Chapter 31
Over the crest of a rolling hill beyond a clearing in the forest lay the town in the area of land designated as Munchkin Country.
Nimmie freely shared the history of her small town en route.
Alice learned that the Munchkins were immigrants, as they considered her to be, who had been granted a large stretch of forest and hillside to establish their community.
From the looks of the small circular cottages being constructed at the edge of the town, they had not been there long.
A muddy road ran through the center of miniature-sized cottages with thatched and timbered roofs.
Their windows were brightly dyed glass, all blown by hand.
The divots and bubbles of the thick glass sparkled from fires that burned inside.
The cottages were brightly painted, except for the new ones that were partially constructed with drying stucco on the outside.
At the center of the village was a large well, from which flowers hung in woven baskets.
The village of Munchkin Country was nothing short of enchanting as it buzzed with voices and laughter from cottages with doors propped open.
Nimmie led them to a building toward the end of the village that sat squarely in the center of a cul-de-sac of shops, all quite small but perfectly sized for a woman of Nimmie’s height.
“Th’ lawmakers’ll be in here. This won’t take long,” Nimmie said as Alice and Blinkem exchanged nervous glances, with Tinkerton and Captain trotting behind.
Nimmie swung open the door of what Alice believed to be the courthouse, as a crowd of voices and laughter poured from within.
Tinkerton, who had wandered slightly to peer into a window, shouted, “It’s a pub! ”
“A dragon, ye say!” shouted a man who looked a bit like the robotic Captain himself, stout with a bushy mustache, standing before the saloon-style bar.
He wore a vibrant blue jacket with a boutonniere of daisies and a woven shirt with an ascot.
Everyone in the bar was dressed as if for the coast on a Sunday afternoon.
“They set th’ beast free ’fore th’ one-hunner-year mark.
That goes blinely contrary ta what them great lawmakers penned in them books,” Nimmie said with her arms crossed, as Alice, Blinkem, and Tinkerton stood shoulder to shoulder in the center of the busy bar, Tinkerton’s head nearly meeting the low-hanging rafters.
“Aye. Whin was th’ last hundred-year mark?” the mayor asked Nimmie.
“Ninety-two years back, so it ain’t due for a long while yet,” Nimmie said.
“Who be in charge a lettin’ tha dragons out whin it’s time?” the mayor asked. Nimmie’s eyes searched her mind.
“Dunno if I can say.” She looked to the ground, disappointed in not having the answer.
“Righto. Wha’s th’ punishment for a tad early release?” the mayor said, twisting his mustache.
“No punishment recorded for breakin’ tha law of dragons,” she said.
The mayor’s face reddened as his bushy brows twitched.
“Ah bah! Th’ one who made th’ law been dead a long time an’ we never knew it restin’.
” The mayor tossed his hands in the air.
Nimmie’s eyes remained down. “How am I, after all, to be punishing ’em?
Us hostin’ them, too!” The mayor all but shouted while Alice tried to understand.
“You boy, dunna know ya?” the mayor said abruptly to Blinkem.
Blinkem shook his head. Nimmie eyed him with suspicion.
They mayor’s voice lowered sympathetically to Alice and the men. “Ya brought ta fergive Nimmie, she’s th’ biggest brain o’ th’ law ’round ’ere ye know. But, no matter how much she kens ’bout th’ law, where d’we pit a criminal? Ain’t no crime ’round here!”
Tinkerton leaned back. “Did you get any of that?” he asked Alice in a not-so-subtle whisper. She smiled at him, feeling like a schoolgirl dangerously close to being scolded.
“Mr. Mayor,” Alice said, “we are so grateful for Nimmie bringing us here and her commitment to protecting Munchkin Country.”
“Das’ my girl!” the mayor said and gave his apparent daughter a big whiskered kiss upon her cheek, which she promptly forced away. “Eat, drink! T’is on me!” the mayor shouted, then was off to continue hobnobbing with the community of joyous and welcoming Munchkins.
Nimmie looked defeated standing before the newly pardoned thieves. Alice had sympathy for the woman, who believed in protecting Munchkin Country but lacked any foe to protect it from. Alice didn’t know of any place that didn’t have injustice. Maybe Nimmie was meant for something else.
