Both women sat up. The sun hung above them, nearing midday. Glinda groaned and grabbed her head. Not only did it hurt, the rest of her body ached as well. Elphaba gave her a similar bleary eyed look.
"I see you two are awake." Duran's voice came. He was holding cooked meat on skewers for them. Perhaps not the best breakfast, but both girls were famished.
"What happened? What did you do to us?" Elphaba accused.
" I did not do anything." he answered. " You crossed into a stone circle in the middle of a ritual. A very foolish thing to do, as you should know."
"What was that?" Glinda groaned. She took the meat skewer from Duran.
"A translocation spell." he answered, and handed Elphaba the other skewer. "Highly temperamental and dangerous."
"You've constantly told us you're not a sorcerer, yet you wield more powerful magic than us, including things we don't know." Elphaba paused. "You've lied to us."
Duran sat cross legged in front of them.
"I have not. I am not a sorcerer nor have any talent for sorcery. The magic you have seen me perform is not something I perform through my own innate abilities, but are borrowed from others."
"What does that mean?" Glinda said. He smiled at her.
"It means the spells I cast are only able to be done so because a sorcerer has cast another on me that allows them."
"Huh?" Elphaba replied.
"Basically, like your ability to see magic. You cannot do it innately, but can do so because of a cast spell."
"Oh." Elphaba answered. "So that's how you get around so quickly."
"Not quite." he answered. "A translocation spell, as I've said, is very dangerous, very tempermental, and requires a significant amount of magical energy to do. Hence, I needed a magical font to do it."
"So you planned to bring us here?" Glinda asked.
"It was a contingency I happened to plan for." was his response.
"That's obfuscating." Elphaba snapped.
"No, it's how I think. I did not plan to have to run to the Vinkus; otherwise, I would have had more supplies. I did not plan to go out the grain port, meaning we were too far north to take the southern road. I did not plan to be hunted and need to cut across the country. But all of those possibilities had contingencies for which I planned for, which ended up with this eventuality." he answered.
"And the magical font is how we returned?" asked Glinda.
"Yes and no. Yes, because it is a waypoint for us to return to. No, because it does not have the energy to translocate again for a while."
"What do you mean it does not have the energy?" Elphaba asked.
"Look, Miss Elphaba, with your magical sight. Do you see the same amount of magic around us as before?"
Elphaba opened her eyes to the magical world around her. Duran still shone bright, and both witches held a soft glow of magical after effects. But the magic that had been so pervasive was gone.
"No."
"Exactly. We were lucky that this hasn't been used for a long time. Otherwise only half of us would have arrived in the location. I would not have been fond of arriving without my skin."
Both witches shuddered at the image.
"You said you'd be gone a couple of days; yet it is only the afternoon." Glinda pointed out.
"Ah. But on what day?" he answered with a smile. Both girls furrowed their brows, and then Elphaba went to check her wound. It had healed significantly, more so than even several days of healing would give.
"How long were we gone?" Elphaba asked.
"A few days." he answered. "Luckily enough, we were able to find ingredients for a healing draft on the way, so you could get better faster."
"A few days! Then you wiped our memories!" Elphaba accused. Duran's eyebrows rose, and he withdrew two letters from his bag. He held them out.
" I did not wipe your memories. It is not a capability I have." he answered. " You wiped your memories and, to let you know I am telling the truth, you wrote yourselves these letters that you signed and sealed."
Both witches took the letters. True to form, they had their own names scrolled across the front. Elphaba opened hers first.
Elphaba (that's weird to write),
You had a pet salamander named Sticky. You never told anyone. Now that's out of the way, Duran is telling you the truth, though I know you must hate to hear that (as I hate saying it). You wiped your memory for your own good. Yes, I know; you don't know a memory wiping spell. Well, you did, or do, but not anymore. Either way, there are some things that you are better off not knowing. I know; knowledge is good for its own sake. But some things you need to forget for your own sanity's sake. Trust me. I'm you. Wait, that's a terrible argument. Well, whatever. Focus on clearing up things with Glinda rather than this. I know you won't listen to that, but I'm going to say it anyway.
Elphaba.
"Oh come on!" Elphaba yelled. "Now I have to know. This letter makes it worse."
Glinda chuckled and opened hers.
My dearest, most beautiful, sweetest, charming Glinda,
Yes, I know that's over the top, but it's not often I get to write a letter to me, now is it? So let me indulge in my own vanity, mostly quashed after school, but still there for a moment. It's been a stressful trip, hasn't it? We were right; the Vinkus does nothing for our hair. Though this trip will give us lovely definition, won't it? Though put a hat on, or you'll burn. Trust me on this; I had a nasty one when I woke up the other day.
