Queen of Hearts: The Crown (Queen of Hearts Saga #1)(44)
The more executions she witnessed, the harder her heart had become. Now, she didn’t even flinch as the heads dropped neatly from their shoulders onto the white porcelain slab, a fact she was oddly proud of. A queen should have a strong stomach for justice, she reasoned. Dinah stood perfectly still now beside Harris, her face free of emotion as her terrible father made his way up to the platform. A silence fell over the noisy crowd as the entire kingdom bowed before their King, who was donning his impregnable armor, making him look like a bear, a force to be reckoned with. A black heart etched across his huge silver breastplate stood proudly out from his chest, his heavy gold crown shining in the afternoon light.
The King climbed the stairs, but not before his eyes met Dinah’s. There was a strange exchange between them—he shot her a satisfied smile and Dinah, confused and unable to control her mouth, gave half a smile back. What just happened, she worried. She couldn’t remember her father smiling at her—ever. He lumbered up the stairs, his iron footsteps echoing across the courtyard.
Heart Cards clustered in a messy line at the front of the stage, their swords clutched tightly against their chests. Her father began his customary speech, declaring the guilt of the prisoners, and the great honor they bestowed upon Wonderland by allowing the kingdom to take their heads, thus clearing out the evil that lurked in Wonderland’s darkest hearts. It was a gift to all the people of Wonderland, given really by him, the King. The prisoners were those chosen specifically by the Clubs for their heinous crimes, their lack of remorse, or their general level of uselessness to the Kingdom. Most were murderers, some were burglars, some were thieves, and some were women who sold themselves to men for the highest price. All were housed in the Black Towers. That was punishment enough, thought Dinah, worse than any of these naive people could ever imagine.
Today’s bunch, he announced, was made up of fourteen prisoners—nine men and five women. The list of beheadings went back several years, as there were plenty of people in Wonderland who had earned the blade. Dinah fidgeted nervously as her father read on until she felt Harris’s elbow deep in her ribs.
“Stand still, child!”
She focused her attention on Wardley, who stood at the front of the stage, alongside his fellow Heart Cards. His curly brown hair had been shorn neat and tight against his head, a change that Dinah mourned each time she saw him. He looked so different, so unlike the boy she adored, so like the man he would become. Even now, he stood out amongst the other Cards, his strong chin pointed to the side, his eyes trained on the King. He was confident and easy, the kind of man who could lead an army and slay the hearts of women with the greatest of ease.
Dinah looked at his right hand and saw two of his fingers crossing and uncrossing, a habit he had when he was nervous. An adoring smile drew up the corners of her mouth. Someday, she hoped, he would be her king, and lead beside her. Strong and compassionate, they would lead Wonderland into a new age, starting with the destruction of the Black Towers. Dinah clenched her fist. Root by root, she told herself. It will be done. Wardley glanced in her direction, and she gave him a small smile; he acknowledged it with a quick wink. Her heart gave a happy jump.
The King was finally on the platform now, looking out at the sea of red. Everyone wore red to Execution Day. Dinah reasoned that blood wasn’t as shocking when everyone was already covered in crimson. Her father settled his large girth on the makeshift iron throne. A Club Card approached him with a rolled sheet of paper. After the King picked it up he nodded, and they both stood and addressed the crowd. Her father unrolled the document, and in his booming cadence began to read the names of the condemned. Each prisoner was brought forward when his or her name was called; collectively, they took their place on the long white block, resting their heads on the stained marble.
“Jasper Che-guffe. Robinson Thomas. Abbie Tibbs. Gayleen Skinner. Earthe Hicket. Faina Baker.”
Dinah’s head jerked up. No, no, no, no. . . .
Her father continued reading the names, but Dinah’s vision had tunneled onto the tiny blond woman who was being dragged to the block. Surprisingly, she looked much better than she had in the Towers—her dirty blond hair was still caked with grease and her thin arms were covered in bruises, but the madness in her eyes had retreated, and she had obviously been eating, as she had put on some weight. They took her off the tree, Dinah realized. That’s what was different. They had fattened her up to make her look like a normal prisoner before the crowds.
Faina strained against her chain, forcing a Club Card to drag her toward the block. Her mouth was torn, and it was no wonder, considering the metal gag that was wrapped around her face and shoved between her bloodied lips. She struggled in vain, trying desperately to cry out, her eyes trained on the royal family. The Card leading her gave a hard yank on the chain, and Faina was jerked forward to her knees before the long white block. Dinah clenched and unclenched her hands. Her body felt like she had been suddenly plunged into icy waters. She couldn’t take her eyes off Faina. What could she do?
Faina gave a muffled sob and tried crawling toward the front of the platform, where Heart Cards with swords waited patiently for her. Her watery eyes were fixed on Dinah as the Cards pushed her back toward the block. A Club Card yanked her up by her hair.
“Feisty!” the King yelled, and the crowd laughed with him. Through her metal gag, faint gurgling screams could be heard. Dinah was seized with panic. Should she try and stop this? What reason could she possibly give? She looked toward Wardley. He was pale and shaken, staring at Faina as the guard slapped her down and held her head against the block, leaning on her cheek with all his strength.