Page 67 of Knot My Wonderland

"Not just yours," I said, the visions still cascading through my consciousness like a waterfall of terrible possibilities. "All of them. Every safe house, every neutral village that's ever sheltered a refugee from the courts—she's marked them all for destruction."

Through the ward consciousness, I could see the Red Queen's forces spreading across Wonderland like spilled ink, leaving scorched earth in their wake. Villages burned while their inhabitants fled into forests that offered no real sanctuary. The other monarchs watched from their territories, calculating whether to intervene or simply wait for the chaos to eliminate potential threats.

"She's forcing everyone to choose sides," Heart said grimly, understanding dawning in his ruby eyes. "Neutrality becomes impossible when remaining neutral means death."

Chi's form flickered with fury. "A clever strategy, if utterly mad. She's gambling the other courts won't unite against her before she can consolidate power."

"She's already making alliances," I said, the images from the stone still flowing through my mind. "The King of Diamonds has offered her access to his crystal technology in exchange for certain territories once the war is over."

Varik's expression darkened. "Predictable. The King of Diamonds always calculates the most advantageous position."

"What about the others?" Heart asked, his voice tight with urgency. "The Queen of Clubs? The King of Spades?"

I closed my eyes, letting the ward consciousness sift through the visions. "The Queen of Clubs is fortifying her borders, neither joining nor opposing the Red Queen directly. She's watching, waiting to see which way the tide turns." I paused, focusing on the shadowy figure who had visited me that night. "The King of Spades is... harder to read. He moves in multipledirections at once, making arrangements…but I don’t feel him moving like the other monarchs.”

"The King of Spades plays a longer game than the others," Varik said, his wild green eyes distant with memory. "He always has." There was something in his voice—old pain carefully contained. "During the First Queen's reign, he was known for his patience. For seeing patterns that wouldn't manifest for decades."

Heart's fighters had gathered closer during our conversation, their faces grim as they absorbed the implications of what I'd seen. Martha stepped forward, her scarred features etched with concern.

"Prince Heart," she said quietly, "if what Alice saw is true, then the safe houses in the Crimson Valley are already compromised. My brother leads a cell there—"

"I know," Heart interrupted, his voice heavy with responsibility. Through our connection, I felt his anguish like a physical weight. "The stone showed me possibilities, not certainties. There may still be time."

“There is still time.” A voice spoke, making me blink to see two figures who seemed to come out of nowhere.

“If you leave now…you may make it.” The second voice spoke. I blinked, recognizing them.

“Tweedles. Good to see you.” Heart muttered, eyeing the two wearily.

"Time moves strangely in the Forgotten Lands," Vee observed, adjusting his silver monocle as he studied our group. "But it flows normally in the Crimson Valley."

"For now," Dee added dreamily, his opalescent robes shifting like moonlight on water. "Though war changes all currents eventually."

I stared at the twins, who had appeared with their usual impossible timing. "How did you find us here? I thought the hidden paths couldn't reach into the Forgotten Lands."

"Most paths cannot," Vee confirmed, producing a small device that hummed with temporal energy. "But we are path-keepers. We go where paths are needed."

"Even where they do not yet exist," Dee finished, trailing luminous fingers through the air where reality seemed more malleable.

Martha stepped forward, desperation creeping into her weathered face. "Can you take us to the Crimson Valley? To warn my brother and the others?"

The Tweedles exchanged one of their synchronous looks, a silent communication that seemed to span multiple realities at once.

"We can create a path," Vee stated with clinical precision.

"Though not for everyone," Dee added, their dreamy voice carrying a note of regret.

Heart moved closer to the twins, his ruby eyes intense. "How many can you transport safely?"

"Five," Vee replied, already calculating variables invisible to the rest of us.

"No more than seven," Dee countered. The twins fingers weaving patterns in the air leaving luminous trails.

"Six is optimal," they concluded in perfect unison.

Heart turned to Martha, decision crystallizing in his expression. "Take five of our best. Evacuate who you can.”

"My brother's forces—how many still stand?" she asked, her voice tight with barely controlled emotion.

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