فصل 26

26

TEDROS

Questions of a King

This meeting will come to order!” Tedros declared, standing in front of the captain’s wheel of the Igraine as it flew through the pink-and-purple dawn sky. He looked down at the gathered crew, still in their clothes from the night before and sitting cross-legged on the deck. “I won’t waste words, as Professor Dovey’s crystal ball does not give us much time with her—” “Indeed,” said the Dean, from a watery bubble hovering next to Tedros’ head, her office a mess in the background. “The Snake is on the loose after escaping Nottingham, and though neither he nor his scims have yet to be sighted, he will surely come for Camelot, for Excalibur, and for the king. We must protect all three. Judging from my Quest Map, your ship will arrive at Camelot in an hour and we need to be clear on the plan—” “Now as to the details of this plan—” Tedros cut in.

“Tedros, I think it’s best if I handle—”

The king turned to the Dean. “We may be your students, but this is my kingdom that we’re about to land in. So are you leading this meeting or am I?” Professor Dovey pursed her lips. “Proceed.”

Tedros scanned the crew: Rhian watching him intently; Sophie fixed on Rhian and nuzzling his arm; Hort, Nicola, Hester, Anadil, Beatrix, Reena, Kiko, Willam, and Bogden. (The rest of the students they’d left at a clinic in Nottingham, so they could recuperate from their injuries sustained at the Four Point.) “Where’s Agatha?” he heard Kiko whisper to Sophie.

“Taking care of Dot in her room,” Sophie whispered back. “Dot’s too afraid to show her face.” “She should be,” Hort grumbled.

“First of all, this is not Dot’s fault,” Tedros admonished the group. “The boy named Kei of Foxwood arrived in Sherwood Forest just a few days ago, hounding Robin for a chance to join his Merry Men. Robin ignored Kei at first, but when Kei expressed an interest in the Sheriff’s daughter, Robin saw a chance to make Dot happy. He told Kei to take Dot on a date she’d remember and then maybe he’d consider him for his men. Little did he know Kei was in league with the Snake the whole time. So please. What happened last night was an accident. Be kind to Dot.” “Challenging,” groused Hester.

“Impossible, honestly,” Anadil mumbled, rats grumbling too.

“As soon as we land in Camelot, we’ll divide into two teams to fight the Snake,” Tedros forged on. “One team will be with me and Agatha at Camelot Castle. The other team will be with Rhian and Sophie in Camelot City.” “I told you he wouldn’t let me in the castle,” Sophie murmured to Rhian.

Tedros ignored her. “My team will be responsible for securing the royal grounds. You will work with Agatha and me to fortify the towers, protect Excalibur, and lay traps for the Snake’s army. Rhian’s team will be responsible for helping my mother and our Ever and Never allies to recruit an army to fight the Snake’s. Professor Dovey has been in touch with Guinevere—” Tedros’ face changed. He looked up at the Dean in her bubble. “And she’s, um, aware of everything that happened last night?” Professor Dovey paused. “Yes, she is.”

Tedros swallowed, lost in thought.

The Good Dean quickly took over. “Ever since the Four Point, Guinevere has led Camelot’s allies in building a unified army of Good and Evil. Recruitment is currently taking place in Maker’s Market, the main thoroughfare of Camelot City. Rhian’s team will join this effort and conduct loyalty tests to ensure none of the Snake’s allies make it into our ranks, like Kei of Foxwood did. . . .” Kei’s name snapped Tedros out of his daze. He glanced at the Dean, thankful she’d stepped in, his stomach still queasy at the thought of his mother learning that Lance was dead. Yet as he studied Dovey closer, the Dean looked haggard, as if she hadn’t been sleeping.

“. . . Those working on Rhian’s team must be cautious, for the Snake’s minions may have already seeped into Camelot City,” the Good Dean was saying, stifling a cough. “But before the king assigns you to your teams, I have a few questions for our new knight.” Her eyes locked on Rhian.

“At your service, Professor Dovey,” said the copper-haired boy, immediately rising to his feet.

“What kingdom are you from, Rhian?” she asked.

“Foxwood.”

