Chapter 26
"I hate to say it but do you think she gave us bad directions on purpose?" Elphaba asked as the noon hour approached. She had been riding her broom since they were out of horses. The Captain, Sergeant Stewart, Fiyero, and Queen Adalet were riding along on the horses that had once been attached to the carriage.
"There was a time when I would have said no but now…" Adalet heaved a sigh.
"I have scouted ahead. We are nearing the base of the mountain," Nat announced.
"Then we have to be close," Fiyero said.
"Agreed. I hope that we can reach the cabin soon. All this riding is doing nothing for my backside," Stewart spoke up. Asli chuckled for he understood the pain his subordinate was in.
"I smell something foul," Ashok scrunched his nose up.
"I know what you mean brother," Nat suddenly noticed it as well. Meanwhile the humans gave them both looks as they had yet to smell anything yet as a confirmation Adalet's horse snorted.
"What does it smell like?" Elphaba asked.
"Death," Ashok said.
"Then we're very close," Fiyero heaved a sigh. Elphaba could tell he was trying to keep it together for his mother but she wondered how much longer either of them could hold out before they were forced to acknowledge the truth.
"Let us scout ahead again Prince Fiyero. It would not be best for you or your mother to find him," Nat suggested.
"I appreciate the offer but we have to put him in the carriage. One way or the other we will have to see him however he is," Fiyero gave the Flying Monkey a slight smile. Nat nodded but scooted out in front of the group some more and Ashok joined him.
It didn't take long for both Monkeys to be overcome by the smell of rotting flesh and by now they had travelled far enough that the humans in the group could smell it too. Elphaba was trying to think of something positive to say but the best thing she could come up was the fact that they probably wouldn't have to dig King Haluk up, even better because none of them had a shovel. Inwardly she cringed. She should be more upset, after all he was Fiyero's father but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to be. Perhaps it was because the man had tried to kill her or maybe it was because the rumors were true. Very few people had actually entered her heart and broke down the walls that she'd carefully constructed over the years. Either way she wondered what it meant for her and just how broken she might be.
"Please Prince Fiyero, you do not need to see this," the words of Nat broke her concentration and introspection. The next thing she heard was retching. Elphaba turned her head to see the Queen losing the breakfast they had eaten hours ago. She put her broom down and went to see if she could help the woman.
"Fiyero, he's right. Remember your father as he was. The Sergeant and I have this. We'll take good care of him," Asli put a hand on his shoulder and Fiyero nodded before turning away. Elphaba looked up from where she was helping Adalet and instead of sadness or grief, he looked angry. She'd seen that look before.
"Yero…" she started.
"He's been dead for days. She killed him the minute he arrived from the Emerald City," he ground his teeth.
"Yero…" Elphaba cautioned.
"She will pay for this," Fiyero said.
To Be Continued…