The pixie nodded. “It’s when someone wants another day to celebrate their existence. They choose a random day, and have a party! Not many people do it anymore, only nobles.”
“Dee’s right,” Hatter said. “Preparations are already underway at the castle. That might be another reason why she was so quick to react today. She wants to remind people to stay in line. To not spoil her big day.”
“Poor little queen, getting her unbirthday party spoiled.” I rolled my eyes. My aunt was some absurd mix of ridiculous and cruel that I didn’t understand. “Does that mean that fae who frequent court will be there celebrating?”
“Yes,” Hatter said. “But it’s invitation-only, which means security will be tighter than ever. I’m not sure how we’ll sneak in.”
I brought out my bits of mushroom that the caterpillar had given me. Since I’d acquired them, I’d kept them on my person, just in case.
Most people looked confused at the morsels in my hands, but Henri and Dee drew in sharp breaths of recognition.
“One makes you shrink,” Henri said.
“And the other makes you tall again,” Dee finished for him. “This could work! Alice! You’re a genius!”
“Definitely not,” I said, thinking of Circe and March and how someone smarter probably could have saved them. “But I can think on my feet.” I held up the mushroom pieces. “There’s enough of each that three others could take a nibble too.”
Dee’s hand shot up. “Pick me!”
“You’re in. Dum too, if she wants. You’re the best lookouts. But you won’t need the mushroom.”
“Being a pixie hassomany advantages,” Dee said seriously.
“I’m coming,” Hatter said, as I knew he would. “I still remember parts of the castle well. That might come in handy. Of course, I look a lot like my father, so you’ll have to glamour me . . .”
“No problem. I’ll do it tonight.”
Aside from my hair, I hadn’t practiced glamouring yet, but I didn’t care if I had to stay up all night trying to alter Henri’s appearance. What I needed most were trustworthy people at my side. I’d do anything to have them join me.
Circe’s love interest, the compact, blue-haired dwarf Sansu, volunteered in the name of avenging Isadora’s daughter. Alran, the giant elf with long, flowing, gold hair, crystalline violet eyes, and muscles for days, volunteered too. Looks aside, which I knew from experience could get us far, Alran was Henri’s primary sparring partner, and handy with a bow—an excellent choice for a mission.
“What can we do?” asked a small faerie near the back of the group, gesturing to those around her, who nodded in agreement.
“We’ll need a distraction while we sneak inside,” I said.
“Like what?” someone asked.
“Nothing that would get a rise out of the queen,” I replied, not wanting to endanger them. “But it does have to be something that would get people talking—and preferably pull guards away from the castle.”
“Why don’t you capture a few of them and leave them in their underpants somewhere public,” Alran offered, already demonstrating excellent critical thinking skills.
A few people laughed, and the corners of my lips inched up as the ethereal-looking elf continued.
“It would grab attention, but it’s not so bad that the queen would call for heads to roll. The soldiers might not even tell her, if they’re embarrassed enough.”
“I like that,” the faerie who posed the question of how to help chuckled. “Perhaps that’ll be one tactic.”
“I have faith that whatever the group comes up with will be great,” I said confidently. “That being said, I actually have a favor to ask.”
“What’s that?” Henri asked.
“Does anyone here have a stash of poisons I could peruse?”
Later that night, I stood at my bedroom window, fingering the travel-sized vials of poisons Sansu had given me. I hadn’t known that any of the rebels were actually poisoners when I’d asked, but it turned out that Sansu was one of the best on the island.
His concoctions were unique mixes of poisonous plants and venoms. None worked as quickly as Xavier’s favored batrachotoxin, but Sansu assured me that if I tainted the queen’s drink, she would only need to take a couple of sips for the tincture to take effect.
Truthfully, I’d much prefer to do the deed with my dagger. It was more satisfying, less sneaky, and moreme. However, having the poisons on hand made me feel better. It was another tool in my arsenal.
