The remaining gryphons reformed and, flying fast, went after the last dragon. This dragon dove and curled as all but five of the initial gryphons circled and dodged the great beast. Not missing another opportunity to drop a blast of fire on the ground troops, the dragon continued its devastating attack on Wonderland’s ground forces. As the other gryphons raced to meet it, they saw one of the attacking gryphons get caught and crushed in the clawed grip of the dragon, its limp body thrown hard to the ground below. The dragon caught the approaching reinforcements at the last moment and, flipping itself around, launched a deadly burst of flame in the air at them, scattering the group, while one gryphon was caught, tumbling down in a fiery fall down into the throngs of the army below. Then all of the gryphons swarmed the great dragon, clawing at its eyes and face, its neck and sides.
“Bring it down!” The lead gryphon ordered. “End it now, brothers!”
The dragon turned upwards toward the clouds and began a powerfully fast climb straight up into the grey overcast. The gryphons fought to stay with the dragon but those flying along could not keep up and the few gryphons that clung desperately to the body of the dragon disappeared into the grey mist. Then a lonely form of a dead gryphon fell back through the wispy clouds, followed shortly by another and then a third distant form fell also. Soon after then a fourth gryphon plummeted lifelessly downwards in the distance. The five other gryphons circled in the air, breathing heavily, they waited nervously scanning the clouds. Then there was a bright orange glow from within the cloud that quickly dispersed shortly thereafter.
“Hold your positions, brothers,” one of the gryphons said “Look! Our leader lives!”
The leader gryphon emerged from the clouds alive, his wings singed and smoldering. He had barely gotten away. Clawing off what was left of his smoldering, damaged headgear, he let it fall away then broke off his descent and flew to the others.
Winded and out of breath he regrouped with his winged brothers. They watched as the huge form of the dragon descended through clouds like a dark shadow. It broke through the bottom of the cloud layer, then reemerged, and in the distance its great wings uncurled as it unleashed another devastating furnace-like blast of flame on another section of the army.
Chest heaving and out of breath, the leader of the gryphons took a grim count.
“Fourteen is a great loss,” he said.
“This one's a tough bastard!” one of the other gryphons added.
“We’ve lost fourteen of our brothers,” counted one of the gryphons. “Then it is six against a dragon.”
“We would fight him till the last gryphon falls. It is the gryphon way,” said another.
“And we will, brother…but hold your positions here and see what I see,” the lead gryphon shouted, and pointed his with his front talon towards the ground.
There was instant disgust drawn across the faces of the other gryphons.
“Jabberwocks,” he confirmed with disdain.
From the chaos below, three Jabberwocks took to the air in their disjointed pattern of flight heading upwards in an erratic interception towards the last dragon.
“Our queen insults us by sending those abominations. I shall not share the sky with the likes of them.” He regurgitated some bile from his crop and spat it out his beak in disgust at the Jabberwocks.
“I never thought I’d be hoping the dragon wins,” grumbled another gryphon as they hovered in the sky.
“Let the Jabbers wear out the dragon some more, and while they are busy we shall recover a bit. When the dragon is finished with them, we will attack,” answered their leader. “Then the world will have three less Jabberwocks.”
“Or the honor of a dragon kill goes to those things, where it should rightfully be ours,” challenged one of the gryphons, fluttering his wings with frustration.
“You give the Jabbers far too much credit,” the gryphon leader replied as he made a tight circle in the air.
