"Third time's a charm." mumbled Wynne.
Emilia glared at her from the tree she was hiding behind. Alongside the duo, a handful of Dogs in inconspicuous dark clothing tried to blend in with shrubbery. The one non-Dog was the blonde with the cloak over her head. It was only the slight tilt of her head that told Wynne that Pfannee had heard her.
They had met the Dogs in Wittica two days before. Emilia had explained they had sent a local Household boy to watch Glinda's party. During the commotion he had chosen a spot to hide and watch. He had seen Wynne depart but noted that she had gone south. The boy had relayed that message to the Household, giving them time to retreat from the rented estate by the time the nobles' forces had appeared. From there, they had tried to track Glinda, but could not until Wynne contacted them. They had also notified Glinda's parents, but with the distance the Upland Estate was from Frottica proper any force would be seen and easily slipped away from.
Now just north of Wittica, they had used Pfannee's skills to examine the groups that had moved from Frottica which could contain Glinda. The first two groups had been nothing special: smugglers trying to bypass tariffs and a noble on holiday. The third group was now coming around the bend. It looked like any other wealthy merchant's caravan. There were drawn carts and a couple of covered coaches. Workers and footmen walked alongside as some rode horses. Wynne was ready for another disappointment when Pfannee hissed.
"Court Sorcerers." she motioned to a group of three that looked to be carrying backpacks with bedrolls and were using walking sticks. "And that's not the worst of it."
"What's worse?" asked Wynne. Pfannee pointed to several more tall women with flowing light gowns that started from their crown and went to the ground.
"Those are not Ozian sorcerers." Pfanne growled. "They're Evian."
"Evian?" Wynne whispered fiercely. "Why would they use Evian sorcerers?"
"I don't know how they'd even get Evian sorcerers." Pfannee replied. "Evians do not like Ozians."
"So what are our odds?" asked Emilia. "Can we ambush them and take them out?"
Pfannee shook her head.
"Even if the shots were perfect, we would still be outnumbered. And Evians, from my understanding, tend to carry light elemental spells around them. The white gowns make me think these are air sorcerers, and that means they probably are manipulating the air current around them for precisely that reason. Also, to throw off the actual scent of Glinda."
"So we follow them, then." Emilia decided. "Keep an eye on them. If there's a chance, we take it. With what we know now, I highly doubt there will be one. Otherwise, we have to figure out another plan to get her free."
As the caravan with Glinda easily walked past, it took everything all of them had to not try anyway. However, everyone knew that doing so would hurt the chances later. And so the Adept and the Dogs watched Glinda's captors walk away with her.
X
"There's no way we can board that train and not be noticed." Wynne said as she pretended to be idly shopping at the little store. The duo were at the Wittica train station as the rest of the Dogs were left behind to not arouse suspicion. The group with Glinda had just boarded a private car. The large wood box they had carefully carried between them most likely held the woman.
"Agreed. However, we don't need to." Pfannee answered. "We know what train they are going by. We just need eyes at every stop from here to the Emerald City."
"We can do that; at least until Shiz. After that it will have to be the others."
"Agreed." Pfannee said.
"Are we sure they're going to the Emerald City?" asked Wynne.
"I have almost no doubt."
"So is it about time, then?"
Pfannee looked at her.
"Once we get confirmation of it, we will send the message. But we need to make ourselves scarce now." Pfannee answered. The blonde heard her name and turned.
A brunette was headed her way. Dressed as a proper woman of her station and followed by the appropriate number of attendants, Shenshen had a smile on her face.
"Ladies, I'm so pleased you could come for a couple of days!" she said. It was the cover they had told her when they had arrived the day before. "Shall we be off?"
"We shall." Pfannee smiled.
Waving her hand, a letter appeared and disappeared to update the Dogs on the pair's progress. The plan now was to spend the night at Shenshen's, and make their way to Shiz tomorrow by train. That would keep them from being noticed. Emilia was to gather as many Dogs on standby as possible. When they arrived in Shiz, they would inform Elphaba.
