Chapter 2
King Oz's party approached the gates of the palace. The green carriages stood out against the yellowish ground that stretched out from underneath them. Winkie guards in gold-painted armor opened the large iron gates that led to the courtyard in front of the palace. In the center of the courtyard stood a tall golden statue of Athaine holding a book in one hand and held the sun in her other hand. The carriages circled the statue and stopped when they were in front of the large front doors.
The Ozian Royal Family was led to the main parlor where King Eadsule welcomed his guests. King Oz was not alone; he brought his wife, Queen Mirna, and their teenaged son, Prince Pastoria. Unlike his father, Pastoria was completely ordinary and did not have magical abilities. He also would not inherit the Ozian throne, but he would act as a Regent when Oz died and reincarnated into the next form. They ruled a small kingdom in the middle of the nation, but King Oz also acted as a spiritual leader for the entirety of Oz. If there were ever an issue that couldn't be solved by a province's monarch, King Oz would be contacted.
The family shuffled into the parlor, followed by their personal bodyguards and stood face to face with the Winkie Royal Family.
The royal advisor, a middle-aged Quadling woman, stepped forward to formally introduce the family, despite the fact both families had interacted for years. "Presenting, His Royal Highness, King Oz V, Son of the Fairy Queen Lurline Our Glorious Creator, along with his wife, Queen Mirna of Gillikin, and his son, Prince Pastoria."
All of them respectfully bowed to their Winkie cousins and exchanged smiles. King Oz was positively ancient to Azar, with a long white beard and a thin frame burdened by heavy green robes. Queen Mirna was beautiful, even in old age. Her hair was still blonde, not white, and her eyes still sparkled with youth.
Prince Pastoria was tall and sturdy, looking especially dashing in his green robes. He had handsome green eyes and brown hair that was parted so nothing on his face was covered. He was only 30 and he wasn't actually King Oz's son as he and Queen Mirna were unlucky when it came to bearing children. Pastoria was an abandoned orphan living in the meadows near the Emerald Palace and when King Oz discovered him, he took a liking to him. Ever since, he was the son that King Oz never had.
Azar reckoned that if Pastoria didn't find a wife soon, he would be married off to her sister, Shula, who was not in the line of succession for the Winkie throne. Azar thought there was no use in pursuing Pastoria because she would lose a significant amount of power being only a Regent's wife. She preferred the nearly total control of Winkie Country as a Queen as opposed to a consort.
The Winkie royal advisor, who was slightly younger than King Oz's, stepped forward to announce her monarch. "Presenting King Eadsule of Winkie Country, accompanied by his daughters, Princess Azar and Princess Shula."
They all bowed in a similar fashion and then stepped forward to shake hands and curtsy. Shula was a model of respect and smiled at each member of the Royal Family, while Azar was very rigid in her movements. She forced a smile and even complimented them each on their beautiful garments. When Azar tried she could be charming, unfortunately she rarely chose to do so if there was nothing in it for her. Pastoria smiled at her, opting to shake her hand as well as kiss it.
"I intend to treat you as I would treat your father," he explained. "For I know you will be as great a leader as he is. Kissing your hand alone seems to be too casual for a fellow leader."
Azar smirked. "Don't be afraid to treat me as a woman, my Prince. Understand that a woman can also be a great leader of a country. Surely our King's past incarnates proved that."
"I of course meant no disrespect, Princess," Pastoria replied, realizing how his statement came off. "I apologize if I offended you."
"You're forgiven," Azar pardoned, smiling in a teasing fashion before stepping back.
"My old friend," Eadsule said, addressing King Oz. "I look forward to discussing a plan to help our cousins to the North. It's terrible how that wicked witch is treating your wife's family and people."
"It is indeed, King Eadsule," Oz replied. "We shall leave that discussion for later tonight though, after dinner. My family and I are starving and we look forward to tasting whatever your cooks have prepared for us."
"Dinner will be ready soon, but we will allow to change out of your travelling clothes before sitting down," Shula said, taking on the role of hostess. Azar often passed up the opportunity feeling that it was beneath her.
Both families were dismissed from the parlor and went into separate areas. In an hour's time they rejoined in the dining room for dinner. King Oz and his family changed into pristine white robes while Eadsule, Azar, and Shula remained in the same clothes they wore when they greeted their guests. They all sat down and salads were brought out for them.
At first, dinner was pleasant conversation between the two kings who discussed minor problems facing their kingdoms, while the Queen chose to engage Azar and Shula in conversation. By the time appetizers were brought out, the discussion focused on the two Winkie Princesses.
