User blog comment:Maki Kuronami/Lesson 24: Why the Naming Rule of Remnant Exists/@comment-11188061-20140926022058/@comment-30764484-20140926183611

Nah, there's no alliance, Cinder is just using is personality to her advantage. Ironwood is nothing if not predictable. The location in the southeast will be located and attacked by the entire Atlesian force (and some hunters, etc), while Cinder lets the Grimm into Vale (per the trailer) and whatever else she's planning.

Rattle Ironwood's cage by infiltrating and trolling them with the Black Queen popup (and probably stealing info or whatever too), get him all agitated and wanting a fight, then give him one, nice and far away. She's playing him.