'And what is the wizard going to interpret with that book?' Elphaba's voice dripped sarcasm.

The tin man scratched his head. 'I don't know. He never said. He just wanted the book.'

'So he could have just wanted it to prop up his coffee table?' She asked slyly. The tin man looked confused.

'I'm not sure I saw a coffee table there' he mused. Dorothy leapt up in accusation. 'Don't listen to her! She's trying to confuse us. She's trying to set us against the wizard.'

'Too late' murmured Elphaba mockingly.

Another cough from the scarecrow and Elphaba rose from the table. 'Fascinating as this all is, I think I'll have a word outside with your other friend. Perhaps he can knock some sense into your tiny tin brain.'

Fiyero gave no sign that any of this affected him as he followed her out of the kitchen.

'Those shoes' she stated, no preamble.

'I know. I've seen them too. She said that Glinda gave them to her.' Elphaba eyed him suspiciously.

'What?'

Her tone could have frozen acid.

'You didn't know?'

'Of course I knew.' Her mind went back to the last time she had seen that infuriating woman whom she had been friends with until then. 'She told me. I didn't believe her.'

'Well I didn't see her give them to her. That was before I met Dorothy. I've not seen Glinda for years.' His dark eyes looked into hers. 'But he's serious you know. He wants that book.'

'Well he's not getting it.'

'He's dangerous' he warned her.

'As if I didn't know.' Elphaba didn't mention that his daughter was the only one left from this castle still alive, how the wizard had tried to sell her back with pages of the book. She had begged him for Nor's release but to no avail. He meant to get that book. She was ashamed of what Fiyero might think of her. She turned away.

'You're trying to get the book from me?'

He stared at her incomprehensibly.

'You're with them. Against me. That means you will try to take the book.'

'Elphaba! I don't care for this book, whatever it is. I came here for you. Not for...'

'Your family?' Elphaba arched her eyebrows and waited for his to defend his family, his wife Sarima, his dead sons, his daughter, even those infernal sisters in law. He did no such thing.

'I know they are no longer here. And what has happened to them. Trapped in this body, I had no way of aiding them. But I had the chance to come back here if I joined in this...'

'Pretence of an adventure? Certainly. But what did you think you would find?'

'I'm not sure' he admitted. 'I just know that you were here and that was enough for me. We've been through a lot to get here.'

'And now you must go back with nothing. What a shame.'

'You don't think I ally my allegiance to them?'

'You're here with them, in concept that is enough.' She turned away from him once more, leaving him in despair.