Their mad dash to the grain port was just that. The two witches sped along, feet barely touching the cobblestones. The ease of motion carried them to a speed and endurance they could never hope to achieve. Duran, however, easily kept pace with them. His feet pounded the cobblestones, but his powerful legs propelled him to an equal speed of the witches. What intrigued them both was that he was not even breathing hard. The man seemed to take the sprint as a stroll; whereas, by the time they reached the grain port, both witches were breathing hard and sweating profusely.
They approached slowly, using the stacked crates and barrels for cover. Duran glanced around it, surveying the scene. He shook his head.
"Looks like they got about a dozen guards around." he said. "They also seem to be very on alert. This will be a little more difficult than I thought."
He paused. Elphaba and Glinda waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, Elphaba lost patience.
"Well?"
"Well what?" he asked.
"What's the plan?"
"I'm working on Plan A, but there's always Plan B." he answered.
"What's Plan B?" asked Glinda.
"You throw a massive blinding light, and I stab all of them before they can recover." he replied. Glinda scowled.
"I'd rather not just kill them for doing their jobs."
"I know. So that's why I'm thinking. The water runs the wrong way, so we can't just bob on by. Trying to swim will get us shot. They're not all grouped together, so taking them out all at once won't work either."
"So?" Elphaba asked.
"So I'm working on it." he said. He waited a few more moments. "Okay, we need a distraction. Something that will make them leave their posts; or most of them anyway."
"And then what?" asked Elphaba.
"Then we'll get you to float us over the wall."
"Won't there be guards up there?"
"Yes."
"I don't think that will work, Duran." Glinda stated. "Any diversion we can create will most likely draw more to us."
"Hmm. True." he paused for another moment. "Is your bubble waterproof?"
"Well, yes." Glinda responded hesitantly. "But it does float."
"Even with three people?"
"Yes. And besides, underwater we would quickly run out of air."
"Hmm." he answered. "Well, we can always try bribing them."
"What?" Elphaba asked.
"Give me a clean up." He said, and pointed at himself. Glinda swished her wand and the blood left his body. "Good. Now, you two find a crate and hide in it. Let's see if we can do this the old fashioned way."
The two women looked at each other, but went and found a simple crate they could hide in. Duran tossed a bag in, secured the lid, and walked away. The gaps in the planks let them watch Duran's progress. For a little added security, Elphaba cast a concealment charm over them, making them look like a bunch of fruit. It would not hold up if someone put their hands in it, but if they just looked it would be fine. Duran met the guards and started talking. He gestured with one hand, and held out the other. The women knew money would be in it. Finally, he returned and walked over to the crate.
"This one." he said.
"What's in it?" asked one of the guards.
"If I told you that, I wouldn't be paying you money to get it off the manifests, would I?"
"There's fugitives out in the City." another said.
"And you think they would try to bribe their way out in a crate?" Duran retorted quizzically. "Gentlemen, it's nothing so exciting as that; just some standard contraband: drugs, weapons, stolen art. The like."
"Let's pop it open and see."
"That we will not be able to do." Duran's voice hardened. "You took the money; now do we have a deal, or do I have to go somewhere else?"
"We could turn you in." one retorted. Elphaba tensed.
"You could, but then how would you make six month's pay in a day? They'll check to see if you took a bribe. Besides, you know I will have to come back this way some time. Why not make more?"
"Fine." said the other. "Lets get it on a boat and through the gate."
Duran nodded at them, and they helped him struggle the crate down towards one of the tied two witches inside braced themselves the best they could so as to not shift around. Finally, they were placed, and Duran untied the boat. Grasping the oars, he calmly rowed upstream towards the grain port. The two corrupt guards walked along beside them. When they got to the grain port, they waved him through. The shadow of the great arch passed over them, and then they were outside. Duran kept rowing upstream, bypassing the first unloading dock. He continued further, passing all those that held boats. Finally, when they passed into the woods that were still near the Emerald City, he grounded the boat. Hopping out, he pulled it ashore and popped the lid.
"Well, that was easier than I thought." he said with a smile.