"My dear Princess Azar," King Oz said, looking in her direction. "Every time I see you, you look more like your mother, Lurline bless her soul. I assume that you've also inherited her brain. She was a very wise woman."
"I would like to think so, Your Highness," Azar replied, gracefully eating the food placed before her. "Recently I've found myself reading up on Oz's history and the many theories surrounding its establishment."
"I've always found the history fascinating," Queen Mirna said. "I don't think the cultures around us have an interesting creation story like we do. They all just settled down over time. We had the Fairy Queen Lurline place us here for specific reasons."
"I personally believe one origin theory in particular," Azar replied. "The one in which Lurline was escaping persecution of another world and created Oz as a safe haven for her people. I think it adds to her humanity that she didn't always have a perfect life."
"I would agree with you, Princess Azar," said King Oz, smiling. "Your daughter must make you very proud, King Eadsule."
"She does make me proud, Your Highness," King Eadsule responded, looking over at Azar and nodding. She did not make eye contact and continued to eat.
"We must not forget though that Lurline was not human," Shula spoke up. "She was a full blooded fairy. As you know very well Your Highness, that is a rarity in modern times."
"You're correct Shula," King Oz replied. "Lurline left the original Ozma behind to rule in her place and created the Ozma Line in order to keep Oz protected from any danger."
"What happens when danger is present from those within the Ozma Line?" Azar asked boldly.
"What kind of talk is that, Azar?" Eadsule said harshly. Discomfort quickly took over the atmosphere.
"Azar is the kind of woman that likes to ask questions, King Eadsule," Pastoria said. "Exactly how a ruler should be. She won't let anyone try to sneak something past her."
Azar smiled and raised an eyebrow as she lifted a glass to her lips to drink. Pastoria made up for his previous comments about treating her as a ruler and not just a woman. Discomfort dissolved and the dinner went on, the conversation becoming more casual once again. Soon everyone finished and parted ways for the evening, Queen Mirna retiring to her guest chambers and the men leaving to discuss business in the library.
Shula was ready to go with Azar back towards their chambers, but Azar had different plans. As the men left the dining room, Azar followed behind them far enough so that they wouldn't see her. Her younger sister followed behind her as well, afraid that they would get in trouble if their father found out they were eavesdropping on government business.
"We shouldn't be doing this, Azar!" she whispered.
"Hush, sister, we're the future of Winkie Country and surely we'll find out this information down the line anyway. Why not get it right from the source?" Shula sighed and continued to follow her sister.
They crept down the hallways that led into the library. Shula cast an enchantment that would make them invisible and they both walked into the library right behind the men. Pastoria and King Oz took seats on a couch near the fireplace, where a fire had already been burning. Eadsule opted to sit on the couch across from they and offered them tea. Shula and Azar decided to play it safe and hid behind curtains so that if the enchantment wore off, they wouldn't be seen right away.
"It's an honor to have you in my home, Your Highness," Eadsule said. "I hope that myself and my family have made a good impression on you."
"You always do, King Eadsule," Oz replied. He took a sip of his tea. "Let's get right to the point of my visit though. As you know very well, the North has been seized by an enemy of the nation."
Eadsule nodded somberly. "Yes, I do know. How did it even happen?"
King Oz gestured to Pastoria, who appeared to know the whole story. "We received a letter from the Gillikin princess, Locasta. In the letter it stated that a witch named Mombi took her parents, Queen Gayelette and King Quelala, captive. Apparently there was a battle in the palace and Mombi has placed them some kind of chamber that prevents the use of magic. Queen Gayelette is a powerful sorceress, we don't know how this Mombi was able to capture her."
"It's simple, this Mombi has knowledge of dark magic, which most of Oz is unfamiliar with. She must descend from people who were infected with wicked thoughts during King Oz III's reign," Oz explained. "Mombi isn't working alone. Her main goal during the invasion was to steal the Golden Cap that controls the Winged Monkeys so that she could use them for her own desires. She is a master of disguise and waited months before striking the Royal Family. When she finally had the Golden Cap, the Winged Monkeys helped capture the King and Queen."
"The Princess managed to escape before they found her," Pastoria continued. "She told us her location, which we are sharing with no one. Her letter has since been burned so no one can track her down."
Azar and Shula listened intently. Shula was horrified that someone was capable of doing such a thing in Oz, while Azar was intrigued at the existence of the Golden Cap. The invisibility enchantment began to wear off since Shula's powers weren't as strong as her sister's. They stayed where they were and continued to listen to the three men.
"So what do you propose we do, Your Highness?" asked Eadsule.
