I'm at my last stop of my two tour of the eastern seaboard. There's a certain quiet at this friend's house. She works in her office while I write in her dining room. Her cats are quietly napping the dreary afternoon away, and the birds are attempting to court before early evening brings thunderstorms.
And here is some proof that I'm actually writing.
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Allophane’s shoes took her and her companions to the green bricks surrounding the golden fountain in the royal palace’s main courtyard. For once, Beryl took a step before she caught her balance. In the past, Allophane had deliberately landed facing the fountain so her sister protector would land in the water because of her dizziness. However, Beryl would not stop taking shortcuts when it came to magic. No matter how many times Allophane offered to show Beryl how to enchant her own pair of shoes. She deserved the dunking if she was going to be so lazy.
But Jellia didn’t deserve to land face first in the fountain, so Allophane had adjusted her landing accordingly. She grabbed the girl’s arm to keep her from tumbling onto the bricks and harming herself. She trembled under Allophane’s touch.
“Are you all right, Jellia?” she asked gently. “I know traveling by enchanted shoes can be—”
The poor maid whirled away and expelled the contents of her stomach all over the pristine green bricks.
A soldier with a long green beard tucked into his uniform belt marched up to them and saluted. “Do you need assistance, Lady Allophane, Lady Beryl?”
“A mop,” Beryl said with a scowl.
“Greeting, Private Amby.” Allophane knelt next to Jellia. “Are you sure you’re all right, my dear? I’m so sorry. Traveling by my shoes often makes any companion I carry dizzy, but no one has ever become ill.”
The girl fished in a pocket and produced a handkerchief, which she used to wipe her mouth. “I’ll be all right, m’lady. I’ve never had vertigo that bad before.”
“At least Allophane didn’t dump you into the fountain,” Beryl said dryly.
“At least you remembered to hang on to my belt this time,” Allophane responded sweetly. She wasn’t going to let Bery get under her skin. Not today of all days. The protectors needed to provide a united front against the nobles for the princess’s sake.
Allophane turn to Private Amby. “Would you please escort Jellia to our rooms, Private? We wish to speak with the vizier immediately.”
“Immediately, my lady.” The soldier bowed again before he raised a silver whistle to his lips.
At the shrill sound, a matronly maid dressed in the green uniform of the palace household scurried down the steps from the wide-open gold-framed glass doors. She curtsied to the witches before she looked inquiringly up at Private Amby.
“Please assist Miss Jellia with taking the protectors’ bags to their suite while I escort the ladies to see the vizier.”
The palace maid bobbed her head and gestured for the witches to hand over their bags, which they did. However, Beryl leaned close to Jellia’s ear and whispered something. Jellia nodded and followed the green-clad maid into the palace.
Allophane gritted her teeth. She didn’t need to hear Beryl’s words to know her sister protector had ordered poor Jellia to not let the palace staff unpack their luggage. Such a command was embarrassing, both for the witches and for the royal household.
If this was the first salvo in Beryl and Willis’s plan to take over Oz, it chilled Allophane to her very bones. They simply couldn’t afford to antagonize any of the people of Oz if they wanted a peaceful transfer of power.
However, Private Amby didn’t hesitate at their request. “This way, m’ladies.”
Perhaps the situation was more dire than they presumed if the palace staff didn’t offer a chance to refresh themselves and simply obeyed the witches orders.
The soldier led the way through the open glass doors. He turned right, but he passed by the vizier’s office along the hallway.
Allophane’s heart pounded. Maybe Beryl and Willis were correct to be concerned about the nobles after all. The soldier led them toward Pastoria’s office. She never thought Vizier Meenor would stoop to seize the throne.
No. Allophane took a deep calming breath. She needed to be patient and analyze all the facts before she took any action. She’d feel better once the other witch protectors arrived.
The soldier stopped before the gold and emerald trimmed doors of the royal offices and knocked. A muffled voice said, “Enter.”
The soldier opened the door for Beryl and Allophane and waved them inside. To her surprise and relief, Locasta and Mombi along with Vizier Meenor sat at the huge round mahogany table inlaid with gold and emeralds around its edge.
He rose and greeted Allophane and Beryl warmly with kisses on both cheeks of each woman. “I’m so glad all of you are responding so promptly to the sad tidings I had to announce. I’ve sent for refreshments as we wait for the arrival of the Quadling and Winkie protectors. I hope you don’t mind that we use the monarch’s office for this meeting. I do
not intend any impropriety, but this is the only room except for the throne room and the royal dining hall to hold all of us for this meeting.”
“I’d be more upset by you sitting on the throne for this meeting,” Beryl snapped.
“You must forgive my sister protector of Munchkin Country,” Allophane said to Meenor. “Beryl was greatly distraught by your news.”
“No, I’m irritated having to wait for the others.” Beryl crossed her arms and scowled.
A wry chuckle came from Locasta, her purple curls bouncing along with her humor. “Teleportation is so much faster. A pity the others dislike it so.”
“But flying is much less dizzying,” Mombi grumbled. Or maybe her dizziness had more to do with how tight of a knot her violet hair had been wound.
“However, it does have its advantages,” Allophane murmured as she took her chair at the table.
Beryl lowered herself into the seat between Allophane and Meenor’s. The monarch’s delicately carved chair opposite of Meenor’s place would remain empty until little Ozma came of age.
Allophane glanced at her fellow Munchkin Country protector. Beryl’s expression was carefully neutral, except her knuckles where she grasped the arms of her chair stood out even more whitely than her pale skin. Now, what in Oz has her so wound up? She hadn’t seemed all that concerned about Pastoria’s passing.
“We hope the princess is in good health,” Allophane said to Meenor.
He nodded. “The wet nurse expects to wean her within the next two months now that she’s started eating porridge and apple sauce.” His smile was rather melancholy. “Princess Ozma has a hearty appetite, and she’s growing by leaps and bounds.”
Beryl snorted. “Please don’t let her grow fat and lazy. The people won’t respect a ruler who literally cannot perform her duties as our liege.”
“The princess—” Mombi began hotly just as the doors to the monarch’s office burst open.
“The
queen shall be respected within her own palace,” Glinda’s voice rang out as she entered the room.
