Disclaimer: I don't own Tin Man or Alice, they belong to SyFy. I'd film this story if I owned them.
Az knew something was not right when the summons came during Rider training. Everyone knew that she could only be called away if something had gone horribly wrong. The fact that the summons came from her mother was equally telling – and alarming.
The atmosphere in Queen Lavender's ready room was one of high tension. Besides her mother and father, DG, Glitch, and Wyatt Cain, who stood guarding the door, the ambassador from Wonderland was present, a man whose title was Nine of Clubs. His true name, however, was Marino Club. He was the younger brother to King Jack's own advisor, Giacomo Club, otherwise known as Ten of Clubs. The ambassador looked grim, his skin pale in contrast to his usual black ensemble with hat. She didn't find the Clubs' attire appealing – it made men look like large ravens.
"Mother," Az said as she entered, removing her cloak and taking her place at Glitch's right side. "I was with the Riders. What is wrong?" She sent a questioning glance at DG, who shrugged.
"Ambassador Raw has gone missing," Queen Lavender replied without preamble, her eyes focused on the ambassador.
The room erupted into chaos. Both DG and Glitch leapt to their feet, their voices high and agitated. Wyatt's expression darkened, but he remained silent. Az clapped a hand over her mouth. Only Queen Lavender and Ahamo remained seated and outwardly calm, looking at Nine of Clubs.
"DG, Ambrose, please sit," Lavender said calmly. DG spun around to argue, but was quelled by looks from her mother and sister. "Ambassador Raw has missed his past three check-ins. Ambassador Club, what can you tell us?"
"Your Majesty, all I know is what Ten of Clubs has told me. Two days ago, Ambassador Raw had a session with King Jack and himself. After the meeting, his whereabouts are unknown." The ambassador's face was completely devoid of tells. Despite everything, Az was impressed. The Clubs had a reputation of being quite self-possessed compared to their brethren amongst the other founding clans of Wonderland. They were the scholars and seekers of knowledge, and had never desired the throne for themselves. Because of this, they served as the primary advisers for the ruling clan of Wonderland. Once upon a time, they had been the Diamonds, the dynasty of the White Kings and Queens. Now, it was the Hearts.
Az wondered what they made of the reversal. What did they think of their new masters? There was no doubt that they had served the Queen of Hearts out of self-preservation. Did they find Jack Heart a king worth following, or were they merely biding their time until a worthy ruler came along? They could afford to bide their time. Knowledge was their true master, and it had never left them.
"What is being done about this situation?" The queen's expression may have been neutral, but her lovely amethyst eyes were cold. Her usual façade of motherly benevolence was gone. The position of Queen of the Outer Zone required the juggling of many masks and that was but one of them. "Surely you understand, Ambassador. Ambassador Raw is a valuable member of my council, as well as a beloved hero of the Outer Zone's Resistance. He is also a prominent personage amongst his people. His absence would be enough to cause a stir. Anything else could cause an…incident."
Nine of Clubs suppressed a wince and Az was sympathetic, but only marginally so. Her mother had more or less informed the ambassador to get Raw back or the Outer Zone would be forced to take action against Wonderland. It was the exact opposite of what Jack Heart wanted to forge between their two countries. No one wanted war, but the disappearance of a high-ranking official of Raw's status and importance could not be overlooked or ignored.
"Your Majesty, King Jack has put his top agents on the case. Ten of Clubs has made it his top priority-"
"That isn't good enough!" DG burst out. She ignored the warning look from both of her parents. "Your king is responsible for the safety and well-being of his diplomats – just like we are responsible for you. I'm sure you're aware of the insult, Ambassador."
He inclined his head in her direction. "I do understand, Your Highness. I will submit to whatever treatment you see fit." His brother had told him to expect as much. He did not savor the idea of spending time in the dungeons, but if it made them feel better about the untimely disappearance of their own ambassador, then what could he do?
"That will not be necessary, Ambassador." Queen Lavender glared at DG, who somehow managed to look cowed and defiant at the same time. "Your imprisonment will not allow for the return of Ambassador Raw, though I reserve the chance to do so at a later point should I be displeased. However, do mark my words, Ambassador. I take this very seriously."
