Dinah raised her eyebrow. “Is that a threat?”
Mundoo’s blazing blue eyes looked back at her, unnerving in their direct gaze. “A threat? No. Let’s just call it a reminder. Dinah, we are a peaceful people, as you know. We belong to the land, and she to us. We have no desire for war.” He took another sip of his apple-blossom tea. “I have seen too much death, Queen of Hearts. I am weary of coronations, councils, meetings, and treaties. My mountains are calling to me, and my warriors long for their warm beds and the wives that keep them that way. We will depart from here now, with the treaty intact. As agreed upon, in a few months a large group of my people will arrive at Ierladia to tour the city that will be our stronghold. As you requested, the city will not be touched, but I fear that our presence there may cause some alarm. Should this happen, my warriors will have no choice but to defend themselves.”
Dinah rested her palms on the balcony railing. From here, she could see the scorched earth where the stables had been, her childhood replaced by ash and blackened dirt. She turned to Mundoo, her black eyes swallowing his whole. He wasn’t the only one with power now.
“And that is why I plan to make the trip to Ierladia when it comes time to turn over the city. I will stand by my people and make sure that no one is hurt or taken advantage of when the Yurkei settlers arrive. In the same way, I hope to show that the Yurkei are a good people and should be trusted. If we are to share a city, we must make the example.”
Mundoo stared back at her, unflinching but impressed. “You must know that I long for peace, truly,” he stated plainly.
Dinah nodded. “I believe that you do. But I also believe that you see my city now, with so few Cards to defend us, and we must look like a shiny new toy, so tempting and vulnerable. However, in a few months, you will find a new Wonderland proper, and a host of willing Cards who will be trained for battle, better men than those my father led. You will find new walls, this time made of stone and not iron. And you will find a queen who is not so easily breakable.”
With a calm breath, Dinah cautiously reached for his hand. “I value a peace with the Yurkei above all other treaties and measures. Believe that I came to love your tribe and your city, and I would bemoan any loss to your people as much as my own.”
Her eyes fell on Ki-ershan, who stood rigidly in the corner of the room. His eyes were trained on Mundoo, his hands flexed tightly around his sword. Mundoo smiled bitterly at him. He dropped her hand and put both of his palms on Dinah’s shoulders, looking as though he wanted to give her a friendly squeeze. Or, that was how it was meant to appear. Only Dinah could feel his finger pressing against her scar, the one he had given her with his thin knife. She stifled a cry of pain as his fingers probed and pushed, willing herself to remain strong. Mundoo’s tea-soaked breath washed over her face
“Do not forget our treaty, Queen of Hearts. Should you break your promises, raid our lands, or kill my people, I will burn this palace to the ground along with all those in it. Respect the boundaries bestowed by the treaty, and I promise to do the same. I expect that you will visit Hu-Yuhar in a year’s time to celebrate our happy arrangement. The tribe will be glad to see you.”
Dinah could feel her vision tunneling as pain ricocheted up her arm, but she kept her face without emotion.
“As I will be to see them.” She pushed Mundoo away roughly and raised her hand to dismiss him.
“I wish you safe travels to Hu-Yuhar. Wonderland Palace is grateful for your help in placing me on the throne.”
“You had better keep it,” Mundoo warned. “Do not trust anyone here. You are a good ruler, Dinah, and the queen this land deserves. Don’t let it be taken away from you. And don’t become your father. If that happens . . .” He shook his head and backed away, pulling a single feather from his headdress.
“Remember that day when our words blended together in sweat. Remember the cranes that bore witness. Remember our peace and our people. We are of the same land, brothers and sisters.” He placed the feather in his hand and stretched out his open palm. “Good-bye, Queen of Hearts.”
Dinah took the feather from his hand and turned away from him, letting him see the back that wouldn’t be broken. “I’ll arrange a tea shipment as soon as things settle here.”
She walked him to the very edge of the palace gates, Ki-ershan following behind them. Mundoo gave Dinah’s hand a squeeze as he departed through the broken gates. A whooping cheer rose up from the Yurkei, chilling the blood of every Wonderlander. Dinah turned and climbed the stairs to the turret that overlooked the northern end of the castle. The remaining Yurkei army had their horses already mounted. Dinah raised her hand and her chin to say good-bye, and at Mundoo’s nod, the Yurkei warriors held up their hands in the shape of a crane in return. She felt grateful tears welling in her eyes as she looked down at the people she had grown to love.
Mundoo mounted Keres, his flank striped blue for victory, his flaxen mane adorned with feathers. The chief of the Yurkei tribe gave a slight kick and Keres, massive even from where Dinah was standing, reared up on his hind legs. Mundoo lifted his sword in a gesture of both gratitude and warning to Dinah. With that, Keres turned and began to sprint west, to the Twisted Wood, back toward the hills and the winged stone guardians of Hu-Yuhar. The Yurkei army followed, and soon they were nothing more than a swiftly moving plume of dust, the very vision of speed.
Wonderland proper filled with the sound of thunder as the floor planks beneath Dinah’s feet vibrated. Dozens of Cards peered through the twisted and deformed iron gates, watching the vanishing Yurkei with awe and relief. A few tiny children chased after the Yurkei, running behind the last of their army with makeshift wooden horses held high in the air. Dinah smiled. The adults of Wonderland might never lose their prejudices against the Yurkei, but the next generation would see them as wondrous and mysterious men, especially since roughly twenty Yurkei remained behind in Wonderland to maintain diplomatic relations.
Cheshire suddenly materialized beside her, and they watched silently as the Yurkei disappeared over the horizon. Once they were gone, he cleared his throat. “Your Majesty. If I may have your ear for a moment . . .”
Dinah frowned. “Cheshire, you always are in my ear.”
He gave a soft chuckle, tinged with malice. “You possess such a quick wit, just like your mother.”
“Thank you for the compliment. What is your concern? Do we not have council tonight?”