A/N: Happy Holidays!
Chapter 19
A cry went up from the troops as they saw Glinda and Elphaba emerge from the castle inside the blonde's bubble. She took them to the parapet walls of the city and landed near the gate. Below them stood the King and the leader of the Scrow, General Sarek, animatedly talking. Glinda looked to Elphaba who gave her a slight nod. Glinda swallowed hard and then spoke out to the troops below.
"I am giving you a chance to go home now," she announced, all eyes immediately focused on the blonde, including those of the King and the Scrow leader.
"Do not start something that I will have the Gale Force finish," her tone was steady despite the fact that her legs were barely keeping her up.
"Do you speak for the King?" General Sarek asked.
"I speak for Oz and for the Emerald City. Make your choice. Peace or War," the blonde demanded. A murmur went through the Scrow. Fighting the Arjiki was one thing, fighting the Gale Force was something else entirely.
"We fight for Senator Marek and his family! We speak as we were wronged by the King!" Sarek argued.
"Sarima chose her path and she chose poorly. Should she not pay for her crime? The attempted assassination of the Crowned Prince of the Vinkus and his wife, the Crowned Princess, should be ignored?" Glinda looked down at him. She tried to be menacing as possible, despite her small frame.
"She only wanted what she was promised! Instead we get nothing but the Wicked Witch!" It seemed that Sarek was willing to fight this war no matter the cost.
"Hold your tongue if you know what is best for you," now Glinda was losing her patience. This was certainly not working as they had hoped.
"I will do no such thing!" Sarek shouted.
"Then be prepared to have it ripped out," the booming voice of none other than Eggbert, who rose up and over the walls as he flapped his wings, landing next to Elphaba.
"A Griffin!" Came a shout from the troops below. At that point, a quarter of the troops dropped their weapons and bowed before the mystical creature. Elphaba cocked an eyebrow in confusion and looked at her new friend.
"Soldiers, who have worshipped my ancestors, do as you are told. Leave this place and be spared my wrath," Eggbert declared.
"We will join you my lord! We will do as you command!" One of the bowers stood up and announced for the group.
"There will come a time when I will need your services. Today is not that day. Go home and be safe. Protect your families," Eggbert told them. The men stood, collected their belongings, and were about to turn around and head for home when one of Sarek's other men shot the man who had stood up first. He fell backwards as the bullet ripped into his chest. Eggbert left the safety of the walls and scooped the man up with is powerful talons. His claws were known for their medicinal uses and he quickly healed the dying man to the astonishment of the entire gathering by simply touching the wound. Elphaba looked to Glinda. They were both surprised at the show of power before the enemy that Eggbert was willing to part with.
"Go my friends and keep the faith while I dispatch the non-believers," Eggbert smiled. The men quickly saluted him and ran for the hills. During the night, he had flown home to his mate, Audrina, and told her of the situation. She would be watching from their secret home in the hills of the Vinkus and she would make sure to let those who stood down know that they were still needed.
"Now do as Lady Glinda says or I will show you all the meaning of pain," Eggbert said, after releasing the man he had just saved. Sarek lost his temper at this point and removed his pistol from his holster.
"Die you beast!" He shouted as he aimed for Eggbert's head and pulled the trigger.
"Eggbert!" Elphaba shouted as magic burst from her fingertips.
To Be Continued…