“Your parents’ names?”

“Levya and Rosamund. My father is deceased.”

“Siblings?”

“Two younger brothers. Stad and Gilderoy.”

“Address?”

“62 Stropshire Lane in Foxwood.”

“Thank you,” said Professor Dovey, scribbling this all down, before looking up at him. “You see, I’m afraid there is no record of a Rhian in our files for prospective students to either the School for Good or the School for Evil.” “Perhaps I did not qualify to be a prospective student, then?” said Rhian.

“All children in the Woods and Woods Beyond between the ages of twelve and fifteen qualify to be prospective students and thus have a file at the school,” Professor Dovey clipped.

“Then it must be an oversight, surely,” said Rhian, scratching his stubble. “I will be seventeen next month. I would have been in Tedros’ class.” “If it is an oversight, then why is your name on my Quest Map?” the Good Dean pressed. “Why is your name recognized by the Storian?” “Because the Storian made a mistake by not including him in our class and now is atoning for it,” Sophie snapped, standing up next to her knight.

“I understand your reservations, Professor Dovey. I would have the same ones,” said Rhian, his attention still on the Dean. “I’ve come to serve Camelot. To protect its king. I cannot speak to the mysteries of the Storian or the admissions process at your school. But if you have doubts about my loyalty, then I will return to Foxwood at once.” “No one has doubts about your loyalty,” said Tedros, glaring at Dovey.

“Doubts about your loyalty? No,” said the Dean. “In reporting this fairy tale as it unfolds, the Storian has showed me what kind of knight you are, Rhian. You’ve saved Tedros’ life. You’ve saved all of my students’ lives, along with numerous kingdoms under threat, from Foxwood to Mahadeva to Nottingham. Your loyalty to Tedros, to his friends, and to Good is unquestioned. What I question is why this loyalty has not come to my attention before now. But perhaps that is something that only the Storian and our previous School Master have the answers to and, unfortunately, neither is capable of giving them. One last question, however.” She peered into Rhian’s eyes. “About your intentions towards Sophie—” “Oh, for God’s sake, Clarissa!” Sophie scorched.

“Let me answer,” Rhian said firmly. “Go on, Professor.” Professor Dovey gave him a keen once-over. “Do you find it strange for a knight of Good to take a Dean of Evil as his lady?” “No more strange than a princess of Good like Agatha to have a Dean of Evil like Sophie as her best friend. Or a Dean of Good like you to have had a Dean of Evil like Lady Lesso as your best friend,” Rhian answered. “Good and Evil are no longer as irreconcilable in our world as they once were. Something we have to give Sophie quite a bit of credit for. But to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t have wanted the Sophie that came to your school her first year. That Sophie was Evil in the most self-serving way. There was little to attract someone like me, who wants to do Good in this world. But I don’t see that Sophie anymore. Her soul may still skew toward Evil, but now her Evil serves the greater Good. It’s what I most admire about her. She can change people’s minds. She knows how to lead. I think we can all agree on that, Professor. Even more, I think we can all say that she deserves to find real love. Wouldn’t you?” Sophie’s eyes had turned to stars.

The Dean of Good smiled warmly. “I look forward to meeting you in person, Sir Rhian,” she said, before looking at the king. “Tedros, I leave it to you to divide the teams.” As Rhian and Sophie sat, Hort leaned over to Nicola: “Watch, Tedros won’t pick me for his team because he thinks I’m a loser.” “Well, at least we’ll be together, then, ‘cause he doesn’t even know my name,” said Nicola.

“On my team, it’s Agatha, Hort, Nicola, Kiko, Bogden, and Willam,” said Tedros. “On Rhian’s team, it’s Sophie, Hester, Anadil, Dot, Beatrix, and Reena.” Hort and Nicola blinked, surprised.

“Any questions?” Tedros asked.

“Why are all the boys on your team?” said Reena.

“Because Rhian is all the man a team needs,” Sophie vamped.

“Next question,” said Tedros, staring Sophie down.

“How big is the Snake’s army?” said Beatrix.

