A/N: Sorry this is so late - work has been crazy. Heads up for this chapter - some heavy topics coming up.
A/N2: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong. Glad you liked it last chapter.
Chapter 30
Fiyero cursed their bad luck. They had initiated the raid on a location that Fazil had figured Foster would be at. He hoped that the others had had better luck as dawn was upon them. The sun was slowly making itself known on the horizon.
"You might be right. He's turned tail and taken off," Fazil shook his head as he surveyed the large room which was split into a kitchen and a living room. They stood in the now empty safehouse which was near one of the beer halls where Foster would give his speeches. The five other men, who had come with them, secured the premises.
"You've done your duty. You will get what Bayram promised you. Oz appreciates all that you have accomplished," Fiyero told him.
"Then why do I feel so crappy?" The former soldier wanted to know.
"The job is not complete. Not be any of your faults. We weren't fast enough," Fiyero shook his head.
"Let us hope that Miss Elphaba has more luck," Fazil nodded.
"Oh, I can guarantee she did, but maybe we still have some luck in the other groups' raids," the Prince smiled slightly.
"If I may – what made you believe her? When the rest of Oz was ready to end her very existence, you, the Prince of the Arjiki and all of the Vinkus, believed her," Fazil said as they headed back toward the building's front door.
"I knew her. I knew what was being spread about her could not be true. I also knew those who were spreading those stories and knew they would do whatever they could, no matter how dangerous, to hold onto their power. The wise ones did not lie when they said, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'," Fiyero explained.
"That was enough?" Fazil asked.
"It had to be. If there was any way to save her, I had to try. Not only for me, but for all of Oz. While most could not see past her skin or her supposed actions, they had no idea what good she could do," the Prince told him. Fazil nodded before saying,
"You loved her."
"More than I realized," Fiyero nodded as they exited the front door. Corporal Norris came running up to them.
"What's up Norris?" The Captain asked.
"Sergeant Schultz sent a message via Monkey," Norris told him before handing off the piece of paper. Chistery had gone with Sergeant Zeki, so a non-speaking Monkey had gone with the younger Sergeant. They communicated with hand signals, so it wasn't as efficient as talking but it worked just fine.
"Have some of Foster's buddies. They spilled their guts immediately. Foster had Farhidi's family – wife and two kids," Fiyero frowned.
"Had?" Fazil raised an eyebrow. Fiyero continued the note,
"Suspect things have gone south given the tone of the prisoners story."
"Damn," Fazil slammed his fist into the building wall, immediately regretting it.
"What did he do with three bodies? Surely someone would have reported seeing something," Corporal Norris spoke up.
"Until we find them, they are alive," Fiyero told them. Norris gave Fazil a look. The likelihood seemed small but neither would tell their Captain otherwise.
"Captain," Fiyero looked up and the two men next to him did the same.
"Chistery," the Prince said to the Flying Monkey as he landed.
"We're too late," Chistery lowered his head.
To Be Continued…