Excitement gave way to sheer panic faster than Guinevere could say those same words. Passing through the veil of light, the passage that would carry her from Albia to Wonderia, she was struck no longer by how beautiful it all was, but by how disorientating it all was.
She felt sick. Her stomach did flips, terrible flips, and she nearly doubled over and fell on her face right there. But she couldn’t! Somewhere, dimly in her hazy, light-headed mind, there was still her goal.
She had to reach Wonderia. And then beyond, because Wonderia was barely even the start of her journey. She had so far to go. She couldn’t fail now, couldn’t give up now!
But up was down, left was right, and she felt herself spinning. Not the normal nausea-spinning sensation, like one was stuck in an endless ballerina twirl, no. This was impossible, surreal, horrifying. She felt like her feet were flying up to the left, her whole body doing a clockwise circle up and around to then plant her feet back on the ground, and then do it all over again, this time counterclockwise. Her stomach was in her throat, then dropped back down to its regular resting place, its contents dangerously close to emptying themselves up through her throat, an outcome that must be avoided at all costs…
The light was gone. Well, not gone. At least, light itself wasn’t gone. Oh, it was too difficult just to form her thoughts into something coherent! The veil of light had been replaced by something dim, something distant, something… covered? Shaded?
Disorientated beyond belief, it took her several moments to realize she’d stopped spinning and had, in fact, tumbled out into a heap on a grassy plain. Face-first. Eyes closed. So that was why the light seemed shaded. She felt ready to vomit, but she swallowed that urge, starting to push herself to her feet.
She was stopped by a hard footstep on her back. She cried out in pain, dropped back down to an undignified faceplant, and the person stepping on her stopped moving forward… but didn’t take their foot off her back.
“Oh?” asked a voice — a little girl’s voice, by the sound of it. “Tobias, look! I stepped on a person! But what’s she doing here? Hmm… do you think she’s dead?” The foot pressed down again, and Guinevere groaned in pain — the girl really was stepping down on an awkward point on her back.
“She’s not dead, so get off her,” said a man’s voice, serious but without the ruggedness Guinevere would expect from that grim, serious tone. There was something warm to it, too, a winning contrast to the rather rude child.
“Maybe she’s in need of medical attention,” the girl said. The foot left Guinevere’s back and then pushed hard at her ribs, flipping Guinevere onto her back. Guinevere gasped out a breath, her head spinning, realizing she still wasn’t in any condition to stand just yet. She looked up into the face of a young girl with radiant blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and the most inquisitive — and oddly mischievous — smile she’d ever seen.
“Hello, strange girl,” the girl said to Guinevere, and Guinevere so wanted to say that she was the strange girl, while Guinevere herself was the — but, no, her stomach lurched again and it was all she could do just to swallow her nausea. “What are you doing on the top of a hill all by yourself?”
All by herself?
Guinevere suddenly sat up, oblivious to nausea or dizziness as she cast about frantically. Where was Ava? Had they been separated? Had —
But then a wet nose pressed against her cheek, and a wet, warm tongue was licking her face with dainty, gentle affection.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Guinevere said, wrapping her arms around Ava, their foreheads meeting. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
“Sorry,” said the man’s voice. “She got a bit distracted. Flynn, give them a chance to breathe.”
Guinevere looked aside to see another dog, a similar breed to Ava, but about a third smaller, with a fetching red-brown coat of fur, a white tummy, and white on the ends of his paws. He stood by a black-coated man, wagging his fluffy tail and watching Guinevere and Ava with barely-contained excitement.
Guinevere pushed herself to her feet, swayed for a moment, then found her balance. And when she looked up…
Her eyes met the man’s. And for a moment, her heart sang. Clear blue eyes, clear like a cloudless, summer afternoon. Warm and kind, eyes out of a dream, out of a memory, belonging to…
Him.
But this wasn’t him. Black hair, dressed all in black, with a serious, almost dour, expression. It couldn’t be him. Even if his eyes were the same… no, not the same. If he wasn’t him, then nothing could be the same. Startlingly similar, yes, but not the same.
