Author's note: A quick turn around. It's one part of the suprise for heatqueen. The other she has to check her pm's for.

As always, reviews are welcome.

Jui Lin led them up to the safe room. It was simple and bare, containing just a bed and sheet for it. They unloaded their packs (Glinda dropping her enthusiastically) and thanked Jui Lin. She bowed and excused herself. After the door closed Duran turned to the two of them and held out two small packages wrapped in paper.

"What are these?" Elphaba asked suspiciously.

"Care packages." Duran replied cheerfully. They both slowly took them from him and unwrapped them. "Some things to make life a little easier. Soap: sandalwood for Miss Elphaba and lavender for Miss Glinda. Oil for your skin, Miss Elphaba, and rosewater for Miss Glinda. Small brushes and combs. Toothbrushes with paste. The like."

"What's this?" Glinda asked, holding up an oval rock the size of her palm. It was perfectly smooth and had an image of a woman with wings on it. Elphaba found a similar one in hers but with a dragon with spread wings.

"Sending stones. Nifty little things. Simply think of me and it will let me know to come to you."

"I've read of them before but never seen one." Glinda wondered. "That's old magic. How did you get them?"

"Part of the profession. They react to emotions including want or need. The stronger the emotion the stronger the pull."

"How many of these have you given out?" Elphaba asked.

"Total or current?"

"Total."

"Three."

"Not including these?"

"Including these. It's a type of binding spell; they are made specifically for their recipients. They will only work for you and will only call me. All you have to do now is attune them to yourselves."

"How do we do that?" Glinda asked.

"Simply think of wanting me present."

Glinda closed her eyes and thought of bringing Duran closer. The stone warmed and she heard him say, "Good, Miss Glinda. Miss Elphaba?"

"I'll wait."

"Your choice. Anyway, feel free to call me if you need me. I won't appear in puff of smoke and flames but I'll come as quickly as I can."

"How long could that take?"

"Anywhere from a couple of hours to a week. It's almost a literal pull, telling me where and how far you are. As I said before the strength of the pull is from the strength of the need, so it tells me how fast to go."

"What's the longest you travelled and how long did it take?" asked Elphaba.

"I was in the Vinkus near the impassable desert and I had to get to the Emerald City. It took me two and a half days."

"That's almost as fast as my broom!" exclaimed a shocked Elphaba.

"Not really. I'm just more consistent than you flying on your broom."

That is when Elphaba noticed something else in her package. She picked up what appeared to be a blank letter but as she touched it words began to appear. Miss Elphaba.

"What's this?"

"You'll be able to read that when you're ready." He replied with a smile.

"First sending stones, now this? Are you some kind of wizard?"

"No, more like a conjurer of cheap tricks. Anyway, I've got to go. Have some house calls to make." He flipped his cape over his shoulders and walked out. The silence they experienced after his departure was something they were getting used to.

"Crap." Elphaba suddenly said. "I forgot to ask how he planned to smuggle us out tonight."

Glinda looked down at the stone in her hand and willed Duran to come back. It warmed and she looked up at the door.

"Glinda, what's with the face?" Elphaba asked concernedly but jumped when Duran flew in through the door.

"Need something from me, sweetie?" he asked, amusement in his voice.

"Sorry." Glinda replied meekly. "It probably wasn't something I needed to call you for. It's just Elphaba forgot she wanted to ask how you were getting us out tonight and it was still in my hand."

Duran's smile grew wider. "It's alright. To answer Miss Elphaba's question, we will be sneaking you out as maunts. They owe me a favor, and tonight they have a group going out on a routine pilgrimage."

Elphaba made a face. Glinda smiled knowingly and said, "Yes, yes, I know. You're an atheist. Deal with it."

"I thought you said we were going to use a secret path?" Elphaba challenged.

"I did." Replied Duran calmly. "It is secret." He then winked at her.

"I don't believe that for a second."

"You really love killing my mystery, don't you? Fine. I was unsure if they were going to come through for me. We do have secret paths, but this is a much better option."

"Was that so hard?"

"Like pulling teeth. Now, if you don't need me, I have those calls to make. I'm going to have to hustle to get there which will kill my air of debonair, which probably pleases Miss Elphaba greatly." A swoosh of the cape and he was headed towards the door.

"Female?" Elphaba could not resist calling after him.

"Some!" he called back and pivoted towards them as he opened the door. "If the Wicked Witch of the West won't ravish the young maidens, someone has to!" Elphaba scowled and Glinda stuck out her tongue at him. His loud laughter echoed even after he left.

They lay down together on the small bed, cuddling close. Comfortable silence reigned until Glinda suddenly looked over at Elphaba and giggled. Elphaba raised an eyebrow at her.

"What was that all about?"

"I just got an image of the Wicked Witch you sweeping down on her broom to some poor young girl's bedroom balcony and ravaging her in the moonlight." She giggled again.

"You really imagined me doing that?'

"Not, not you. Wicked Witch you." Glinda wiggled in Elphaba's arm and reached her pack. She pulled out a small pad of paper and a pencil. She began a quick drawing.

"Where'd did that come from?"

"Duran had it in the pack." She answered distractedly. She was sticking her tongue out as she drew. Elphaba found it adorable. She glanced at the picture taking shape and realized it was really good.

"Where did you learn to draw?"

"Shush. You're distracting me." She admonished, then, "You know I always liked architecture. I began buildings but that got boring fast. After that, I drew still life and then moved to portraits. Now, I try and draw as realistically. As possible. Done!" Elphaba looked at it. It was her but in her ragged witch's clothes and cape. Her hair and eyes were wild and her hands like claws. There was something scribbled above it in Glinda's beautiful scrawl.

"I'll get you my pretty?" Elphaba said with disbelief, and Glinda giggled again.

"Yep. Then you cackle." She said, and when Elphaba just looked at her, she scrunched her nose. Elphaba obligingly cackled.

"Like that?"

"Yep. Just like that." And Elphaba shook her head.

Later that evening Elphaba and Glinda met a pair of maunts in the food hall downstairs. They watched as Jui Lin greeted them both, and then the maunts gave them each a package. It contained maunt robes and habit but also additional veils cover all but their eyes. Both women's face held a look of disdain at the clothes: Glinda because of the cut and color, and Elphaba because of what they symbolized.

"You will be one of fifteen maunts accompanying us tonight out of the Gillikin Gate. Our mission will be a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Gillikin country." The ancient looking maunt, Sister Superior, said. At Elphaba's face she continued, "We know of your dislike but we owe Brother Dervel much."

"Brother Dervel?" Elphaba asked incredulously. "He's a brother now?"

"Not officially no. But he attends service regularly enough to be well known to us."

"Confession?" Elphaba accused.

"No. Even if he did you know I would not tell you. He has no need to confess; his handiwork is evident every night."

There's was a pregnant silence, then Glinda asked, "Dervel? I'm not familiar with that saint."

"He's an early one. He helped cleanse the Lurlinists from Gillikin."

"A butcher saint. How appropriate." Elphaba spat.

"It is my wish, Sister Aelphaba," Sister Superior said slowly, "that you learn to give up your hate and disdain. It shall set you free." Elphaba scoffed at the chastisement and the invocation of her name's origin.

"Sisters Glinda and Aelphaba will follow us out. They will be shrouded and take a vow of silence. I feel it for the best." Sister Superior continued and Elphaba refused to rise to the bait.

"So no Dur- Brother Dervel then?" Glinda asked.

"No. He wishes you safe journey and says you know how to reach him."

"Let's get this over with." Elphaba stated dejectedly.