“Officer,” Alice said to Nimmie, whose eyes lit up.
She straightened her belt at her jacket as her confidence grew within her small frame.
“I’d like to thank you for the fair hearing.
Where I come from, many women are not shown such respect.
” Blinkem and Tinkerton had excused themselves to the bar, ducking low beneath beams that hung at the tops of their heads.
“Perhaps you could help me solve a problem I seem to find myself in,” Alice said.
Nimmie smiled, and Alice thought there may have been a tear in her eye. “It’s me proudest honor ta’ help a friend of Munchkin Country. There’s a wee quiet spot in the corner. How’s about we get us some vittles and you can get started spinnin’ out the problem and facts?”
“I would love nothing more,” Alice said, the emptiness in her stomach suddenly feeling immense.
“She was entirely unremarkable!” Princess Languidere repeated herself, yet again, finishing off her glass of wine before slamming it onto the crystal table.
Nan, her maid, retrieved the glass and filled it promptly, before the princess could snap at her.
“Why the king wants information on such a bland girl is simply beyond me. She’s about as interesting as…
” Languidere looked off beyond the window as though she were going to find an answer to a riddle, but most things were beyond her.
“What sort of name is Alice?” Languidere mused, though she wasn’t truly asking Nan.
“Sounds poor!” She let out a huff and unclasped the bodice of her dress.
“You know something, it’s offensive the king should have me spy on a girl like that!
Since Rosemarie will be at the port for who knows how long, that miserable old cow.
” Languidere stepped from the beaded gown before striding to the mirrored armoire.
“I could have died in the port! I’ll tell him exactly how I feel about having risked my life for this Alice.
” She pulled the armoire doors open grandly as Nan fought every urge to roll her eyes.
“I will wear this tonight for my audience with him,” she declared, petting the plunging metallic V of the bust of the emerald silk dress displayed inside. It was more than just a garment; it was an engineering marvel.
“It is most daring,” Nan said, having forgotten herself for a moment, as Languidere pulled on a scarlet silk robe. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Nan saw the princess go rigid and fix her gaze on Nan.
Nan hurriedly gathered the teacup of undrunk tea and the empty wine bottle from the glass table with claw and ball bronze legs. She hoped Languidere had not heard the remark, but as she looked to Languidere, she caught her eyes locked upon her.
“Daring!” the princess exclaimed, throwing her hair dramatically over her shoulder and cocking her head. “Daring…” She snapped her head to cock it in the other direction. “Nan?”
There was a knock upon the door, and Nan exhaled, hoping the distraction would deter the princess’ agitation.
A footman entered, a bold and prohibited move by someone in his position.
“I have received word from the bird handler that Queen Rosemarie is en route.” His dutiful demeanor reeked of his desperate desire to be doted upon by the princess, which he likely had been at some point.
Languidere scoffed and squinched her nose.
The information he provided clearly was of no use to her.
“She is in a carriage set for Thorncrest,” he said again, clarifying what Languidere had clearly missed.
“She is coming here? Why?” Languidere was outwardly smug, scolding the footman as though he himself had invited the queen to her own palace.
“Likely to pray in the garden over the incident in the port.”
“Oh Goddess, please save all the miserable people! She’s probably going to pray for that little strumpet, Alice,” Languidere mocked and then suddenly smirked.
“Actually! When she arrives, tell her I decided it would be best to deliver the news of the port to King Evoldo in person at Roseland. Oh! And tell her I will travel back here to Thorncrest once we’ve had our rest.” She gestured for the footman to exit, then abruptly stopped him.
“Guard, I want you to get a really good look at her face when you tell her, memorize it, and then describe it in detail to me.” The guard awkwardly nodded, before Languidere turned to Nan with a cold vacant glare.
“Your Majesty,” Nan said, though she wished she had run from the room with the guard. Nan had hoped that, since they were guests of the King and staying in the palace of Thorncrest, Languidere would curb some of her viler behaviors, but it was clear that she was undeterred.
“Where were we?” Her eyes focused in with unblinking intensity squarely on Nan. “Oh, yes, daring.” Even news of the queen’s arrival had not made Languidere forget what Nan had said. Nan stood terrified, knowing what was next. Languidere’s frustration always sought a target.