Both ladies grumbled as they attempted to get out of the crate. Glinda's legs cramped and she fell forward. Duran caught her. Her fall, however, unbalanced the boat, and sent Elphaba tumbling into the water. She came up, sputtering curses and throwing her drenched locks out of her face. Elphaba glared as Duran set the (still clean) Glinda down on shore. He offered a hand to her, but Elphaba trudged past him. He reached in and pulled out the bag, and slung the strap across his chest.
"Now where?" she grumbled as she strained water out of her hair.
"The Vinkus. Kiamo Ko." answered Duran. "It's really the safest place right now."
"I did not expect that answer." Elphaba said.
"Neither did I." Glinda agreed. "Is such an obvious place wise?"
"It may be obvious, but it is the best." answered Duran. "The distance to the Vinkus and the inhospitable terrain and locals means it is far from the City's reach. The Kells make the best fortress wall in all of Oz. Kiamo Ko has a large contingent of soldiers to keep you both safe. At the moment, there is no safer place."
"So what's the plan? I make a broom and zoom out there?" she said. Duran nodded.
"In a few days. We need to make for the edge of the City's territory for now. The less information we give them on where you are, the less likely they are to catch you when you make your flight."
"Sounds good. Let's go."
The trio made their way west. Both witches cast the Vinkun traveling spell on themselves, and Duran led the way. They were still astounded at the speed he made overland. Watching him, they now did not doubt his rescue last year. He seemed to pound the earth shorter as he ran. Every so often he would stop and check on something, but for the most part the trio moved at speed. Unfortunately, as the ground opened up there was less cover for them to hide in. After a day, they made their way to the edge of a clearing.
"There isn't any cover between here and the Vinkus." Duran stated. "We'll wait here for the rest of the day, and make our move at nightfall. We will need to cover a lot of ground, but by morning we should be safe."
"Why can't I just take off now?" Elphaba asked. "I'll move fast enough that they'll never see us."
"I'm not so certain you have the room you think you do." Duran answered.
"We haven't seen anyone for-"
A roar and Elphaba collapsed. Duran dove, knocking both the women into cover by a large tree. Elphaba let out a gasp of pain. Duran raised his head, peeking around the tree. He drew two pistols off his belt and aimed. Pulling both triggers, he lept around the tree. Glinda ignored him as she focused on Elphaba. She cast a pain relief spell, and then went to clearing and cleaning the wound. It did not look bad; it was bleeding, but the musket round seemed to have only hit the flesh near her hip. It did not seem to have hit anything important. Glinda finished cleaning and bandaging the wound. She peeked around the tree, but saw only Duran coming towards her.
"Only a few hunters. I took care of it. How is Elphaba?" he asked.
"I'll be fine." Elphaba grunted. "Guess they know where we are."
"Unlikely. They seem to be small parties, ranging around. However, the longer we stay the more dangerous it is. Can you move?"
"Yes." Elphaba answered, and struggled to her feet. "Though flying is probably out if they're that close."
"Yes. We need to move now."
"Let's go."
Glinda bit her lip, but did not say anything. It did not matter if it would hurt Elphaba to move; they just needed to. Both women refreshed their spell, and they headed out into the long prairie. The ground was not even, but it was not broken up as the woods had been. This let them move faster than before. However, their path was clear to anyone who would look, and so they would be easier to follow. It had become a race.
The trio ran, Duran in the lead. Elphaba followed behind, holding her side but making good progress. Glinda ran behind her, giving silent thanks that she had started an exercise program over the last few months to help take her mind things. Elphaba staggered in front of her, and stumbled to a stop.
"Duran." Glinda called, and the man stopped. He turned to survey the surroundings.
"Make it quick." he answered.
Glinda made her way over to Elphaba, who was breathing hard. The green woman had pulled her hand away from the bandage, and it had come back red. Elphaba went to draw her wand but Glinda pulled her's first.
"Let me take care of it. You should rest."
"Eff. Fine. I need to send a letter to Fiyero, anyway." the green woman rasped out. Pulling out her wand, she conjured a letter. Tapping it twice, it disappeared in a blink of light. Glinda finished cleaning the wound and bandages, and recast the pain relief spell.