"So do we, Your Majesty."
She inclined her head. "You are dismissed, Ambassador." It was an abrupt dismissal, but it was obvious that the Ambassador had no useful information that he was willing to impart at that time.
DG waited until he'd left the room before she turned to her mother. "We have to find him," she said urgently. "He could be anywhere! He could be-"
"Darling, what do you think I've been doing the past two days?" Her hand drifted up to graze her temple, and only then did Az realize that her mother was tired. There were shadows beneath her eyes and her skin seemed paler than usual. "I've scryed as much as I can but I've found nothing. I was hoping you two could attempt it."
Az swallowed. Scrying was traditional magic. With the state of her magic right now, she wasn't sure if she could handle it. "Perhaps if DG and I try together we can find something," she suggested.
Queen Lavender motioned to the mirror that was inlaid into the center of the table. "Please. Even the slightest hint will prove useful. I do not trust that Jack Heart's men will be effective."
DG came around the table and took Az's hand. Your magic still feels funny, she said through their silent connection. Is this why you wanted to do it this way?
Yes, Az said back. I'll lend you my strength, Deeg. You know how to scry, let's just widen the parameters.
Together, the two sisters closed their eyes and with their free hands, touched the edges of the mirror. Its reflective surface immediately dissolved into blackness. And for the next five minutes, that was all that was displayed.
"That is what I saw as well," Queen Lavender murmured, dismayed. "Complete darkness. I fear its meaning."
"That can't mean that Raw is dead, right?" Glitch asked anxiously.
Az opened her eyes and exchanged glances with DG. They removed their hands and the mirror reverted back to its natural state. "Raw is not dead," she said firmly. "We weren't able to discern much, but we were able to determine that, at least."
"How do you know?" Wyatt asked from the doorway. His arms were crossed and a deep crease marred his forehead.
"Because if he were dead we would have seen a vision of his dead body," DG replied. She was glad that she'd been paying attention to Tutor during that particular training session. "We can't see anything, but we got a few...feelings."
"Raw appears to be in a place that is impervious to scrying methods – or any type of magical search. But he is alive." The implications were worrying. Wonderland did not have much of a magical tradition, so how was it possible that he was in a place that their magic could not penetrate? Az turned to her mother, but Queen Lavender was already shaking her head.
"I have no idea what it could mean, Azkadellia. If it were possible, I would say dragons, but Wonderland turned its back on them when the Hearts took over."
DG laughed. "Oh, that's funny, mother. Dragons…" she trailed off as Glitch and her mother turned to look at her. "You're not joking? There are dragons here?"
"There were, and there probably still are. But they no longer associate with the citizens of Nonestica, and I do not blame them. There is precious little magic left in the land, and dragons are creatures of magic."
"No way."
"Yes way, doll. There are books in the library to prove it." Glitch kicked his feet onto the table, chewing on his lip pensively. "There could still be places in Wonderland that have retained ancient magic from the dragons, much in the way than Ancient magic has steeped itself in places here. And no one really knows what the third party of the Great Alliance was capable of doing…now that is a mystery for the ages."
Queen Lavender frowned. "Yes, there are records of that in old dealings with Wonderland. My ancestors always found it so frustrating that whilst they could mingle with the dragons, they never knew the identities of the third party of the alliance. The Diamonds were so very protective of them, whoever they were."
"Great Alliance? Third party? I'm missing something here," DG said.
Lavender nodded to Glitch, who leaned forward, always eager to tell a story. "Wonderland wasn't always a unified country, see. It was a loose conglomeration of controlled lands which were mostly ruled by four prominent clans."
"Let me guess – the Diamonds, the Hearts, the Spades, and the Clubs," DG guessed.
Glitch clicked his tongue in approval. "Got it in one. You see, it was necessary for all of these polities to join together in order to keep from being swallowed by Merry Land or Quox. Wonderland's pretty rich for such a small country. But still, unification wasn't enough to keep the threat at bay. The four families needed a little back up, and that's where the Great Alliance comes in. It was the partnership of humans, dragons, and another, unknown species, that vowed to work together in order to protect Wonderland. The dragons lived in the Spine and kept the Merry Landers at bay whilst the unknown third party guarded the border to the south."