No, it wasn’t him. He was shorter than he should be, than Guinevere had imagined he would be after not seeing him for over ten years. And he would have never worn so much black. And at his side…
The sword was the true giveaway. It wasn’t the Sword of the Promised King, Artorius’ sword, the Elysian Blade, Excalibur. It was some ebony, onyx, obsidian — that was it, obsidian — sword, all black, just like everything else the man was wearing. Did he have a complex or something? How dare he have those eyes, yet dress so, so…?
“What’s this?” the blonde girl asked, that mischievous tone setting Guinevere on edge. And then she noticed that neither she nor the black-coated man were speaking. And he was looking at her strangely, too, wasn’t he?
Had he recognized her? She nearly panicked, but then collected herself. It didn’t matter. Not now. She was on her own, in Wonderia. Her escape was complete. No one was going to turn her in, not now.
“Sorry about her,” the knight said. His voice startled Guinevere, just like his eyes. His was a warm tenor, a warmth that he tried to mask by speaking seriously, matter-of-factly, and yet… that serious speech didn’t quite suit him, did it? More than that, there was something kind, something warm, something…
No! Don’t let this black-clad brigand remind you of him.
The swordsman held out his hand. “I’m Tobias,” he said. “And that is Alice. I’m serving as her Knight-protector. Are you well enough to continue on? We need to move quickly, before the Queen’s soldiers find us.”
“Knight-protector?” Guinevere asked, looking Tobias up and down. He had no emblem of any Knightly Order on his entire outfit. And there were no Orders that wore so much black, anyway. But worse yet was… “The Queen? What Queen?” There was no queen, no queen in all the realms save the Promised Queen, and that was her.
“The Queen of Hearts,” the rude blonde girl — Alice — said. Did she ever stop with that mischievous little smile and that snide tone? It was like she was always in on some private joke. She’d only known her for a minute and Guinevere already found the child infuriating. “She rules these lands, and Tobias says that we don’t want to trifle with her.” The not-at-all subtle roll of her eyes suggested what Alice thought of that.
“It’s true,” Tobias said. Beside him, Flynn whined softly. And suddenly, Guinevere took his warning seriously. It was one thing for this knight-pretender to make such a claim, but if his dog was worried, that made all the difference. Dogs were far more trustworthy than humans. “Are you well enough to continue on? It seems that was your first time through a door, so —”
And suddenly, Guinevere had had quite enough. “I didn’t ask for your sympathy,” she said, eyes narrowing as she looked down at the hand he was still holding out to her. “I’m quite all right, thank you very much. And as for you, knight-pretender, how dare you call yourself a Knight, with that uncultured Westgard accent and that dark, drab attire? What Order do you belong to? You —”
But she came up short, as Tobias reached into his coat pocket, withdrew a Chivalric Marque, and handed it to her. She stared at it for a moment, as if it was some hallucination, but no. It was quite real. And more startling was the emblem on its front: the silver falcon. He belonged to the Order of Jouerve, the Journeying Knights. They were the Knights who traveled far and wide, who took on requests from the people and were renowned not only for their keen swordsmanship, independent spirit, and extensive knowledge of both realms, but also, most tellingly…
For their kindness.
The Journeying Knights were ones who served not the Promised King and Queen, nor the kingdom itself, but the people — people of the kingdom, and out of the kingdom, and even beyond Albia to Wonderia. Their creed focused entirely on putting others before themselves, giving of their all for their fellow persons, young or old, male or female, rich or poor, Albian or Wonderian.
This was the Order that the black-clad, dour-faced swordsman belonged to?
But that did explain the warmth in his voice, the kindness in his eyes, and the care he took in asking after Guinevere’s well-being.
This Tobias, or whoever he was, was more than he first appeared. Guinevere had to admit that, even if she did so begrudgingly.
Besides, his dog and Ava were fast friends. And a man’s dog said a great deal about the man himself.
Guinevere took the offered Chivalric Marque and opened it. Inside was Tobias’ name — curious that it only displayed a given name, and no family name — his knightly title, “Obsidian,” a list of seven references — all Knights whose names Guinevere recognized and who were spoken of very highly — and the name and title of his Captain, Captain Anton Lécroiers, the Palatinate Protector.
“Well,” Guinevere said, handing the Chivalric Marque back to him. “It seems to be in order. Now, then. What’s this about a Queen of Hearts? Why are we in her lands to begin with?”