“We don’t know,” said Tedros. “But judging from the chaos he caused across the Woods and his ability to pay for loyalty, we can expect a sizable force.” “Can Merlin help us like he did against Rafal and his zombies?” asked Kiko.

“Merlin is missing,” said Professor Dovey gravely. “All I can hope right now is that he is still alive.” Tedros tensed, sensing the genuine fear in the Dean’s face— “You say we have to build an army, but do the people even want to fight for Tedros?” Beatrix asked, raising her hand. “From the news we read, it doesn’t seem like you have much support from other kingdoms after you left them to deal with the Snake on their own. Or from the people of Camelot, for that matter. Rhian might have saved half the Woods singlehandedly . . . but are those people going to rally behind you?” Tedros went bright red. “Um, look . . .”

“Tedros is the king,” Rhian lashed, spinning to Beatrix. “The king of the Woods’ greatest kingdom. And it is our duty to show the people of Camelot and beyond what loyalty to the king looks like. Anyone unable to fulfill that duty is welcome to jump off the boat right now.” Beatrix shirked under his hot blue-green eyes. “Sheesh. Just asking,” she muttered.

Tedros gave Rhian a grateful nod. “Any other questions?” No one spoke.

“Meeting dismissed,” said Tedros. “Get yourselves something to eat or go down for a nap, because as soon as we land, our work begins.” He looked up at the Dean, who was already starting to fade. “When can you make it to Camelot, Professor?” “As soon as I can,” the Dean said vaguely.

Her bubble vanished while the crew leapt to their feet and headed towards the galley. Tedros saw Nicola walking with Rhian. “Sophie was asking whether you have any psycho ex-girlfriends from school she should worry about,” said Nicola.

“Mmm, given I went to a school for boys, psycho ex-girlfriends aren’t a problem,” Rhian laughed. “Anything else she’s concerned about?” “Just that you’re too Good to be true. Surely there’s something wrong with you.” “I bite my nails, snore if I eat too close to bedtime, have a birthmark on my bum, and can be a bit temperamental.” “Real dealbreakers,” said Nicola, smirking.

Tedros made a face. Last he’d heard, Sophie and Nicola were barely friends. And now Sophie was sending her to check up on Rhian?

“Teddy?”

Tedros turned to see Sophie next to him.

“I didn’t mean to suggest you aren’t as good or as manly as Rhian,” she said. “I was just being stupid—” “I know, Sophie.”

She touched his shoulder. “Will you be okay?”

The way she left her hand there, Tedros knew this had nothing to do with what she’d said about Rhian and everything to do with his having to face his mother soon.

“I have to be,” he said.

“I know you and I have had our . . . issues. But I’m here for you,” said Sophie, quiet and heartfelt. “Please know I mean that.” Their eyes met and for a moment, Tedros forgot everything that had happened between them.

He cleared his throat. “I better go check on Agatha,” he said, heading towards the galley.

Tedros paused. “Sophie?”

He turned to her.

“Rhian’s my knight. He saved our quests. He saved Ever and Never kingdoms from the Snake. You don’t have to hunt for flaws or dig up dirt on him,” he said.

Sophie stared at him quizzically. “Um, I know that,” she said. “Since when do you give me love advice?” Tedros smiled. “Since I started believing in perfect endings.” Then he hustled inside, leaving Sophie wide-eyed behind him.

By the time Tedros took a bath and had his turn at the enchanted pot—he asked it for meatloaf and broccoli and it’d given him pancakes instead—the Igraine was starting its descent towards Camelot.

Hair wet, mouth full, he knocked on Dot’s door.

Agatha peeked out. “I’ll meet you on deck in a minute,” she whispered.

“Starboard deck, where we can be alone,” said Tedros.

Agatha nodded and closed the door.

Tedros could hear Dot’s muffled wails: “It’s not just that I let the Snake loose or that everyone thinks I’m horrible or that if anything happens to Tedros it’ll be my fault. . . . The worst part is I’ll never kiss a boy agaiiiinnn!” “Yes, you will,” said Agatha’s voice. “You’ll get over this—” “That’s not what I mean. I mean what other boy will ever kiss me? Kei was my first kiss! And he only kissed me because he wanted to get my keeyyysss. . . .” “Dot, love is more than finding a boy to kiss.”

