too far from the Heart Crystal.
She had to get close to it again, to feel a fresh influx of its
energy, and
sooner rather than later…
CHAPTER 29
I N HEART Palace’s memorial wing, Alyss was sitting on an exact replica of her mother’s favorite settee, gazing expectantly into a looking glass as if hoping to find the wisdom of the ages in its quicksilver. So many rulers become tyrants, partaking more of Black Imagination than White. Is it because being a queen or king makes you selfish? When everyone around you does as you tell them, never speaks their true minds for fear of upsetting you…How can a ruler not grow increasingly less tolerant of anyone or anything that frustrates her? But mother wasn’t like that…was she? “Queen Alyss.”
She hadn’t noticed Bibwit and General Doppelgänger enter the room. How long had they been standing there?
“A curious thing has been discovered,” Bibwit said. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you mean by ‘curious.’” “And I’m almost afraid to tell you, my dear Alyss. But it appears that imaginationists who were in the continuum at the time of Molly’s—what shall I call it?—her mishap, yes, well…it seems that these imaginationists have found themselves unable to perform. We’ve had reports of conjurers unable to conjure, writers unable to write, musicians unable to play their instruments or compose, and inventors unable to invent. Just as the mysterious NRG that Homburg Molly unwittingly released has rendered the Crystal Continuum unusable, so too has it rendered the abilities of imaginationists.” “The NRG does seem to be dissipating with time,” General Doppelgänger offered. “Whenever one of my soldiers tries to enter a looking glass portal, the NRG knocks him back, but not as forcefully as it once did. The continuum should shortly be available to citizens. We do hope that some remnant of the weapon that caused all of this will be found once the continuum is viable again, but we’re not counting on it.” Alyss remained silent, staring into the looking glass. Bibwit motioned with an ear and the general took the hint.
“Queen Alyss, if you will excuse me, I must tend to…something. Please accept my congratulations.” Alyss was startled. “For what?”
But the general’s footfalls were already echoing down the hall. Bibwit swiveled his ears away from the door, the better to focus them on his immediate surroundings. He peeked into the looking glass that had so held Alyss’ attention. He saw nothing but the room’s reflection. “Have you located him?” he asked.
Hatter. Alyss had, in her imagination’s eye, spotted the Milliner less than half a lunar hour ago, but it had been exactly the same as all the other times: Instead of finding him deep in negotiations with Arch to secure Molly’s release, he was tagging along with the king as one of his attendants—at banquets, speeches, gaming events, military exercises. Hatter’s behavior was, in the worst sense of the word, curious.
“No,” she lied. “I still haven’t found him.”
sooner rather than later…
CHAPTER 29
I N HEART Palace’s memorial wing, Alyss was sitting on an exact replica of her mother’s favorite settee, gazing expectantly into a looking glass as if hoping to find the wisdom of the ages in its quicksilver. So many rulers become tyrants, partaking more of Black Imagination than White. Is it because being a queen or king makes you selfish? When everyone around you does as you tell them, never speaks their true minds for fear of upsetting you…How can a ruler not grow increasingly less tolerant of anyone or anything that frustrates her? But mother wasn’t like that…was she? “Queen Alyss.”
She hadn’t noticed Bibwit and General Doppelgänger enter the room. How long had they been standing there?
“A curious thing has been discovered,” Bibwit said. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you mean by ‘curious.’” “And I’m almost afraid to tell you, my dear Alyss. But it appears that imaginationists who were in the continuum at the time of Molly’s—what shall I call it?—her mishap, yes, well…it seems that these imaginationists have found themselves unable to perform. We’ve had reports of conjurers unable to conjure, writers unable to write, musicians unable to play their instruments or compose, and inventors unable to invent. Just as the mysterious NRG that Homburg Molly unwittingly released has rendered the Crystal Continuum unusable, so too has it rendered the abilities of imaginationists.” “The NRG does seem to be dissipating with time,” General Doppelgänger offered. “Whenever one of my soldiers tries to enter a looking glass portal, the NRG knocks him back, but not as forcefully as it once did. The continuum should shortly be available to citizens. We do hope that some remnant of the weapon that caused all of this will be found once the continuum is viable again, but we’re not counting on it.” Alyss remained silent, staring into the looking glass. Bibwit motioned with an ear and the general took the hint.
“Queen Alyss, if you will excuse me, I must tend to…something. Please accept my congratulations.” Alyss was startled. “For what?”
But the general’s footfalls were already echoing down the hall. Bibwit swiveled his ears away from the door, the better to focus them on his immediate surroundings. He peeked into the looking glass that had so held Alyss’ attention. He saw nothing but the room’s reflection. “Have you located him?” he asked.
Hatter. Alyss had, in her imagination’s eye, spotted the Milliner less than half a lunar hour ago, but it had been exactly the same as all the other times: Instead of finding him deep in negotiations with Arch to secure Molly’s release, he was tagging along with the king as one of his attendants—at banquets, speeches, gaming events, military exercises. Hatter’s behavior was, in the worst sense of the word, curious.
“No,” she lied. “I still haven’t found him.”