“If you don’t use a key, doors can take you anywhere,” Alice said with a shrug.
Tobias nodded. “She rules these lands,” he said, “with an iron fist and a severe penalty for all who cross her. Which is why we need to get beyond her borders as quickly as possible. Are you well enough to move?”
“Yes,” Guinevere said, rather shortly, annoyed at being asked so many times — and, in the back of her mind, understanding that she could have answered the question the first time and avoided being asked more than once.
“I’m Alice,” Alice said, holding out her hand, smirking up at Guinevere.
“Yes, I know,” Guinevere said, raising an eyebrow at the child. “He already told me.”
“Yes, but I didn’t tell you,” Alice said, obstinately holding out that hand of hers. “And you haven’t told us your name.”
Guinevere paused, but only for a moment. She knew who she was, and she wasn’t going to hide her identity when she’d already escaped Ars Moran. Especially when there was some self-titled queen ruling these lands. She drew herself up, smiling proudly. “I am Guinevere, the Promised Queen.”
“I thought so,” Alice said, far too casually, with that annoying little smirk of hers.
“You —” Guinevere started, lost for words. This was the first time anyone who knew who she was had ever not been awed by her presence. She looked at the girl, and then at Tobias, who also wore a look that said he’d known who she was already, and that he wasn’t impressed. But he wasn’t unimpressed, either. He simply saw her as…
Guinevere.
Just Guinevere.
That was…
Oddly refreshing. Guinevere took a step back, took a breath, and nodded, mostly to herself. “Yes, well, we should get going, right?” she asked.
“We should,” Alice said with a little giggle that made Guinevere narrow her eyes. Oh, this child was going to be a problem, wasn’t she?
“Follow me,” Tobias said, striding forward with surprisingly long strides for his height. He wasn’t short, not compared to his company — a small child and the five-foot-four Guinevere — but he certainly wasn’t tall for a grown man, or, for that matter, for a Knight. Guinevere was so used to even the incompetent, boring members of the Knights of the Promise being well over six feet tall. Even sweet “little” Lancelot was six-foot-one. But Tobias was clearly not even six feet tall. What was he… five-nine? Five-eight?
Yet he carries himself well. I don’t approve of his attire. And I certainly don’t approve of his eyes being so much like… his. But he’s clearly a man who knows how to handle himself. And with his references, he must be quite capable as a Knight.
Were all her preconceived notions going to crumble so quickly? The whole world couldn’t be completely different from how she’d imagined, could it?
Of course not. This was just a fluke. She’d made a fool of herself coming through the door, and was now playing catch-up with unexpected company. Even as she hastened after Tobias and Flynn, she found herself struggling with her sword. No, she didn’t have experience walking with a sword at her hip — all of her sword instruction had come in a training hall, where swords lay ready to lift from racks to use for the session and then return to the wall.
This really is going to take some getting used to. But I mustn’t be annoyed at my sword. It’s me. I have to get used to this, that’s all.
She found herself watching Tobias, with his much larger sword at his hip, striding confidently, that long black scabbard never once getting in the way. Not just of his legs, but his coat, too! How did someone wear a long coat and a sword at once? She knew most of the Knights, from all the various Orders, wore knee-length coats as part of their uniforms, but watching him now, she was amazed at how effortless he made it look.
I won’t fall behind. I’m not quite sure I like him. There are quite a few things I decidedly don’t like about him.
But I can learn from him. For however long our paths align.
——
Tobias led the way, Flynn right beside him. Both had eyes and ears and noses alert for the sights, sounds, and smells they knew to be wary of. The Queen’s soldiers’ weapons and armor made quite distinct songs, songs that Tobias and his faithful companion knew to listen for. And there were peculiar scents that could give away the Queen’s soldiers, as well.
The Queen.
He could hear Guinevere stomping along behind, occasionally muttering under her breath. She was clearly completely unsuited for any of this. But then, that wasn’t unexpected. When had she ever had the chance to experience this kind of journey? And what terrible luck, falling into the Queen of Hearts’ lands on her first trip to Wonderia. He had nothing but sympathy for her — and was doing his best to get both her and Alice to safety.