"Do we have any water?" asked Glinda to Duran. The man reached inside the bag, and pulled out a water skin.
"Not much, unless you can help with that." he answered, tossing it to Glinda. The (currently) brunette tapped it with her wand, and it filled. She drank quickly but not too deeply, and offered the same to Elphaba. The woman also drank quickly, and tapped it to fill it again. She tossed it back to Duran. He took a swig of it, and put it back away. "Ready?"
With that brief stop, the trio ran again. Glinda was glad as it gave her time to rest, but not enough time to start to stiffen up, or realize how tired she was. Even with the help of the traveling spell, the women were tired. Glinda glanced up at the sky; the autumn sun was starting to wane, and they maybe had another hour or two of daylight left. She hoped they would be able to stop when it retreated.
For Elphaba's part, she focused only on putting one foot in front of another. She was not as young as when she would run from the Wizard's forces, nor was she in as good of shape. Comfortable life had made her softer. The burning wound at her side did not help. However, the struggle did come with a sort of uncomfortable nostalgia. Elphaba enjoyed the feeling of a less complicated time, but did not wish for a repeat of this excursion anytime soon.
As the red sun set casting the prairie around them into golden hues, the trio hit the Gillikin River, marking the unofficial border between the Vinkus and Emerald City territory. The Gillikin River, further north called the Vinkus River, and even further north called the Gillikin River again, flowed parallel to the Kells. However, there were no bridges across the River except a small footbridge near the Cloister of Saint Glinda. As the trio had escaped north of that point and headed directly west, they would have to ford it themselves. It being fall, the river was easily passable on foot.
"Alright, once we're over the river we should be relatively safe." Duran said. "While they do range out a bit, I know a little place we can spend the night. It'll be a hard push, but we'll be far enough into the Vinkus the scouts won't come, and we'll have a roof over our heads for the night."
"Lead on." Elphaba rasped out.
Glinda looked at her again. She was flushed, and covered in sweat, but Glinda could not tell if it was because of the run or because of the wound. Thinking on that, she pulled out her wand and moved over to Elphaba. The green woman did not fuss this time. Glinda repeated the cleaning and redressing of the wound. Even that little practiced ritual sapped her strength. She was relieved to know there was only one more hard push between them and safety.
Glinda recast the Vinkun spell, as did Elphaba, and the trio forded into the river. It was an easy ford with the river not even reaching Glinda's waist. The blonde (as her glamor had worn off) was happy for it, as the cool water was refreshing. Glinda even took a moment to splash some on her face and shoulders. Coming out the other side, Duran turned to them.
"It's going to be dark soon. It will slow our going, but no lights. We don't want to make us easier to find. There are other things out here besides hunters."
The two witches nodded, and followed after him. True to his word, the sun soon set, casting them in darkness. They were barely past the new moon so the world was near pitch black. The women followed closely behind the walking Duran. Glinda could barely see Elphaba, and reached out a hand. She caught the green woman's arm, causing her to jump. Once Elphaba realized it was her, she extended a hand. Glinda was grateful as she did not know how Elphaba saw in this darkness. Elphaba, for her part, could not miss Duran in the black. He shone like the sun to her witchsight. She had dimmed it enough to help with her own night vision, but he was never lost to her.
They trudged on in the darkness for hours. The thumbnail moon rose overhead. The prairie grass whispered around them, as if speaking of secrets the three did not know. Something fluttered above them, something they could only sense with its passing. In a moment of quiet, the only sound was the ragged breathing of Elphaba as she endured the trek with her wound. A braying howl cut the night, and the women jumped. Glinda crushed Elphaba's hand tightly.
"Jackals." Duran said from up ahead. "They've been following us for at least an hour. Most likely attracted by the blood Elphaba is dripping. They'll stay back as long as we stay together."
"Why?" Glinda asked. "If there's that many, why won't they just attack us."
Duran stopped and turned to the women. In the dim light, the only thing visible were the white of his smile, and the shine of his eyes. Elphaba squeezed Glinda's hand, or perhaps they squeezed each other.