Oh yes, the whole it's been several days thing. Well, it has been, but you just have to trust Duran on this, and yourself. There's nothing in the last couple of days you'd really care about. As such, you quite easily put it away. A useful thing, a memory spell. Duran knows the secret; he promised to tell you when you get to Kiamo Ko.
Anyway, take care, be kind to yourself, and get that hat!
Glinda Arduenna Upland, once Glinda the Good, once Galinda, and almost once the Baroness of Paltos.
Glinda looked up at them.
"How very curious. Well, let us put that behind us, then."
"Excellent!" Duran clapped his hands together. "Eat and then you should be good to cast that flying spell. And then we can go our separate ways."
Duran trudged down the mound to get more food. Glinda stood, and felt something shift in her dress. Reaching inside, she withdrew a long white veil. She stared at it curiously.
"What is that?" Elphaba asked.
"I don't know. It can only be something from our trip. It quite reminds me of yours, and Wynessa's."
"A sign to not trust the letters?" Elphaba asked, throwing the form of Duran a suspicious look.
"No. We would have put erroneous information in the letters otherwise. But a sign to maybe look into later."
"Yes, I-"
Both witches saw it. A group of dark skinned men in animal skins entering the grove from every side. There had to be at least two dozen of them; some carried bows, some rifles. One, a little better dressed than the rest, held up his spear.
"I come bearing a command from the Princess Nastoya." he called to them. Duran's hand dropped to his sword, but did not draw. "You are to come with us to here."
"Well, shit." Elphaba said.
"Guess we get to see her again." Glinda sighed.
The trio walked the Vinkus plains loosely surrounded by the band of Vinkuns. It was less than an escort but more than a guide. Either way, they treated the witches with respect, and Duran with wary cordiality. The men could tell from his easy walk he was no stranger to their lands, and his armaments that he was not one to be trifled with. For his part, he took the journey with the smile and grace he always portrayed, though the women could tell he was full of restless energy. The group was moving too slow for him. It was far too quiet for Glinda.
"How far until we reach the Scrow encampment?" she asked the one who looked to be the leader.
"About another day." he answered. Glinda huffed. Despite conjuring a big floppy hat to cover her face, she was not enjoying the Vinkus.
"It would be quicker if the witches just flew there." offered Duran.
"The Princess wished us to escort them to make sure they arrived." the man answered. He turned to look at Duran. "And you as well."
"Me? I'm just a bodyguard for the ladies. I don't know why she would want to see me."
"The Princess was very explicit. The Shamans and anyone else who traveled with them."
"So not Duran in particular." Elphaba said. "Just our party."
"No. She was very clear there was someone or something among you that must be brought before her."
"How interesting. And how did she know where we were?" asked Glinda
"The Princess has ways of knowing these things." he answered.
"Scrying." Elphaba translated. "Probably using bones or crystals, depending on the tradition."
The man gave her a scowl but she ignored it.
"However, it is interesting that she could not scry you." Elphaba looked at him. Duran smiled and shrugged.
"One of many talents."
"Natural and unnatural?" Elphaba retorted.
"Mostly unnatural." he glibbed back.
"Yes. Many of us wonder if you are a Rakasha, a demon who takes on human form." the leader spoke firmly. Duran laughed but glanced around as he did. The eyes were on him.
"I am not some demon come to kill you." he said. "I am a man; maybe not like any other, but from a mother just as well."
"What was she like?" Glinda interjected.
"Who?" Duran asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Your mother." she answered. "You've never mentioned any family before."
"Haven't exactly had long conversations, have we?" he answered with a wink.
"De~flec~tion." Glinda sing-songed back. He laughed and grasped his chest.
"Oh! I've been struck! I match wits and orations with the best of them." he gasped and staggered. "Alas, cruel world, to be undone by such a fair maiden."
Duran gave a very loud gasp and fell to the ground over dramatically. The Vinkun warparty stopped, eyeing each other in disbelief at his actions. Elphaba rolled her eyes while Glinda giggled. Duran groaned and flopped on his back.
"Though, on second thought, there are uglier faces to die seeing." he said with a smile. Glinda blew out air in exasperation, and nudged him with her boot.
"Get up, you big ham. No amount of flopping about will get you out of the question. I was engaged to Fiyero, remember?"
