“They’re working for
Arch.”
“That’s ludicrous! You think, after all he’s done for me, Arch took her? Why would he—” “He’s using the two of you to get to me for some reason. Who else knew she was our daughter? You said his guard heard you record the diary.” “He found me by accident, Hatter!” The folded arms, the head tilted slightly forward while she eyed him from beneath the overhang of her brow: She was getting mad. “I owe Arch my life,” she said. “He’s been nothing but kind and helpful.”
“When has King Arch ever been kind and helpful without an ulterior motive?” “Being a Milliner makes you suspicious of everybody. You’re so smart when it comes to military things, why doesn’t it translate into being smart about others? I don’t want you to accuse Arch again. He’s my friend.”
He would get nowhere arguing with her. Either she’d been brainwashed or the stress of the past years, of giving up her daughter, had made her susceptible to a faith in the goodness of others, even in those who’d exhibited no special affinity for goodness. “You truly believe we need Arch if we’re to get Molly back safe?” Hatter asked. “Yes.”
“And you trust him?”
“Almost as much as I trust you.”
He kissed her. “Wait here.”
He hadn’t decided what he was going to do even as he stepped outside the tent, where Arch, Ripkins, and Blister were waiting. Kill or defer, kill or defer, he couldn’t make up his mind. But then he was standing in front of the king and his body seemed to decide for him. Just as he had done in the past, whenever showing reverence for Genevieve or Alyss Heart, he prostrated himself. “If your invitation still stands, Your Majesty,” he said, “I would be honored to join your tribe.” CHAPTER 28
R EDD HEART had been born to attract attention, and no garment from any universe, known or unknown, could have prevented the eyes of lesser creatures from being drawn to her. Finding that all attempts to blend in with the sorry specimens of Earth were futile, she stopped trying. In London’s Crystal Palace, she donned her dress of flesh-eating roses and twirled before a reflective glass, a renegade Heart pleased with what she saw. “I now consider myself officially introduced to Earth society,” she pronounced. A cheer went up from her recruits—a cheer more akin to grumbling thunder than a hearty outpouring, which for the thousand or so earthlings and ex-Wonderlanders enlisted to Redd’s cause in the past months, was the closest they could manage. “Scatter,” Redd commanded.
So they did, dispersing to explore their new home and to idle away the hours with petty scams and
“That’s ludicrous! You think, after all he’s done for me, Arch took her? Why would he—” “He’s using the two of you to get to me for some reason. Who else knew she was our daughter? You said his guard heard you record the diary.” “He found me by accident, Hatter!” The folded arms, the head tilted slightly forward while she eyed him from beneath the overhang of her brow: She was getting mad. “I owe Arch my life,” she said. “He’s been nothing but kind and helpful.”
“When has King Arch ever been kind and helpful without an ulterior motive?” “Being a Milliner makes you suspicious of everybody. You’re so smart when it comes to military things, why doesn’t it translate into being smart about others? I don’t want you to accuse Arch again. He’s my friend.”
He would get nowhere arguing with her. Either she’d been brainwashed or the stress of the past years, of giving up her daughter, had made her susceptible to a faith in the goodness of others, even in those who’d exhibited no special affinity for goodness. “You truly believe we need Arch if we’re to get Molly back safe?” Hatter asked. “Yes.”
“And you trust him?”
“Almost as much as I trust you.”
He kissed her. “Wait here.”
He hadn’t decided what he was going to do even as he stepped outside the tent, where Arch, Ripkins, and Blister were waiting. Kill or defer, kill or defer, he couldn’t make up his mind. But then he was standing in front of the king and his body seemed to decide for him. Just as he had done in the past, whenever showing reverence for Genevieve or Alyss Heart, he prostrated himself. “If your invitation still stands, Your Majesty,” he said, “I would be honored to join your tribe.” CHAPTER 28
R EDD HEART had been born to attract attention, and no garment from any universe, known or unknown, could have prevented the eyes of lesser creatures from being drawn to her. Finding that all attempts to blend in with the sorry specimens of Earth were futile, she stopped trying. In London’s Crystal Palace, she donned her dress of flesh-eating roses and twirled before a reflective glass, a renegade Heart pleased with what she saw. “I now consider myself officially introduced to Earth society,” she pronounced. A cheer went up from her recruits—a cheer more akin to grumbling thunder than a hearty outpouring, which for the thousand or so earthlings and ex-Wonderlanders enlisted to Redd’s cause in the past months, was the closest they could manage. “Scatter,” Redd commanded.
So they did, dispersing to explore their new home and to idle away the hours with petty scams and