"And no one has any idea who the third party was?" DG pressed, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I'm sorry, but how can a secret be that well-kept?"
"Darling, you're not really one to talk of well-kept secrets," her father said with a grin. The truth of DG's existence had been a crucial secret when it came to the liberation of the O.Z.
"Well, still!" she insisted.
"No one really knows, dollface," Glitch said with a shrug of his shoulders. "You get the occasional reference in texts about horrible fanged and winged creatures, but no one's ever been able to confirm the rumors."
The younger princess still didn't look mollified. "So, what happened to this Great Alliance?"
"It dissolved when the Diamonds were overthrown," Queen Lavender said. "The non-human's alliance was mostly to the Diamonds. The dragons especially abhorred the research that led to the production of teas. By the time the Queen of Hearts came to power, no one had heard from either the dragons or the third party in years."
"That's stupid," DG grumbled. "They're dragons. Why would you ever want to lose an alliance with them?"
Az patted her sister's hand. "Well, no one ever said that the people of Wonderland were sensible."
"Not that this hasn't been an interesting segue and all, but we still aren't any closer to figuring out how to retrieve Raw." Ahamo raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Wyatt grumbled.
DG and Glitch looked abashed. "Ah…"
"I don't trust Jack Heart to get him back," Az said decisively. "Even if he is proven innocent of this dealing. It is obvious that one of his subjects is wildly out of control. Don't you see? The coup, the assassination attempt, and now Raw's disappearance? Someone will stop at nothing to ensure that we never become allies with Wonderland."
"And what do you propose we do, darling?" Ahamo asked. "This is not like the Other Side. We cannot send an extraction team, there's no precedent for that sort of thing."
"Even the Shadow Man's spies are only fit for information gathering," Queen Lavender added.
Az raised an eyebrow. "Well, perhaps it's time to change that."
The queen and her prince consort exchanged significant glances. "Do you have anything in mind?" her father asked mildly.
"Perhaps." She had an idea, but she needed more time. She said nothing more.
"Wyatt, Glitch, and I should go," DG said.
"Absolutely not!" Lavender and Ahamo said together.
"Why not?" DG shot back, wounded by their instantaneous refusal. "Raw is our friend! We've done the whole prison break thing before and we could find him-"
"How?" Queen Lavender demanded. "DG, your intentions are good but you are not thinking. You are expecting me to sacrifice the head of my security and my most prominent adviser, not to mention one of my daughters for something that could well turn out to be a wild goose chase of the most dangerous sort!"
"You let Az take Glitch and Raw to see the Vedu!"
"That was a low-risk short-term diplomatic trade mission," Ahamo reminded her. "This situation is much more volatile and much more dangerous. We have one prominent adviser missing and we cannot afford to lose another one."
"And with the assassination attempt, there's no way that I can leave the queen," Wyatt said quietly. He didn't flinch as DG turned wounded eyes his way, but there was a good deal of resignation in his eyes. He wanted to find Raw as much as the rest of them, but his duties came first.
"I hate to say it, Deeg, but Cain's right. I can't leave the O.Z. either." Glitch's tone of voice was mournful. "And yeah, we're good, but we wouldn't have any idea on how to start in Wonderland."
"You have got to be kidding me!" DG seethed. "You cannot possibly tell me that there's nothing we can do. How the hell are we supposed to get him back?"
Az squeezed her sister's fingers. "We will, Deeg. We will. I promise."
She had an idea, and it was just crazy enough to work.
DG braced her hands against the balcony railing and leaned against it, peering out over the city. She had been outside since dusk, watching as the lights blinked on one by one. From her vantage point, it was like swimming in stars, especially as the sky went black and the true stars emerged. Even at night, the size and grandeur of Central City was unmistakable. It was so different from Kansas that there were times she feared she would never get used to it.
Blood, however, could tell. Kansas had never been home. Why else had she dreamed of places distant and exotic? In heart, she'd known that she needed something different. Something more.
Still, she'd never expected more to be so much more. In the span of a few days she'd made friends for life, stopped an evil witch, averted eternal darkness, and regained her family. And that was only the beginning. Then she'd helped rebuild a country, watched her sister blossom, avoided a coup, and fallen in love.
