Hello! I'm back and will start posting this semi-weekly until the story is done. Here we go!
Glinda was returning to the room with a new set of clothes when a clatter of footsteps drew her attention to the patio. She placed the clothes on the bed and drew her wand. The patio doors swung open and half a spell was out of her mouth before she realized who it was. Though, in retrospect, the wild haired black clad green woman was hard to misidentify.
"Elphaba," Glinda asked, bewildered, "what are you doing here?"
"I was attacked by assassins in the Vinkus." she breathily exclaimed. "I came to make sure you were okay."
"I am quite fine." was the retort. "I was also attacked today, but my household took care of it."
Elphaba started across the room towards her.
"We need to get you somewhere safe-"
Glinda held up a hand and took a step back.
"As I said," she repeatedly cooly. "I am quite alright, and am quite safe. Thank you for your concern, but I am not going anywhere."
"You don't understand; this was a magical assassin with dangerous, dark magic."
"Thank you for that information. While those that attacked me today were more of the mundane sort, if you were able to take care of the assassin than I should be able to protect myself as well."
"Glinda, what is going on with you?" Elphaba exclaimed. "I'm trying to protect you."
"And I am telling you I am not in need of your protection. I can take care of myself, Elphaba."
"I'm not saying you can't, I'm just wanting to make sure you are alright."
"Well, as you can see, I am fine, and am in good hands." Glinda paused and moved over to pick up the clothes on the bed. "Now, if you excuse me, I was in the middle of something. Once I am finished, I would be more than happy to sit and talk with you."
"I'm not exactly happy about being brushed off, Glinda."
"And I'm not particularly happy about you dropping in and trying to swoop me away."
Glinda strode towards the door, and it was only then that Elphaba noticed the clothes in her hand, and the direction she was going. It took her another moment to realize they were mens clothes. A scowl appeared on her face.
"You have someone in the bath?"
"It is frankly none of your business." Glinda rebutted sharply. "What I do with my own time is my own."
"Seems quick of you to take a lover." Elphaba bit out.
"Well, I see no reason to wait." Glinda snapped back. Elphaba's scowl deepened. Glinda gently knocked on the door, then opened it a crack. Placing the items just in the doors, she closed it.
"At least I hope it is someone respectable." Elphaba continued.
"It's none of your business whom it is, as I stated before."Glinda responded as she turned. "Now, shall we retire somewhere else to continue this conversation? Or shall you be on your way? I do not care to keep sniping at each other in my bedroom."
"I-" Elphaba started, until she noticed the hat and scarf. She immediately placed it, and her temper flared. "Him! You have him in there!"
Duran had been enjoying his bath when he heard the clatter of feet on the patio. He did not believe the Dogs of War would let someone penetrate the defense so easily, but did not take chances. He was out of the bath and had his sword half drawn when he heard Glinda say Elphaba's name. Knowing his presence would only make things worse, and knowing it was not his place, he settled back down in the tub.
"Besides," he said to himself, "I've not had a chance to enjoy a bath in a really long time."
As he soaked for a minute more, the door opened and a neat pile of clothes were placed on the floor. Happy now he had clean clothes, he was content to relax in the tub and hope the ladies would either take it elsewhere, or calm down. When he heard Elphaba's exclamation he grimaced.
"I really hope she doesn't bust in here." He looked down at his naked body. "That would be really awkward."
"Him! You have him in there!"
"It is none of your business who I have where!" Glinda snapped back.
"But him! You know nothing about him! He could be manipulating you for his own ends, looking to gain money or power."
"You think me so careless or stupid not to manage my own affairs?"
"Glinda, people target you to get their own ends! They've been doing it for years!"
"Yes. They have. But I know that, and frankly I do a damn good job keeping them from exploiting me. And I don't need you to lecture me on it! Now, if so mind, either go with me elsewhere or go home!"
"I will not let-"
"Let me what?" Glinda cut her off. "You do not have any say in what I do, Elphaba; especially not after you ran away to the Vinkus. I am a grown woman who can make her own decisions, thank you."
"You are blowing this out of proportion. I came here to save you!"
"Yes, I know. You came to save helpless Glinda from the bad people. Well, Elphaba, not only were you too late but I did not need your help! I can take care of myself, and keep my own self safe."
"But you've brought him here! Glinda, I don't think you're making good decisions."
Glinda laughed darkly. Her response was low and slow.
"I think I am making fine decisions, Elphaba. I just don't think they're the decisions you like. Which, frankly, you have no say in, lest you forgot you went to the Vinkus for a life with Fiyero. Which I am happy for you, but that does mean I have to make my own way now. You can be a big part of my life, Elphaba, but cannot be a central part anymore. I have to find my own way now, my own causes and my own feelings. Now, are you going to go with me or are you just going to go?"
