eyes.
âIâm notââ the Lion said.
âAgreed,â Ozma interrupted, extending her hand to the Nome King. He took it, and their clasped hands blazed with a searing green light. Green lightning cracked across the cavern, and for just a second a cool, refreshing breeze wafted past them. The Nome King yelped in surprise and yanked his hand back.
âWhat have you done, witch?â
âIâm a fairy, not a witch,â Ozma said calmly. âAnd Iâve bound you to your word with all the power of Oz.â
The Nome King stared at her, his eyes glittering with suspicion, but Ozma returned his gaze with an innocent smile. âMay I speak to the Lion before you enchant me, Your Highness?â she asked sweetly.
He scowled. âIf you must, but be quick about it. My people are hungry. I am not interested in delays.â
Ozma knelt down beside the Lion and hugged him. âTrust me, dear Lion,â she whispered into his ear.
âHow will I know you?â the Lion asked. âWhat if I fail?â
âYou wonât,â Ozma said confidently. âYou canât.â
That was hardly reassuring, but Ozma was already standingup to face the king. âIâm ready,â she said.
The Nome Kingâs smile was so sinister that even the Lionâs courage faltered. He raised both arms, and his robes opened slightly, revealing an elaborate ruby necklace glittering at his throat. A ruby necklace the Lion recognized immediately. It was the necklace Glinda had shown him in the Forest of the Beasts. He blinked. Was it possible? Did the Nome King have the necklace Glinda was looking for? How had he gotten it? Ozmaâs eyes narrowed. Sheâd seen the necklace, too. Did she know what it was?
But there was no time to think about that now. The Nome King flicked his wrist, and the cavern began to fill with a silvery, foul-smelling mist. The Lion covered his face with his paws, but he couldnât help breathing in the noxious fumes. âReplicatum scatterorium,â the Nome King hissed, and the weird mist evaporated. Coughing, the Lion looked up. The floor of the cavern was covered with tiny silver figurines that looked exactly like the Queen of Oz, and Ozma was gone.
ELEVEN
The Nome King yawned loudly. One of his warriors hurried to bring him a silver stool. He settled onto it, stretching ostentatiously and yawning again. âHurry up, house cat,â he said, examining his silver nails. âWe havenât got all day down here.â
The Nome King wasnât just an evil tyrant hell-bent on taking over Oz, the Lion thought irritably. He was also incredibly annoying, and he was clearly pretty powerful. But for whatever reason, Ozma had thought this was a good idea, and now it was up to him to save her and the entire Land of Oz.
The Lion bent down to sniff at the silver figurines. Each miniature Ozma was slightly different. Some of the Ozmas were smiling, and others looked like they were about to cry. A few seemed angry. Some of the tiny Ozmas had tiny accessories: one was holding a miniature scepter, and another was carrying a giant cake. They all had one thing in common, however: each one looked exactly like the queen. The Lion almost groanedaloud. How was he supposed to tell which one was the real Ozma?
âDo I get a hint?â he asked, stalling for time. The Nome King only snorted, not bothering to reply.
The Lion didnât have magic and he knew deep down he wasnât particularly smart. But Ozma had seemed to know what she was doing. Why had she thought heâd be able to solve this puzzle? What did he have to help him? Courage wasnât going to do him much good.
âIâm waiting ,â the Nome King said.
âOh, calm down,â the Lion snapped, and the Nome King looked momentarily surprised. He obviously wasnât used to anyone talking back to him. Was that what set the Lion apart? He paced the cavern floor, examining
âIâm notââ the Lion said.
âAgreed,â Ozma interrupted, extending her hand to the Nome King. He took it, and their clasped hands blazed with a searing green light. Green lightning cracked across the cavern, and for just a second a cool, refreshing breeze wafted past them. The Nome King yelped in surprise and yanked his hand back.
âWhat have you done, witch?â
âIâm a fairy, not a witch,â Ozma said calmly. âAnd Iâve bound you to your word with all the power of Oz.â
The Nome King stared at her, his eyes glittering with suspicion, but Ozma returned his gaze with an innocent smile. âMay I speak to the Lion before you enchant me, Your Highness?â she asked sweetly.
He scowled. âIf you must, but be quick about it. My people are hungry. I am not interested in delays.â
Ozma knelt down beside the Lion and hugged him. âTrust me, dear Lion,â she whispered into his ear.
âHow will I know you?â the Lion asked. âWhat if I fail?â
âYou wonât,â Ozma said confidently. âYou canât.â
That was hardly reassuring, but Ozma was already standingup to face the king. âIâm ready,â she said.
The Nome Kingâs smile was so sinister that even the Lionâs courage faltered. He raised both arms, and his robes opened slightly, revealing an elaborate ruby necklace glittering at his throat. A ruby necklace the Lion recognized immediately. It was the necklace Glinda had shown him in the Forest of the Beasts. He blinked. Was it possible? Did the Nome King have the necklace Glinda was looking for? How had he gotten it? Ozmaâs eyes narrowed. Sheâd seen the necklace, too. Did she know what it was?
But there was no time to think about that now. The Nome King flicked his wrist, and the cavern began to fill with a silvery, foul-smelling mist. The Lion covered his face with his paws, but he couldnât help breathing in the noxious fumes. âReplicatum scatterorium,â the Nome King hissed, and the weird mist evaporated. Coughing, the Lion looked up. The floor of the cavern was covered with tiny silver figurines that looked exactly like the Queen of Oz, and Ozma was gone.
ELEVEN
The Nome King yawned loudly. One of his warriors hurried to bring him a silver stool. He settled onto it, stretching ostentatiously and yawning again. âHurry up, house cat,â he said, examining his silver nails. âWe havenât got all day down here.â
The Nome King wasnât just an evil tyrant hell-bent on taking over Oz, the Lion thought irritably. He was also incredibly annoying, and he was clearly pretty powerful. But for whatever reason, Ozma had thought this was a good idea, and now it was up to him to save her and the entire Land of Oz.
The Lion bent down to sniff at the silver figurines. Each miniature Ozma was slightly different. Some of the Ozmas were smiling, and others looked like they were about to cry. A few seemed angry. Some of the tiny Ozmas had tiny accessories: one was holding a miniature scepter, and another was carrying a giant cake. They all had one thing in common, however: each one looked exactly like the queen. The Lion almost groanedaloud. How was he supposed to tell which one was the real Ozma?
âDo I get a hint?â he asked, stalling for time. The Nome King only snorted, not bothering to reply.
The Lion didnât have magic and he knew deep down he wasnât particularly smart. But Ozma had seemed to know what she was doing. Why had she thought heâd be able to solve this puzzle? What did he have to help him? Courage wasnât going to do him much good.
âIâm waiting ,â the Nome King said.
âOh, calm down,â the Lion snapped, and the Nome King looked momentarily surprised. He obviously wasnât used to anyone talking back to him. Was that what set the Lion apart? He paced the cavern floor, examining
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