Dorothy Must Die 00.4 - Heart of Tin by Danielle Paige

Author:Danielle Paige
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

SIX

The next morning dawned clear and sunny. I polished my arms and legs and torso until the metal gleamed like mercury in the morning sun. I got my crown out of the Winkie-size wardrobe in one corner of my room and polished that, too, setting it on top of my head when it glowed as brightly as my tin skin. I finished my preparations just as Norbert knocked softly at my door, announcing that my subjects were assembled in the courtyard as I had requested. His suspenders, I noticed, were new, and his suit jacket had been ironed sometime since last night. Even his shoes were buffed. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, for some reason, and I almost asked him what had gotten into everybody.

The Winkies were gathered in a noisy, chattering group in the large courtyard in front of the palace’s main door, but they fell silent as soon as I came out of the palace, eyeing one another. Norbert bobbed obsequiously at my side, wiping his furry brow with a spotted handkerchief. I surveyed them, my heart sinking a little. They really were sort of—well, unimpressive. And there weren’t that many of them either. But Oz was not exactly a land noted for its martial power, and Winkies could be as courageous as anybody if they were given the chance. I noted with approval that they were standing carefully so as not to trample the lovingly cultivated flower beds. They might be silly and undisciplined, but that was at least a start. What mattered most was that Dorothy would see how much I cared, how much I was thinking about her.

“My most devoted subjects,” I began, gazing out over their upturned faces. “It has been a great honor to be your ruler, and I am proud to have done such an excellent job overseeing your welfare. I have gathered you here today to alert you to a number of important changes that are taking place in Oz.” Their faces were blank. Undaunted, I continued. “I am afraid I have some disheartening news about the Princess Ozma. Though we believed her to be a good and kind ruler, she has in fact betrayed us.” At this, the Winkies exchanged startled glances. “I have learned that she has been stealing the magic of Oz for her own purposes. But all will soon be well, for something wondrous has happened.” My cloth heart soared in my chest. There was something about saying it out loud that made it seem really true. “The beloved Dorothy Gale has returned to Oz to help us!”

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the little crowd. “Dorothy the Witchslayer?” piped up a young Winkie in the back, who was quickly hushed by his fellows. But I didn’t mind the interruption.

“The one and the same,” I said proudly. “When Oz was in need before, she came to us, and now that Oz needs her again, she has returned to us.” The Winkies didn’t need to know that I still hoped in my heart of hearts she’d come for me.

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