you’re wearing is a drug-delivery
system. When you make any sudden move, it will secrete through
your
skin a certain something that…Well, I hope you’ll never succumb to the illusory charms of artificial crystal, but let’s just say that this certain something produces an effect similar to a night of overindulgence with such unhealthy ingestives.”
“What do you want with me?” she asked.
“You had an unpleasant tumble.” He nodded toward the unfamiliar creatures. “My Ganmede friends and I are nursing you back to health, that’s all.” “By drugging me?”
Molly tried to intimidate him with her most vicious glare, but not getting much of a response, she fell to pulling at her collar and the cuffs at her wrists. “You might as well try to remove your own skin,” Arch said. “Please understand, Molly. I have no intention of harming you. The Lady of Diamonds has caused you enough inconvenience, I think. Your flattering outfit is simply a precaution in case you overreact at finding yourself here. I hope that soon you’ll choose to stay here as my personal guest.” Molly rose to her feet—slowly, steadily. “I have a duty to my queen, who will be missing me. I would like to go home now.”
“I wouldn’t be so hasty. The queen you left might not be the one you return to.” He was trying to trick her into something. She would be smart. She would keep her mouth shut, learn as much as possible, and report back to Alyss. “I want you to know that I find it appalling how the Lady of Diamonds attempted to deceive you,” the king said. “You’re to be commended for protecting the queen from opening the Lady of Diamonds’ ‘gift,’ however much your doing so has jeopardized the queendom itself.” Seeing Molly’s questioning expression, he explained: “Yes, it seems your little adventure in the Crystal Continuum has limited the mobility of Queen Alyss’ army, a circumstance the Diamond clan has taken advantage of to try and gain the crown.”
Molly didn’t believe him, refused to believe him. Besides, the Lady of Diamonds could never defeat Alyss Heart.
Arch rose from his chair and paced about the tent. “The Diamonds came to me for support, but as you can see, my loyalty lies with Queen Alyss rather than with a scheming lady of rank in her queendom.” He was at the table, picking over her wrist-blades and coat and backpack as if they were a merchant’s untidy wares. “I should never have been so dismissive of you when we first met at Heart Palace. I should have realized that you possessed formidable skills, since it’s not anyone who can take Hatter Madigan’s place.”
Molly said nothing.
“Your parents must be extremely proud of you.” He turned abruptly to face her. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that you don’t have parents.”
King or not, he was lucky she didn’t have access to her homburg. Arch sat back down in his chair and, with practiced nonchalance, asked, “Do you know much about the people who brought you into this world?”
skin a certain something that…Well, I hope you’ll never succumb to the illusory charms of artificial crystal, but let’s just say that this certain something produces an effect similar to a night of overindulgence with such unhealthy ingestives.”
“What do you want with me?” she asked.
“You had an unpleasant tumble.” He nodded toward the unfamiliar creatures. “My Ganmede friends and I are nursing you back to health, that’s all.” “By drugging me?”
Molly tried to intimidate him with her most vicious glare, but not getting much of a response, she fell to pulling at her collar and the cuffs at her wrists. “You might as well try to remove your own skin,” Arch said. “Please understand, Molly. I have no intention of harming you. The Lady of Diamonds has caused you enough inconvenience, I think. Your flattering outfit is simply a precaution in case you overreact at finding yourself here. I hope that soon you’ll choose to stay here as my personal guest.” Molly rose to her feet—slowly, steadily. “I have a duty to my queen, who will be missing me. I would like to go home now.”
“I wouldn’t be so hasty. The queen you left might not be the one you return to.” He was trying to trick her into something. She would be smart. She would keep her mouth shut, learn as much as possible, and report back to Alyss. “I want you to know that I find it appalling how the Lady of Diamonds attempted to deceive you,” the king said. “You’re to be commended for protecting the queen from opening the Lady of Diamonds’ ‘gift,’ however much your doing so has jeopardized the queendom itself.” Seeing Molly’s questioning expression, he explained: “Yes, it seems your little adventure in the Crystal Continuum has limited the mobility of Queen Alyss’ army, a circumstance the Diamond clan has taken advantage of to try and gain the crown.”
Molly didn’t believe him, refused to believe him. Besides, the Lady of Diamonds could never defeat Alyss Heart.
Arch rose from his chair and paced about the tent. “The Diamonds came to me for support, but as you can see, my loyalty lies with Queen Alyss rather than with a scheming lady of rank in her queendom.” He was at the table, picking over her wrist-blades and coat and backpack as if they were a merchant’s untidy wares. “I should never have been so dismissive of you when we first met at Heart Palace. I should have realized that you possessed formidable skills, since it’s not anyone who can take Hatter Madigan’s place.”
Molly said nothing.
“Your parents must be extremely proud of you.” He turned abruptly to face her. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that you don’t have parents.”
King or not, he was lucky she didn’t have access to her homburg. Arch sat back down in his chair and, with practiced nonchalance, asked, “Do you know much about the people who brought you into this world?”