It was a long, informative night. They remained in Bill's tent for hours, and true to her word, Ina answered all of Alice's questions to the best of her ability.

"What I don't understand is how there can be a Queen of Thieves," Alice said as she sat cross-legged across from her stepsister. "There are thieves in every land. How can one person rule them all? I mean, my guardian was a thief. He never said anything about a Queen."

"The hierarchy really only applies to organized thieves," Ina explained. "And even then, there are small groups that do not subscribe to it. And those who do have their own leaders for their individual bands. They make decisions for their group, lead raids, divide spoil."

"Then why is there a need for a Queen?"

"While we all have our own territories and live in relative peace, there are disagreements and contentions. The leaders try their best to resolve these conflicts, but if for some reason there are larger disagreements that cannot be settled, that is when having a Queen or King comes into play."

"What do they do?"

"They act as judge and mediator. If a compromise cannot be made, the Queen or King makes the final decision and all must abide by it."

"And they're all right with someone having that sort of power?"

"It's how things have been for centuries. And their power is not unquestioned. If a Queen or King proves to be incompetent or uses their position for selfish reasons, they can be voted out of power and replaced."

"What if they don't comply?"

Ina's eyes hardened. "Drastic measures will be taken."

Swallowing hard, Alice turned the conversation in a different direction. "All right, so how many bands of thieves are there who fall under the Queen's jurisdiction?"

"Hundreds. They're all over the world."

"Even in Hearts?"

"There used to be. The White Rabbits, I believe."

Alice laughed. "Seriously? Does the White Rabbit know about that?"

"They chose their name long before he was born. However, when the last Queen of Hearts came into power, things became too dangerous even for them, so they fled."

"Where did they go?"

"From what I've heard, they've joined forces with the Bread-and-Butterflies in Mulberry."

"What is with these names?"

"The Bread-and-Butterflies are not the most serious of thieves, which is why they so readily accepted the White Rabbits. They are sweet and fun-loving but just a tad addlepated."

Leaning back on her hands, Alice gazed up at the ceiling of the tent. "So does the Queen or King travel to other lands to check in on the various bands?"

"They only travel when there is a dire need for interference."

"Is the Queen or King always from the Swans?"

"They weren't always, but for the past few generations, yes. If a Queen or King dies without an Heir—an eldest child—the title is passed on to their spouse. If there is no spouse, all of the bands must come together to decide who shall be named the new Queen or King."

"How do they decide?"

"A series of complicated tests. We haven't had to do that in many, many years, though."

Alice's gaze wavered as she turned to Ina, feeling uncomfortable with her next question. "Is that why your father married my mother? To inherit her title?"

Stiffening slightly, Ina averted her eyes. "Yes. He used her grief over the loss of her husband to convince her to marry him. There has been some speculation that he may have even killed your father."

"Did he?"

The muscles in her jaw tensed. "I have no doubt."

So both of her parents had been murdered. It seemed everyone she loved disappeared from her life in some tragic manner. Well, almost everyone. Her heart clenched as her mind wandered to Ace. Panic set in, but she refused to let it take over.

"If your father has become such a tyrant," she said, "why have the other thieves not come together to remove him?"

"They've tried," Ina said, "but he's far more powerful than anyone realized. He's persuasive and manipulative. And he's very good at befriending dangerous people."

"He's more powerful than all of the thieves combined?"

Ina hesitated, her eyes flickering to Alice. "As I said, he's persuasive and manipulative. He's used these talents to plant contention amongst the different bands."

"What do you mean?"

"Rumors. Accusations. Outright lies. Anything he can think of to make them not trust each other. There's a war brewing between all of the different bands. My father is likely waiting for them to destroy each other before gathering up the victors to create a new kingdom of his own. One filled with violent and villainous monsters."

"So this rebellion against him involves more than just the thieves. This could potentially affect every land under the sun."