"I-"
Whatever she was going to say was cut off by the bathroom door opening.
Duran heard the conversation outside continue unabated, though Glinda's voice, low and firm, was doing most of the talking. He resolved to wait it out in the bath. Unfortunately, the law of thermodynamics had a different opinion, and the water had begun to cool. Sighing, he dejectedly pulled himself up and out of the bathroom and toweled himself off. The talking outside had not relented by the time he was dry, or by the time he had dressed himself in the clean clothes. Picking up his sword belt, he strode to the door and opened it.
Elphaba recoiled as the scent of fire, steel, and blood hit her nostrils. Having had much more time to work on her magical senses, she was able to push them to the background. However, her anger flared again and she turned to the man standing in the door.
"You-" she started before she trailed off. Her anger was squelched by the sight of him, or rather his chest.
Duran's shirt had not completely fit him. In fact, it was a size or so too small, leaving a large amount of his shoulders visible and gaping open in the front. It was not the hard muscles of his body that caught their attention, but the maps of scars that crossed his body. Neither woman had thought about it until that moment, but a life of swordsmanship had left its mark. There did not seem to be an unblemished patch to be seen. Elphaba, having some scars herself, saw most were not deep, but enough were that she had to wonder how he still moved like he did. The man in question smiled at them.
"Excuse me, ladies." he said as he strode between them. Placing his hat on his head and the purple scarf around his neck, he turned his smile on Glinda. "Thank you for the bath. I much enjoyed it."
"You're welcome."
"Now, you seemed to be having a discussion. I shall take my leave. Wynessa needs some instruction."
He dipped his head and strode towards the door. He opened it and flowed out of the room. With his departure, both parties seemed to breathe again and restart where they had left off. He made his way downstairs, encountering first Jonkel. The other man dipped his head for him, and Duran stopped.
"Is the tunnel ready?" he asked the older man. Jonkel nodded.
"Mostly. We were unable to get it to the main sewer lines, but managed to find a secondary culvert we could connect with. It should give us a way out, but not to safe passage as we had hoped."
"It will have to do for now. Make ready for them to move. We need to get her out of the City as soon as possible. With Elphaba here-"
"Yes, I've been so informed." Jonkel interjected. "We didn't investigate as you were with the Lady Glinda, but Elphaba's a wildcard."
"Very true. But yes, with Elphaba here we cannot hope to lay low. I have no doubt she was seen coming into the City, and whoever is after them will not miss an opportunity to take both at the same time."
"Agreed. I will get the lady's effects ready to move, and the Dogs ready."
"Excellent. I am going to instruct Wynne. Let me know when you are ready."
The girls had cooled into a calm quiet. Elphaba was still incensed that Glinda had taken her arrival poorly, but was happy she was safe. Glinda was much the same, but was also flushed with a rise in emotions she did not want to feel again. However, Elphaba had stopped provoking her, so she had no excuse to vent her emotions. So they stood there in silence, looking at each other. There was a soft knock at the door.
"Enter." Glinda said, happy for the interruption.
"My Lady." Jonkel said as he entered. "We have prepared your things and are ready to move you."
"I thought you said it was too dangerous to leave right now, Jonkel." Glinda questioned.
"With Miss Thropp's arrival, it is now too dangerous to stay."
"Duran told you, huh?" Elphaba jabbed. Jonkel turned his grey eyes on her.
"Staff observed you as soon as you entered the block." he paused. "In the future, descend straight down from a higher angle rather than flying low across the City. It decreases the chances of being spotted."
Elphaba huffed but said,
"Then that's how I can take Glinda out. No one will be able to follow us."
"Also untrue. If we observed your flight in, anyone looking to do Lady Glinda harm will have as well. If they do not have people on the near roofs, I would be very surprised."
"Jonkel, you seem to think threat is imminent." Glinda stated. He nodded.
"It is. Once the assassination attempt failed, and we revealed ourselves to not be just ordinary household staff, whomever wished to kill you would be taking next steps for a larger coordinated effort. One does not attempt to assassinate Glinda the Good and miss, only to not try again. At this point, they do not care about ramifications in the near future."
"Then how do you expect to move her by carriage?" Elphaba asked.
"We do not. We have been working on an escape tunnel ever since the Lady Glinda retained us. It is not as complete as I wished, but it should get us most of the way to safety. You as well."
"I think I'll take my chances by-"
Another Dog entered in his crimson footman's coat.
"We've got a large gang of rough looking people moving our direction with torches." he said to Jonkel. Jonkel leveled a hard stare at him, and the man blinked. He turned to the women and bowed. "My apology, My Ladies."
"No need to apologize." Glinda responded. He dipped his head but turned back to Jonkel.
"Too many, and too direct, to be a mob. The streets are cleared before them, no traffic or carts to slow them down. Ronce has barred the gate and is currently working on the rest of the flat."
