JAY STARED AT THE OLD metal clunker that looked to be patched together with every type of metal imaginable. It was rusted clear through in several areas and looked like it would take a fleet of men to run it. If the flying dirigible even ran, which Jay wasn’t very confident of.

He turned to look at Alice who was beaming at the worn and tattered airship. One would think it was her child by the way she had lovingly patted the bolts and fins that jutted out at awkward angles.

“Is this even safe?” Jay ventured, not wanting to step foot on the monstrosity.

Alice scowled at him, “Much safer than riding on the back of a Jabberwocky!”

Jay wasn’t inclined to agree, however since he had never ridden on a Jabberwocky, he chose to keep his mouth shut.

“And just think!” Alice continued, “We will be about to bring luggage and supplies with us. Honestly, Jay, this is the only way.”

Jay gulped and then nodded towards the seagulls that were perched on the top rafters.

“Are they coming?” Jay asked.

Alice shrugged, “Most likely, they like The Dirty Tea Cup.”

Jay choked a little, “Did you just say, Dirty Tea Cup?”

Alice smiled, and Jay felt it all the way into the pit of his stomach. If she wasn’t so damn beautiful, he mused, maybe he would have an easier time it.

“The Dirty Tea Cup was named by her captain, Dame Mary Ann Wakefield.” Alice winked at Jay before approaching a vibrant redhead in a second-hand vest and breeches. Air goggles were careless slung around her neck. And the woman’s left arm was completely mechanical.

“Who in the hell is Dame, Mary Ann Wakefield?”

Although Jay already had a pretty good idea.

“How do you do Mr. Jabberwocky—how do you do?” Her lips were pained a garish red, and her green eyes sparkled with mischief.

“It’s not Mr. Jabberwocky,” Jay hated the redness that had flooded his cheeks, “the name is Jay.”

“Mr. Jay! Well, that is splendid, now isn’t it! You may call me Dame or Captain, it’s all the same really, but I will be piloting this aircraft.”

Another familiar figure came around the corner.

“Harry?” Jay’s surprised tone frightened the smaller man.

“Goodness, Jay, didn’t see you there! I see you’ve met my sister Mary Ann.”

They both had the same shocking red hair. But whereas Harry seemed inclined to cower and scamper about, Mary Ann seemed bold, much like a conqueror, or statesman.

“Didn’t know you had a sister, Harry,” Jay was perplexed by this turn of events. “Are you going to be coming along with us?”

Mary Ann laughed, “Harry’s not much of an adventurer.”

Harry shot his sister a look of pure hatred. It surprised Jay to see so much venom in his friend. But when their eyes met, Harry’s animosity vanished.

“I have other things to attend to,” Harry said loftily. He handed some bags to Alice who had already boarded the floating airship. “Don’t think I am abandoning you, Jay. I will be searching for the White Pawn while still attending to my duties to the White Court.”

Jay nodded and walked over to the plank where one entered the dirigible. There were cannons stationed at the front and three on each side. Jay wondered if the ancient contraptions were even configured correctly.

Most likely they would explode, kill everyone onboard, or worse, everyone but him.

Shaking his head, Jay stooped to enter the main body of the airship. The inside was no worse than the outside, but it indeed wasn’t better either.

Jay was told that the engine room was at the bottom of the craft. Four staterooms were situated at the back, and then the captain’s tower was located at the top. There was clinking and scampering about below in the engine rooms, but Alice and Mary Ann were both in the main area.

Obviously, there were more members of the crew, but neither woman had seen fit to explain that to him. Jay rolled his eyes. This seemed like the biggest waste of time to him. Surely, Alice could have ridden on his back and avoided all of the fuss.

“What’s got your knickers in a twist?” Dame Mary Ann Wakefield demanded of him.

Jay narrowed his eyes at the slender woman, “Look, do you even know where we are going?”

The girl smiled, “Of course, we are traveling to the Red Knight.”

Jay shook his head, “Where is Alice?”

He had already told her about the conversation he and Cedric had.

Mary Ann smiled knowingly, “You like her.”

It was a statement, said with such knowledge that it was a trifle unnerving.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Jay willed his expression to stay neutral despite the urge to strangle this woman.

Mary Ann’s grin widened, “You are a shit liar. Might want to work on that.”

And then she left him, whistling a jaunty little tune that Jay had heard once at a local pub. It was crass, derogatory, and ill-suited for a lady. Somehow, he thought it was perfect for Dame Mary Ann Wakefield.

Jay went up to the higher deck, and it was there he found Alice.

“Why are we going to the Red Knight when we already know that he didn’t take the White Pawn?”

Alice raised her eyes to meet his. There was a subtle breeze in the air that caused her hair to dance around her face fetchingly.

“Cedric told you that the Red Pawn is in a romantic relationship with the Tweddle brothers. Is that correct?”

Jay nodded, “Yes.”

“So,” Alice spoke slowly like she was speaking with an idiot. “If Cedric is correct, someone is trying to frame the Red Knight. In that eventuality, we need to find out who his enemies are. If Cedric is lying or wrong, we need to question his motives for lying to us, or who gave Cedric the false information. All of this hinges on if the Red Knight is, in fact, guilty of taking the beautiful princess or not. Therefore, we must find him and discover the truth.”

Her reasoning was sound, and so Jay nodded. Then he remembered the sounds he had heard earlier.

“Who is running the engine room?” Jay asked.

Alice blinked, “Oh! You heard that, did you?”

Something havey-cavey was going on, Jay thought. “It was nearly impossible not to.”

Alice flushed, “I believe that Dame Mary Ann has brought her crew with her.”

It bothered Jay that Alice wouldn’t tell him the truth.

“Why are you trying to evade the subject?” He may have sounded a little harsher than intended.

Alice flinched but didn’t back down.

“If you must know,” her words dripped like icicles.

Jay snorted, “I must!”

“Several Jubjubs fly with Dame Mary Ann, and a few mechanicals.”

Jay felt ice in his veins, “How many mechanicals?”

Mary Ann walked up on the outside deck and heard his last question, “There are fourteen mechanicals and three Jubjubs. Is that a problem for you?

Jay thought he might be sick.