"Because they know a fiercer monster is among us." he turned again, and continued on. The women shivered, only partially from the dropping temperature.
After another couple of hours, a copse of trees slowly conglomerated out of the dark. They were the tall, hardy, vinelike of the only trees that could survive in a savanna. Duran was leading them in that direction. As they got closer, the hair on the back of the witches' neck started to rise. There was something about this place that seemed...off. Duran ducked through the intertwined branches of the trees. The witches followed. As they entered, they realized that the copse had been specifically grown into a circle, creating a hedge wall that was almost impenetrable. At the center were four standing stones, each carved with a symbol, and surrounding a short mound. The rest of the hair on the witches' body rose as they realized there was an alter on top.
"What is this place?" hissed Elphaba. "It holds an eerier magic. I can see it's dark tendrils from all around."
"This," Duran explained, making his way towards the mound, "is an old Kumbrica Witch grove. However, it was built on top of a natural magical font. They harnessed it for their own uses."
"What?" Glinda gasped. "This is a place for sacrifice?"
"Well, yes; but rarely and mostly animals. And it hasn't been used in almost a century." Duran added quickly. "It was mostly used for the lunar festivals. Each cairn stone lines up with a moon in a phase. Take a look."
The two women looked up at the standing stones. True to his words, there was a hole at the top of each. They moved until they could see the moon. They realized on certain days it would shine directly through to the altar. Turning to look for Duran, they did not see him anywhere.
"Duran!" Glinda yelled.
"Over here." he called from behind the mound. The witches followed him. Nearly overgrown, there was a gentle slope down and a door carved into the mound. He stood in the carved doorway. "The Kumbrica Witch would stay here for a period around the festivals. Each mound was built to also be a shelter. It is where we will stay tonight."
"How do you know nothing is in there?" asked Glinda.
"As I said," he replied as he disappeared into the darkness, "nothing has been here for nearly a century."
As the witches followed after him, they felt the magical energy pervasive to the place. However, they could not see in the pitch blackness of the night. Glinda took out her wand, but Duran gave her a warning.
"Wait." he said. The witches felt him pass by. There was a slight grinding noise behind them. "Okay."
Glinda cast her light spell, and golden rays emanated out from the orb that appeared in her hand. The dark warren was revealed in whole, and made the women feel better. It was, for the most part, the same as any other stone hovel they had been in. It just happened to be under a mound and over a magic font. The witches turned to Duran, and saw he placed a stone door in front of the exit.
"Is that heavy?" Glinda asked, slight tremor in her voice.
"No." He answered. "It's not light, but you could easily move it. It's more to keep the animals out than anyone with serious determination. However, between the cover of trees, the location, and the fact that the light will not be able to be seen, I highly doubt we need to worry about that."
"Okay." Glinda answered. She was about to say something when her stomach growled. She realized she was hungry; amongst other things. "Um, Duran…"
"I'll run out and see if there isn't something I can catch for dinner." he answered with a smile. "You ladies can freshen up and make yourself comfortable. I have a feeling you'll be feeling it tomorrow. We may have to rest here for several days."
"Is that a good idea?" Elphaba interjected. "We are being pursued."
"If you are in the shape I think you will be, we won't be able to make it to a safe place by nightfall tomorrow. And that would be very bad." Duran answered. "We are also far enough in the Vinkus whomever is hunting you will have to worry about Vinkuns hunting them. And the Vinkuns won't come here, so we don't have to worry about that. Frankly, taking a couple of days, healing up, and flying your way from here is the best idea."
With that, he moved the door and left. The women glanced at each other, and promptly followed him out. They watched as he disappeared through the vine trees. They waited for a little while to make sure he did not need to come back. Finally, the pair moved in opposite directions.
After returning together, the two explored the grove in silence. Neither had the energy to hold a conversation, and neither wanted to break the silence of the place either. Both witches could feel the magical energy of the place. Duran had called it a font, and both agreed with the term. However, the lingering residue of years of magical use also seemed to hang like the mildew on the stone. Both witches noticed upon closer inspection that the standing stones were engraved with swirls and designs that must have had some sort of significance. When Glinda ran her fingers on one she felt it almost hum with energy. After their exploration, they returned to the inside of the mound. A little while later, Duran returned with an antelope of some sort slung over his shoulders.