"My neighbors?" asked Glinda. He looked at her.
"Conspicuously called away on social gatherings, either for the government or government supporters social calls. And before the Lady asks, we've warned away their staff. They're empty."
"A coordinated attack, then." Jonkel nodded. "How long?"
"Fifteen minutes, maybe thirty at the most."
"Okay. Tell Ronce we'll be leaving by the tunnel as soon as possible."
The Dog snapped a fist to his chest and turned on his heel to leave. Jonkel turned back to the two women.
"Now I know they have people on the roofs. And if they're that close, they know we know about them. Hence the boarding of the house."
"My flat isn't a castle, Jonkel. There's no real way to secure it."
"Perhaps three months ago that would have been true, but we've been working on it. It will hold for a short while. Now, grab anything important and change into traveling clothes. It's time to go."
Glinda glanced around. There wasn't anything really important to grab; the flat had been emptied when she moved to Mockbeggar Hall. Though she was in more comfortable clothes, they were not really suited for travel. Glinda sighed and pulled out her wand. Giving it a twirl, her clothes changed into more suited for the role. Her distinct blonde curls also changed to brown. Putting it into a quick bun, she secured it with pins.
"I am ready. Lead the way, Jonkel."
The older man led them out of the room. The noise of the preparation hit the two girls then; shutters were being hammered closed, doors were being barred, and furniture that had remained was being strategically positioned to reinforce doors or block halls. There was no subtlety in the design. As Jonkel led them to the wine cellar, it was apparent that it would be the place most fortified. Duran was already standing there in front of a barrel.
"Same tricks?" asked Glinda. Duran turned his smile on her.
"A fake barrel that hides a passage? Why not?" he laughed.
The other Dogs slowly filed into the cellar. A few glanced at Glinda, a few more at Elphaba, but most took subtle glances at Duran. Glinda realized most had probably never seen the man, except maybe in passing or one visit. As such, they were almost relishing the time with him. When the twenty odd members of Dogs of War had assembled, Duran spoke.
"Okay, you know what's happening. We've got a bit of a mob coming to us; estimates are outnumbering us at least two to one. So we're not going to stick around and slug it out, because that isn't our goal, and it would be dumb. We're going to use this passage to move the Ladies out of the City. I've no doubt there's more of them out there than just those coming for us. Our plan is to move fast, and hit hard when we need to. As such, you'll be going through first to clear any miscreants out of the way, and the Ladies will follow. I'll be in the rear. Understood? Good. Ronce, take them through."
Glinda's Staff Captain swung the barrel up to reveal a passage. He took a lantern and led the way through. The rest of the Dogs filed through after him. The sounds of splintered wood and broken metal reached their ears. Duran motioned for the rest to hurry through, and then went up the cellar stairs to the landing. Several barrels had been arrayed around the room, barring the door but setting up an impromptu barrier for them to fight behind. Jonkel and Wynne followed him. Both women drew their wands, but the last Dog called to them from the tunnel.
"Come on!" she yelled. The women looked at her, and back to the three by the stairs.
"Go!" Duran ordered. The women hesitated, and then ducked into the passage. When they were firmly into the tunnel, Durna looked at his companions. "You two as well. I'll follow."
Wynne went to protest, but the door in front of them splintered. Another two more blows had the trio covering their eyes, and then the door burst forth. A shot rang off the stone near them. Duran's hands held two pistols, and both barked in return fire. Jonkel's rifle did as well.
"Jonkel, smoke! And then go, and bar it behind you!"
"Duran-" Wynne started, but Jonkel lobbed something over the barrels. It trailed black smoke with it. Duran pushed them both down, barely beating splintering of wood as musket balls tore through their impromptu shelter. The landing quickly filled with smoke. Duran vaulted the barrier easily. Wynne rose to follow, but Jonkel grabbed her arm.
"We have orders, Wynne. Let's go!"
The redhead growled but followed the older man. Both went into the tunnel, Wynne leading, and Jonkel swung the fake barrel into place. He twisted the locking mechanism on the reverse side, sealing the tunnel from their end. It would not open from the flat side unless destroyed or reset from this side. Both paused for a moment as the sound of blades reached their ears, but quickly turned to make their way through the dark of the tunnel. It took them ten minutes of claustrophobic darkness, but eventually a light grew on the other side. They squeezed their way out into a drain culvert, one of the many in the City. The Dogs and witches were waiting for them.
"Where's Duran?" asked Glinda.
"He stayed behind." Jonkel paused. "We have orders. Let's move. Try to stay quiet, but speed is more important."
The group did just that, trying to limit their noise while moving as quickly as they could. They followed the culvert to a storm water canal, and made their way along it. Their goal was to make it to the grain port. There were not many guards there, and most would not put up a fight if it looked like they would not win. The Dogs counted on both. However, fate was not in their favor. As they turned onto the path that led them to the walk by the river, a group of ragtag, but well armed, men stood there. They pointed, and raised their rifles.
