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reflected that the girl might be better at heart than
her self…pride and overbearing manner indicated； and in
any event it would be wise not to antagonize her but to
try to win her friendship。
〃I do not like wars； your Majesty；〃 said Ozma。 〃In
the Emerald City； where I rule thousands of people； and
in the countries near to the Emerald City； where
thousands more acknowledge my rule； there is no army at
all； because there is no quarreling and no need to
fight。 If differences arise between my people； they
come to me and I judge the cases and award justice to
all。 So； when I learned there might be war between two
faraway people of Oz； I came here to settle the dispute
and adjust the quarrel。〃
〃No one asked you to come；〃 declared Queen Coo…ee…oh。
〃It is my business to settle this dispute； not yours。
You say my island is a part of the Land of Oz； which
you rule； but that is all nonsense； for I've never
heard of the Land of Oz； nor of you。 You say you are a
fairy； and that fairies gave you command over me。 I
don't believe it！ What I do believe is that you are an
impostor and have come here to stir up trouble among my
people； who are already becoming difficult to manage。
You two girls may even be spies of the vile Flatheads；
for all I know； and may be trying to trick me。 But
understand this；〃 she added； proudly rising from her
jeweled throne to confront them； 〃I have magic powers
greater than any fairy possesses； and greater than any
Flathead possesses。 I am a Krumbic Witch the only
Krumbic Witch in the world and I fear the magic of
no other creature that exists！ You say you rule
thousands。 I rule one hundred and one Skeezers。 But
every one of them trembles at my word。 Now that Ozma of
Oz and Princess Dorothy are here； I shall rule one
hundred and three subjects； for you also shall bow
before my power。 More than that； in ruling you I also
rule the thousands you say you rule。〃
Dorothy was very indignant at this speech。
〃I've got a pink kitten that sometimes talks like
that；〃 she said； 〃but after I give her a good whipping
she doesn't think she's so high and mighty after all。
If you only knew who Ozma is you'd be scared to death
to talk to her like that！〃
Queen Coo…ee…oh gave the girl a supercilious look。
Then she turned again to Ozma。
〃I happen to know；〃 said she； 〃that the Flatheads
intend to attack us tomorrow； but we are ready for
them。 Until the battle is over； I shall keep you two
strangers prisoners on my island； from which there is
no chance for you to escape。〃
She turned and looked around the band of courtiers
who stood silently around her throne。
〃Lady Aurex；〃 she continued； singling out one of the
young women； 〃take these children to your house and
care for them； giving them food and lodging。 You may
allow them to wander anywhere under the Great Dome； for
they are harmless。 After I have attended to the
Flatheads I will consider what next to do with these
foolish girls。〃
She resumed her seat and the Lady Aurex bowed low and
said in a humble manner：
〃I obey your Majesty's commands。〃 Then to Ozma and
Dorothy she added； 〃Follow me；〃 and turned to leave the
throne room。
Dorothy looked to see what Ozma would do。 To her
surprise and a little to her disappointment Ozma turned
and followed Lady Aurex。 So Dorothy trailed after them；
but not without giving a parting； haughty look toward
Queen Coo…ee…oh； who had her face turned the other way
and did not see the disapproving look
Chapter Nine
Lady Aurex
Lady Aurex led Ozma and Dorothy along a street to a
pretty marble house near to one edge of the great glass
dome that covered the village。 She did not speak to the
girls until she had ushered them into a pleasant room；
comfortably furnished； nor did any of the solemn people
they met on the street venture to speak。
When they were seated Lady Aurex asked if they were
hungry； and finding they were summoned a maid and
ordered food to be brought。
This Lady Aurex looked to be about twenty years old；
although in the Land of Oz where people have never
changed in appearance since the fairies made it a
fairyland where no one grows old or dies it is
always difficult to say how many years anyone has
lived。 She had a pleasant； attractive face； even though
it was solemn and sad as the faces of all Skeezers
seemed to be； and her costume was rich and elaborate；
as became a lady in waiting upon the Queen。
Ozma had observed Lady Aurex closely and now asked
her in a gentle tone：
〃Do you； also； believe me to be an impostor？〃
〃I dare not say；〃 replied Lady Aurex in a low tone。
〃Why are you afraid to speak freely？〃 inquired Ozma。
〃The Queen punishes us if we make remarks that she
does not like。〃
〃Are we not alone then； in this house？〃
〃The Queen can hear everything that is spoken on this
island even the slightest whisper；〃 declared Lady
Aurex。 〃She is a wonderful witch； as she has told you；
and it is folly to criticise her or disobey her
commands。〃
Ozma looked into her eyes and saw that she would like
to say more if she dared。 So she drew from her bosom
her silver wand； and having muttered a magic phrase in
a strange tongue； she left the room and walked slowly
around the outside of the house； making a complete
circle and waving her wand in mystic curves as she
walked。 Lady Aurex watched her curiously and； when Ozma
had again entered the room and seated herself； she
asked：
〃What have you done？〃
〃I've enchanted this house in such a manner that
Queen Coo…ee…oh； with all her witchcraft； cannot hear
one word we speak within the magic circle I have made；〃
replied Ozma。 〃We may now speak freely and as loudly as
we wish； without fear of the Queen's anger。〃
Lady Aurex brightened at this。
〃Can I trust you？〃 she asked。
〃Ev'rybody trusts Ozma；〃 exclaimed Dorothy。 〃She is
true and honest； and your wicked Queen will be sorry
she insulted the powerful Ruler of all the Land of Oz。〃
〃The Queen does not know me yet；〃 said Ozma； 〃but I
want you to know me； Lady Aurex； and I want you to tell
me why you； and all the Skeezers； are unhappy。 Do not
fear Coo…ee…oh's anger； for she cannot hear a word we
say； I assure you。〃
Lady Aurex was thoughtful a moment； then she said： 〃I
shall trust you； Princess Ozma； for I believe you are
what you say you are our supreme Ruler。 If you knew
the dreadful punishments our Queen inflicts upon us；
you would not wonder we are so unhappy。 The Skeezers
are not bad people； they do not care to quarrel and
fight； even with their enemies the Flatheads； but they
are so cowed and fearful of Coo…ee…oh that they obey
her slightest word； rather than suffer her anger。〃
〃Hasn't she any heart； then？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃She never displays mercy。 She loves no one but
herself；〃 asserted Lady Aurex； but she trem