The Jabberwocks flew quickly despite their awkward gait and caught the dragon as it turned gracefully about in the air, at first not seeing these smaller creatures. The Jabberwocks were larger than the gryphons but still considerable smaller than the great dragon, and somewhat similar in appearance, with along snake-like neck and gangly arms and legs that flailed about. The three Jabberwocks attacked with loud chortles as their sharp claws dug deeply into the dragon's flesh. With a roar the last dragon fought back. His large talon-like claws grabbed at one Jabberwock as the other two continued to attack viciously, biting through the dragon’s armored scales with their sharp teeth. The wounds they were inflicting were devastating; their razor-like claws tore through the leathery membrane of the dragon’s wings. The dragon began to lose its ability to remain airborne but had eviscerated one of the Jabberwocks in a gut-slicing swipe of its sharp claws. As the dragon faltered in the air it kicked its hind legs violently and caught one of the other Jabberwocks square in the face, dazing it for a moment. The stunned Jabberwock was an easy target as the wounded dragon turned its long neck back toward it and let out a deadly burst of fire that engulfed the hapless creature.
“One Jabber left,” one of the gryphons remarked as it flew in anxious circles watching the battle unfold. “I’ll not give the honor of a kill to a Jabber!”
“Patience, brother,” urged the gryphon leader holding out its talon to stay his sibling.
The last remaining Jabberwock clung to the side of the dragon, viciously raking with all four of its sharp claws. Dragon blood rained down from the mortal wounds as it struggled to stay in the air. With a roar of pain and anger the dragon reached around with its long neck, snapping its powerful jaws trying to catch the Jabberwock, then with one final stretch it closed the distance and managed to catch the leg of the Jabberwock between its sharp teeth and crushing jaws. It flung its head back around and tossed the screeching Jabberwock upwards. The dragon lunged again, catching the animal in mid-air with one solid bite, the sharp teeth and powerful jaws of the dragon severed the Jabberwock in half.
“That’s three less Jabberwocks to bother with!” One of the gryphons cheered.
“Go! Let’s finish him, brothers! For the glory of Wonderland!” The gryphon leader shouted as the remaining gryphons gathered in tight formation and blasted across the sky.
The gryphons flew upon the wounded dragon, and made short work of the great beast, for the dying dragon had little fight left in him. The gryphons followed the dragon as he tumbled down in an almost graceful spiral. The final dragon crashed dead into the ground, scattering the soldiers of Wonderland's army, as it landed in a crumpled broken heap.
***
wonderland’s army, near queen alice’s command tent.
“We’re taking too many losses, Rabbit,” Alice fretted as she watched the battle from a wooden platform structure next to her tent.
“Loss occurs in every conflict, my queen,” Rabbit replied. “It’s the greater gain that one must truly look at. And from what I just witnessed, we gained advantage when we took out two of their dragons.”
“Where did those dragons come from? Why did we not know about them, Rabbit? Those dragons caused a lot of damage. We lost troops, structures, many gryphons and three Jabbers.”
“Call it a queen’s sacrifice, best use of those Jabbers and an excellent move, My Queen,” Rabbit complimented.
“Stop it, Rabbit,” Alice replied shortly. “I have no patience for your sly diplomacies right now. There’s been too much damage to our army and none of this as expected. This was supposed to be little more than a committed excuse for a military exercise. You promised me, this was going to be an occupational show of force while we search for Jack.”
Alice was growing angrier. “Our main advantage of the drink me potions was used up on blood thorns, and what about that attack from the animals the other night? That was most unconventional. Too many surprises, Rabbit and it is not worth the death and destruction we suffer.”
“We’ve regained the advantage. Yes,” Rabbit said,
“the animal attack was rather unorthodox and yes, the dragons were a setback.” Rabbit raised his paw, “But, they’ve been taken care of. I’m sure their castle cannot hold out much longer once our army has gained its momentum back.”
“My army, Rabbit. Don’t forget that,” Alice corrected. Then she realized something. “You were here ahead of the army to scout for Jack. You were at the castle and yet you did not share the information about the Bloodthorns?”
“I’m sure I made mention of it, did I not?” Rabbit dismissively replied. “I remember so.”