“You only say that ‘cause you get to kiss Tedros all day longgggg!” “And we still have our problems, like everyone else,” said Agatha patiently. “But if it’ll make you feel better, you’re welcome to kiss Tedros as much as you like.” Tedros sighed.

As he waited in the starboard corridor, elbows on a railing, he watched the sky turn gray, dark clouds spiraling around the ship. Tedros tried to steel himself, preparing for the war ahead, but he could feel a current of nausea underneath his forced calm. Everything about the Snake terrified him. His ruthlessness. His coldness. The way he’d slashed Lance without mercy.

But it was more than that.

Rafal was Evil, but Evil in a way that Tedros understood. Rafal wanted Sophie. Rafal wanted a love so Evil it would destroy Good forever.

But what did this Snake want? To rule Camelot? Why?

Is that what he was really after? Or was the Snake after something more?

What scared Tedros the most was that he still didn’t know the answer.

The ship broke through a wall of clouds, giving him his first view of Camelot City. The king’s eyes bulged. Massive lines of people streamed through Maker’s Market. It looked like some kind of holiday parade, with men, women, children, and mogrifs packing every street. But as Tedros tracked the lines, he saw where they led: the gates of Camelot Park, where huge signs flashed “ARMY RECRUITMENT: EVERS” and “ARMY RECRUITMENT: NEVERS.” The moment the crowd caught sight of the Igraine above, they let out a roaring cheer as the ship zipped past the city and out over the Savage Sea, curving back around towards Camelot Castle and the royal docks.

“Further proof that no one should ever listen to Beatrix,” said a comforting voice.

Agatha nestled up to him. “Because from what I just saw, the people are certainly on your side.” “In times of crisis, the Woods needs a leader,” said Tedros. “Maybe they finally realized that no matter how many mistakes I make, I will always be there to protect them and fight for them and put my life on the line for them, just like my father.” “Or they’re afraid the Snake’s going to kill them and you’re their only hope,” smiled Agatha.

“That too,” said Tedros.

“Though according to the Snake, he’s actually the Lion. And you’re the Snake,” said Agatha.

“What?”

“When he captured us in Jaunt Jolie, he had a Storian of his own—a fake Storian—that tells the fairy tales from his point of view. And in his version of the story, he’s the Lion and rightful king and you’re the usurping Snake. He claims all of this will only end when everything we think is true is proven ‘untrue.’” Tedros thought about this. “So when Lies become Truth and Truth becomes Lies.” “Which is impossible, because the Woods knows this Snake now. They will never confuse him for a Lion,” said Agatha. “He’s the villain of this story. And you’re their hero. That’s why they’re cheering for you.” “And it’s why I cannot let them down,” said Tedros.

He held her tightly as the castle came into view, a light rain starting to fall.

“Dot doing okay?” he asked. “Or do I need to kiss her back to her senses?” “I was hoping you’d overhear that. She’ll be fine. By the time I left, she was turning her tears to chocolate and eating them.” “Gross.”

The ship floated down in front of the castle. Tedros spotted Excalibur in the Blue Tower balcony, now guarded by five men and also sealed off in a huge, thick glass lockbox. Clearly his mother was taking no chances.

The moment the Igraine hit the water, surfing to the docks, the crew bounded to their positions, led by Rhian, lashing the ship to the pier as Hort dropped anchor.

From the railing, Tedros and Agatha watched the knight gather his group on the east dock.

“My team, follow me,” said Rhian, leading Hester, Anadil, Beatrix, and Reena away in the rain, with Dot scurrying and sniffling behind.

“Our turn,” said Tedros, taking Agatha’s hand, about to summon his team— The king froze, squinting over the railing. Agatha followed his eyes.

There was a woman at the end of the west dock.

She wore all white, her hair the same ghostly color, wet from the rain.

“The Lady of the Lake?” Agatha breathed as she and Tedros moved closer— Only now they could see the woman’s face.

Tedros squeezed Agatha’s hand. “Take our group and go,” he ordered.

