Wonderland, to distance you from
the Heart Crystal and thereby weaken your imaginative powers.
The
queendom is too vulnerable and cannot sustain further attack. You must remain at home, close to the crystal.”
He’s right. But still…
“Hatter,” Alyss said, “you’ve been more silent than usual. What did Arch mean when he said the Ganmedes believe you are the least likely to jeopardize Molly’s life?” The Milliner looked at her. His mouth opened and closed. He seemed too affected to answer. “The girl obviously made inroads in your affections,” said Bibwit. “I remember, it wasn’t so long ago that you claimed halfers were—”
“Homburg Molly is my daughter,” Hatter said. Dodge nearly choked on the winglefruit juice he’d been sipping. The general, not knowing what else to do, split in two and then recombined. Bibwit’s ears stood straight up, alert. “When did you learn this?” Alyss asked.
“While I was away.”
“But I remember the mother, Weaver, coming to the camp,” Bibwit said. “Do you remember her leaving it? Or her reasons for doing so?” Bibwit spoke slowly and deliberately, not wanting to offend. “I wish I could answer in the affirmative, Hatter, but the night she disappeared, I’d stuffed my ears with putty and tucked them under my sleeping cap as I always do. It’s the only way I can block out the world’s noises enough to fall asleep. The next morning, she was gone.”
“I will prepare to leave for Boarderland immediately,” the Milliner said, and started toward the door. “Hatter?”
Alyss’ voice had none of the regal distance in it one would expect from a queen. It was soft and apprehensive, the voice of a concerned friend. Hatter paused. “I hope you know that I care deeply for Molly,” Alyss said, “and that I would never willingly do anything to harm her. But what Arch or his Ganmedes see as security against a foolish rescue operation, I can’t help seeing as a risk. It feels odd saying this to you of all people, but…as this concerns your daughter’s life, Hatter, your emotions might get the better of even your training. I worry that you’d jeopardize everything and anything to rescue her.”
“I have never abandoned my training yet,” the Milliner said. “I will not start now.” “I’ll go,” Dodge offered, but Alyss pretended not to hear him. “Your past performances give me no cause to doubt you,” she said to Hatter, “but then, as far as you knew, nothing you’ve done before has ever involved your daughter. I don’t want to make a hasty decision. I want to use what little time we have to consider the smartest course of action.” “Perhaps we should send the knight and rook with a company of chessmen?” General Doppelgänger suggested.
queendom is too vulnerable and cannot sustain further attack. You must remain at home, close to the crystal.”
He’s right. But still…
“Hatter,” Alyss said, “you’ve been more silent than usual. What did Arch mean when he said the Ganmedes believe you are the least likely to jeopardize Molly’s life?” The Milliner looked at her. His mouth opened and closed. He seemed too affected to answer. “The girl obviously made inroads in your affections,” said Bibwit. “I remember, it wasn’t so long ago that you claimed halfers were—”
“Homburg Molly is my daughter,” Hatter said. Dodge nearly choked on the winglefruit juice he’d been sipping. The general, not knowing what else to do, split in two and then recombined. Bibwit’s ears stood straight up, alert. “When did you learn this?” Alyss asked.
“While I was away.”
“But I remember the mother, Weaver, coming to the camp,” Bibwit said. “Do you remember her leaving it? Or her reasons for doing so?” Bibwit spoke slowly and deliberately, not wanting to offend. “I wish I could answer in the affirmative, Hatter, but the night she disappeared, I’d stuffed my ears with putty and tucked them under my sleeping cap as I always do. It’s the only way I can block out the world’s noises enough to fall asleep. The next morning, she was gone.”
“I will prepare to leave for Boarderland immediately,” the Milliner said, and started toward the door. “Hatter?”
Alyss’ voice had none of the regal distance in it one would expect from a queen. It was soft and apprehensive, the voice of a concerned friend. Hatter paused. “I hope you know that I care deeply for Molly,” Alyss said, “and that I would never willingly do anything to harm her. But what Arch or his Ganmedes see as security against a foolish rescue operation, I can’t help seeing as a risk. It feels odd saying this to you of all people, but…as this concerns your daughter’s life, Hatter, your emotions might get the better of even your training. I worry that you’d jeopardize everything and anything to rescue her.”
“I have never abandoned my training yet,” the Milliner said. “I will not start now.” “I’ll go,” Dodge offered, but Alyss pretended not to hear him. “Your past performances give me no cause to doubt you,” she said to Hatter, “but then, as far as you knew, nothing you’ve done before has ever involved your daughter. I don’t want to make a hasty decision. I want to use what little time we have to consider the smartest course of action.” “Perhaps we should send the knight and rook with a company of chessmen?” General Doppelgänger suggested.