"And perhaps even through the Looking Glass." Ina's gaze was strong and determined. "We must stop him. Before he hurts anyone else."

It sounded like an impossible task. But the most recent events in her life had proven to her that impossible wasn't quite as impossible as it seemed.

"I understand," she said, ignoring her pounding pulse. "We must not delay."

"Very good." Ina rose to her feet and offered a hand to Alice. "We'll talk to the others and begin formulating a plan right away."

This was sounding far too familiar. Granted, these folks did not seem quite as mad as her last comrades, but still. Swallowing down her anxiety, Alice fingered her mother's pocket watch. As she traced the intricate rib cage, another question popped into her head.

"You knew my mother, right?"

Ina turned away from the tent entrance and gave a sad smile. "I did."

Pulling out the watch, Alice held it out to Ina. "Where did she get this?"

Ina shrugged as she gazed down at the timepiece. "I'm not entirely sure. She had it for many years, long before she was married. I've heard from some of the older Swans that she would often joke that she had received it from Time himself."

"Did she ever say there was anything special about it?"

Ina shook her head. "It was just a trinket. An heirloom of sorts. Why do you ask?"

The watch was heavy in her hand. The ticking of the hands and grinding of the gears were almost deafening. Ina didn't know. Perhaps no one knew. Had her mother even been aware of the watch's power?

"No reason," Alice said as she tucked the watch away. "Shall we discuss our plans with the others?"

Ina's eyes narrowed for a moment, but she quickly nodded and led her back outside. Bill was still sitting close by with that same knife in her hand. It looked far sharper than it had previously, and it glinted in the light of the rising sun.

Rising sun?

"Oh, pins and bobbins!" Alice exclaimed when she realized how much time had gone by. "Is it morning already?"

"You two have been at it all night," Bill said, shooting Ina a sharp glare.

"I have to go," Alice said, thinking of Ace back in the inn. "I'm sorry, I have someone waiting for me."

As she took off running, Ina called after her. "You don't even know the way back!"

Before Alice could respond, Ina was on her heels and taking the lead. They sprinted through the woods until they finally reached the dirt road. Not slowing down, they sped back to the entrance of Hickory Dickory just as folks were beginning to stir. Gasping for breath, Alice leaned against the outer stone wall while Ina barely broke a sweat.

"Tell the others I'm sorry," Alice panted. "I'll come back. I promise."

"Are you going to tell him?" Ina asked.

"Who?"

"Your husband."

A cold dread settled in her bones. What was she going to tell Ace? How would she explain her absence? And the absences that were soon to come as she conferred with the Swans about this rebellion?

"Right. Um, well—"

"You are going to tell him, aren't you?"

"Yes? No. I mean, no, I am. I am. Just...I need to figure out how."

"I don't understand. He is trustworthy, isn't he?"

"Of course. But, no offense, to the outside world, being the Queen of Thieves is not exactly something to brag about."

"But you're already a thief. And he knows that, doesn't he?"

"Of course."

"Then how will this change anything?"

It was a valid question. Alice wasn't even sure why she was so apprehensive about telling him. But she was.

"I'll tell him," she said. "I will. And then I'll find you and we'll get started."

Ina nodded. "I'll be waiting."

Giving a tight smile, Alice made her way into the town and back to the inn. She glanced over her shoulder at Ina but found that she had already disappeared. Facing forward, she pushed the sounds of the early morning into the background as she passed self-propelled wagons and street sweepers. What was she going to tell him? How was he going to react? Would he see her in a different light? After all, he was an upstanding, law-abiding captain. While he tolerated her petty thefts, how would he feel about her when he found out that thievery, in fact, ran deep in her blood? Would he think twice about his relationship with her? Would he lose respect for her?

But more concerning than any of these questions was, Would Ace be hurt if he was pulled into this conflict with the King?

Would she lose him?
Steeling herself against the panic that came with these thoughts, Alice was determined to never let that happen.

She couldn't lose any more loved ones.