“Let me come with—”

Tedros kissed her gently. “Go. I’ll see you inside.” Agatha nodded. She gathered Hort, Nicola, Kiko, Willam, and Bogden and herded them down the east dock and into the castle.

Tedros came off the ship alone and faced the woman in white.

A key made of glass dangled from a chain around her neck.

“The Snake will have to kill me to get this key,” said Guinevere. “He won’t touch Excalibur as long as I’m alive.” “I’m sorry, Mother,” Tedros rasped, trying to quell his emotion.

“My hair changed color the moment I heard the news,” said Guinevere. “And yet, I haven’t been able to cry.” “He loved you so much,” said her son, his voice breaking. “In a way Dad never could. You were everything to Lance. He said it to me as he . . . as he . . .” Guinevere pulled him into her arms. “He loved you too, Tedros. Like his own son. Even if he wasn’t always sure how to show it.” “Why did he kill Lance? Why not me?” Tedros breathed, rain falling on his face.

“Remember what Merlin said,” his mother whispered. “He wants to break you. To take away everything you love so you’ll be too weak to fight back. But you have to fight back, Tedros. You have to stay strong. Both of us do.” She tilted his chin towards her.

Tedros looked into his mother’s fiery eyes.

“We can’t let that monster win,” said Guinevere.

Tedros swept through the White Tower, his crown back on his head, peering at a map of the castle grounds in one hand and a ledger accounting for all of Camelot’s weapons in the other. He crossed through the staff dining hall, now turned into a war room, where Chef Silkima and her cooks were filling giant barrels with cooking oil.

“How many barrels, Silkima?” Tedros asked, without stopping.

“Sixty-four, sire.”

“And they’ll detonate easily?”

“At first flame, sire.”

The young king strode out of the hall and saw Hort in the corridor, helplessly surrounded by heaps of broken and rusted weapons: maces, spears, axes, swords— “This is a holy mess,” said Hort.

“Which is why I wanted a Hort on my team to fix it,” said Tedros.

“Aye-aye, sire,” said Hort.

Tedros veered into the next hall, where Kiko was standing with a beefy, shirtless guard amidst piles of mismatched pieces of armor that Kiko was trying to fit back together. Tedros raised his brows.

“I told him that if I could watch him put the armor on, then maybe I’d see how it all goes,” Kiko defended.

Tedros shoved past them and peeked into the stewards’ common room, where two maids were trying to repair a mound of splintered bows and arrows. He glimpsed a few newspapers spread out on a table. On top was the Jaunt Jolie Journal— KING TEDROS’ CREW BUNGLES

SNAKE CAPTURE! LANCELOT DEAD!

SNAKE ON THE LOOSE!

Tedros flung it aside to see the latest Camelot Courier— SNAKE EYES CAMELOT!

IS THE LION OUR ONLY HOPE?

Tedros lifted it up to see the Royal Rot underneath, a huge portrait of Rhian and Sophie on its front page— DREAMY LION IN LOVE

WITH TEDROS’ EX-FLAME?

Tedros rolled his eyes, hurrying back into the hall. Agatha accosted him, Reaper at her heels.

“Guinevere and I met with the Treasury Master. Good news is the leaders of our allied kingdoms are contributing weapons, armor, and men to our army. Bad news is they’re only doing this on the condition that the ‘Lion’ lead that army instead of you, since a) he saved so many of their kingdoms from the Snake, and b) they blame you for losing the Snake last night, since Dot is your friend.” “And is there a reason these leaders won’t tell me this to my face?” Tedros asked, frowning.

“When they found out the Lion was in town, they went gaggling out of the castle to try and meet him. Dragged your mother with them.” “Whatever,” Tedros growled. “Let them think Rhian is leading the army. He’s my knight. His loyalty is to me, not them.” “How else can I help?” Agatha pressed.

“Check on Rhian’s team in Maker’s Market. I’m worried the Snake or his thugs will find their way in, especially if my mother’s down there,” said Tedros. “If you see anything, shoot your glow into the sky. Don’t try and fight them yourselves. Deal?” “Deal,” said Agatha, hurrying away.