Still…
What are the odds?
He was bewildered at who they’d run into, who Alice had stepped on, who’d crossed their path no more than an hour after they’d arrived in Wonderia. Guinevere, the Promised Queen. Of course he’d known who she was. Even so, it was… he didn’t have the words for how he felt, seeing her in person. It hadn’t been easy to contain his emotions, emotions he hadn’t been prepared for, emotions he still couldn’t quite process.
He looked down at Flynn. Flynn, who kept glancing back at both Guinevere and Ava, his tail wagging often despite the danger they were in.
Depending on how long we’re all together, this could get… interesting.
He sent a glance of his own back. At Guinevere… and Alice.
Alice was keeping up quite well. Even with that huge black-and-white trunk, bigger than her, trundling along behind her. Even with her short legs and small feet.
She was keeping up quite well with him.
This girl is far more than meets the eye.
Guinevere, meanwhile… was doing her best.
I could slow down a little.
He slowed his pace, just a tiny bit, still hurrying. “Flynn, you picking up anything I’m not?” he asked.
Flynn’s ears twitched. He sniffed the air. A slight shake, like a swift shiver down his body, that ended in a quick left-right-left tail wag — nothing to report. Not yet, anyway. Although the little crinkle in his nose that followed was keen to inform Tobias that he smelled quite a delightful aroma from a meal brewing about two miles to the southwest. Tobias chuckled.
He looked over his other shoulder. They were exposed up here. This narrow road, on a high ridge, with the grasslands sloping off sharply to either side, made them easy to see.
But it was a chosen tradeoff, because it also meant that he could easily see any approaching danger. Wide, verdant fields led to tall hedge mazes and lush, scarlet rose gardens. A network of red-brick roads connected the various walled towns that housed the Queen of Hearts’ loyal subjects — those that didn’t live in the palace or were enlisted in her army, that is. His eyes settled on a scarlet tower far ahead, to the left, near the ruby-ore mountains that bordered the Queen’s lands.
She’s been expanding.
There was a troubling thought. The Queen of Hearts was already a menace to this corner of Wonderia. For her to expand further, to conquer more lands, to subjugate more Wonderians…
And worse yet, Tobias had a sinking feeling he knew her ultimate aim. Yes, she hungered for power, and dominion, and control. No, she wouldn’t stop expanding, even after she gained what her heart most desired. But the reason she was expanding now, the reason she went on unchecked, spread herself perhaps too thin…
Was Tobias.
He shivered. His last narrow escape from her clutches still made his skin crawl and his stomach twist itself into knots. What sick twist of fate had brought Tobias and Alice out here, of all places? And what further twist of fate had brought the Promised Queen here to join them?
And, his attention returning to their merry little band, he suppressed a sigh. “Leave your absurdly large trunk behind,” Guinevere was saying. “You can’t possibly drag it along forever, and its wheels rumbling along the road is grating on my ears.”
“Then plug your ears,” Alice said, and Tobias heard the smile in her voice. Guinevere was genuinely annoyed, that was clear. Alice, as she seemed to always do, was enjoying this. “Or better yet, leave your silly rucksack behind. You’re the reason Tobias slowed down.”
“He didn’t slow down!” Guinevere said. Indignance was something she did with aplomb. “We’d all move faster if your small legs and small body weren’t tasked with dragging around your ridiculous trunk.”
“Won’t you carry it for me?” Alice asked with mock sweetness.
“Ask your knight-protector to do it,” Guinevere said.
“I couldn’t possibly burden him with my own belongings when he’s the only one standing between me and danger!” Alice said, teasingly imitating Guinevere’s indignant tone. It was an excellent imitation, and Tobias had to fight not to smirk.
“This is absurd,” Guinevere said. “Tobias, why don’t you tell her to leave her trunk behind?”
“Then he’d have to tell you to leave your rucksack behind,” Alice said.
“No one’s leaving anything behind,” Tobias said. “You both brought what you need. You’ve only just met, so don’t go assuming the other is carrying too much. Alice is keeping up just fine, as are you, Guinevere. Stop arguing.” He glanced down at Flynn, whose ears twitched, a little forward-back, forward-back motion. “Flynn and I are trying to keep our ears open for approaching soldiers.”
