Fae's Duty: The Old Friend

My first destination was the local mauntery, where I could pay my respects to Saint Glinda and hopefully remain undisturbed for a while. I wrapped my cloak around me carefully, feeling the sting of the raindrops that managed to make their way onto my skin.

As I turned the corner into the aisle that held the oratory to Saint Glinda, I turned in my tracks and went back in the other direction; someone was already there. I forgot… Fiyero might have expected me to come here for sanctuary.

I looked back at the figure silhouetted in the altar's candlelight long enough to see that it wasn't a masculine shape; the person was wearing a dress. Not Fiyero, then. But I'll have to find somewhere else to wait. Maybe there's another altar along here I can use.

I walked along the pews, looking to sit down until the oratory was open. I was about to sit when I heard a woman's voice behind me. "I'm done in the altar to Saint Glinda if you wish to go there."

She smiled kindly at me as I turned toward her, and her face quickly changed to one of recognition. "Elphie? Is that really you?"

Looking up and down at her, I finally recognized her as my old classmate, Glinda, who had formerly been called Galinda. It seemed rather fitting that she would come to worship her namesake's altar, though the timing was quite coincidental for us to encounter each other.

"Yes, it's me, but don't shout it out. I'm still undercover, and I can't afford to be exposed right now. Come out this way with me." She's going to want to talk, I know it, and she's not going to give me a break. Better get it over with in some safe place.

I pulled her out the servants' entrance that I typically used, not quite sure where we would go from there. She took over from there (typical Glinda!) and led me down the street towards what I assumed was her house.

As she pulled me up the front steps I began to protest, "I really can't--"

"Oh hush. I haven't seen you, haven't even heard from you in years. Did you really think I was going to let you get away from me without sitting you down for a nice chat first?"

"Well, no, but I isolated myself so none of you would be put in danger, and here you go making it more dangerous for yourself!" Plus, I really don't want to discuss how I abandoned you and Nessa in the middle of the school year to deal with Horrible Morrible by yourselves…

She sat me down on one of the softer chairs in her parlor and shook her head slightly at me. She replied admonishingly, "Actually, this is one of the safer places for you. They will have less reason to suspect you if you're here with me. You see, I'm a respected member of society."

She rubbed her right hand a little as she spoke, where I saw a wedding ring on her finger. Fiyero had mentioned that she had gotten married, but since it didn't affect me, I hadn't paid too much attention to that fact. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"Oh, my Sir Chuffrey, he's an older gent, but there's nothing left in there forpleasure… No, he has money, respect, and experience dealing with society, and I'm moving up thanks to him."

She left the room for a moment, to get tea (or so I guessed), and I cursed myself for my weakness. This is too dangerous. I wouldn't be able to stand it if she was tortured or killed because of me. I've got to leave.

I had decided to leave, and just gotten up, when Glinda came back in with tea and pushed me back into my seat. I had let her get into her stride; it would be difficult for me to leave now.

I did want news... and Glinda is very knowledgeable concerning gossip. I'll give her a chance, I guess.

She settled into the seat across from me, looked expectantly at me, and then said, "Well? What have you been doing these past few years?"

This might take a while...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elphie: Oh, no, somebody's going to find us, I can feel it. Can't you just tell me what's going to happen?

RS: You know I can't do that; it would be too strange if you suddenly got the power of prophecy in the story.

Elphie: Your readers don't have to know. I won't tell anybody… and I can't stand the suspense!

RS: No. I won't do it!