Chapter 4

Trust

For winter's rains and ruins are over,

And all the season of snows and sins;

The days dividing lover and lover,

The light that loses, the night that wins;

And time remembered is grief forgotten,

And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover

Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

~Algernon Charles Swinburne

Frabjous Day arrived, and early in the morning the courtiers of the White Court gathered restlessly in the throne room, waiting to hear the results of Alice's battle with the Jabberwock and the war between the Queens' forces. They paced and murmured amongst themselves for hours, drinking multitudinous cups of tea until their nerves were so jangled they were forced to switch to wine. Casiphia in particular waited anxiously for news.

Finally word reached the palace that Mirana's forces had triumphed, and the Red Queen's guards had abandoned her and thrown their lot in with the White Soldiers. The Jabberwock had been slain, Alice had prevailed, and the Red Queen had been banished.

And Ilosovic Stayne had been exiled with her.

Casiphia, horrified, excused herself from the crowd gathered at the castle. She paced her chambers, concocting and discarding ideas to save the Knight, none of which were practical or safe or had any chance of success. But she did think of one plan that might succeed.

That night when the Queen returned, Casiphia sent a message via a page requesting a formal audience. The answer that was returned said that she was to meet the Queen in her receiving room in an hour.

As Casiphia dressed for her audience with the Queen, carefully adjusting the layers of satin and brocade that made up her gown, and making sure the white ringlets of her wig were neat and not about to fall into her eyes, she wondered if this course of action had any real chance of success. She had been the best lady-in-waiting she knew how to be over the years, keeping Mirana's confidences and providing her with companionship, but perhaps all that would be outweighed by her recent restlessness and her tendency to be difficult to find. She had organized the books in the library by subject, which might count for something, but perhaps it would have been better if she had made more progress in her potions work.

Well, none of that could be helped now. Casiphia gathered her heavy skirts and made her way to the small room where Mirana took petitioners. There the Queen sat, lovely and radiant in her crown, looking more relaxed than she had in many a day. Casiphia hoped for this to be a good sign. Dropping to her knees before the Queen, she took a deep breath and began.

"Your Majesty, I am here to beg pardon for Ilosovic Stayne."

The Queen raised one eyebrow at this, but was silent.

"Is it not in your nature and in your training to be compassionate? If I were to tell you what I've learned of his character, might that make a difference in his sentence?"

"Please explain further, Casiphia," the White Queen said. And so Casiphia did, telling the story from her foray into the Red Queen's territory to what Stayne had told her of his relationship with the Red Queen and with the resistance. "Many people did reprehensible things as they waited for their champion to return. It isn't fair that he be the single one punished for doing so.

"His single greatest crime has been unwarranted loyalty. And he was the last remaining friend that your sister had."

"That is a good deal of information I did not have," said the White Queen. "Ilosovic Stayne is very lucky to have met you and to have you on his side. I may not owe him a kindness, but perhaps I do owe you one."

"Does that mean--?" Casiphia said, scarcely daring to believe.

"I will send for him to be returned here. On several conditions."

Apprehension flickered across Casiphia's face, but she remained silent and let Mirana continue.

"First, you will be responsible for his actions. I will find it hard to trust his completely for some time, I am sure, and I want to know that someone I do trust is watching him.

"Also, I am thinking that since you find it so hard to keep close to the palace, you might like to patrol Underland for me, perhaps once a month? And you can take your paramour with you, since he is as familiar with these lands as anyone I know. And this leads to the second condition: You must report to me anything unusual you might find. As a courtier, you will have a better idea of what I find suspicious than a regular guard.

"Are these terms acceptable?"

"Yes, yes, My Queen, they are," said Casiphia, sweeping a deep curtsey, her face radiant with her smile. "I am certain that this will all work out for the best.

"But…may I ask one more favor?"

"Oh, Casiphia, do not take advantage," sighed the Queen. "But tell me what you would like."

"Could you show a bit of mercy to your sister? Maybe put a end date on her time of exile? And you've told me yourself that you are worried about her, and that perhaps she can't help how she acts--you can command her to see a doctor now and she cannot refuse. Would this not be in keeping with the virtues you have taught your court?"

"I suppose you are right," said the Queen. "Although I may make it a very long exile indeed if she turns out to be healthy and merely an evil person."

"No one could ask more," Casiphia said. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will leave now without asking any further boons."

"Yes, you do that. Oh, my dear," said the Queen, embracing Casiphia gently. "Come to the overlook at early morning tomorrow and we will see what we will see."

The overlook was one of the most beautiful locations in the palace, with its curved marble terrace and the vast marble chess knights keeping sentinel. This morning it was misty and quiet, the waterfalls tumbling down the green hills beyond hushed by the distance. Casiphia stood watching over the valley, waiting, holding still until thought she heard footfalls behind her.

Which she had. It was indeed her love, placing his hands upon her shoulders to turn her around to look at him. He was garbed in white and black, looking not too much worse for wear--but it was the mingling of emotions in his expression that truly drew her attention.

"Ilosovic Stayne," she said, reaching up to take his hands.

"I do prefer how that sounds from your lips, milady."

"This court will be a change for you," she said. "But I see you can still be my black knight."

"It has been a long time since I wore anyone's colors but Iracebeth's," Ilosovic said. "But thus far I appreciate the contrast."

"You realize I am responsible for you now," she said.

"And I will do my best not to disappoint you," he replied. "Milady, I thank you again for for not judging me without giving me a chance to speak my piece. Not many would have done the same."

"That would be neither fair nor just," Casiphia responded.

"I think this was more than I deserve," he said.

"I disagree," Casiphia said. "And you'll learn better than to argue with me."

"Might be fun," Ilosovic said with his crooked smile.

"First," she said, sliding a hand along the side of his neck, "Let's work on Lawful Seduction."