Not bad for a twenty-something year old, DG mused.
"There you are." Wyatt Cain stepped onto the balcony and came to her side. "I figured you'd be here or in the Observatory. How are the heights today?"
Ever since the coup and their wild flight to the Observatory, DG tried her best to overcome her fear of heights. She didn't mind having weaknesses, but a fear of heights could be easily exploited. Besides, she wanted to go rock-climbing again. When she had free time, she went out on her balcony or up to the Observatory in order to re-acclimate her senses.
"Not great," she admitted. "It's better now that it's dark."
"Hmmm." He put an arm around her waist and pulled her close, pressing his lips to her forehead. "You'll get there."
"I'm banking on it." She frowned, thinking back to the events of the day. "I don't like the thought of Raw alone in that darkness. It's bad enough that he had to go to Wonderland without any of us. What if he's hurt? What if he's scared?" Raw had come so far from the frightened, shivering Viewer she and Wyatt had met in the Fields of the Papay. His decision to go to Wonderland had not been an easy one to make, but in the end he'd known it was right. And look at how his courage had been repaid.
"I don't like it either, DG." Even though their roles had changed after the Double Eclipse, they were still a group – him, Glitch, Raw, and DG. They shared a bond that few people could understand. "Believe me, there's nothing I want more than to go to Wonderland and find him." If he could get into Wonderland, he could track him. It didn't matter that he'd never been to Wonderland. He would stop at nothing until he found him.
But he had a duty to fulfill. He couldn't go after Raw now, not when things were so dangerous. The shadowy figure – or figures – behind the recent attempted coup were still out there. There was always a possibility that they could send more Guild assassins against the Gales. He couldn't leave with that kind of threat hanging over their heads. Raw would call Wyatt a fool for even contemplating an action that would force him to leave the Queen, even if it meant rescuing him.
"But our hands are tied," DG said bitterly, unknowingly echoing his thoughts. She couldn't believe that she was admitting it, but her parents were right. It was too dangerous. "What I wouldn't give for a team of Navy SEALs." She shot Wyatt a grin over her shoulder. "Hey, that's an idea. Think I can call up a travel storm and borrow some, just for a while? I'd send them back." She paused. "On second thought, maybe not. You never know when you need a team of crack commandos."
By now, he'd heard DG talk enough of the Other Side to have a vague idea of what she was talking about. He'd certainly quizzed her enough about the military structure over there. "That's probably not a good idea. Nice try, though."
The smile in his voice was enough to lift her spirits. "I'm full of good ideas," she said brightly. "I'll stumble onto a good one sooner or later." Az certainly had something in mind. She knew her older sister well enough to know when Az was onto something. DG could only hope that she would let her in on the secret.
"I know you will." Wyatt jerked his head towards the door. "Now come on. Time for dinner."
"Hang on a second, cowboy." She grabbed onto his collar and grinned mischievously. "Smooches first, food later." He was an absolute stickler for propriety during working hours and it felt like it had been ages since she'd been kissed.
Wyatt laughed softly. "Smooches?" But his hand slid obligingly through her hair, pulling her forward to slide his lips over hers. The kiss was soft, sweet, and lingering.
DG could only smile dreamily when he finally pulled away. "Mmmm. More please."
"Food first, smooches later, or your father's going to kill me."
DG pouted, but he only raised an eyebrow at her. "All right, fine. I'll hold you to it though, Wyatt."
"You of all people know that I follow through with my promises."
Az spent much of the next few days in reflection. She did not want to bring a proposal before her parents until it was solid. She did not even feel comfortable discussing it with Jeb or DG, who were perhaps too close to the situation. However, she did need to discuss it with someone. Someone impartial, and someone with influence. Someone who would not hesitate to point out any flaws and be trusted to make rational suggestions.
Az ran her hands over her silk skirt, smoothing out any wrinkles. Then she knocked.
The door opened almost immediately. The maidservant curtsied. "Your Highness. The Grand Duchess is waiting."