"How very true. He knew a good fop flop." Duran laughed and hopped up to his feet. "Though I dare say you are lucky you didn't marry him. The Vinkus does nothing for your complexion."
"I am aware, and to say nothing of my hair." she replied. Glinda found a stick nearby and gave it a tug. It came loose of the ground, covered in good black dirt. A tap of her wand caused it to straighten and bloom a parasol. Putting it over her, she continued. "But now onto the question."
Glinda dipped her head, and the Vinkun party continued on its way.
"I don't rightly remember." he answered, wistfulness in her voice. "It was a long time ago, and I did not spend many years with her."
"Did she die?" Glinda asked. Duran shook his head.
"No; well, at least not when I was with her. At a certain point, my father came calling and whisked me away. I wish I could say I remembered something like her standing sadly in the doorway as a last memory, but I recall nothing of her more than she existed."
"Why did your father take you?" Elphaba asked.
"Simple, Miss Elphaba. He took me away to become this." he replied, and motioned to himself.
"And what is this?"
"Devilishly handsome, if I must say." he answered, shooting them a smile. Elphaba glowered at him.
"Was that all a lie? Some sad tale to make us feel bad?" she asked angrily.
"No, Miss Elphaba, it was not. I've yet to lie to you at all. And will continue not to do so."
"Excuse me, sir?" asked Glinda. The leader looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Why do you think he is a demon?" she asked.
"He reeks of blood. He's steeped in it from the men he killed." the leader paused. "He also has an unnatural feeling about him, as if he is not quite right."
The three looked at Duran. He remained quiet, looking at them.
"What? No smart comeback?" asked Elphaba.
"All I've got is a sexual innuendo, and I don't feel like it would be truly appreciated by the present company."
Elphaba rolled her eyes again. It was quiet again for a long time.
"So...does anyone know any good traveling songs? If not, I can always sing my favorites." Duran supplied. Elphaba groaned. Glinda sighed. The lead warrior turned his head forward.
"No? Okay, here we go."
" One morning, one morning, one morning in May ,
I spied a young couple, they were making their way .
One was a maiden so bright and so fair ,
and the other was a soldier and a brave volunteer …"
There was a small crowd as they entered the Scrow encampment. It was not too long ago the two women had visited, and it was remembered fondly. The looks of apprehension at Duran were hard to miss. The man outwardly ignored them, keeping a relaxed smile on his face. Whenever he met someone's eyes he dipped his head in acknowledgement. Unlike the last time they were here, the three were not escorted to a tent, but rather led straight to the Princess Nastoya. At the entrance, the guard halted them.
"All weapons, please." he said, looking at Duran.
The man sighed melodramatically, but unhooked his belt. He handed it to the nearest guard, and then unslung the pack from his back, handing it to the same guard. Reaching down into his boots he pulled a long knife from one and a short pistol from the other. He handed the guard each. He pushed up his sleeves, and underneath were two vambraces. Turning his hands down, he unstrapped the throwing daggers and pulled them from their sheaths. Placing them atop the pile in the guard's arms, he lifted his hat. Rummaging inside, a long thin flexible pin came out. He gingerly put it on the top. The two witches stared at him in puzzlement and amusement.
"What?" he asked. "I like to be prepared."
The guard turned to walk away but Duran called after him.
"I expect all of that back, thank you!"
He turned back towards the entrance, but another guard stopped him.
"Really?" he asked. The man glared. Duran raised his arms in the symbol known everywhere. The man began to pat him down. He smiled ruefully as the two women watched. "I think it's patently unfair that you two get to watch me get pawed at like some harem girl in a silk negligee while you do not have to undergo the same treatment."
"Now there's an image." Elphaba snarked back. "Perhaps they remember my threat to turn them into toads."
"I think you would look fabulous in purple transparent silk." Glinda added. Elphaba rolled her eyes and Duran let out a bark of a laugh. He grunted in the back of his throat as the guard roughly struck the inside of his thigh.
"Easy there, big guy, or you're liable to get an eyeful." he commented.
The man gave him a hard look but continued patting him down. As he made the way back up Duran's chest, he grabbed the purple scarf to examine it. Duran's hand shot out and captured the man's wrist in a vice grip.
"You've done quite enough checking. Let go of the scarf." he said in a low, slow tone. The guards tensed around him, but Duran did not seem nervous. He stared in the guards eyes, and the man eventually let it go. Duran smiled and the tension slowly released, but the unease was there. Duran continued, "It is very special to me, given to me by a very special person."