“Soldiers?” Guinevere asked. “You mean this false-queen has an army?”
“A substantial one,” Tobias said. “When she shared these lands with her three sisters, her force was potent enough. After she killed each of her sisters and stole their lands from them, she also brought their armies under her thrall. Don’t underestimate her, however you feel about her title. She’s a tyrant and a conqueror, and the worst kind.”
“What kind is that?” Alice asked, coming up alongside Tobias and gazing up at him curiously.
Tobias sighed. “The petulant, childish kind,” he said. “She’s selfish, spoiled, expects everything she wants to be hers, and has the power to make that a reality.”
“She killed her sisters?” Guinevere asked, for once sounding like she was taking something seriously.
“Yes,” Tobias said. The road widened, the ridge giving way to a high plateau with swaying emerald grass and a few spherical trees with blossoming red flowers. “These lands were once divided in four. The Queen of Hearts, the Queen of Clubs, the Queen of Spades, and the Queen of Diamonds. Four sisters, who all ruled in some semblance of harmony. Until Saoirse decided that her land wasn’t enough. Decided that what was her sisters’ should be hers. When they refused her, she conquered their lands, imprisoned them for a time, and then had them each beheaded.”
“Beheaded…?” Guinevere asked in a hushed voice.
“ ‘Saoirse’?” Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. Tobias’ eyes twitched. He’d slipped. Alice smirked. “You know her, don’t you?”
“What?” Guinevere asked.
Tobias halted as they reached the far edge of the plateau. Two roads descended, one winding its way left, towards a low valley and a rushing sapphire river; the other winding its way right, up and down a few hills before disappearing into a dark, dense forest.
Both were at the edge of the Queen of Hearts’ territory, borders to different lands. Which was the best way to escape?
“Tobias?” Alice asked, drawing the last syllable out, gazing at him expectantly.
Tobias let out a sigh. “Yes, I know her,” he said. “And I wish I didn’t. Come on.” He started towards the left path. “Let’s get out of —”
Flynn barked a sharp warning. Tobias turned, drawing his sword. “Flynn, flank out wide!” he said. Flynn barked a single assent and then dashed off, vanishing through the tall grass.
And as he did, up from that grass rose dozens of the Queen of Hearts’ card soldiers.
Clad in red armor from head to toe, their flat, metallic torsos emblazoned with the heart emblem of the Queen’s elite soldiers, each carried a wicked pike with a scarlet, heart-shaped blade. Magnetically adhered to their backs were their sidearms — half had curved swords, while the other half had crossbows and quivers full of arrows.
Tobias, Alice, and Guinevere were surrounded.
“Welcome back, Tobias,” came a familiar high-strung voice in a thick, North-Wonderian brogue. Up the path hopped a white rabbit, about three feet tall, clad in a scarlet waistcoat. Gold-rimmed spectacles rested on the bridge of his pink nose, and hanging from a chain around his neck was an absurdly huge pocket watch.
“White,” Tobias said, nodding a greeting to the rabbit. He took a step forward, taking up a better position to protect Alice and Guinevere, but that one step set all thirty-six soldiers on edge, lowering their pikes in threatening unison. Through the visors of their plumed helmets, their glowing red eyes glinted in warning.
“You really don’t want to cause a fuss, Tobias,” White said, checking his watch. “You’re expected at the Queen’s palace by two o’ clock. Just in time for afternoon tea.”
“I’m sure I am,” Tobias said darkly. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the enemy troops. This would be challenging. Not so much if he was alone — he and Flynn could handle them — but fighting them all while protecting Alice and Guinevere… challenging. Not impossible. Especially with Flynn ready to run interference. He’d start on the —
“You’ll never take us!” Guinevere snarled. Out came her rapier, and she lunged with practiced precision, thrusting for the nearest card soldier’s face. The soldier backstepped, just out of reach, and two others swiftly closed in, locked Guinevere’s blade in their pikes, and, with a yank, disarmed her.