X
"A letter for you, Miss Elphaba." came the gentle voice at the door.
Elphaba roused herself from where she had fallen asleep on the desk in the west tower. Pushing her glasses back onto her face, she did a quick brush of her hair from her eyes. She nodded.
"Thank you, Sarima. I'm guessing if you're bringing it to me it's from our mutual acquaintance?" Elphaba asked.
The other woman walked across the short distance. In the setting sun's rays coming through the narrow window, the beads of her dress and in her hair danced with light. It almost caused Elphaba to miss the solemn look on the woman's face. Her own shifted into worry.
"What is it? Give it here!" Elphaba snapped. Sarima was used to the woman's moods by now and realized it was fear that caused her harshness. The Vinkun gave the letter over to Elphaba, but spoke before she could read it.
"Glinda was at a reception with the Barons in Frottica when she was ambushed and taken captive."
Elphaba's hand froze with the letter in it.
"What?" she gasped.
"It seems she was betrayed by someone. Wynne was the only one of her entourage to survive. All the others were killed."
"How could they have taken a sorcerer like Glinda captive?" Elphab asked in disbelief.
"Wynne noted that they placed some sort of cuffs on her that suppressed her magic. Miss Pfannee noted they were a tool of Morrible's."
"Morrible is back?"
"No." Sarima shook her head, sending her braids bouncing. "Miss Pfannee made sure of that. But it means someone else has raided her menagerie of tricks. Wynne managed to contact Miss Pfannee, and they along with some of the retainers that didn't accompany Lady Glinda managed to locate the group that was moving her."
"So let's go!" Elphaba stood, knocking her chair over. Sarima held up a hand.
"They located the group; they were not able to stop them." Sarima sighed. "Lady Glinda was being moved not only with a strong guard, but also a trio Court Sorcerers."
"So? They're not that good." Elphaba growled.
"What stayed Miss Pfannee's hand," Sarima continued, "was the three Evian sorcerers with them."
"Evians?" Elphaba swayed on her feet for a moment. "Did she say what kind?"
"Air." Sarima paused. "Though I don't know what that means."
"Evians hew towards an elemental specialty. If they were air specialists, that means they were expecting ambushes either using guns," Elphaba looked down at her hands, "or fire."
"They were expecting you." Sarima stated. Elphaba nodded.
"Or prepared for me." Elphaba looked back at the Vinkun woman. "What else is there?"
"They loaded her onto a train in Wittica. Miss Pfannee and Wynne could not follow, but had several others stationed down the line."
"More of Glinda's Ladies?" Elphaba's voice dripped with disdain.
"Yes, and shouldn't you be glad for it." Sarima bit back. Elphaba turned away but nodded.
"And what did the Ladies see?"
"They noted them disembarking at Shiz and onto a train for the Emerald City. Once arriving there, they hustled her into the Palace." Sarima sighed. "We expect her to be held there, and then moved to Southstairs under guard."
"So we make for Southstairs." Elphaba said and grabbed her hat. Moving towards the door, Sarima did not move out of her way.
"No."
"And why not?" Elphaba hissed. "I've been in there before, and smuggled some out."
"Because as Miss Pfannee points out, the only ones left in Southstairs are those who were Glinda's, and your, enemies." Sarima explained. "They will not like you barging in there."
"So what do we do?" growled Elphaba. "We can't leave her there."
"Lady Glinda will be fine for now." Sarima held up both hands. "With her being brought into the Palace, we know that the Administration has something to do with it. If they wanted her dead, they would have killed her in Wittica. If they want to make an example of her, they will take time to set it up which gives us time to strike."
"And if they just want to torture her for information?" spat Elphaba. Sarima grimaced.
"That's unfortunate but we still need time. Besides, Glinda is tough enough to deal with it if that's the case."
"I will not leave her to their cruel mercies." Elphaba hissed, getting into the other woman's face. Sarima stepped out of the way.
