"Do you even know where we're going?"

"Shhh!"

"Why are you shushing me? I'm not the one leading us in circles in the bad part of town!"

"Boq."

"Oh, not you too, Glinda. Honestly, I don't know why you…"

Breena cut him off by turning around quickly enough to startle him. "If you don't keep your voice down I'm going to dunk your head under water until your jaw rusts shut."

Boq blinked at her. "There's no need for violence."

"There's no need for you to be yammering your head off either, but you're doing it." Lion countered.

"I was not…" Boq caught the look Breena was giving him and closed his mouth.

"Thank you." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And we've been circling so it will be harder for someone to follow us."

"Someone's following us?!"

Lion glared at Boq. "It would be my pleasure to hold his head under for you."

"Of course no one's following us." Glinda's diplomatic side took over as she stepped in, reassuring the tin man and trying to stop another argument at the same time. "Breena's just being cautious."

"That still doesn't explain what we're doing here." Boq warily took in their surroundings.

Breena started walking again. "Have you ever even been to this part of the city?"

He frowned at Breena's question. "Certainly not."

"You say that like you're going to catch the plague by being here." She didn't bother to turn and look at him. "Just because some people have less money than others doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them. The citizens who live here are ten times more honest than those who live in the heart of the city. But go back if you want. Better yet, wait a few minutes and I'll take you back myself. You can sit in someone's nice cushy parlor and wait while they send for the Gale Force to come and get you. Because it's all about the status quo with them. Glinda became the new public enemy number one tonight and you two are probably running a close second for coming with her. So look down your nose all you want, but keep in mind these are the people who are going to help save your ass."

Glinda and Lion shared a look as her rant ended. Even Boq knew better than to say anything else. They were so wrapped up in their reactions that none of them noticed when Breena stopped. She was knocking on a door when Glinda ran into her.

"Oh!" Glinda put her hand on Breena's arm to steady them both. "Sorry."

Breena grinned. "No problem."

"I don't know who you are, but we don't want any!" A gruff voice sounded from behind the door.

"Betak, it's me, Breena."

"Prove it."

Breena shook her head. "Who else would claim to be me you silly woman?"

The sound of locks being thrown filled the air. A tiny old Munchkin woman peered cautiously around the door, finally flinging it open when she saw Breena. "It is you!"

"Told you so." Breena smiled.

"Thank Oz!" The woman, barely coming to her waist, gathered her into a bone crushing hug. "When you didn't check in earlier…"

"Grandmother, who are you talking to?" A taller young redhead came into view behind the older woman. "Breena!" She almost squealed the name, gently pushing her grandma out of the way to get to her. "Where have you been?" She smacked Breena soundly on the arm. "You were supposed to check in earlier!"

"Sorry Mom." Breena chuckled as she was pulled into another hug. "I've been a little busy."

"So I can see." The redhead smiled at Glinda as she released Breena. "It's nice to finally meet you your Goodness. I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"How do you know what circumstances we're here under? Have they made an official announcement already? Are they looking for us?" Boq shot the questions out without taking a breath.

"Calm down." Breena frowned at him. "She just meant she knows I wouldn't bring Glinda here unless something happened at the palace."

The redhead nodded. "I haven't heard of any announcements. And I haven't seen any Gale Force troops this evening."

"Unless we count her." Betak cackled as she pointed at Breena. "Those pants aren't very flattering on you."

"Gee thanks." Breena returned her attention to the blonde beside her. "Glinda, I'd like you to meet Milynn and Betak." She gestured at the women as she said their names. "Milynn, Betak, this is Glinda Upland. The one with all the fur goes by Lion and the shiny one is Boq, also known as the Tin Woodsman."

"It's just Boq." He frowned when he felt everyone looking at him. "What? Like I need to be constantly reminded that I'm made of tin."

"Fine." Breena sighed. "That's just Boq."

Milynn's smile stayed in place. "It's nice to meet you all. Now get in here before someone recognizes her Goodness."

"Please, call me Glinda." The blonde spoke as she stepped into the house.

"Oh, I couldn't." Milynn blushed.

"Sure you can." Lion reassured her, following Glinda inside.

