Prologue

"Iracebeth of Crims," Queen Mirana's voice boomed across the chess battlefield. "Your crimes against Underland are punishable by death." Iracebeth's eyes widened. "But," Mirana continued in a gentler tone of voice, "that is against my vows. You shall be banished to the Outlands. No one shall ever show you a speck of kindness or speak to you. You won't have a friend in the world."

That was where this whole thing had started. Alice begged Mirana to let her go after her sister. At first she had refused, but after seeing Alice shed a tear, she relented. This was how Alice came to be in the Outlands. She had been following tracks for days now, and she hoped that this would be the morning her searching would pay off.

A little after noon, she found a cave. The tracks went inside and she followed them. Reaching the back of the cave, she saw a small figure curled up on it's side. It had flaming red hair, and though the head had shrunk, Alice would know the woman anywhere.

"Ireacebeth," she breathed.