Grand Duchess Aleydis Orin was indeed waiting. She sat upright in her chair, looking as though she was sitting for a portrait. Her silver hair was perfectly coiffed. Her afternoon dress was of the highest quality, even if the style of it was somewhat dated. Corsets continued to be popular in high-fashion circles, but the large bustle and ruffled skirt had not been seen in many years. However, the Grand Duchess could be forgiven her eccentricities. She was, after all, one of the most powerful peers in the realm.
Godmother and goddaughter greeted each other politely, then sat in silence as the maidservant poured the tea and presented pastries from a nearby serving cart. It was only after the young woman was dismissed that Aleydis stirred. She raised her cup to her lips and paused. "I must admit that I am most curious about this visit, Azkadellia. You do not make a habit of seeking me out."
That was because her godmother was intimidating at best, terrifying at worst. Az remembered fleeing from her godmother as a child if she happened to see her coming. Still, Az could think of no other person to approach. Her godmother's status as Second Chair of the House of Lords made her an ideal candidate for this discussion. "I am in need of advice, Your Grace." Az had never been able to call her 'godmother,' even in private.
"Oh?" Aleydis raised an eyebrow and for a moment, Az thought that she seemed pleased. "What advice are you seeking?"
Az quickly explained the circumstances of Raw's disappearance, as well as her suspicions concerning the sabotage of the alliance. After much hesitation, she also explained the truth of the volatility of her magic, knowing that if she was to expect advice, she had to give her godmother the full report. She was not sure if she was crossing a line by telling Aleydis all of this, but she knew that her mother also confided in the older woman.
The Grand Duchess absorbed it all, only interrupting Az to ask clarifying questions. Otherwise, she remained silent. By the time Az had finished, her own tea had gone cold, untouched within its cup. That silence was unnerving. It frayed her nerves like few things did.
"Most interesting. But why are you telling this all to me, Azkadellia?"
There was really no way to get around this. "Would the House of Lords approve my journey to Wonderland?"
For the first time, Aleydis looked vaguely shocked. "Why in Ozma's name would you wish to journey there?"
"Magic. The only way we're going to find Raw is through magic."
"You have just explained that magic is no use in finding him."
"With all due respect, Your Grace, scrying is no use in finding him. There are other ways to track him, but they will only work within a shorter distance." Az could have explained further, but chose not to. There were few non-magic users who could stand her discussions of magical theory. She had a tendency to become excited and forget that most did not understand magic even at its most fundamental level.
"Well then. Why you, and not DG?" Aleydis raised her cup to her lips and sipped delicately. "You are the heir."
Az had been prepared for this question. Her parents had been vehement about DG staying out of Wonderland – but what about her? "Because DG doesn't know of these techniques. And yes, she can be taught. But DG won't benefit from the knowledge archived in the Great Library the way that I will."
"What knowledge?"
She took a breath. "The knowledge that will teach me to control wild magic."
Understanding dawned on Aleydis' face. "You believe that the answer lies somewhere within the Great Library."
"Your Grace, there are dragon texts in that library. Dragon texts that hold information about wild magic."
"And you believe that by perusing those texts, you will gain some modicum of control over your powers." She set her tea aside. "I see why you have come to me. You believe that the House of Lords will sanction such a quest, despite your status as heir, because it carries the potential to quell the house's greatest concern."
"Yes. Now that I know where the problem truly lies and that there is a possible solution, I can become more of a credible candidate."
"And there is also the not so inconsiderable side benefit of retrieving our missing Viewer." Aleydis raised an eyebrow. "You are searching for more, what is it that your sister says? Ah – brownie points. You will be saving Ambassador Raw, the alliance, and your own reputation in one fell swoop. How very shrewd."
Az shrugged and reached for a berry pastry. A hint of a smile played around her lips. "I have been training for these types of scenarios my entire life." Yes, there were times when she plunged headlong into a situation – she was a Gale, after all. But she preferred to plan, consider, and weigh before she made her decisions, angling for the most beneficial outcome.
"Yes, but you've not shown your aptitude towards such things in quite some time." By quite some time, Aleydis meant 'never.' After the Double Eclipse, Az had shunned public and political affairs, leaving them to her parents and to DG. Her brown eyes were searching. "Does this mean that you are ready to accept the responsibilities that come with being named heir?"