“No. Rabbit, you didn’t,” answered Alice with definitive recollection. “You were busy insisting on measures to make sure we invaded. Citing various lists of transgressions, as for more proof to invade,” she recalled her recent conversations with him. “You pushed this on me,” Alice pointed at the White Rabbit as her anger simmered beneath her measured words like molten lava flowing beneath a cooler crust. “You talked me into this military exercise; convinced me, against my own better judgment, to oversee this one personally. Played to my emotions; you played me for a fool for believing you. And I went along, caught up in it all,”Alice began to realize. “But how was I to know? This was your plan for my army. Why?” Her sharp stare dug fiery pain into Rabbit’s eyes and Alice could see Rabbit shifted uncomfortably. “You know, Jack told me he was convinced you had framed him for stealing tarts. Maybe he was right. I’m starting to think there’s more than this then you let on.”
“I showed you his letter of confession; air tight as far as I am concerned,” Rabbit quickly reminded Alice. “Don’t concern yourself with that lowly criminal, Jack. Dear Alice,” Rabbit answered with a dismissive laugh, “the stress of the day is making you believe in six impossible things, at least.”
“I don’t believe Jack is the criminal you claim and I don’t believe in impossible things,” Alice replied sternly. “No, not air tight as far as I am concerned. But I do believe our losses here are too great. This campaign is no longer worth the lives already lost. I’ve decided, as Queen of Wonderland, I am calling a cease of hostilities, immediately. We’ll withdraw and sort this out by more pragmatic and diplomatic means. I’m not going to follow you down this rabbit hole, Rabbit.”
Rabbit stammered; his neck burned to contain his silent rage.
“Fetch the horn from my tent and sound it for retreat, Rabbit. Queen’s orders,” she reminded him. Then Alice grabbed up a royal flag from the tower, a blue flag with a gold gryphon symbol, and began to wave it about, summoning one of the remaining gryphons to her side.
“Alice, in three hundred years, Wonderland’s army has never retreated,” Rabbit replied utterly aghast.
The gryphon leader had spotted the signaling flag and flew in close, with a loud acknowledging caw he landed on the ground near the platform. Alice placed the Gryphon banner back amongst the other signal flags and pulled out a large white flag, Alice propped it upon her armored shoulder plate and pushed past rabbit, quickly climbing down from the platform. Rabbit followed behind.
“I think we’ll have the castle taken by the end of the day, Alice. I just need more time,” Rabbit pleaded.
“I don’t know what game you are playing or to what benefits you gain from all of this, but I realize now you pushed me into a war I deep down did not want from the start. It’s time to change that,” Alice said. She stopped a passing solider and gave him the order to spread the word. “Our army withdraws. Tell everyone we return to Wonderland immediately!” She shouted again to those around her. “By order of the Queen of Wonderland, Our Army is withdrawing from battle! Head back to the temple. Let it be known to all.”
“Alice, we should confer on this before jumping to such rash decisions,” Rabbit said desperately as he followed her down from the view platform. “At least to discuss this in quorum with the other generals?” Rabbit shouted after her.
Alice replied with a bristling and resounding, “No! For the very reason that you are quick to push a delay to an end that is just as quick as you pushed to start this. No, I say. I am Queen of Wonderland, I am Queen of this battlefield and I am Queen of you and I am changing this game of yours!”
Alice quickly climbed upon the gryphon, quickly securing her position on the bare back of the beast. She began to unravel the flag of withdrawal.
“To the sky!” Alice ordered the gryphon leader. “Fly above the battlefield so that all can see the flag we wave.”
“Yes M’lady,” the gryphon leader responded, bowing his head respectfully then launched itself into the air.
Rabbit tracked Alice as she flew off; keeping an eye on her as she flew back and forth across the field, a long white flag billowed behind her. Not losing sight of her, Rabbit navigated through the camp to his tent and quickly darted inside. He emerged seconds later with a dwarven knife he quickly tucked inside his grey fencing vest and a bow and quiver hidden within old leather wrappings. Amidst the confusion of the camp, trumpeting for retreat sounding throughout the battle, along with Alice’s shouts flying high above, waving a flag of withdrawal, no one paid attention to Rabbit.
