“How do I look?” asked Dinah with a smile.
Bah-kan was sharpening a knife on a small rock nearby and looked up in her direction. “Terrifying. A thing of nightmares.”
“If you think that,” she replied, “then they have done a fine job.”
She gave a thankful nod to the Yurkei women, who gathered around and laid their hands over the heart on her breastplate, giving her healing tinctures and murmuring quiet prayers for her success.
That night, Dinah had barely returned to her tent before tears of gratitude fell heavily. There was little time for tears while the gears of war were turning, and she was grateful for their release.
The sun rose and set in the sky, and before Dinah felt she could wrap her head around all the details, it was the night before their departure. All of Hu-Yuhar fell silent, and Dinah could feel the heavy desperation and fear in the air—so much was at stake in this gamble, this gamble that rested on her. The throne of Wonderland, the fate of a native people—it all weighed on her shoulders, heavy as the cape they had draped over her. As a dark night fell over Hu-Yuhar, so removed from those who clutched each other desperately in their tents, Dinah walked through the silent valley, making her way toward the towering stone cranes that guarded their whispered secrets. There was one more thing that she wanted.
Without the aid of her guards, Dinah climbed the ladder and entered Mundoo’s tent. He was feasting with his family, and Dinah felt rude about interrupting this sacred last night at home. Still, she pushed open the flap and climbed to her feet. Mundoo’s wife and seven children looked up in alarm.
“I need to speak with you before tomorrow.”
Mundoo gestured with his hand, and his wife and children scampered out onto the bridges, which rocked loudly in the cool mountain air. Dinah lifted her fingers to the crown. Lately, whenever she felt the creeping doubts or the listless fear that had come with preparing for war and death, she touched her crown. It centered and reassured her. She gave a slight bow to Mundoo before she began speaking in a quiet yet forceful voice.
“You have something I want. I feel that we have given you a great deal in our negotiations. I have not asked for anything.”
Mundoo laughed as he lustily licked the grease from his fingers. “You have asked for nothing. Nothing except a crown on your head and to become the most powerful person in Wonderland.”
Dinah swallowed and continued. “I want him back. He is no good to you dead. We need him.”
“No. YOU need him. A normal steed will fit you just fine.”
“Any man who rides a Hornhoov knows that to be a lie.”
Mundoo rose and sat stiffly on his throne of golden cranes. He looked at Dinah, amused. “I cannot give you the mad beast that has killed so many of my warriors. It goes against every principle of Yurkei justice that we have, even if I believe he would aid you in battle.”
Dinah smiled. “I realize that, and I would never ask you to compromise your rule or reputation with your people. But what if I could offer you, and the Yurkei, something greater than death?”
Mundoo raised an eyebrow at her, his radiant blue eyes boosting what little confidence she had at that moment. “And what could that possibly be? What could possibly equal the cost of lives? Some of your Wonderland gold perhaps? A raid of your treasury once you are crowned?” He scoffed. “It is so like Wonderland to think they can buy Yurkei justice. You do not understand our way if you think gold can pay for blood.”
Dinah opened her hands in a show of mercy. “Not money. I would give you life for death. It is the only thing that is greater.”
Mundoo tapped his fingers above his lip. “My curiosity bids me to hear you out. Continue. But be careful that you don’t insult me in my own tent, in my own kingdom. You are not my queen, Dinah, do not forget it.” His eyes lingered on the hatch door that flapped open at the bottom of the tent. “It’s a long flight down from the crane’s wings.”
Dinah bowed her head. “Chief Mundoo, in place of Morte’s death, I propose to give you life. Twelve lives for the twelve that he took. Twelve Hornhooves. Once I am Queen, I will breed Morte with your Hornhoov, Keres. You will get twelve of his foals, male and female, which eventually you could breed as well. Hornhoov foals are very rare, as you know.”
Mundoo darted from his throne and grabbed Dinah’s chin. “Do you take me for a fool, girl? Or are you the fool? With an army of Hornhooves, my tribe would quickly grow to be a threat to Wonderland Palace itself. How am I to believe that you will give me his offspring?”
“I will. You have my word as Queen.”
“You aren’t Queen yet,” he snapped. “How will I know that you will hold to your promise?”
Dinah felt the crown heavy upon her head. “I swear it on my brother’s life, on Charles’s name.”