The guard stepped back, but none missed the red marks on his wrist. The women glanced at each other. The guard ushered them in. As they ducked into the tent, Elphaba saw (and Glinda felt) the crossing of the magical barrier. The tent was set up with cleverly disguised totems made to enhance the Princess' power. It was the same idea, though to a lesser extent, as the Kumbrica site. To Elphaba, the magic pervaded her senses, emanating from the totem and suffusing every corner and person. All except one.
Duran's aura flickered and popped like a flame, keeping the magic of the totems from enveloping him. Elphaba noticed more directed magical tendrils reach out to ensnare Duran, but they withered as the wound around him. He walked through them as easily as a field, a smile never leaving his face. Elphaba was determined to find out how. Later.
"Princess Nastoya." Glinda curtsied. Elphaba bowed her head. Duran dipped his own. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
The Princess reclined in her seat. Her massive bulk fit the rest of her form with the large eyes and upper lip dominating her face. Both women knew this was partially an illusion, partially a transformation. The woman was no woman, but an Elephant that had guided the Scrow for decades.
"You crossed into my territory and used a Kumbrica circle, something that I have outlawed. I cannot alone let that stand." she drawled out slowly. Glinda opened her mouth but Duran got words out first.
"You hold no domain over the magical places, Princess." he said with ease. "Your authority is only your own. And the Circle is not even in your domain as well."
"A thing such as you, masquerading as a man, dare speak to me such?" she growled out, her frame seeming to expand. The women felt the pressure rise in their skulls.
"Quite a comment from one masquerading as one yourself." Duran shot back. "Come now, tell us what you really wish. You did not scry for the witches and move your people into danger simply to reproach them for using the Circle."
Glinda saw the conversation's bent, and tried to intervene. However, words would not come. She watched on in silent horror as Duran prodded the Elephant.
"You will be silent." she hissed.
The pressure grew, and the two witches felt a chant in their minds. Elphaba realized the Princess was subvocalizing, and saw tendrils spear out from the totems to Duran. They wrapped around him, holding him tight. Duran raised his arm, as if drawing up through quicksand, and then cut downward. The room exploded in light all could see. Elphaba noticed the tendrils were gone now, severed by whatever force protected Duran.
"I know what you are, Makelea." she rumbled.
"Do not try to use the kudesh against me, Saeresha . I've crossed the Impassable Desert and stood with the Umberans as well." he answered sternly. "You cannot bind me. Tell me why we are here."
"I cannot bind you," she ignored his comment, "but I can bind them."
Duran laughed lightly.
"You would not tread on the skein of fate so heavily. Quit the empty threats."
"No, you are quite right. Your wisdom is great for one so old."
"The point, Saeresha ." he emphasized slowly.
"I do not know what you are. You are a Makelea, but you are not. Makelea can be scryed while you cannot. There is something also...false, about you." she paused and took a deep heaving breath. "I cannot let someone such as yourself move through my territory without knowing what you are."
"I am no danger to you." he answered. "I have no want to hurt the Scrow."
"And yet tales of the Pale Jaguar persist even now. Some lost kin to such a beast."
Duran was silent for a long time. Finally, he said,
"That was many generations ago. None live who would have lost any."
"Not so long, Makelea. Not even a generation." she answered. Duran's eyes narrowed.
"Then it was not I who did it, so you cannot blame that on me."
"No, but you know who or what did."
"Possibly. Of what concern is it of mine, or theirs?" he asked, gesturing to the women.
"My people want blood; your blood. Their honor cannot be sated otherwise."
"They will find it more than they wish." Duran bit out. "You cannot wish for them to die in such a foolish pursuit."
"You are right, and they will heed my word." she paused. " But I have to know what you are. "
"And if I refuse?" he asked. "What then? Do you expect to make war on me?"
"No. I expect to take my people over the Thousand Years Grasslands and never heed the call of the Arjiki or the Witch ever again." was her answer. Duran's jaw worked slowly. Finally, he said.
"And what would this all entail?" he asked cautiously. "You know your truth bindings will not work on me."
"A simple spell, one that the witches had placed on them before. It reveals your spirit animal."
"And with this you will let us be on our way?" he asked warily.
"Yes." she answered.
"Fine." he said quickly. "Let us get it over with."
The Princess bowed her head. The incense in the room began to twist and swirl, forming tendrils of smoke. The pounding in their heads increased. Elphaba noticed something strange, but the pounding and chanting could not let herself focus on it. As the tendrils danced their way towards Duran, the shrunk back as if burned. He took a deep breath, and they advanced again, surrounding him and passing through him. With a loud burst of air, they sprang forth and made a shape.
