"Is something on your mind, Miss Elphaba?" Sarima asked. Elphaba glanced over to her. They were in the middle of a magical lesson in the west tower. Sarima was sitting while Elphaba stood near her podium, staring at a book (with her glasses on).

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I asked you how to pronounce this part of the incantation twice and you did not respond."

"Oh." Elphaba looked ashamed. "I'm sorry. I guess my mind was elsewhere."

"Worrying after Miss Glinda?" Sarima asked. Elphaba nodded.

"Yes. She did send me a message she arrived safely, but nothing after that. I sent a message last week to check on her, but got no response."

"Perhaps she is busy?"

"Most likely. Knowing Glinda, she is courting the powerful out there to build support."

"Do you worry it is something else?"

"No." Elphaba shook her head. "Wynne was with her, and a small contingent of Duran's retainers. I'm sure she is perfectly safe."

"So…"

"So I still worry." Elphaba sighed and took off her glasses. Leaning against her podium, she crossed her arms. "But I can't exactly pop over there by broom. She would not appreciate that."

"Do you wish Miss Pfannee to check in on her? That might be more discreet." Sarima offered. Elphaba's eyes narrowed.

"How do you know of Pfannee? And more so, how do you know of their connection?"

The Vinkun woman swallowed.

"Miss Glinda did not tell you?"

"She said she was teaching you sorcery. Nothing else."

"Oh."

Silence.

Then,

"Are you one of Glinda's Adepts?" Elphaba asked slowly. Sarima nodded.

"Well, not so much that she calls us that but that we do. Glinda always calls us Ladies. But the function is somewhat similar, if less underhanded."

"Why am I not surprised?" hissed Elphaba. Sarima flushed.

"You act as if you disapprove; why?"

"Why do I disapprove of Glinda using people?" Elphaba growled. "Is that what you are asking?"

"Yes it is." Sarima retorted curtly. "It's not as if you don't."

"I-that's not true!"

"Miss Elphaba, save your protestations. Our surroundings are enough to put lie to them."

"I'm not using any of them. They are here of their own free will."

"As are we." Sarima replied. "We act as retainers to her, yes, but she has given all of us stipends and training with little asked in return. If my people had not called me home, I would have gone to Shiz to study sorcery with the rest of the Ladies. Instead Glinda understood my duty was there. And she even sent me some material to help my studies."

"It smells too much of Morrible." Elphaba rebutted. Sarima let out an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, but the world hasn't exactly been kind to either of you two when you have tried to ignore it. Better to arm oneself." Sarima paused. "And we did choose for ourselves."

Elphaba growled but said nothing. The pair stood in silence. Finally, Elphaba looked away.

"How...discrete can Pfannee be?" Elphaba asked quietly. Sarima smiled.

"Unfortunately, Glinda will know you are checking on her in any manner. If I didn't tell Pfannee so, she would guess. If Pfannee didn't tell her, Glinda would guess. Best to be upfront about it."

"But I don't want her to know I am checking up on her." Elphaba huffed. "She dislikes when I don't think she can take care of herself."

"Which is why you should be upfront." Sarima replied. The younger woman marveled at giving advice to someone of such renown. It was refreshing to see someone like Elphaba was just like her. "You can check up on someone to show you care without dismissing their own competence. Simply have me write to Pfannee that you have not heard back, and just want to double check everything was alright and if there was anything she needed from Kiamo Ko. She did leave quite a few belongings here."

"And that will make her think I'm not trivializing her?"

"Miss Glinda will know you are making the effort not to do so, and approve of that effort."

"Ugh." Elphaba replied. She sat down and dropped her head to the table. "It's so much easier flying around throwing fireballs."

"Of that I am sure. Shall I send the message?"

"Yes, please. And thank you."

"You are very welcome."

"Oh!" cried Shenshen from where she was cuddled against Pfannee in bed. The duo was in Pfannee's teaching flat in Shiz. "A letter for you, blondie bear. On the nightstand."

"Thank you, Shenny." Pfannee replied. The woman gave her lover a kiss on the head. Reaching over, she grabbed the magically mailed letter and opened it. Scanning it, she chuckled before waving her hand to make it burst into a thousand pieces of light and fade away.

"What's so funny?" Shenshen asked.

"Elphaba asked Sarima to ask me to check on Glinda."

"Sarima?" Shenshen's brow furrowed.

"The Vinkun Adept." Pfannee explained.

"Oh! But what is she doing with Elphaba?"

"She traveled to Kiamo Ko when Glinda summoned her."

"And Glinda's not there now?"

"No. She's in Frottica with her parents."

"I see." Shenshen paused. "Does that mean our visit is over?"

"It does. I'll drop you off in Wittica on my way to Frottica. I'll have to make it quick to be back in time to teach class."

"Well, okay." Shenshen replied. "I suppose seeing Maxientius a little early won't be the worst thing."

"That's a good thought."