"Fine. Do what you want. But either you'll be dead or Glinda will before you ever see each other. Or both." the Vinkun woman's voice had a hard edge. "If you go there, they will kill you outright. They are not dumb enough to make the same mistakes their predecessors did. You are simply too dangerous. And if you are not killed, they will kill Glinda as she is too dangerous to be free. Perhaps, just perhaps, they think they can keep you in check with good behavior if they have her as collateral."
"And why would they think that?"
"Because she's the only one who ever controlled you, and the only one you've ever moved heaven and Oz for." Sarima answered.
"That makes no sense. They should realize it might set me off more."
"They're playing a noble's game, Miss Elphaba." Sarima sighed in exasperation. "Hostage for good behavior. They're not going to harm one of their own needlessly; it's beneath them as nobility. And they still think of you as the Governess of Munchkinland; they think you think like them, at least to a point."
Elphaba let out a growl of frustration and clenched her fists.
"So what should I do?" Elphaba replied. "What would you have me do?"
"Wait." Sarima urged. "Wait until we formulate a plan and find a way in. Then - then! - we can go in, if need be, fireballs blazing."
"I dislike waiting."
"I'm aware." Sarima huffed, but in relief. The woman was seeing sense. "Your qualities are known to me."
"Then you should know," Elphaba turned her fierce gaze on the woman, "if anything should happen to her I will rain hellfire down on all responsible."
Sarima shivered but did not let it show. Tipping her chin slightly up to the taller woman, she said,
"If that comes, I shall pay what hell there is."
X
Elphaba hated waiting. She especially hated waiting when Glinda was in trouble. She preferred action; she was good at action. Her passion and wits led her through situations, though she had to admit planning was a hit or miss affair. But waiting was never going to be her strong suit. It was even more aggravating when everyone else had seemed to have patience to spare.
"Wait, Elphaba." Fiyero counseled from behind his desk.
The man had stopped working when she came in. Elphaba knew it was partially a relief. The work had been piling up. Feuds, scores, grievances and grudges had to be settled between the Yunamata and Arjiki confederated tribes. Promises, threats, bribes, and warnings had to be issued in case any thought of going against the word of either group's leaders. Hierarchies had to be established, rearranged, elevated and laid low. For Fiyero personally, offers of arrangements and alliances came daily from allies, friends, and acquaintances new and old. It was wearing on him.
"I hate waiting." Elphaba grumbled as she paced his study. Fiyero gave her an affectionate amused smile. "Yes, I know you know."
"I do." Fiyero agreed. "But you know it's the right thing to do. Right now the Emerald City and Oz are a powder keg made by whoever is working against you. Against us. A single spark will set it off into war."
He chuckled.
"And you are nothing if not a spark."
"Yes, I know." Elphaba sighed exasperatedly. "I just hate waiting when she's in danger."
"Write your contacts in the City." Fiyero replied. "Hear what they're seeing. I've no doubt they have an eye on the situation and will move if needed."
Elphaba left and did just that. Her contacts were not as deep as prior to her exile years ago, but she still had some. They all told her the same thing.
We are watching.
We are ready to move if needed.
Starflare and her Hounds are gathering support.
The Ice Lady is working on a plan.
So Elphaba waited. As she waited, she paced Kiamo Ko from one end to the other. One time, ending back in her room, she saw the sending stone of Duran. Picking it up, she remembered Glinda had handed it to her when she left. From then on it was in her hands. Perhaps she was trying to hold onto the last connection of Glinda she had. Perhaps she was hoping to gain strength from the memory of the man who had given it to them. Elphaba did not know. She just held it and paced. Hoped she could find the strength to do what was necessary.
After a week she found her strength. Stopping in front of the window in the west hall that overlooked the courtyard, she gazed at the cobblestones and drawbridge. She pictured what it must have looked like during the duel from this height. The crowd, the warriors, the blood. Elphaba holding the shamans over the chasm. The pyre for the fallen warriors. A man who knew he walked to his death, but did it anyway.
Elphaba knew what she must do. She would do as Duran would. As Duran had. She would walk into danger, and walk out with Glinda. With that, she turned away from the window.