Free Shadows of the Emerald City by Jw Schnarr Page B

itself. Even if he hadn’t have figured out the identity of the stranger from these details, the broom gave it away.
    “ Don’t torture yourself over it,” the witch whispered to him. She then waved her hand upwards and flexed her fingers. A brief flicker of light filled the night and then the Tin Man actually heard the breathing patterns of the girl, her dog and the Scarecrow change as they fell into a much deeper state of sleep.
    The Tin Man studied the witch’s face for a moment as she looked to the girl named Dorothy. There was malice in her stare but faint traces of awe as well. “I fear you may have to accompany her for the duration of her pointless little trip,” the witch said.
    “ She’s going to Oz, you know,” he told her. “She wants to see the Wizard.”
    She grinned at him. He never noticed until then, looking at her in the shaded moonlight, that her teeth were yellowed and sharper than most people’s. “And do you know why?” she asked him.
    “ It’s like you said. She wants to return home. She seems sincere about it.”
    “ I’m sure she is. And what about the Scarecrow? I understand that they’ll be asking the Wizard for his brains, too?”
    “ Yes.”
    She walked closer to him and placed her hand on his chest, her palm touching the left side of his tin plate. “And what about you? Are you having any second thoughts about our trade? Is there anything you may be asking the Wizard for?”
    “ No,” he said quickly. As he said this, he found himself gripping his axe. He didn’t want to attack the witch, but he wanted to hurt something . Perhaps he’d slice the dog in half. Or maybe he could tear into the Scarecrow.
    No. If he was to carry out any violence in the future, it would be on the girl.
    “ You know,” the witch said. “You’ll likely come to the place in the woods where you helped slaughter the Woodkins tomorrow. Are you ready for that?”
    “ I believe so.”
    “ And there are all manner of odd creatures in that area of the woods these days. Cranes, wild horses and those insipid lions. I’m sure Little Miss Kansas will end up attracting someone else to your traveling party.”
    “ If you don’t mind my asking,” Nick said, “if she bothers you so much, why can’t I simply kill her right now while she sleeps?”
    “ I’d love nothing more,” the witch said. “But she needs to make it to Oz. She needs to see that moron of a Wizard.”
    “ Why? Do you want her to succeed now?”
    “ Hardly. It’s just that she gives people hope. You should have seen those Munchkins bowing and dancing around her. So foolish. But they adore her and the hope she provides.”
    “ Well then, what would you have me do?”
    “ Wait until you get to Oz. Wait until the Wizard is fawning all over her like the Munchkins. Wait until she knows she is going home. And then attack.”
    “ Won’t I be arrested and punished?”
    “ Likely. But you’re made of tin and your heart is no longer an issue. What’s the worst they could do to you? Besides, politics in Emerald City are shadier than people think. I am certain I could pull a few strings. Not everyone is in love with the little bitch.”
    The Tin Man nodded. He looked to his axe and regretted that he would not be using it.
    “ Okay then,” he said. “I’ll wait.”
    The witch nodded to him and straddled her broom. She looked to him almost lovingly as she floated from the ground. As she gained momentum and faded into the distance, he watched her lift her hand, removing the sleep spell she had cast upon his companions.
    The Tin Man looked to Dorothy. The spell broke. She sighed in her sleep and the faintest traces of a smile came to her face. Her dog chuffed and settled its head onto its paws. It awoke slightly, cast him a curious glance with one beady eye and then returned to sleep.
    Nick sat up the rest of the night. He sat perched on a fallen log, looking to the outskirts of the forest. The Yellow Brick Road barely showed through,