"Found one. Not very big, but then again, we take what we can get. I'll go outside and finish cleaning it. Can you start a small fire? We should be okay for right now." he answered.
The witches nodded, and the man exited the grove once more. The duo scanned the grounds for kindling and firewood. The kindling was easy to find, with the dead dried grass making a great fire starter. The wood was harder, but they managed to find a small bit of it. By the time they had a good fire going, Duran returned with butchered meat.
"It isn't a whole lot, but it will do for tonight." he replied. Finding some additional sticks, he put it over the fire. "If one of you ladies don't mind, could you clean me up? I don't fancy smelling like prey animal until I find a stream to wash off in."
Glinda flicked her wand, and Duran was cleaned up.
"Thank you."
"How do you normally travel, Duran?" Glinda asked.
"Well, I either am in civilized areas where I can buy food, or pack accordingly. I did not expect to have a large Vinkun jaunt when you called me." he answered with a smile.
"Weren't you just in the Vinkus?" asked Glinda.
"Curse your good memory." he said with a smile. "And yes, I was, but I was traveling with a caravan and so did not need to hunt for my food."
"Oh. That makes sense."
"Anyway, after dinner you two should get some sleep."
"And just what do you plan to do?" asked Elphaba.
"Why, Miss Elphaba, I told you-"
"He doesn't need sleep." Glinda finished for him. Duran gave her a play scowl.
"Hey now. No stealing my lines."
In the middle of the night, Glinda awoke to a slight scuffling. Adrenaline ran through her, and she opened her eyes. In the darkness, she noticed a figure move through the stone door, and shut it behind them. Curious, she nudged Elphaba awake.
"What?" she grumbled.
"Duran just slipped out."
"So? Probably going to the bathroom."
"He took all of his things."
Elphaba stirred awake then, and both witches rose stiffly. As they did, Glinda's hand brushed over a piece of paper. Using a much smaller light spell, she illuminated just the tip of her wand. It was a letter, penned in a familiar hand.
Ladies, I have business elsewhere. I shall return in a few days. If you feel well enough, please fly to Kiamo Ko before I return. Duran
"Where would he have business out here?" Glinda whispered.
"I don't know, but I want to find out." Elphaba replied. She muttered a levitation spell, and the door glided back open.
Both witches crept out of the room under the mound. They glanced around, but did not see Duran anywhere. They had assumed that he had moved through the trees into the grasslands. Elphaba pointed up on the mound, letting Glinda know she hoped to get a better look. Glinda nodded, and turned around. As they did, they found Duran, his purple scarf flickering in the moonlight. He was standing on top of the mound, directly next to the altar. Both witches ducked back to watch him. That was when they heard it. A firm and precise chanting, each word clipped out in perfect punctuation. Elphaba's eyes widened, and she propelled her protesting legs up the mound. Glinda followed after her. Both witches knew it was dangerous to interrupt a spell, but Elphaba was brash and Glinda was so committed. As they crested the top, they felt the wind pick up and the magic rise from the earth.
"Duran!" Elphaba yelled, and the man turned.
"Do not cross the-" he started, but both witches ignored him and advanced, wands drawn. "-stone circle. Well, we're fucking in it now. Shut up and don't move!"
"Duran!"
"SILENCE!" he commanded.
Both women bit their tongues. He had never raised his voice like that, and the force of personality behind it took them aback. He began his chant again. Both witches felt the swelling of magic being drawn beneath them. Elphaba could see it, a geyser of magical energy flowing from the earth to the standing stones, and swirling around them in a vortex. It took her breath away at the enormity of it. That, and the increasing pressure around them. She looked to Glinda, who also noticed it. The two witches were having a hard time standing, let alone moving or speaking. The stars seemed to spin above them, and they could swear the sun and the moon rose and fell while also circling the stars. And then…