A/N: Shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Yes Elphaba and Fiyero's break is more than likely going to be cut short. More on that later though. ;) Glad you liked it.
Chapter 4
Glinda was running to the Council Meeting with Mopsi and Popsi in tow. They were a little behind, but it wasn't like they were going to start the meeting without her, she was ruler of Oz after all. The three entered the room to find that they were short a Councilman.
"Sorry we're late," Glinda apologized.
"Not to worry. We were actually surprised that Councilman Chalumpo wasn't here yet either," Barat smiled at his fellow compatriot.
"I would say so. He's usually here before anyone," Mopsi spoke up.
"While we're on surprises, I thought you two would be still in Munchkinland," Arif said.
"Miss Elphaba offered us an opportunity to be useful in the Emerald City and we were glad to accept it," Popsi smiled.
"Well, you are certainly welcome here. You have done much for Oz," Fekri gave them a smile. That's when the door to the room opened and in came Chalumpo.
"Everything alright?" Glinda asked him.
"Please forgive me. I received an urgent message from home and had to reply quickly," the youngest Councilmember said.
"What's going on?" Barat wanted to know.
"Heart-of-Mushroom, Supreme Glaxony of Quadling Country, wishes to make it known that he would be honored to attend Lady Glinda's wedding. I can't ignore his message when it comes," Chalumpo explained.
"We will be very glad to welcome him. I appreciate you handling the response to my invite," Glinda smiled at him.
"Well now that we have that settled, the business at hand must be dealt with," Fekri said.
"Of course," the blonde nodded, which opened the floor for Councilman Arif.
"The Munchkins are unhappy that Jinjuria lives. They want him gone and while our legal system could have imposed the death penalty it did not choose to do so," the Munchkin said.
"If we were to impose that, then we would have made him a martyr. I want no part in that. I know that the majority of Oz has turned a corner, but we know that there are those who still don't like the laws that we are about to enact and would follow Jinjuria if he were free today," Glinda pointed out.
"True enough. The Animal Rights laws cannot wait anymore. Still perhaps there is a way we can be rid of him without making him a martyr?" Fekri wondered.
"Banishing him won't help," Mopsi raised an eyebrow. The others looked at him, wondering just what he meant.
"We do not wish to undermine the justice system. However, should he pass away in his sleep…" there it was.
"You're talking about murder," Barat pointed out.
"He caused the suffering of an entire country under Glinda's rule. He tried to drag others into a war. In the Vinkus, we do not view those as survivable offenses. If the Wizard did not survive his crimes, then why did Jinjuria?" It was time for Fekri to give the group a look.
"Regrettably, you have a point," Barat nodded.
"The Wizard's crimes were multiplied given he enforced them all over the entirety of Oz, but I can see your point," Glinda frowned. Still, she wasn't sure that the Councilman's suggestion was something they should be entertaining.
"What we need to do is install government in Munchkinland that will not be so weak or so stupid. Once they can see the improvements being made and how much better life is with that new government, the cries of those who followed the former leader will fall on deaf ears," Mopsi redirected the conversation.
"Perhaps but I think we know that some are more fanatical than others. Wizard followers were silenced when the truth came out whereas Jinjuria's have not. Grant you, they do not have great numbers but only one is needed to ignite a flame," Fekri said.
"Here's what we'll do. Get the new Animal Rights laws enacted and posted for all to see. Then I want to meet with all Munchkins who lead their towns and villages. We need to come to a consensus about a new government. Show them that we intend for them to lead themselves again, while still following my rule," Glinda told them.
"Very good Lady Glinda," Arif nodded as the blonde stood.
"Mopsi, Popsi, please help the Council. I have a few other things to attend to and they'll need your assistance more. Good day gentlemen," Glinda said before heading out of the room. She was met in the hallway by Lieutenant Zetti.
"Problems?" She raised an eyebrow, a little surprised to see him.
"The prisoner is causing issues. I know that we said that we weren't using Southstairs anymore and that the new prison is being built aboveground but…" Zetti paused.
"What is going on?" Glinda wanted to know.
"Well, he's decided to go on a hunger strike and keeps knocking over his chamber pot. My men don't get paid enough to be cleaning him up or the cell for that matter," the Lieutenant said.
"He wants attention. Tell him the next time his chamber pot gets knocked over or he manages to anger his guards that he will be met with a whipping. If he's smart enough, that will take it out of him," the blonde shook her head and headed back to her office, suddenly wondering if Fekri had a point.
To Be Continued…