A second later — too fast for Tobias to stop it — they’d clamped their gauntleted hands on Guinevere’s arms and twisted them behind her back. Her hair ended up in her face, but even then Tobias could see the ferocious glare in her green eyes as she struggled against them. Beside her, Ava barked wildly for a moment, until one of the soldiers kicked her in the snout. Ava yelped, tumbling backwards, and couldn’t get up in time to evade the pike questing for her heart…
But Tobias was fast enough for that. He stepped in, parrying the soldier’s pike with his obsidian sword. The song that sounded from that clash set the soldier’s entire body to shuddering, paralyzed by that resonance. Tobias took another step towards the soldier and thrust his blade through the gap between helmet and metallic torso, placing the tip of his blade right against the center of the soldier’s neck — one of their few vital points.
“We all go alive, or we all die here!” Tobias proclaimed in a loud, clear voice that could not be mistaken. The soldiers immediately went still, the ones holding onto Guinevere metallic statues that she couldn’t escape from.
If rabbits sweated, then Tobias knew White’s forehead would be damp right now. As it was, White’s nose twitched, his eyebrows did a little dance, and he fidgeted with his pocket watch half a dozen times. “Yes, well…” he started, muttering a dozen other things under his breath.
“That includes you, White!” Tobias said. He shot a glance at Guinevere, whose vicious glare had turned into a mixture of fear and disappointment. A glance to the other side, at Alice, saw her standing there rather nonchalantly, one hand resting on her trunk, the other perched on her hip, her eyes fixed on Tobias.
Watching to see how I’ll handle this, huh?
“Really, that’s entirely unnecessary!” White cried, throwing his paws in the air. “Soldiers! Leave them be! All of them! Take any who resist by any non-lethal force necessary, but otherwise leave them. Bring along the girl’s sword.”
“I am no girl,” Guinevere said, the fire and fury back in eyes and voice. “I am the Promised Queen, you ridiculous rabbit.”
Tobias clenched his jaw. Guinevere was going to be a problem. Or she was going to learn, very quickly, just how far her pride would get her.
“There is only one Queen,” White said, drawing himself up with dignified grace. “And she will more than likely have your head for making such claims, even if Tobias pleads for your life. Watch your tongue.”
“I can go quite well on my own, thank you,” Alice said in a singsong voice, stepping daintily out of reach of two card soldiers who tried to grab her.
“Yes, yes, let her go on her own unless she resists,” White said, waving a paw. Yes, he really would be sweating quite profusely if he were human. “Tobias? Will you kindly…” He raised one paw and then lowered it slowly.
Tobias lowered his sword. With a slight application of will, he ended the song that was keeping the soldier he’d had his blade to paralyzed, and the soldier suddenly hefted his pike to his shoulder and started marching out with the others.
“Why won’t you confiscate his sword?” Guinevere asked as the two soldiers started marching her ahead, shooting a venomous glare at Tobias.
“Oh, we do not bring any harm or discomfort to Tobias unless absolutely necessary,” White said.
“So you know the Queen of Hearts, do you?” Alice asked, shooting a mischievous smirk Tobias’ way.
“I really wish I didn’t,” Tobias said. He started off with the soldiers, sheathing his sword with some reluctance. Ava padded along between Tobias and Guinevere — closer to Tobias than Guinevere, he noticed. She had her head slightly lowered, clearly still smarting from that kick.
“Where is your furry companion?” White asked, casting a shrewd look at Tobias.
Tobias shrugged. “He ran off when he sensed trouble,” he said. “He’ll come back when it suits him.”
“Call him back,” White said nervously.
Tobias couldn’t quite stop himself from smirking. “He’s an animal, he has his own ideas,” he said. “You really think he always listens to me?”
White clearly had his suspicions. Not unfounded suspicions, of course — he knew exactly what Tobias and Flynn were capable of as a team. There was a brief internal struggle there, thinking of how he might get Tobias to bring Flynn back, how he might force Flynn to come along with them rather than roam free.
But clearly, White relented. “Of course,” the rabbit said, looking ahead, leading the march. Tobias let some of the tension leave him.
We’ll be all right, then. Not how I’d planned things to go, but…
Well. You can’t account for the wild cards in the party. Guinevere’s going to be no end of trouble, isn’t she? And Alice… I’m not sure I’ll ever know what she’s thinking.
Flynn, what have we gotten ourselves into?