Glinda looked up at the rented villa. It was small, but it was close to the town of Frottica. With her meeting with the barons coming up later in the week, Glinda needed to be close by to make sure arrangements went well. Besides, travelling several hours to Frottica the day of would not put her in good form. Especially as she was pregnant. Glinda always wanted to be in her best form.

Over the last couple of weeks she had made time to visit all the small landowners and country barons around her home. She had gotten reacquainted with neighbors and familial relations. There had been many questions on her pregnancy (being far enough along it could not be hidden) but Glinda deftly stated she wanted to keep her private life private. With the insinuation of being her partner was dangerous, most understood.

As she watched the Dogs spread out through the villa, meeting with the others already there, Glinda noted there was another benefit from being here. The local captains of the Dogs of War had been able to congregate without arousing too much suspicion. Most came with a small retinue of their own, so it would not have done to have several dozen armed men and women showing up to a flat in Frottica. Besides those from her flat in the Emerald City, most seemed to know each other.

"Wynnessa," Glinda said to the woman at her side, "please let the captains know I will meet with them in an hour."

"Yes, Lady Glinda."

With that, the redhead took off. Another one of the Dogs approached to show Glinda to her room. She thanked him as she was starting to fatigue already. Luckily for her, the room she was led to was on the first floor. It did have a small portico attached so she could look out over the rear of the villa. Being located on a gentle slope, the yard slowly fell away from the house. The back was encircled with a large stone wall with the gardens in the middle. In the center of those gardens was an open courtyard. Glinda thought it perfectly suitable for a small country baron's estate. It most likely was before it got bought out by the larger one who she rented it from. Sighing, Glinda went back inside to freshen up. She did need to look her best to meet her new retainers.

Three men and two women stood before Glinda. From where she was sitting, they were not at all what she had expected, but that was probably the point. Standing at her side, Wynne drank in their forms hungrily.

One was her current Staff Captain Ronce. Square of jaw and bearing, the man was dependability personified. Though he lacked some grace, Glinda had begun to feel safe and relaxed in his presence. Another was Andre de Phillipe; still presenting as a cavalier, but in an even more gaudy outfit of orange and red. It made Glinda mildly ill to look at him. By the man's smile, she guessed that was the intent. The final man was sharply dressed as any noble could hope, except the fabric of his cut was slightly too low of quality. Glinda honed in on him first.

"I am not familiar with you, sir." Glinda started. "May I ask your name?"

"My name is Emmanuel Caron, My Lady." he said and bowed at the waist.

"And what do you do besides being a Captain of the Household?"

"I am a tailor, My Lady."

"And what is your expertise, Sir Caron?"

"Besides tailoring?"

"Quite."

"I gather information."

"A spymaster."

"Nothing so dramatic. I merely have ears in the right places."

"I see." Glinda turned to the woman standing next to him. "And you, Miss?"

The woman was in a dark long sleeved dress from head to toe with black buttons running up to a high collar. Her sandy blonde hair with streaks of grey was wound in a tight bun and her hands folded over a stout black walking stick.

"Alicia Balincort. I work as an actuary for both those outside the Household and inside. I am also in charge of the local House children's schooling."

"You're a headmistress?" Glinda blinked. Alicia nodded.

"Yes. For the younger children I oversee their education. For the older children I oversee their placement and apprenticeship in their future trades."

"And you Miss?" Glinda asked the other woman. She was tall, nearly half a foot more than Glinda, and had a broad frame under her cream work dress. With her tan skin and light brown hair, Glinda guessed she was of rural Gillikin stock. Her next words confirmed it.

"Emelia O'Fallon, My Lady." she replied in the rough accent of the upcountry. "To everyone else, I oversee some of the estates in Gillikin. Inside the Household, I teach the future sellswords their business. Been teaching that one there a thing or two, mostly through knocking her on her ass."

"Hey!" Wynne replied. "That's not true at all."

"Don't be so easily goaded, Wynnessa." Glinda chided. The younger woman seethed for a moment as Emelia smiled.

"The Lady knows right of it. Easily goaded is easily led."

"I see you brought significant numbers of your retinue with you." Glinda continued.

"The House does not get a chance to often meet." Alicia explained. "Often twice a decade, maybe only once. Given the situation, it was decided that we should gather as many as we could."

"Will the villa accommodate that many, Andre?" Glinda asked. The man nodded.

"Yes. The main house will be able to fit all of the...more senior members comfortably, and the servant's quarters around the outside perimeter shall work for the younger ones."

"I'm not so old I can't bend you over and spank you like the bratty child you are, Andre." Emelia interjected.

"Be careful Emelia; I may be more than you can handle." Andre replied with a smirk.

"Shall we place you two far away from each other," Glinda drawled, leaning to one side of her chair and placing fingers to her lips, "or in the same room?"

The two gaped at Glinda. Emmanuel and Wynne's giggle did not help the situation.

