba wondered.
"Do tell," Lieutenant Bayram gave her a look.
"We send friend Baki back to the Palace to alert them of our situation. Chistery and the other Flying Monkeys could be here in no time. We would then outnumber them and hopefully capture someone who is willing to squeal," the woman said.
"It's not a bad plan but they might run if they think that Baki is going for help," Fiyero figured.
"Stealth is my middle name Captain," Baki spoke up. The Vinkun mulled over the idea. It was a good idea as long as Baki could get there without getting shot as he left the factory.
"Ok, go. We'll do what we can if things go sideways before you get back," Fiyero told him. Baki nodded and quickly looked for the few spots that the traitors were not around the building. Finding a hole in the wall and a lack of men with guns, the Falcon took off, using his speed to get him away from the corn exchange as fast as possible.
"All right, so now what?" Corporal Norris wondered.
"We hunker down. No point in taking any chances," Fiyero said.
"Agreed. One thing is still bothering me," Sergeant Duncan spoke up.
"What?" Norris asked.
"Well, I get putting a note on Morel, so we'd look away from other possible targets but why attempt to kill Zink? If he's their so-called buddy, why not make sure he was dead so he couldn't squeal? Also, why kill Kahui, who was trying to defend the Wizard?" Duncan wondered.
"That's more than one thing," Bock pointed out.
"I guess it is, but it would seem they are all intertwined," the Sergeant said.
"As his defense attorney, it's possible that the Wizard told Kahui something that he later decided that he couldn't chance getting out. Technically, Kahui shouldn't share anything his clients tell him, but he was reluctant in this case," Elphaba told them.
"So maybe he was the target and the two soldiers were just in the way. Our not so friendly guys outside figured the note on the dead body would be a good way to get us here," Duncan figured.
"Sounds about right," Zetti said. That's when they all heard a loud whooshing sound. It was followed by smoke and a crackling noise.
"They're trying to burn us out! Move! Move! Move!" Fiyero barked.
To Be Continued…