The Dogs were quick to action, getting off the first volley with their stubby rifles. However, the men betrayed their discipline, and returned a volley even under fire. Several of the Dogs went down. Glinda flinched as one woman who had stepped in front of her collapsed. The adrenaline surge burned through her veins, and this time she let it take. Summoning a massive wind spell, she cut the air with her wand towards the river. The men were thrown into it, the river wall concentrating the spell.
"At them!" Jonekl ordered, and the Dogs that could drew blades and charged forward.
Glinda paid that no mind, and instead went to the ones that had fallen. First, the one that had taken the bullet for her. It was a bad stomach wound. Glinda, however, had experience tending wounded from the riots. She had developed a sorceric variation to the standard medic procedure. She first tapped her wand on the woman's head, the pain relief spell dulling the next part. Tapping the wound, the levitation variant took out the bullet and any other material trapped inside. The cleaning spell cleared away the excess blood and debris, hoping to minimize the chance of infection. One last tap, and the woman's clothes around the wound transformed into bandages, and secured it. Elphaba stared at Glinda for a moment.
"That's new."
"Shut up and help. These two." Glinda answered, bringing her forward. One had a shoulder wound, and the other a leg. Glinda guided Elphaba through the process. The quick study was that, having dressed enough wounds herself. Unfortunately, the next one could not be saved, having the round pass through his skull. Glinda sighed, and moved on.
In the couple of minutes it took for them to patch up and get the wounded walking, the Dogs had either killed or driven off the rest of the attackers. After the first wave had attempted to retake the walkway, and were driven off by the coordinated efforts of the Dogs, the rest had swam across the river. Glinda and Elphaba arrived with the walking wounded at the time that the Dogs finished pushing the dead and dying into the river. Both witches quickly cleaned and dressed the sword wounds.
"We've too many wounded to keep moving fast." Jonkel commented. "I hate to do this, but we have to leave you behind if we are to make it to the grain port."
The Dogs nodded grimly. They knew it was most likely a death sentence. While they were moving, many needed urgent medical attention or they would die within an hour. Either that, or another group would come upon them and finish them off.
"We are not leaving them behind." Glinda added firmly. "We can cast a spell on the wounded to make them move easier."
"That will take a lot of energy." Elphaba warned.
"And?" Glinda bit back. Jonkel shook his head.
"Too much risk. We move now."
"I will not leave them to die."
"Nor will you." came a distinct voice. They turned as a figure hopped down from the street. Even covered in blood and his face shaded by his hat, they knew who it was. The purple scarf was a give away, if not the smile. Duran looked at his Dogs.
"The wounded will make their way towards Jui Lin's. The Ladies will transform your livery to cover your bandages and wounds, and we will hide your weapons in the drain over there. They will also cast the traveling spell to make the trip faster." he nodded and the wounded started to hand off their weapons to the unwounded Dogs to store in a nearby drain. Glinda waved her wand to change the clothes of the Dogs to simple tunics and breeches.
"Now," Duran continued, "the unwounded Dogs will head towards Little Glikkun. Make for the abandoned warehouse on Low Street. You are going to be a diversion. Miss Glinda, if you will transform two of the women to resemble yourself and a cloaked Elphaba."
"That's going to get them killed, Duran." Elphaba warned.
"Miss Elphaba, I did not think you cared." Duran retorted. "But that is their duty. If they can make it to Low Street, they strip and wait there for contact from Jui Lin."
"We know our duty and with every word we will obey." Jonkel answered, snapping a fist to his chest. The rest of the Dogs did likewise, even the wounded.
"And you two will come with me. Cast the traveling spell on yourselves, and we'll go fast to the grain port. Three will be harder to spot than a large group."
"You won't be able to keep up." Elphaba replied. Glinda had already set about casting the Vinkun travel spell on the wounded Dogs.
"Why, Miss Elphaba; I didn't know that you cared." was the retort again. Elphaba huffed, and went to cast the spell on herself. The Dogs had already begun to make their way off in opposite directions. Glinda, however, conjured a letter. She tapped it, and words appeared. Tapping it again, it disappeared.
"What was that?" asked Duran.
"Many of the Dogs need assistance from a magical healer, or they will not live out the night." Glinda answered. "I sent for Singa. She will be able to provide assistance."
"Who's Singra?" asked Elphaba.
"Does it matter? She'll save lives." Glinda answered. Elphaba's eyes narrowed.
"We don't have time to discuss. If you ladies are ready?" Duran asked.
"One moment." Glinda replied, and cast the traveling spell on herself. "Okay."
"Then let's run." Duran said with a smile, and took off. The ladies ran after him.