"It's the peddling salad!" shouted King Zalron, as he jumped out of his seat. "How did he get out of prison?"

"I helped him," replied Qualf.

"The bird! Are you still possessed?"

"Well, seeing that I was never possessed, I suppose I can't still be possessed."

"And a peasant! I don't want peasants at my son's wedding."

"These two do not want to be married," announced Carter, indicated Betsy and Zaln.

"Therefore, this wedding shall now end," said Qualf.

"You cannot give such orders!" objected the King. "I am the King of Yartralia, and I demand that these two marry! Justice, continue the ceremony. Guards, throw those three audacious intruders in prison."

"You're certainly stubborn, aren't you?" questioned Qualf.

After saying these words, the redbird caused his body to grow to an enormous size. With one claw, he placed Zaln, Betsy, Tremnus, and Carter on his back, opened the double-doors, and flew out of the chapel.

"It's a good thing those doors were big enough," stated the bird, as he soared through the air. "Otherwise, I would have had to break a wall. Not that that King doesn't deserve to have one of his walls broken."

"But where are we going?" inquired Betsy.

"To the Emerald City, if you'll show me the way. Now, please excuse me if I don't talk for a while."

Although Betsy and Carter did not know exactly where the Emerald City lay in regards to Yartralia, they managed to guide Qualf to the capital. Once there, the bird landed outside Ozma's Palace, removed his passengers from his back, and returned to his normal size.

"I don't like to do that, because it takes a lot out of me," explained Qualf, "but it seemed like the only thing to do in that particular situation."

While Qualf rested, Betsy, Carter, Tremnus, and Zaln hurried into the Emerald Palace, through the halls, up a flight of stairs, through more halls, and into the Throne Room, where Ozma was discussing affairs in Perhaps City with Peer Haps and the Scarecrow. Betsy waited politely for the conversation to end, and then ran up to the throne.

"Betsy! What's wrong?" inquired Ozma.

The girl told of her adventures in Yartralia. She introduced Prince Zaln when she came to his part in the story, but Carter had to introduce Tremnus to both Betsy and Ozma. When the tale was finished, Ozma took the powerful Magic Belt from a wall safe, and used it to summon King Zalron to her presence.

"Where am I?" questioned the King, who had barely recovered from Qualf's strange departure.

"You are in my Throne Room," was Queen Ozma's reply.

"You're-you're-" said the King breathlessly.

"I am Ozma, Queen of Oz. I have been told that you tried to force my friend, Betsy Bobbin, to marry against her will."

"I just wanted to bring prestige to my Kingdom," said Zalron, who was trembling.

"Well, your Kingdom's famous now, but probably not in the way you wanted," stated the Cowardly Lion, who was seated beside Queen Ozma's Throne.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I was only following the traditions of my Kingdom."

"Is it traditional in your Kingdom to force strangers to marry?" asked Ozma.

"No, but arranged marriages are traditional."

"If I understand correctly, your son wanted to marry someone else. Is this true?"

"He said he wanted to marry some peasant girl."

"Why did you refuse to let him?"

"She wasn't worthy of him. She was a peasant."

"Do you think that only the rich and well-born have any worth, King Zalron?"

While Zalron was trying to think of reply to this question, Ozma asked Prince Zaln if he wanted to marry Litra. The Prince replied affirmatively, and the Queen magically summoned the carpenter's daughter to the Throne Room.

Litra had been crying about her father, who had been thrown into prison. When the young lady noticed the Queen of Oz, she exclaimed, "You're Queen Ozma, aren't you?"

"I am, Litra. I have summoned you here to ask you a question. Do you want to marry Prince Zaln?"

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty!"

"Then the wedding will be held at once."

With the power of the Magic Belt, Ozma transported the guests at the Yartralian wedding to her Throne Room. The noise made by the astonished guests led many of the people and creatures of the palace to the Throne Room, and the chamber was soon quite full. The Yartralian Justice of the Peace, at Ozma's order, promptly married Zaln and Litra. A great celebration was then held.

After the celebration, Ozma sent most of the Yartralians back to Yartralia. However, she had a conference with King Zalron and Queen Elenna, during which many of the Yartralian laws were revised. Ozma then returned the King and Queen to their own realm, and met Qualf, who was, by that time, fully rested. Since the bird had no permanent home, the Queen of Oz let him stay in the Emerald City. Today, his official home is still in the capital, but Qualf enjoys flying throughout Oz, and has adventures with many of the nation's most famous inhabitants.

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