Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor Read Free Book Online

delivering my weapon into Homburg Molly’s girlish hands, once Wonderland is in my care, I intend to grant you back your ancestral lands to govern as you please.”
    â€œThe Diamond Hectariat?”
    The king nodded. “The borders of which will be exactly as they used to be before your ancestors and those of the Club, Spade, and Heart clans formed the coalition that eventually became Wonderland. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll even throw in a bit of the Clubs’ former hectariat for you to govern?”
    Well, well. That was something the Diamonds hadn’t expected. The hectariat theirs again? They could always scheme to get control of the Heart Crystal later.
    Bloated with family pride, Jack emptied onto the table a pocketful of rhyolite crystals he’d filched from the mines. “Is there a wig merchant in this settlement you can recommend, Arch?”
    â€œIn Boarderland, men do not wear wigs,” said the king, thinking he’d have this carved somewhere on his nation’s landscape at the next opportunity. “Now listen well, all of you. Here’s my plan…”
    Â 
    After the Diamonds had been escorted out of the tent, Arch dismissed everyone save Ripkins and Blister.
    â€œYou know what you’re to do?”
    The bodyguards nodded.
    â€œShe’ll be unconscious from the blast, but she shouldn’t be too injured. Do not make her more so.”
    Their disappointment was obvious—they who usually held themselves so taut had slackened somehow.
    â€œScent the seekers with this.” Arch handed Ripkins the button that had dropped off Molly’s coat during his interview with Alyss. “You should have no trouble once the Crystal Continuum is out of commission, as Wonderland’s military will be too preoccupied. Remember: Alyss and her forces do not know that I’m the aggressor, so don’t let yourselves be seen. But as I won’t begrudge you having some fun on your outing…should anybody see you, you’re not to let them live.”
    The bodyguards shrugged off their disappointment, their usual spirits returned.
    â€œBlister thanks you,” said Blister.
    â€œRipkins too,” said Ripkins.
    Showing proper deference to their king, these rivals to Hatter Madigan’s military prowess took their leave, and before Arch had retired for the night, they crossed the border into Alyss’ realm with nowhere near the cunning they might have, hoping to be seen by as many Wonderlanders as possible.

C HAPTER 7
    D ODGE HAD left to perform his guardsman duties. Not wanting to be alone, Alyss donned a cloak against the night’s chill and ventured out onto the palace grounds. She probably should have gone to sleep. In his teasing, avuncular manner, Bibwit was always reminding her that, for a queen to be at her best, she should get at least eight lunar hours of sleep a night in order to avoid making an unwise decision due to fatigue. There would be reasons enough for unwise decisions in this life, he explained. Yet here she was, scepter in hand, following a path between the palace and the outer wall that separated the grounds from the rest of Wondertropolis. Geraniums of yellow, lavender, and red bowed as she passed. The branches of hollizalea shrubs unique to Wonderland dipped in respect. The night air carried the melody of “The Queen’s March” softly hummed by sunflowers.
    Alyss approached a hedge indistinguishable from those around it, paused to make sure she wasn’t being watched, then stepped into the hedge and—
    Vanished.
    The roots of the hedge had unlocked a large hatchway camouflaged with furry groundcover. Alyss descended through the opening into a subterranean chamber, the location of which was known only to her most trusted advisers and the select few Bibwit had recruited to secretly move the Heart Crystal here one moonless night.
    Ridiculous that I have to act the thief whenever I want to visit it .
    There it