"What?" Emelia managed to choke out.

"Please. I've seen that smirk before on a man." Glinda replied motioning to Andre,, "And you aren't hiding those bedroom eyes at all. You're trying to tell me that you two haven't bedded each other?"

"Often." Emmanuel interjected before the other two could, "but they are so stubborn they can't stay together. Hasn't stopped them from having four kids."

"I think we have gotten slightly off topic." Ronce cut in. "We are here to give Our Lady our allegiance."

Ronce went to a knee. Shortly after so did the other four. Each bowed their head.

"I, Konrad Ronce-"

"Andre de Philippe."

"Emmanuel Caron."

"Alicia Balincort."

"Emilia O'Fallon."

"-of the House of Duran, do solemnly swear my life to you, Glinda Arduenna Upland, until death."

Glinda rose from her seat. As she did, her dress bloomed into one of the finest styles in purple. In her right hand, her white oak staff topped with the glowing crystal grew from her wand. Finally, her head sported the finest curls and a clear cut diadem. The five on their knees breath was stolen and even Wynne, who had seen Glinda do magic before, was in awe.

"I, Glinda Arduenna Upland, accept your oath, and swear one of my own: I shall never beget you as long as you do not turn from me."

Glinda held the silence. None of her new retainers spoke. Finally, she did.

"Rise. I wish to meet the rest of the Household."

"These accommodations requests are ridiculous." Fiyero grumbled. "This chieftain wants a three bedroom house. He lives in a tent smaller than this room!"

"Yes, but everyone must keep up with appearances, Chieftain." Sarima replied. Looking over the sheets in her hand, she continued. "However, not fully acquiescing to his request will also help remind him of his station."

"You have a place in mind?"

"The widow Laestra's guest room." Sarima replied, handing over the sheet. Fiyero scanned it over. "She could be compensated for it, which she needs the funds, and would carry enough respect that the chieftain would not step out of line."

"I wouldn't have to worry about an incident with someone's daughter." Fiyero nodded. "You have a knack for this. Better than my own majordomo."

"Thage Kar is a popular destination during the spring and fall for our traveling kin." Sarima answered. "I was in charge of finding housing for them. Red Windmill is out of the way enough I don't suspect you get many visitors."

"That is true." Fiyero nodded. Looking down at his list, he continued. "That looks like that is it for today. Did you want to get a head start on tomorrow?"

"No, I have lessons with Elphaba." Sarima replied. A look flashed over Fiyero's face before he could stop it.

"Ah yes. I forgot. How do the lessons go?"

"Well. Thank you for arranging them, Chieftain."

"Please, just call me Fiyero." he replied. "And no need to thank me. I just gave her a gentle push. Elphaba can be...very focused on things and not see what is going on around her, but she has always been for helping people, particularly other disadvantaged people, grow."

"She has been a great teacher, if a bit...distant at times." Sarima ventured. Fiyero nodded.

"Yes, she has been distant lately." he paused. "Most likely due to everything that has happened.

"Yes. I can see how it would be wearing on someone." Sarima offered. Fiyero gave her a look.

"Are you trying to imply something, Shaman of Thage Kar?" he asked. The formality caught Sarima off guard.

"No, Chieftain. Just thinking out loud." Sarima paused. "And I would not call myself a shaman."

"I've no doubt your skill will come along soon enough to be worthy of the title."

"That's not exactly what I meant. While Elphaba's instruction is good, they are not of our traditions. So while I may become a good sorcerer, I will not be a shaman."

"A good point." Fiyero paused. "Something to look into for the future."

"I don't think I shall be here long enough for that to be your problem, Chieftain."

"Perhaps." he repleid. "Perhaps not. When the Yunamata are brought to heel there will be other alliances to be made."

"Are you suggesting the Garamana will be included in that?"

"I am. And when that will be is unknown. You may be here for awhile." he smiled at her. "Or perhaps a shaman to teach you will be part of the deal. Either way, what the future holds is in motion."

"That it is." Sarima nodded. "Though alliances of that sort are usually sealed in blood; either by combat or marriage. The Yunamata was of combat; the Scrow, the Zyma, and others would most likely look towards marriage. Do you have any siblings, Chieftain?"

"Only sisters married away to some of our confederation's chieftains." Fiyero replied.

"Well, I'm sure it won't be too much of an issue." Sarima answered. "Especially with Elphaba as the Crown Princess. She will make a terrific one."

"Perhaps." Fiyero looked out the window. After a few moments he looked back. "She was never one for titles or positions. Funny since she is the rightful ruler of Munchkinland, and was called the Witch of the West."

"Fate is a funny thing."

"That it is. But I've kept you long enough. You should hurry to your lesson."

"Should I tell Elphaba anything for you?" Sarima asked as she turned away.

"No." Fiyero shook his head and looked down. "I shall see to anything myself."

Sarima dipped her head and made her way out of the room.