Wonderland (Intergalactic Fairy Tales Book 1) by Robert McKay Page B

Palace was truly a sight to behold. Most of the floor was open, allowing a spectacular view of all the amazing acts going on. The ceiling was at least ten meters tall and higher in some places, such as the acrobatics area, where three people balanced on top of one another on a high wire about forty meters above the bare wood floor. If one of them fell they would surely die.
    Most of the people in the room paid little attention to the mind-blowing acts going on around them. They stood in groups of four or five near tables of food grand enough to serve several hundred people when there weren’t more than a hundred people in attendance. It was obvious from their clothing and bearing that these were important and powerful people. Just the sort of people you would expect to attend a party with a queen.
    Alice felt woefully underdressed in her simple blue dress. It was her favorite, but not nearly fancy enough for a party this spectacular. She found herself lagging behind the queen in an attempt to draw less attention to herself as they made their way toward a stage set up on one side of the room.
    “Come along, dear, we mustn’t keep my guests waiting,” said the queen, turning to wave at Alice. The gesture actually felt benign this time, with no implied threat.
    “But, I’m hardly dressed for such a fancy occasion,” said Alice, her steps growing smaller and slower the closer the stage loomed.
    The queen turned and came back to her, a flicker of what could have been concern in her eyes. “Nonsense, dear, you are a beautiful young woman in a lovely blue dress and you are my companion for the evening. I can assure you that you’ll fit in wonderfully.”
    Alice nodded skeptically, eyeing the stage. The thought of standing up on a stage in front of a room full of rich and powerful people made her want to bolt. Only the four guards with their swords and clubs kept her from trying it. “Do I have to go up there, though?”
    The queen looked up at the stage and then down at Alice, her green eyes turning soft with concern. “Oh, little one, you have stage fright. How thoughtless of me. This would be an intimidating situation for someone not used to such things.”
    “Yes,” said Alice, not sure if she could trust the queen’s seemingly genuine concern. She glanced at the sword on the belt of the guard nearest to them.
    The queen followed her gaze and a wicked smile lit up her face. “Well, how about we get you something to make you feel more comfortable, my little morsel.”
    The queen turned and marched off toward a set of double doors that were flanked by two more guards, holding poleaxes crossed before them. They straightened their weapons immediately upon seeing the queen headed their way. One moved quickly to swing the doors wide. The hall beyond was lined with evenly spaced doors on either side, each one about ten meters apart.
    “Welcome to my collection of beautiful and powerful things,” said the queen, stopping at the third door on the right. She placed her hand on a panel next to the door and a wave of blue light washed over it. “If you continue to please me, I may show you through all the rooms one day. For now, I have something that should banish your stage fright.”
    There was a resounding click that echoed through the hallway and the wooden door swung inward. It was then that Alice realized there was no handle on it. The queen stepped inside and gestured for Alice to follow. While the door looked like a normal wooden door from the outside, it was actually just a wood panel over a thick, steel vault door. The air inside the vault was very dry and a bit stale, smelling like old pennies.
    “Lights,” called the queen, and a plethora of spotlights turned on, each of them glinting off a shiny piece of metal. Swords, shields, armor, and various weapons Alice couldn’t describe, stood on pedestals around the room.
    “This is amazing,” said Alice, her mind racing with the possibilities of plundering the