She spread her fingers in the water, seeing Charles on the stone slab. “Don’t be sorry. It would be fitting to die like my brother.” Dinah was suddenly aware that the noisy stream had grown very silent. The Yurkei women were climbing naked out of the water and gathering up their children with whispered words of compliance. The children struggled, unhappy to have their playtime cut short, but the women carried them away. Noting the sudden exodus of bathers, Dinah felt compelled to grab for her red tunic, pulling it into the water and wriggling into it like a fish. Within seconds, Dinah and Sir Gorrann were the only ones left in the stream. Dinah heard the crunch of branches behind her and turned, her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, her heart thudding beneath them.
Two huge feet stood before her on the bank—gnarled, gross feet—slabs of meat marked with calluses and scars. They led up to the tallest man Dinah had ever seen. It was strange seeing someone with a similar skin tone to hers here, in the depths of Yurkei country. His hair was a honeyed brown rather than white, though it was long and cut in the Yurkei manner. It came to a downward point on his forehead, his eyes a dull green. A jagged scar ran from his chin up past his cheek, mingling with the white stripes of paint that trailed from just under his eye to his shins. He wore only a feather loincloth. Thighs and arms like tree trunks stretched out from his rigid torso. He would dwarf even her father. In one hand he clutched an elaborately curved bow and arrow. In the other was a Heartsword.
Dinah’s stomach gave a lurch when she saw the sunlight flicker off the double-sided blade. Only her father and the highest-ranking Cards carried Heartswords. She stared in wonder, her arms pressed tightly over her chest. The man glowered at them before throwing his weapons on the bank. Without warning, he reached down and plucked Dinah straight out of the water by clasping both of her arms at her side and lifting, as easily as if he had picked up a rag doll. Something felt as if it was ripping inside her shoulder. She struggled, but it was no use. His grip was as strong as iron. Her feet dangled above the ground. Sir Gorrann rushed to climb out of the stream, his eyes on the man.
The man sneered as he looked into Dinah’s surprised face. “This skinny dark-eyed girl is the great Princess of Wonderland? The one who bested her father, stole his horse, and left a bloody trail behind her? It can’t be. You are barely the size of my thigh and weak as a newly hatched worm. Are you this legendary warrior, the Rebel Queen?”
Dinah strained her neck to look up at him, water streaming into her eyes. Her mouth seemed unable to form words.
“Speak up!” he bellowed, his breath blowing her hair back. Dinah bit her lip, the fury inside her poking its head out of slumber. She twisted to free herself, but it was of no use. Instead she fixed her black eyes on his.
“I am Dinah, the former Princess of Wonderland. This is my guard, Sir Gorrann, a Spade, and one of the most feared trackers in the Cards.”
“So I have heard,” he said. “A wet mouse and her old man guardian; this is who I am to train?” With a laugh, he set her down on the ground.
Dinah raised her chin. “And your name?”
“You can call me Bah-kan. As you may have noticed, I do not look like most of my brothers here in Hu-Yuhar.” He grinned. “My given name is Stern Ravier and I was once the highest-ranking Club Card in the king’s army.”
Dinah let out a gasp. There were poems and stories about the bravest Club that had ever lived—in fact, his giant statue had lorded over Charles’s room.
“You’re famous,” she stuttered, her lips blue with cold. “And dead!”
The huge man let out a bellow that seemed to rustle the trees around them. “So Wonderland Palace would have you believe. My Yurkei name, the true name you will call me, is Bah-kan, which means the Tall Warrior. I am here to train you.” His eyes traveled over Dinah’s form. “You have my permission to dry yourself.”
Dinah staggered over to her white feathered pants, as light as a whisper when she pulled them over her stinging wet skin and soaked tunic. Sir Gorrann stood nearby, his hands covering his groin as he eyed Bah-kan.
“Stories of your mighty death resound in the halls of the Cards,” he said forcefully. “How is it that you are now a Yurkei warrior, though you bear the highest honors of Wonderland Palace?” His tone was accusing. Traitor.
“Ah, that’s a story for another time. For now, we must go. Mundoo insists that training begin today, for both of you.” He gave Sir Gorrann a hard slap on the shoulder. “It’s good to see another Card, even if it must be a Spade. It’s a wonder you kept her alive. Spades aren’t exactly known for their abilities.”
Sir Gorrann lunged toward Bah-kan, who brought down his palm straight against the Spade’s chest without flinching. Sir Gorrann flew back into the stream as if he was thrown there by the gods. He surfaced with a furious look on his face, water streaming from his gray hair. Dinah tried to control it, but laughter was churning its way up her throat and before long she was laughing so hysterically that she was doubled over. Tears reddened her eyes. The whole situation, everything, was so terrible, so strange and confusing. And yet she could only laugh at Sir Gorrann simmering in the water, looking like a drowned cat. The giant Yurkei warrior standing guard laughed quietly to himself as she quickly pulled her hair into a low bun.
Bah-kan cleared his throat. “I’m glad to give you a laugh, Princess. Your training will commence in a few minutes. Follow this path by the river, turn right at the waterfall, and then come to a rest in front of the livestock pen, just below the knee of the crane.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I heard from Mundoo that you have the fiery blood of your father. Personally, I can’t wait to find out.” Bah-kan gathered up his weapons and stomped off. Normally this sort of insult would have sent Dinah into a rage, but instead it made her laugh harder. Eventually, the Spade relaxed as well, chuckling while he floated on his back in the stream, spitting water into the air. It was a good while before they trekked their way back to the valley floor, when Dinah raised her voice. “Why are they training me to fight? What good could that possibly do?”
The Spade was silent for a moment. “Well, at least they aren’t killing yeh.”
Dinah began laughing again. It was all so . . . strange.
Unfortunately, the laughter didn’t last. Bah-kan was a brutal fighter and a merciless trainer. He had no stomach for weakness and made a game out of fighting them with one hand—and sometimes with no hands.