"Maybe she doesn't want to." Boq groused doing a double take as he stepped over the threshold. "This place gives a whole new meaning to the word hovel."

Lion gave him a look. "And you give the same old meaning to the word jackass."

"Don't start you two." Breena brought up the rear, shutting the door behind her. "And you better watch your manners tin man." She stressed the last two words. "Betak is helping us out of the goodness of her heart. The least you could do is show her a little respect." She pushed past him to join the other women. "I was afraid you wouldn't still be here, Milynn."

"I wasn't going anywhere until I heard from you." Milynn put her hand on Breena's arm, almost like she was reassuring herself the woman was actually there. "Besides, Leto is still over at the pub trying to, as he puts it, 'recruit' people."

Brenna furrowed her brow. "He doesn't have to do that. I'm sure whatever you have arranged so far will be just fine."

"Nonsense." Milynn cut her off before she could say more. "We owe you everything. The least we can do is help."

Betak nodded. "Letoshian is a good boy. He's doing what he needs to do."

"Wait a minute…" Boq glared at Breena. "You don't even know what's going on here? I thought you had a plan!"

"If you mean a way to get us out of the city, I do." Breena sighed, obviously frustrated with him. "But I couldn't handle all of the details by myself and be at the palace at the same time, so I asked for some help."

"That's great." Boq gestured with his hand. "I'm sure the drunks this Leo what's his name is picking up at the pub will be a great help in getting Glinda to safety. We never should have left the palace!"

"There's the door!" Lion growled at him. "If you're so damn anxious to go back, use it! If not, shut up and stop being such a pain!"

Betak smiled. "I like you Mr. Pussycat."

"Letoshian?" Glinda muttered the name, seemingly oblivious to anything else that was said. "You're not talking about Letoshian Kandliss are you?"

Milynn looked surprised. "You know my Leto?"

"Yes. Our parents were good friends before his died in that carriage accident, what was it, five years ago now?"

"I never got the chance to know his parents." Sadness filled Milynn's eyes. "We only met a few years ago."

"What in Oz are you doing in a place like this?" Boq asked. "The Kandliss' are one of the more well to do families in Gillikin."

"Not anymore." Betak shook her head.

"What?" Glinda looked surprised. "Why not?"

"When it came out that the Wizard was mistreating Animals Leto became an activist." Milynn answered. "Under Ozian law he forfeited everything his parents left him by doing so."

It was Glinda's turn to shake her head. "There's no law like that in Oz."

"Yes there is." Betak spoke authoritatively.

"No there's not." Glinda argued.

"She should now." Lion came to her defense. "After all, she's part of the government. Was part of the government." He gestured with his paw. "Whatever. She knows Ozian law inside and out."

"The laws the Merchants Council let her see." Breena countered. "There are plenty they kept from her." She looked at Glinda. "You didn't honestly think they shared everything with you, did you? Not to be blunt, but you were nothing more than a pretty little thorn in their side."

"Breena!" Milynn's mouth popped open.

Betak couldn't reach her head so she backhanded the girl's stomach with a muttered, "Be nice."

"Ow!" Breena frowned. "I said 'not to be blunt' first."

"I can't believe I didn't know about this." Glinda was blown away. "Not that it should surprise me. Breena's right, I wasn't exactly in the good graces of the council."

"It's not your fault." Lion tried to make her feel better.

Glinda sighed. "I always counted Leto as a friend. How could I not have known what was going on with him?"

"It's not like you haven't been busy." Breena tried to make amends. "And the merchants went to great lengths to keep that particular law and the families it affected under wraps. Most of them are in Southstairs now."

"What?!" Glinda couldn't believe what she was hearing could get any worse, but it was.

Breena nodded. "The council can't risk anyone revealing what they're doing. They arrest the families as traitors against Oz, throw them in the clink and seize all their assets to pad the government budget."

"I don't believe you." Boq sounded angry. "Why would the government want to alienate any citizen of Oz? You're just trying to keep Glinda from second guessing her decision to come here!"

"Let me ask you this, Boq." Breena turned her attention to him. "How do you think they could afford new Gale Force uniforms or the facelift they gave the palace without raising taxes in the city?"

Boq shrugged. "Private contributions."

