Chapter 16
As it turns out, news from the Vinkus was slow to spread but news inside the Vinkus spread like wildfire. Shortly after dinner, word from the scouts inside the enemy border reported that the Scrow were arming all males of fighting age and preparing for war. The King quickly sent out word to his generals to get the army in fighting shape and to pull all civilians inside the capital city walls.
Of the ten generals, four responded that they would do no such thing until they were satisfied that Fiyero's new wife wasn't there to usurp the throne during the impending battle. The King pointed out to them that now was not the time for an argument but they then threatened to abandon their posts and take their men with them. Without the aid of two-fifths of his army the Scrow would win and then turn their attention to another tribe of the Vinkus, the Yunamata. It would be the opportunity the Scrow were looking for to completely rule the Vinkus and forever change the political landscape.
"I am not trying to usurp anyone's kingdom. The only reason I came was so that Fiyero could not be forcibly married to Sarima. I have spent my entire life looking for someone to love me for being me, I wasn't about to lose him after everything we've been through!" Elphaba tried to control her anger but at this point she was at her wits end. Even in banishment and with proof of his habitual lying, the Wizard reached into her life and ruined it. She did not realize the strength of her words as the generals and even the King looked embarrassed.
"You must understand our hesitance," General Quor spoke up.
"It is a hesitance that everyone has shown me, right up until they realize that I am but a target for their cruelty," Elphaba did not mince words.
"Word of your powers has spread far and wide as did the words of Lady Glinda. We needed to see it and hear it with our own eyes and ears before allowing any movement of troops and civilians. Will you fight for us or will you use this moment of weakness against us?" General Niid asked.
"I stand with Fiyero," she told them.
"Then it is settled. We will go about our duties," General Thrin nodded. The generals left the room, the fourth never having opened his mouth. Elphaba was curious about his silence but she waved it off as the King nodded to the man who nodded back.
"Time to get some sleep. The dawn will come early and the Scrow with it," Fiyero said. It had been a very long stretch of days and now with battle approaching they needed to be ready.
"I must warn our friends outside of the impending danger. It is not their battle," Elphaba said, referring to the Griffin and the other Birds who had stayed.
"Very good. I'll check on Glinda and Khalil and see if they made any progress on the Gale Force front," Fiyero nodded. The two quickly split up, leaving the King and Queen alone in the throne room.
"I am sorry my love. It should have never come to this," Havel sighed.
"This I understand. What I don't understand is your behavior as of late. What in Oz were you thinking? Lady Glinda could have come here with the Gale Force and wiped all of us out for disobeying her direct order. Fiyero is ready to kill you for what you did to me, as am I; and let's not forget the way you reacted to Elphaba. You know what Lady Glinda explained. Where is your brain at?" Eliska demanded.
"If Fiyero was the traitor he had been made out to be did he not deserve punishment?" Her husband asked.
"If punishment is what you really wanted you would have sent those men to kill him, not made a big giant public mess out of it. Straighten your head out or find yourself a new place to sleep," Eliska said and with that she left the room.
To Be Continued…