“Agatha?”

She turned.

“We are good in war, aren’t we?” said Tedros.

“I’ll ask Sophie if she can do a war-themed wedding, then,” said Agatha dryly.

They split in opposite directions, with Tedros heading down a hall, searching for the remainder of his team— He tripped over Willam and Bogden, who were dealing tarot cards on the carpet.

“You can’t be serious,” Tedros said, scowling.

“We’re saving your kingdom. See, look,” Bogden peeped, holding up a Five of Wands. “Be wary of gifts.” “If I’d known I’d get stuck with two astrology-obsessed monkeys, I would have put you on Rhian’s team!” “Tarot cards aren’t astrology,” said Willam.

“Where’s Nicola?” Tedros asked, tempted to give both of them a beating.

“She said she saw stars and was following them into the bathroom,” said Bogden.

“Is this more astrology crap?” Tedros barked.

“No, she literally found stars in the hallway and was following them into the bathroom next to Lady Gremlaine’s old room,” said Willam, his eyes still on the cards. “Hmm. Definitely be wary of gifts.” Tedros had no clue what Willam was talking about, but he couldn’t deal with these two nitwits anymore, nor did he want a random first year hovering around his father’s old guest room.

He hastened through the second floor towards the bathroom— Tedros stopped short.

A white star glowed on the carpet in front of him.

Merlin’s white star.

Tedros lifted his eyes.

More stars lined the hallway, leading up to the closed bathroom door.

Tedros knocked on it. “Nicola?”

No answer.

He turned the knob. “Nicola, you in here?”

The bathroom was empty, the opposing doors to Lady Gremlaine’s room and the guest room both shut.

But the trail of stars continued, tracking right to the edge of the guest room door.

Tedros pulled it open, revealing the dim, airless chamber.

Nicola wasn’t inside.

More lit stars dotted the carpet like breadcrumbs, pointing to the bed in the corner.

He followed them until he was standing over the mattress, where a single star lay on top of its sheets, blinking with white light.

Tedros waited for something to happen.

The star kept flashing at him.

Instinctively, the young king found himself climbing into the stiff bed and sliding under the stale beige sheets. Except the sheets felt oddly thicker than they looked, layered underneath with a heavy blanket that felt soft against Tedros’ skin, made of some kind of wool or . . .

Velvet.

Tedros’ heart jumped.

He yanked the blanket over his head, seeing the glint of silver-sewn stars in the darkness.

The next thing he knew he was falling.

As he crawled across the cloud, he saw Merlin seated next to Nicola at its edge, framed against the purple sky, the wizard and first year sharing a chocolate-chunk cookie. Nicola had Merlin’s hat in her hand and was petting it like a dog, the hat purring softly under her palm.

“Yes, don’t worry, Professor Dovey knows I’m alive,” the wizard was telling her. “Or she will soon, at least. I’ve sent her a note ordering her to remain at school and let Tedros handle affairs at Camelot. After what happened to Lancelot, I don’t want Clarissa to put herself in harm’s way. Especially when she isn’t at her best.” “Is she ill?” Tedros asked.

Merlin turned and saw the young king. “No, she’s not ill,” said the wizard. “Nicola and I were having a nice chat. She happened to come across the trail I left for you, and being a clever little Reader, she found her way to me first.” Merlin saw Tedros’ blank expression. “I’m assuming you two know each other?” “Yeah,” said Nicola. “Not really,” said Tedros at the same time.

“I see,” said Merlin.

“Can we talk alone?” Tedros pressed the wizard.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just on your team,” said Nicola, standing up.

“Sorry if I don’t have time for pleasantries. I’m trying to keep all of us alive,” Tedros retorted.

“So am I, but whatever,” the first year mumbled. “Everyone else is different in real life than they are in books, but you’re pretty much spot-on.” She returned the hat to the wizard. “I’ll see you soon, Merlin—” “How am I in books?” said Tedros, frowning.

Nicola threw him a glance. “High-handed and overemotional.” Merlin’s hat whistled.

“Thanks in advance for that favor, Merlin,” Nicola said.

