Chapter 8

Elphaba and Avantador had been plotting most of the rest of the day, trying to figure out a way to lure the sorcerer from his hiding spot but they weren't having much luck as their main concerns always managed to get back to the dragon. Should he be enchanted like Chistery was, no one would be able to stop him. Now dark approached and they were no further along than before.

"Miss Elphaba! Lady Glinda is here!" A very excitable corporal rushed out to the balcony which Elphaba and Chistery had been speaking to Avantador on. Fiyero, since he was acting King whilst his parents were missing, had been handling matters of state most of the time.

"Please bring her and Fiyero," Elphaba smiled. The corporal nodded and rushed off.

"If Lady Glinda has travelled here, word of my presence has definitely spread. Perhaps it is best, I return to the safety of my home," Avantador suggested.

"I fear I will need your help defeating this sorcerer. Besides it is probably too late to leave. Whoever it is that is casting spells could be on their way here. We can't take the chance of you leaving and then being enchanted on the way home," Elphaba told him.

"I can fly much higher than you think, Miss Elphaba," he said.

"If he or she is in fact beaming visions into my head, then height will have nothing to do with it," she pointed out. It was then that Glinda and Fiyero arrived on the balcony and there was a quick exchange of hugs.

"Glad to see things haven't caught fire in my absence," the blonde said.

"We're not out of the woods yet, I'm afraid, Lady Glinda," Avantador told her whilst bowing his head.

"I don't like the sounds of that," Glinda gave Elphaba a look.

"It's a long story Lin. Sorry we disrupted your honeymoon," the green woman said.

"Well I'm starving and I can't do much thinking on an empty stomach," the blonde replied.

"It is just as well that we break up this session. The dark will allow me to hide and we can reconvene in the morning," Avantador suggested.

"Good idea. Stay safe my friend," Elphaba smiled.

"You as well Miss Elphaba," he gave her a nod before lifting off and flying toward the distant mountains.

"You think he'll be able to hide the whole night?" Glinda asked.

"We figure whoever sent me here is heading this way. It would be his or her shot at taking down the last remaining heir to the Vinkun throne. Then either using Fiyero's parents as puppets or taking the throne for themselves, the sorcerer could lead the Vinkus into war with not only their surrounding neighbors but the Emerald City. Having vast magical powers is still no replacement for man power," Elphaba said as she guided Glinda back inside. Chistery was the last one in and he locked the door behind him. They then moved to a small dining room off of the main one and Fiyero went to see about getting some dinner. His stomach was rumbling and Elphaba couldn't help but chuckle.

Once they were all seated and Fiyero promised dinner would be along shortly, Elphaba continued to explain their theory. With the King and Queen out of the way, Fiyero would be forced to take over command of the Vinkus until they returned. The green woman left out the part where they could be dead but she figured that Fiyero was probably trying to keep that thought from his mind. Should something happen to Fiyero, the country would be left with no leader and the traditional selection of a King would begin. However, it was not uncommon to have the one who defeated the ruling party, just take control of the country, especially if the winner could prove Vinkun heritage.

"So what's the play then? Dangle Fiyero out in the open and hope this crazy person tries something?" Glinda asked.

"I would really rather not dangle," Fiyero pointed out.

"I figure we won't have to dangle anyone. He or she will probably make themselves known in fairly short order. The dragon did not destroy the castle so he will be viewed as an ally of the Vinkun people but regrettably a signal to our crazy person, as you put it, that they have to do their own dirty work," Elphaba clarified.

"Ah I see. Well then might I suggest a backup plan?" Glinda wondered.

"What kind of plan?" Chistery spoke up. The Flying Monkey had been worrying about his brother monkeys and had mostly just been listening.

"Fight a war on two fronts. Our guy or gal doesn't know that Fiyero isn't the only one with the capability to lead the Vinkun people. Thought you could hide that gorgeous ring from me, didn't you?" The blonde looked right at her best friend. Elphaba looked down at her finger, having practically forgotten the ring was there. She never took it off.

"An excellent idea!" Fiyero smiled.

"Yero! You know how much I love you but we both promised we would wait until things had calmed down first. Oz is still trying to deal with me, a married me to a married you would be another thing they'd have to get used to. Besides what about your parents?" She pointed out.

"I know what we discussed but this could be a way to ensure that whoever this person is, they don't gain control of the Vinkus. Not only that, if we are married, then Avantador would be forced to come to the aid of the Vinkus, and that should override any enchantments," Fiyero smiled.

"I thought it was an honor bound thing," Elphaba was confused.

"Not exactly. That's what I've been handling all day," the Prince told her. She gave him a confused look.

"It's more like a blood oath," he explained.

"Blood?" Glinda frowned.

"Yeah, that's why I didn't bring it up earlier," Fiyero said as dinner was beginning to be served.

"What kind of blood oath?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

To Be Continued…