CHAPTER 49
TRUE LOVE’S KISS
Racing through the castle, Phillip barreled up the stairs two at a time, his footsteps echoing hard in the stone hallways. He had to get to the queen’s chambers and the glass coffin that enclosed Cinderella.
“Third day,” Phillip huffed under his breath. “Fairy said three days before she can be woken up.”
The prince reached the top of the stairs and without a moment’s pause darted down the eloquently decorated passage to Cinderella’s private chambers. It was there at the doorway he stopped. There was a simple stillness in the room that was otherwise dressed in the luxury one would expect in a queen’s bedroom. The room with vaulted ceilings, was split into two levels with an elegant staircase that went up to the queen’s private chambers. Tall windows were covered with dark cloth draperies drawn close to block the daylight.
Phillip saw the open doors to the balcony, the place where he lay stabbed and near death by Cinderella, a spot of blood on the floor nearby where Patience’s mother had died at the hands of Cinderella’s stepmother. Pieces of destroyed furniture still lay scattered about from the fight against the Maldame. The Prince had ordered the room off limits to curious staff. No one had been allowed into the room to sweep away the broken furniture or straighten the queen’s chambers. It had been untouched these past three days while everyone in the castle focused on the threat of the approaching army.
In the center of the large room was a glass coffin; a soft white glow pulsed from it, filling the room with diffused light. A fine warm mist rolled in wisps from its etched surface, barely licking the stone floor before it faded. With a few strides, Phillip was at the coffin. A crystalline frost from the fairy magic had covered the glass, and Phillip had to wipe a broad swath across with his hand to peer inside.
Inside he saw Ella, eyes closed, resting peacefully under her magical enchantment, and tiny particles of light floating inside the magical glass. She looked more beautiful than Phillip recalled, and she seemed more content than he could remember her being in years.
Phillip touched the glass again, now that he could see her. The glass was warm and tingled with energy; Phillip was now recalling what the Fae Gaia had told him.
In three days, should you wish to kiss her to end the spell; the glass will part like the receding tide—if your love is true.
“Here goes,” Prince Phillip whispered. He exhaled nervously and slowly he leaned into kiss Cinderella.
The glass did not part like Fae Gaia said it would. Phillip leaned in closer this time. But still the glass remained intact.
“How can this be?” he said perplexed, “It’s been three days.”
Phillip leaned all the way in and kissed the glass near Cinderella’s cheek. But the glass did not part.
“But we are married! Maybe the magic is wrong?” Phillip said aloud with frustration and exhaustion wearing heavy on
his face, “I am her husband! And yes, I do love her. And as a royal prince I order you open up and let me kiss my princess! ” He grew desperate; trying to reason with the magical coffin itself. He tried placing a kiss several more times from every angle he could think of, but the glass coffin remained sealed. Phillip knew that the fairy’s magic that was in place had been correctly cast. What was the real problem, and what began to settle in was that the he might not be Cinderella’s true love. But was it Phillip’s love that was not true or Cinderella’s? How could it not be true love? I am a prince; I gave her a life of royalty from one of squalor, he thought to himself. “How could she not love me?” Phillip whispered. Then he slammed his fists against the top of the coffin.
“Enough with magic!” he said. With a growl of angst, Phillip pulled his sword from its scabbard, gripping the hilt with both hands he raised the sword over his head and brought it down with all of his might upon the top of the magical glass coffin. There was a brilliant flash of light, and Phillip, blinded by the flash, had to turn his head. His ears filled with a ringing so loud that he could not hear anything but a high-pitched tone in his head. His arms ached with the impact of the strike and he saw that his sword’s blade had shattered in pieces down to the hilt. Phillip’s hand stung so badly that he dropped the hilt, holding his hands in tight fists from the painful shock of the impact.
The glass coffin showed not even the slightest mark where Phillip had struck. Ella slept serenely, frozen in time, oblivious to anything beyond the confines of the coffin.
Shards Of The Glass Slipper: Queen Alice Page 29