Cookie in hand, she cannonballed over the edge of the cloud and vanished into the purple night.

Tedros settled next to Merlin, shoving the hat away.

“She wanted a favor?” Tedros asked sourly.

“Suggested I check on a student’s records from school,” said the wizard.

“Rhian’s? Dovey already checked on Rhian—”

“No. Not his. Nicola really is a sharp young girl. I can see why the Storian included her in your—” “Lancelot is dead, Merlin,” Tedros cut in, cheeks reddening. “The Snake is coming. War is coming. And you’re sitting here on a cloud, entertaining irrelevant favors from first years. Where have you been!” “The answer to that question is always the same, my boy. I’ve been trying to help you. And when I leave at the close of this conversation, an exit to which you will no doubt take great offense, I hope you’ll remember that.” “You’re leaving? Now?”

“Whatever you think I should be doing, Tedros, please believe me when I say that whatever I am doing will prove far more beneficial to your future.” “Which is what, exactly!”

“I cannot tell you,” said Merlin.

Tedros let out a roar, which resounded through the Celestium, then faded to silence.

“I will not live forever, Tedros. There is still a bounty on my head. Nor am I immortal or extending my life with leprechaun blood, regardless of what those peons at the Royal Rot write,” said Merlin. “My work with your father remains unfinished. I must carry it through with you until I am dead or the work is done.” “When will the work be done?” Tedros asked.

“On the day I look to you for wisdom instead of you looking to me,” said Merlin.

“Better invest in leprechaun blood, then,” said Tedros.

“I am well aware we are running out of time,” said Merlin. “You and me both. The Snake is coming for you. And I’m afraid I have little to offer in the way of help.” “’Little.’ Not ‘nothing,’” said Tedros hopefully.

“Indeed. On the way here, I stopped in Avalon to see the Lady of the Lake.” Tedros straightened. “Did she really give up her powers for the Snake? Did she really . . . kiss him?” “She wouldn’t see me, which makes me think she did,” Merlin replied. “She sent me a note through her waters, however, which said that if I promised to never return to her castle, I could ask her one and only one question and she would answer it honestly. Since she was quite clear about not seeing me, I accepted her offer.” “What did you ask her?”

“Whether Excalibur has a message for you,” said the wizard.

“That’s what you asked the Lady of the Lake? Not what the Snake’s face looks like or who he is or how we beat him or if he’s really my father’s son?” Tedros said, aggrieved. He stared at his mentor. “Well? What was her answer, then? What was Excalibur’s message?” Merlin pulled a crinkled scrap of paper from his robes and handed it to him. Tedros looked down at its light, ethereal script: Unbury Me

“Rather cryptic, but at least it’s something,” Merlin sighed. “Though the more I think about it, the less I—” He suddenly noticed Tedros’ expression. “What is it?” “My father. He said it in my dream,” said Tedros anxiously. “The same message. ‘Unbury me.’” Merlin pulled at his beard. “Do you have any idea what it means?” “Looking to me for wisdom already? You’ll be sorely disappointed,” said Tedros. “What’s strange, though, is both my father and Excalibur had the same message. It can’t be literal, then. If I could unbury Excalibur from the stone, I would. And my father can’t possibly want me digging up his grave. So there must be something that connects my father and the sword . . . something hidden that I have to figure out. . . .” “And you must figure it out soon, Tedros,” Merlin pressured. “Your father and the Lady of the Lake are trying to help you. ‘Unbury me.’ Those two words are the key. You must find out what they mean. Before it’s too late.” “But why more riddles?” Tedros asked, frustrated. “Why can’t they just tell me?” “Perhaps answering that riddle is as much a part of your coronation test as pulling the sword,” the wizard replied. “I’m assuming you haven’t tried your hand at Excalibur since you’ve returned to the castle?” “No. Not until the Snake is dead. I won’t feel like a king until then.” The wizard gazed deeply at him. “You’ve come a long way from the boy who sat upon this cloud only recently, insisting you were a king by birthright. That there was no quest to be had in putting a crown that you already deserved upon your head.” “Doesn’t feel like I’ve come a long way,” Tedros replied glumly. “Snake is still loose. Lance is dead.” “Let me ask you a question,” said Merlin. “When you looked into the Snake’s eyes, did you see a brother?” “No. I saw pure darkness,” said Tedros. “Loathing and fury like I’ve never witnessed before. Not even in Rafal or Aric or Evelyn Sader or . . . anyone. How could someone hate me so much? Why?” “And yet he didn’t kill you.”

