The unmoving bodies of her enemies
littered the street. She had killed them all.
“You forgot this.”
Shwink! Every weapon activated, Molly saw an ordinary-looking woman approach with something cupped in her palm. She retracted her weapons when she realized what it was: a luminous paperweight in the shape of a top hat. She touched it and the London scene dissolved into darkness, all black as pitch save a life-sized hologram of Hatter Madigan, who smiled approvingly at her. “Today you’ve shown the courage, skill, and intellect required to be a first-rate Milliner,” he said. “Let’s see how you fare tomorrow.”
For two blinks of a spirit-dane’s eye she thought it was really Hatter, that he’d returned. But the image faded and the lights came on.
“Impressive,” a voice echoed.
Molly turned to see the Lady of Diamonds emerge from the control booth. No one but Milliners were allowed in the BOX. “You’re not supposed to be here,” she said. “How’d you get in?” “When will you learn, child, that as a member of a ranking family, I can find a means to do whatever I wish?”
“When will people stop calling me a child?” Molly shouted. The Lady of Diamonds looked quizzically at the girl. “I didn’t realize you were so sensitive. Don’t you want to dry off? You could catch cold.”
“I’m fine.”
“You should at least have those tended to.” What was the Lady of Diamonds talking about? Have those tended to? Have what— “You’re bleeding.” The lady gestured at Molly’s torso, right shoulder, and left thigh. She had a few cuts, scrapes. Who cared? They were just superficial wounds. “I’m all right,” Molly said. The Lady of Diamonds sighed like one used to having her advice go unheeded. She held up the ornately carved chest King Arch had entrusted to her husband. “I came to give this to Queen Alyss. I’ve been told she’s here with you.”
“She’s not.”
“No?” Worried wrinkles crowded the Lady of Diamond’s brow. “That’s odd. I could’ve sworn…I guess I’ll have to leave it with Bibwit Harte or Dodge Anders then. It’s too important to leave with anyone else.” She turned to go.
“I can take it,” Molly said.
“You?”
Molly nodded. “I am the queen’s bodyguard.” The Lady of Diamonds pretended to consider it. “Well, I suppose if she trusts you with her life, I can
“You forgot this.”
Shwink! Every weapon activated, Molly saw an ordinary-looking woman approach with something cupped in her palm. She retracted her weapons when she realized what it was: a luminous paperweight in the shape of a top hat. She touched it and the London scene dissolved into darkness, all black as pitch save a life-sized hologram of Hatter Madigan, who smiled approvingly at her. “Today you’ve shown the courage, skill, and intellect required to be a first-rate Milliner,” he said. “Let’s see how you fare tomorrow.”
For two blinks of a spirit-dane’s eye she thought it was really Hatter, that he’d returned. But the image faded and the lights came on.
“Impressive,” a voice echoed.
Molly turned to see the Lady of Diamonds emerge from the control booth. No one but Milliners were allowed in the BOX. “You’re not supposed to be here,” she said. “How’d you get in?” “When will you learn, child, that as a member of a ranking family, I can find a means to do whatever I wish?”
“When will people stop calling me a child?” Molly shouted. The Lady of Diamonds looked quizzically at the girl. “I didn’t realize you were so sensitive. Don’t you want to dry off? You could catch cold.”
“I’m fine.”
“You should at least have those tended to.” What was the Lady of Diamonds talking about? Have those tended to? Have what— “You’re bleeding.” The lady gestured at Molly’s torso, right shoulder, and left thigh. She had a few cuts, scrapes. Who cared? They were just superficial wounds. “I’m all right,” Molly said. The Lady of Diamonds sighed like one used to having her advice go unheeded. She held up the ornately carved chest King Arch had entrusted to her husband. “I came to give this to Queen Alyss. I’ve been told she’s here with you.”
“She’s not.”
“No?” Worried wrinkles crowded the Lady of Diamond’s brow. “That’s odd. I could’ve sworn…I guess I’ll have to leave it with Bibwit Harte or Dodge Anders then. It’s too important to leave with anyone else.” She turned to go.
“I can take it,” Molly said.
“You?”
Molly nodded. “I am the queen’s bodyguard.” The Lady of Diamonds pretended to consider it. “Well, I suppose if she trusts you with her life, I can