A/N: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong. Glad you liked the last chapter. :) Thanks!
Chapter 6
Silence had fallen over the Emerald City as night greeting the citizens. The enveloping darkness was a normal occurrence, yet Glinda felt anything but comfort from it. The end of the workday was usually a good thing, but the blonde was still waiting for the other shoe to drop once the Animal Rights laws were posted.
The Council members were getting extra security at their individual residences and Lieutenant Bayram made sure that the guard was doubled at the Palace gates. Now the man tried to soothe his fiancée's nerves. Glinda had rejected a nice cup of tea but not his soft, loving touches as his right hand moved up and down her arm. They were sitting on her bed; he against the headboard, and her in between his legs with her back against his front.
"You really think there will be a mob outside our door?" He asked, keeping his tone low.
"I honestly don't know. I suppose though it isn't a mob so much as the ones you can't see," she admitted.
"That is a much scarier thought. Still let's not get ahead of ourselves. A lot has been going on since the Wizard was removed from power. If we didn't have an issue with Wizard followers, I highly doubt we'll have Munchkins running at us trying to do any damage. They are healing and for the first time in a long time, they are able to select their leaders," Bayram pointed out.
"Yes, you're right. I guess the quiet is playing up on my nerves more than I thought," Glinda sighed.
"Something we aren't used to," he chuckled. There was a knock on the bedroom door and an apologetic Corporal Norris on the other side of it. Glinda immediately felt cold as she left Bayram's arms and grabbed her sweater from the back of a nearby chair. Sliding it on, she then opened the door.
"Sorry but this message came from the Vinkus. I thought you would want to know," the Corporal handed her the folded-up piece of paper.
"That was quick. Tell our Bird friend that we will respond in the morning. I'm sure he's exhausted," Glinda told him.
"Yes ma'am. Have a good evening," Norris told her before he hurried off down the hall. The blonde closed the door and then returned to her original position.
"So, what have they got to say?" Bayram wondered as she opened the letter.
"King Tahir and Queen Ayla were glad to receive your message regarding the Animal Rights and hope you are well. Please give our best to Bayram and the Council. Then there is a bunch of gibberish," Glinda raised an eyebrow.
"We sent them code and they've returned the favor. You want me to find Boq?" The Lieutenant asked.
"Yes. I'll need to pull Fekri aside tomorrow – no matter the answer. Do you think he's right?" She was still struggling with this whole thing. While she wasn't so sure that Jinjuria should ever be released from prison, the judicial system had spoken. Part of her had been relieved because it would look like she was just executing all the people who opposed her. Still both the Wizard and Jinjuria had committed crimes that they had to pay for. They were not good Ozians, not innocent people, like so many of their victims.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Bayram promised as they untangled themselves.
"I'll hold you to it," Glinda smiled at him. The Lieutenant smirked and buttoned up his uniform before heading out the door. Now alone and in the quiet, Glinda wondered what the Vinkuns' suggestion would be – quietly take out the former Munchkin leader or let him suffer for the rest of his life in the bowels of the Emerald Palace. The blonde huffed figuring that death would actually be less of a penalty than spending the rest of his days in a dark, dank basement with nothing to look forward to but the same meals every day and the guards giving him dirty looks.
"See, told you I'd be back," Bayram broke her train of thought about ten minutes later.
"Easy to find Boq?" The blonde gave her friend a smile.
"Hard to miss, I suppose," he chuckled.
"More code for you," Glinda said, handing him the note. Boq nodded and quickly took to finding Elphaba's little clue. He found it in the Vinkun seal and quickly translated.
"Solution an option but not now. Distraction would be best."
"So, they're saying, 'go for it' but I didn't expect them to say not to," Bayram admitted.
"Elphie and I will need to discuss this when they get back. I'm not comfortable with any of this," the blonde was distressed at the answer she got. Though admittedly, it was from the King and Queen. Elphaba and Fiyero may have a different perspective. No one in the room got the chance to think about it though as the sound of soldiers running out in the hall distracted them.
"That problem we were hoping to avoid is here," Glinda frowned.
To Be Continued…