"Is one ever truly ready?" Az countered.
Her godmother threw her head back and laughed. It was full, throaty, and hearty. It certainly wasn't the laugh of a noblewoman, and did a great deal to help Az relax. "Oh, well said, Azkadellia. You'll do. You'll certainly do."
Az was shocked to see regard in her godmother's eyes. She'd never known quite where she stood with Aleydis, and often wondered if she was seen as nothing more than a nuisance. It was surprising that she had the grand duchess' respect. That was no small thing. "Thank you, Your Grace. I am grateful for your good esteem. However-"
"You came for other matters," Aleydis finished. "I'm old, Azkadellia, not senile. I have not forgotten about this plan of yours. You seek the approval of the House of Lords so that your parents cannot protest, am I correct? If we deem it appropriate and indeed, safe enough for you to travel to Wonderland, the concerns of your mother and father will be reduced to the overwrought worry of a mother and father. All practical and tactical concerns will already have been considered and weighed by those who are considerably more fussy."
Az relaxed enough to smile in response to the merriment in her godmother's eyes. "Furthermore, the House of Lords will have deemed my journey to be a necessity, for it concerns the mastery of my power, which has been its primary concern."
"Smart girl," There was a gleam of mischief in Aleydis' eyes, one that almost seemed to congratulate Az for circumventing her parents so. Suddenly, Az could see how her godmother might have had a history with the dry and witty General Trevelyan. She couldn't have always been such a terror, and she seemed to have a sense of humor.
Her godmother's next words forced her back to the present. "Still, the House of Lords must also be concerned with your safety. You are the heir, and one of only three magic-users in this country. You are also arguably the most powerful. Therefore, you are a precious commodity. Those who have taken Raw will not hesitate to target you as well."
"Wonderland underestimates magic. They have lived without it for so long that they cannot begin to comprehend how it works. Not even Jack Heart, who has requested this alliance because of it, can truly comprehend its power. As you've said, Your Grace, I am strong."
"And yet you are not invulnerable. You would need a security detail."
"Of course," Az agreed. "And I'll have Commander Cain."
Aleydis looked at her sharply. "You would deprive your Queen's Riders of their commander?"
"The newest batch of trainees are almost ready. Lieutenant Switzer would be able to take care of them. He is more than capable of running the Riders in Commander Cain's absence. The senior Riders are also competent." They had already begun training some of the original Riders to take command of their own Rider groups. She smiled slightly. "Also, I don't think Jeb would let me go without him."
"And Commander Cain is as good a bodyguard as any, isn't he? He is certainly one of our most formidable officers." Aleydis nodded. "Very well. I shall consider this, Azkadellia. I will then speak with Chancellor Grokey before we bring it up before our peers. You will have to be patient."
Az inclined her head. "Thank you, Your Grace. I can wait, although the sooner this happens, the better. I do not want our enemies in Wonderland to begin mounting another offense."
"Indeed." The Grand Duchess changed the subject to the Riders, thus declaring the subject closed. Meanwhile, her mind raced with the possibilities. She was right when she told Azkadellia that she was old, not senile. She had long since honed the ability to speak of one subject whilst thinking on another.
She'd had her doubts about her granddaughter. She'd been especially disappointed in the aftermath of the Double Eclipse when she'd taken pains to shut herself off from the outside world. Aleydis knew that DG was no queen. It was true that she was a Gale, through and through, and she had helped save the Outer Zone. But DG was a true product of the Other Side. Her manner of thinking was not right for a ruler on this side of the veil. There were things that she would never understand about this world and never would, for all that it was hers. She saw the world in black and white, which made for a fine warrior and champion, but a poor queen.
Azkadellia was different. Azkadellia was born to rule. She had, of course, been trained at her mother's knee in the art of statesmanship, but it was more than that. She was a thinker, a planner, a strategist. She knew what it was like to be the victim, knew what it was like to be ostracized and hated. She had overcome the obstacles placed before her and proven herself to be someone who could be trusted, someone who could be admired, and above all, someone who could rule.
There were great things in her goddaughter's future. Wonderland was only the beginning.
Please review!
Sorry for the long wait, guys. My first review panel is coming up and I'm swimming in deadlines!