"Are you really that stupid?" Betak gave him a look.

The front door suddenly opened. "Betak, I'm sorry it took so long. Milynn and I will…" The young man who walked in stopped when he saw the crowd of people looking back at him. "Hi." He offered them a little wave.

"Leto!" Milynn rushed to him, giving him a warm kiss and a big hug. "How did things go?"

"Pretty good." He kept her in his arms, kissing her again. "We'll have three more wagons." He looked at the others over his wife's shoulder. "It's good to see you again Breena. You had these two in quite a panic earlier."

"So I've heard. I'm surprised they didn't have you organizing a search party at the pub." Breena grinned as she joined them.

"Don't give them any ideas." Leto frowned at the hand she offered. "And don't insult me." He pulled her into a tight embrace.

"It's good to see you again too, Leto. But you didn't have to…"

"Don't even start. As I'm sure Milynn already reminded you, we owe you far more than we're giving back." He turned his attention to Glinda. "And this ravishing creature can't possibly be the same little Glinda I used to pick on at Upland Manor."

Glinda gave him a small smile, tears swimming in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Letoshian. I had no idea what you've been through."

"You told her?" He looked at Milynn.

"Your name was mentioned. Dots were connected." Betak answered. "She's a very intelligent girl."

"Then it's true?" Glinda whispered.

"I'm afraid so." Leto shrugged. "From rich cad to poor pauper just because I'm an activist." He hugged the blonde. "But none of this is your fault, Glinda. As my father would have said, I'd rather be a free man than answer to the likes of our current government. Present company excluded of course." He pulled back to look at her. "And thanks to people like Breena, I'm here to help others like you."

Glinda grinned as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I told you he was a good boy." Betak pointed accusingly at Boq. "And I think you owe our Breena an apology."

"Yeah metal head." Lion took the old woman's side.

Breena chuckled, knowing that would never happen. "That's really not necessary."

"OK, enough of this dreary talk then." Betak clapped her hands. "Let's eat."

Lion instantly perked up. "You have food?"

"We ate at the palace." Boq was quick to point out.

"No, we were in the process of eating when I noticed Glinda." Lion corrected him. "I didn't finish."

"Then come with me." Betak took him by the paw. "I have plenty."

"Are you sure?" Glinda furrowed her brow. "We don't want to intrude."

"By plenty she means enough to feed an army." Milynn reassured her. "She used to cook for everyone at Co…"

"Let's not bore them with details." Leto interrupted her.

The grateful look Breena gave Leto wasn't lost on Glinda, but she let it slide. Boq was already suspicious enough of the whole situation without her adding fuel to his fire. Not that she could blame him. Any other time she would have been more than a little leery of Breena too. But her heart told her the woman really was doing what she thought was necessary to keep her safe. And if that meant having a few secrets, so be it.

"Stick with me, Glinda." The sound of Leto's voice drew her out of her thoughts. "We can catch up while we eat."

Her grin was still in place. "I'd like that."

"Then let's go." Leto slipped one arm around her shoulders and the other around Milynn's.

Boq was about to follow when he realized Breena was heading toward the front door rather than the back of the house like everyone else. "Where do you think you're going?"

Breena frowned. "I don't have to answer to you, Boq. I'll come and go as I please." Her features softened when she saw Glinda looking at her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so snippy, but it's been a long day for all of us. I have some last minute details to see to. I won't be gone long. And you're all safe here."

"Don't apologize to him." Betak pointed at her. "And you should eat first."

"Betak, I…"

"I know, I know. You're not hungry. You're never hungry." The old woman waved her off. "Go. But don't blame me when you waste away to nothing."

"And be careful." Leto called as she opened the door.

Breena flashed him a brilliant smile. "Aren't I always?" And with that she was gone.

Boq shook his head. "I really don't trust her."

"You should." Betak scolded him. "She's a good girl."

"And the rest of us really don't care about your opinion." Lion gave him a 'so there' look.

"Well said Mr. Pussycat." Betak smiled. "Now come, a growing kitty like you needs to eat."

Boq watched them all disappear into the kitchen, making sure none of them were going to come back into the room before slipping out the front door.

He knew Breena was up to no good and he was going to prove it.