“Technicalities are for engineers,
Alyss. I approve your choice of Dodge for a husband, even
if,
technically, it isn’t my place to do so. But humor a wise, ancient albino, will you, and don’t chastise me for my approval.”
After some time, Alyss said, “Thank you.” Her thoughts had led her back to Hatter, to the possible reasons for his troubling behavior in Boarderland. It has everything to do with Arch, I know it does. Throughout their trial, the Lord and Lady of Diamonds had asserted their innocence, claiming that they had been set up by Boarderland’s king. The evidence said otherwise: So damning was it that even the Diamonds’ connections in court hadn’t saved them from being sentenced to the Crystal Mines for twenty lunar years.
“I doubt Lord and Lady Diamond were as innocent as they claimed,” Alyss said, “and yet…” “You think there may be some truth in what they alleged of Arch?” asked Bibwit. “That it had been his idea to give Molly the mysterious weapon?” “Yes.”
“We’ve discussed this, Alyss. As helpless as it makes you feel, when it comes to King Arch, nothing can be done. It wouldn’t be wise to accuse him of aggression against Wonderland, especially when we have only the Diamonds’ accusations to support the claim.” “I know.”
Bibwit smiled—one of those sad smiles suggestive of a lifetime of accumulated knowledge, not all of it heartwarming. “But what you know and what you feel are two different things?” She nodded.
“It’s a hard lesson,” said the tutor, “one of the hardest, to learn that with all of your imaginative powers, there are times when you can do nothing.” CHAPTER 30
A RCH HAD long ago found that his best defense against enemies was to guard against what he would do if he were his own adversary. Putting himself in Hatter’s place—shockingly reunited with Weaver, his daughter held prisoner—Arch would have made the same choice the Milliner had made; he too would have joined the tribe. But, the king reminded himself, Hatter’s joining the tribe should not be mistaken for genuine allegiance. If he were Hatter, he would use it as a means of gaining time to learn what he could of Molly’s whereabouts, and to get reacquainted with Weaver. He would do all he was told until such time as he could effect Molly’s rescue. Convicting Hatter of his own counterplots, Arch did not allow the Milliner to go anywhere unobserved. Hatter took his meals with Ripkins and Blister and was given a cot in their tent. On the occasions he was granted leave to visit with Weaver, an intel minister was always close by, watching, listening. Was it reckless to let the Milliner converse with Weaver? Arch didn’t think so. If anything, the care he himself had shown to Weaver, and the “friendship” that had formed as a result, might confuse Hatter, chip away at his steadfast loyalty to the Heart clan until, for the security of his own family, he became more accepting of Arch as his king. Hatter might go from feigning allegiance to sincerely embodying it.
“Do you know what this is?” Arch asked.
technically, it isn’t my place to do so. But humor a wise, ancient albino, will you, and don’t chastise me for my approval.”
After some time, Alyss said, “Thank you.” Her thoughts had led her back to Hatter, to the possible reasons for his troubling behavior in Boarderland. It has everything to do with Arch, I know it does. Throughout their trial, the Lord and Lady of Diamonds had asserted their innocence, claiming that they had been set up by Boarderland’s king. The evidence said otherwise: So damning was it that even the Diamonds’ connections in court hadn’t saved them from being sentenced to the Crystal Mines for twenty lunar years.
“I doubt Lord and Lady Diamond were as innocent as they claimed,” Alyss said, “and yet…” “You think there may be some truth in what they alleged of Arch?” asked Bibwit. “That it had been his idea to give Molly the mysterious weapon?” “Yes.”
“We’ve discussed this, Alyss. As helpless as it makes you feel, when it comes to King Arch, nothing can be done. It wouldn’t be wise to accuse him of aggression against Wonderland, especially when we have only the Diamonds’ accusations to support the claim.” “I know.”
Bibwit smiled—one of those sad smiles suggestive of a lifetime of accumulated knowledge, not all of it heartwarming. “But what you know and what you feel are two different things?” She nodded.
“It’s a hard lesson,” said the tutor, “one of the hardest, to learn that with all of your imaginative powers, there are times when you can do nothing.” CHAPTER 30
A RCH HAD long ago found that his best defense against enemies was to guard against what he would do if he were his own adversary. Putting himself in Hatter’s place—shockingly reunited with Weaver, his daughter held prisoner—Arch would have made the same choice the Milliner had made; he too would have joined the tribe. But, the king reminded himself, Hatter’s joining the tribe should not be mistaken for genuine allegiance. If he were Hatter, he would use it as a means of gaining time to learn what he could of Molly’s whereabouts, and to get reacquainted with Weaver. He would do all he was told until such time as he could effect Molly’s rescue. Convicting Hatter of his own counterplots, Arch did not allow the Milliner to go anywhere unobserved. Hatter took his meals with Ripkins and Blister and was given a cot in their tent. On the occasions he was granted leave to visit with Weaver, an intel minister was always close by, watching, listening. Was it reckless to let the Milliner converse with Weaver? Arch didn’t think so. If anything, the care he himself had shown to Weaver, and the “friendship” that had formed as a result, might confuse Hatter, chip away at his steadfast loyalty to the Heart clan until, for the security of his own family, he became more accepting of Arch as his king. Hatter might go from feigning allegiance to sincerely embodying it.
“Do you know what this is?” Arch asked.