Jabberwock's Curse by R.V. Bowman

Author:R.V. Bowman [R. V. Bowman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosanne Bowman
Published: 2022-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

It was close to noon, at least as near as Alice could tell from the way the sunlight had moved across the floor of her cell, when two young soldiers arrived to escort her to the trial. Despite her earlier fit of crying, she had composed herself. A strange calm descended on her as they walked through the twisty hallways and up several sets of stairs.

As they passed through the doors onto the terrace, Alice blinked in the bright sunshine. The two guards led her down the steps flanked by more soldiers. The Commander stood with his men. She caught his eye, and he gave her the faintest of nods. A flicker of hope sprang to life.

They had almost reached the bottom of the staircase when the guards drew to a halt. Alice glanced around. Someone had transformed the lawn from the last time she had been out here. A squat man in black robes perched behind a large lectern that dwarfed him. He was banging on it, his oversized powdered wig in danger of falling over one eye. Obviously, this was the judge, who was none too happy, based on his scowl. The source of his unhappiness was the scuffle taking place somewhere off to the left in front of the Queen who rested on an elevated throne in her own covered gazebo.

Alice couldn’t quite see what was happening because the rows of spectators that filled the benches blocked her view.

Suddenly, a man came hurtling towards the Queen. He threw himself at the railing in front of her, his eyes wild, his face red. “You can’t do this! I’m the King’s cousin! You don’t even have the Council here!”

The soldiers standing behind the Queen lurched forward, but she held up a hand to stop them. Unruffled, she raised one eyebrow. “That attitude is why you’re here, Dane. You don’t seem to understand that I am the Queen, and I can do anything I choose.”

Now Alice recognized the oily man from yesterday’s tea party. The man fell to his knees, still gripping the rail. “I’m sorry. I know you’re the ruler here.” As his shoulders heaved with sobs, he babbled, “I’ll do anything you want.”

The Queen tilted her head. After a momentary pause, she leaned forward and put a hand on his clenched fingers. He peered up, tears and red blotches marring his face, hope in his posture. The Queen smiled gently.

“Men like you don’t deserve mercy. You not only accosted one of my flower maidens, but you’ve done everything possible to undermine my authority.” She sat back and folded her hands in her lap. “Now you will serve as a warning to others in the court. Besides, the truth is, I’ve never liked you, Dane, and to be quite frank, neither did the King.”

She waved a hand at the soldiers that were hovering nearby. Several stepped forward and grasped the man under his arms, dragging him back towards a distant spot across the lawn. Alice stood on tiptoe

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