King Oz sighed before standing up to face the fire. "Oz is in great danger, Eadsule. If there are other wicked people out there who know that our monarchs can be overthrown, none of us are safe. We could have people in our own estates plotting to get rid of us. King Quelala and Queen Gayelette may not have much time left. Mombi can starve them and abuse them until they're dead and she's the unquestioned ruler of Gillikin Country. I think it's time we've made some changes."
"What kind of changes?" Eadsule asked.
"This is where you must make a sacrifice for Oz, Eadsule," Oz replied. "We must remove Mombi from power, we can send men and women from the rest of Oz to the Palace to invade. I will lead them and fight this Mombi myself and free the King and Queen. Once that is done, I want Oz to unify into one kingdom under one main ruler."
Azar's eyes flashed with anger behind the curtain and it took all her will power not to reveal herself. Eadsule sat in his place, confused about what the King was asking of him.
"But is that not already our system?" asked Eadsule. "You are the King of Oz."
"Oz at this point is a small kingdom at the center of the continent," Oz said. "We are a weak nation when we have five separate kingdoms on one large landmass. Lurline would be displeased over the lack of communication we have with one another. If we band together then we can be strong and we wouldn't let this rebellions occur within our borders."
Pastoria stepped in again. "Oz has no sense of unity. The Munchkins don't care about the Gillikins, the Gillikins don't care about the Quadlings, and so on. We are a broken nation and we need to unify to make us stronger."
Eadsule was silent for a moment and then looked over at King Oz. "What will happen to the Clans?"
"They will stay in their positions of power, but as governors," Oz explained. "They will serve me as minor rulers, but they will ultimately have to answer to me. We will have one legal system so that way each province can be held up to the same standards."
"It's never been this way before, Your Highness," said Eadsule. "You can't expect us to tolerate such a drastic change."
"Eadsule you don't understand. I do expect everyone to go along with it," King Oz turned to face Pastoria and Eadsule. The more he spoke the more Azar's blood boiled. "You're familiar with what the Fairy Queen Lurline told the original Ozma, correct? That she and her future forms had power over the Clans and that she could give them that power or she could take it away." Eadsule fell silent again, afraid to speak up against the King. "I suggest you think about what I've said before making any decisions."
Eadsule nodded slowly. "I will give you an answer before you leave tomorrow afternoon."
King Oz smiled and nodded before exiting the library with Pastoria not far behind him. Eadsule got up from the couch and stood in front of the fireplace. He let out a soft sigh and created a small gust of wind that moved the curtains aside. "I knew you two were hiding behind there."
The sisters stepped forward to face their father. He looked at them both with a heavy heart. "So you heard what the King said to me."
"It doesn't seem fair, that he just expects us to give up our power," Shula said. "What will become of us, father?"
"According to the King, our lives will not change," Eadsule explained. "We will still represent the Winkies and we will act as their leaders, but ultimately we will no longer answering to only ourselves anymore. Shula, you are sixteen and it might not seem fair, but if we want to maintain our way of life we will do what the King says. He feels that this will protect our people and they must come first."
"So the King feels that becoming one big happy family will solve our problems?" Azar asked. "I don't think the Winkies need to really care about the other provinces. We're thriving and can stand up against any force that tries to stop us. The Gillikins are weak and that's why their government fell. Maybe that's for the best."
"Azar! They are our neighbors and I don't recall teaching you or your sister that we're better than anyone else," Eadsule yelled. "I'm hesitant because it's a new system, but King Oz is much more intelligent than you or I. Don't forget how long he's been around."
"How do we even know he has access to all the intelligence of the previous members of the Ozma Line?" Azar replied. "That's just an old wives' tale that's been passed down for generations. If you ask me, the King is nothing more than an old man who's off his rocker."
"And I suppose you could do a better job at running a nation, Azar? You may be the future Queen of the Winkies, but you have a lot to learn still," Shula said, becoming angry at her sister's insubordination. "We have to serve Oz first and foremost, not our own petty obsessions with power."
"Well, I won't be Queen of the Winkies anymore will I? Just a powerless governor who has to answer to a higher authority even though I know what's best for my people."
"I won't discuss this any more with you, Azar!" King Eadsule said, causing the flames in the fireplace to roar fiercely. All became quiet. "Tomorrow I will tell the King that I'm signing the Proclamation. You both will support this decision and be ready to do whatever the King asks of us. He has been good to us and we should give him the same treatment. Now off to bed with both of you."
Shula quickly left the library, while Azar stayed behind. Her eyebrows furrowed at her father. "I don't consider being threatened as good treatment, father." She mockingly curtseyed before turning to leave.
As she left, she called out to her father. "Mark my words, King Eadsule, Winkie Country's future will not be in any one's hands but my own." Under her breath she also muttered, "And nothing is going to stop me."