The thing that appeared was an abomination against nature. Here the face Lion roaring; there a beak of an Eagle. The four legged body had paws and claws and talons. It sprouted wings of leather and feathers. Three tails whipped from its body, one a lizard's; one a scorpion's; and one a beast they could not identify. The room shrunk back in horror, but Glinda realized quickly something was wrong. Whereas her and Elphaba's had been smoky but still of definite form, this one was translucent. It roars and hisses sounded...hollow and weak. As if from a far distance. Glinda did not know what to make of it.
"There." Duran snapped. "Now let us be on our way."
"You are not going anywhere!" she rebutted firmly.
Light sprang forth. Duran was dragged downward. He caught himself on his hands, and glared upward at the Princess. He attempted to stand, but his body was wrapped in chains of light. As he struggled against them, they flared brighter. He stopped for a moment, and then managed to push himself back on his knees and get his feet under him. He bared his teeth at Nastoya.
"What sort of Princess or Animal of self respect breaks their words so easily?" he growled out with considerable strain.
"If you were just some mad beast I would not have." the Princess answered. "But you are something else. Your spirit animals are false; embedded but not natural."
The Princess paused and turned towards the women.
"All of those of Oz have a spirit animal, regardless of who they are." she said slowly.
Duran growled and tried to rise again. The chains kept him shackled to the earth. The women saw in his face then an expression they never had before. Rage. It was the face of a killer in bloodlust.
"What are you?" Nastoya asked. There was a pounding in the witches head as she compelled the answer. Elphaba saw the wave of magical force flood from the Princess. "What worlds do you come from? Answer me."
Duran growled and attempted to rise again. The chains burned bright, and this time he managed to get a leg up. He was stuck there, however. The women began to smell the burning of fabric. Glinda started to become frantic. Magical energy manifesting like this was never a good sign.
"Answer me!" the Princess commanded. Another wave of force from her, and Duran dipped his head in pain. He looked back at her and growled, but there were no words. "I command you to answer!"
Duran dipped his head again, but attempted to rise. The chords in his neck strained, and the chain burned. The woman saw holes in his shirt appear, and the stench of burning hair and flesh reached them. Duran continued to strain, and his hands rose from the dirt. The Princess thundered another force, putting Duran hands back in the dirt. Blood began to trickle from his ears and nose.
"Stop!" Glinda commanded. The Princess ignored her. Glinda summoned her own magic, and sliced the binds around her. "I said stop!"
"You hold no weight here, Glinda the Good." the Princess bit back. "Stay your tongue."
"You will kill him and get nothing for it." she retorted.
"Better that he dies than he lives on with none knowing what he is."
"If he dies, Nastoya, you will come to regret it." Glinda threatened. Nastoya finally turned those large eyes on her, and they were filled with anger.
"You dare threaten me in my own enclave, child? You have no power here to match mine."
"Perhaps." Glinda answered. The parasol in her hand grew and morphed into a whitewood staff with a large crystal at the top. "But do you think you have the power to stop Elphaba and I?"
Elphaba started, but was not going to let Glinda go into a fight alone, no matter how she felt on the subject. She cut the bind around her and her hands lit with fire. The guards in the tent tensed, readying their weapons. Elphaba knew it would be a brutal fight even if they could win.
"You would go to such lengths for this thing?"
"I have my reasons." Glinda replied. "The question you should be asking yourself is will you risk destruction for an issue better solved? If you kill Elphaba and I, the Arjiki and the Witch Guard will come down on whatever remains of the Scrow. Not including the Dogs of War."
"And how do you suggest we better solve this? I need answers."
"Are you so ill versed in truth circles and compelling spells that you do not know how they work?" Glinda asked rhetorically. "Combining the two does wonders, but if you brute force someone's mind you are more likely going to destroy it, and possibly kill them, then get answers. The mind is a puzzle, Nastoya; you don't take a hammer to a puzzle. You find how it fits together."
The Elephant paused for a moment, then said,
"What do you suggest?"
"I will question Duran until I believe I have reasonably satisfied both your, and my, curiosities." was her answer. Duran hissed. Glinda crossed in front to put herself between the Princess and him. "Familiarity and comfortability also helps with compelling spells."
"I do not know the wisdom of this plan." she hesitated.
"It's either that, or destruction for all of us." Glinda paused. "Choose."
Nastoya hesitated again, and then said,
"I need to know what he is."
"I will find out the answer as satisfactorily as I can." was her response.
"Then proceed."