Chapter 21
We weren’t the first people to return to headquarters, nor were we the last. Two others with injuries had somehow beat us back. The four rebels who’d remained at Hatter’s, one of them being Isadora, had already started tending to the injured in the middle of the narrow hallway.
Henri and I stayed out of their way and took turns glancing out the window to look for the others.
When four more bounded up the stairs and burst through the door, unharmed, they came bearing bad news.
“Soldiers went after March,” Arlan, a massive elf, reported. “Circe tried to defend him, and they grabbed her too. We tried to get them back, but there were so many soldiers.”
Isadora’s hands clapped over her mouth. Although I’d never been much for comforting others, I felt the urge to go to her.
I crossed the hallway, and wrapped an arm around her. “We’ll get her back.”
“Of course we will, Princess,” she said weakly. “I believe in us—in you.”
My stomach twisted, but thankfully, I didn’t have to respond because Hatter took control.
“Let’s move into the great room. We can talk more comfortably in there.”
The rebels filed out of the hall. Before I could join them, Henri wrapped his big hand around my wrist, stopping me. “You don’t have to be party to discussing the rescue mission. You did your part. Actually, you’re probably the only reason we all got out of there before those last five bandersnatch took us out. It would be best if you began preparing to meet the Red Queen.”
I tilted my chin up. “I want to be present, and I don’t need alone time to be prepared to fight my aunt. I’m ready.”
Hatter gave a slow nod. “Okay. But stand in the back. Otherwise, everyone will be watching you, assessing your leadership style. I know that’s not what you want.”
It wasn’t, so I did as he said, posting up near the door, while he stood in front of the fireplace, and called the gathering order.
“It appears that two members of our ranks are in need of extraction as soon as possible. Everyone here knows that the queen prefers not to take criminals behind castle walls.”
Called it, paranoid.
“That works in our favor. March and Circe are likely being kept at the jailhouse, which is much more accessible than Heart Castle.”
Hatter’s gaze found Isadora. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but your daughter doesn’t have a previous record, does she?”
Isadora shook her head. “It’s her first offense.”
“Good. It’s only March’s second, and the first offense wasn’t nearly so large. We can work with that. Where’s Tully?”
A hand shot up, and a faun with extra long horns who had stayed behind to wait for our return stepped forward.
“You have familial connections with the jailer, right? And they don’t know about the rebellion?”
Tully nodded.
“Can you go to the jailhouse and state that you were at the scene of the crime? That the bandersnatch attacked first, and the riot started as self-defense? They’ll keep you there for questioning, which is what we want. Keep them busy. In the meantime, we’ll—”
An alarm, the same one we’d heard earlier, squealed, high and soul-shattering.
Hatter’s mouth snapped shut, and everyone in the great room stared at each other, fear glinting in their eyes.
My stomach sank.Oh shit, this can’t be good.
“Henri! You don’t think . . .” Isadora’s words died on her lips as she whipped around and tried to bolt through the door.
I pressed my arm across the doorframe, halting her. “Isadora, stop! Whatever it is, we have to think this through.”
“It has to do with Circe, I know it! She’s my only daughter, Princess!” A choked sob left her throat.
