Chapter 12
Everyone in the room froze. The Griffins were the first to make a move however despite the seemingly deafening silence that had taken over the room. Kelebek guarded Zara, who seemed to be blissfully unaware of what was going on and her father and mother moved to protect King Tahir and Queen Ayla. Bahadir moved to Lady Glinda while Filiz and Iskender moved to protect the rest of the honored guests. There was screeching outside and that meant the Flying Monkeys were alerting the Royal soldiers. They would be in the room in minutes.
"Such a fuss over little old me," Zixi spoke finally, giving the crowd a once over look.
"A Queen of foreign lands is no little person," Elphaba responded, her magic crackled at her fingertips. She moved away from Mopsi, to put some distance between the Munchkin and their possible foe. She could feel Fiyero's presence behind her, moving closer to her.
"Princess Elphaba, please, the only person who should be made a fuss over is the future Princess. After all, is that not why you have all come to the Vinkus today?" Zixi wondered; a slight smirk crossed her face.
"Word must travel incredibly fast across the desert," Elphaba narrowed her eyes, the woman had given her no sign of her intentions and the green skinned woman was not about to let her guard down.
"Surely you've heard of a crystal ball before? I would have thought Morrible would have taught you better than that," the Queen of Ix said.
"What do you know of Morrible?" Glinda finally spoke up. Bahadir's body completely blocked hers from view but she didn't need to be seen to be heard.
"Enough. I sat back and watched as she attempted to rule Oz with that fool of a Wizard. What I was really waiting for was the one born of both worlds to show up and as my luck would have it, she did. She is the only one who can restore true order to Oz and the countries that surround her. Then again, I suppose you always knew that, didn't you Elphaba?" Zixi asked.
"So I've been told. I'm still not seeing why you sent a spy here only to show up yourself anyway," Elphaba responded.
"The timetable has been moved up. I could no longer wait for my spy or for your intentions to make themselves known," the Queen told them.
"What timetable?" Glinda asked.
"Long before I got here, the Dominions of the Nome King sent a spy to Oz. While this spy could not cross the desert, thanks to the dragons, he found another way, masquerading as one of your own. If what I have learned is true then all of us have to fear what is to come, especially since it is from the inside," Zixi was still being cryptic but Elphaba's magic no longer tried to warn her about what was in front of her. There was a nagging feeling about someone else in this room. Suddenly the doors to the room burst open and Royal soldiers piled in. Zixi managed to avoid them, using her staff as a shield that enveloped her entire body. That did not prevent the Flying Monkeys from encircling the foreign dignitary.
"Sergeant Bahram, seal this room. No one gets in or out!" King Tahir ordered. Quickly the men barricaded the doors and encircled the partygoers. The Griffins now moved from their positions of protection to the walls, in an attempt to help seal the room. There would be no way out for anyone trying anything funny.
"Is everyone unharmed?" Bahram asked.
"Not for long if you don't pull your Monkeys off of me," Zixi eyed them.
"Do as she says Monkeys," Elphaba ordered. They did not question her and backed away from the Queen and toward Elphaba. The green skinned woman turned to the King and he nodded as if he knew what others in the room did not.
"Sergeant, arrest Councilman Lake," King Tahir ordered. Quickly Bahram did as he was told. The soldiers brought him to the King.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lake demanded.
"The jig is up, as they say. Councilman, you and I both know you are no Quadling," Zixi moved from her position so that she could closer to the man. She cast a spell and revealed the man's true from.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you a Nome," the Queen said. Lake spat on her and Sergeant Bahram clubbed him in the back of the head with the butt of his rifle.
"Take him to the cells. In the meantime, I believe that we must have a meeting of the minds," King Tahir looked at Zixi.
To Be Continued…