Tedros looked at him. “Maybe he wants to kill me in pieces. By killing everyone I love first. By murdering everyone I’m supposed to protect. By shoving my failures in my face.” “Is he succeeding?” Merlin asked.

The young king didn’t answer. Finally, he looked at the wizard. “If I didn’t have Rhian, I don’t know what I’d do.” Merlin smiled. “Ah. Nicola was telling me about this Rhian boy, who’s saved your lives and showed so much courage and skill. I’m not surprised, really. Foxwood boys are exceedingly well-trained. Ask him what house he was in at the Foxwood School for Boys. My old friend Brunhilde was the Housemaster of Arbed House at that school. Though he certainly won’t have been in her house—” Tedros didn’t have time for diversions. “Listen, Agatha said something to me. That the Snake has a fake Storian. A pen that writes the story from his point of view, where he is the Lion and I am the Snake. The Snake said our Ever After isn’t real. That our fairy tale wouldn’t really end until everything that is true becomes ‘untrue.’ But that’s impossible. No one would believe I’m the Snake and he’s the Lion. Not after what he’s done.” Merlin considered this. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my long life, it’s that every villain thinks they’re the hero of their own story. And yet it’s curious that the Snake focuses on undoing the Truth as his ultimate goal. That’s the lesson of The Lion and the Snake after all.” “What do you mean?”

“Think about the original tale. The Snake said that under his reign, the Eagle would be free from his rule. Meanwhile, the Lion said that under his reign, the Eagle would have to obey him. So the Eagle naturally chooses the Snake to be king,” said Merlin. “The Snake believes he’s told the Eagle the Truth. He didn’t try to subject him to his rule, after all. He only tried to kill him. The Lion, on the other hand, believes the Snake has told a Lie—for how could the Eagle be free if the Snake tried to murder it the very same night? So what’s the true moral of the tale? Both the Lion and the Snake believe they are king. Both lay claim to the Truth. It just depends on who is telling the story. And it appears the Snake in your fairy tale thinks his version is as right and as true as yours. Only he forgets there is a third party in the story . . . a third party whose loyalty decides the fate of the king. A third party who can make all the difference between who lives and who dies at the end of this fairy tale.” “The Eagle,” said Tedros.

“And as the Lion, you’ve found your Eagle in Rhian. A knight standing by the rightful king,” said Merlin. “Which leaves us with one question that you would do well to consider while I’m gone. The Snake thinks he’s the Lion, right?” The wizard locked eyes with Tedros.

“So who’s his Eagle?”

He swept the cloud from under Tedros like a cape and the young king went tumbling down into the stars.

“Who’s his Eagle. . . . Who’s his Eagle. . . ,” Tedros murmured. “Who’s the Snake’s Eagle. . . .” “Tedros?”

His eyes fluttered open.

“It’s me.”

He stirred in bed to see Agatha at the door of the guest room.

“What time is it?” he said, jolting upright.

“They’re about to serve lunch,” she said.

Tedros sighed with relief. “I’ve only been asleep a little while, then.” He noticed the purple cape was gone from beneath the sheets. He looked up at Agatha. “I was with Merlin in the Celestium. He’d visited the Lady of the—” He suddenly noticed his princess’s face, tense and unsettled. “What is it?” “I just got back from Maker’s Market,” she said evenly.

“And?”

“I think you should come and make sure you’re happy with how army recruitment’s going.” Tedros frowned. “But Rhian’s there. He should be handling it—” “He is handling it,” said Agatha. “I just think you should—” Nicola barreled through the door. “The Snake,” she gasped.

Instantly Tedros leapt out of bed, sprinting with Agatha after Nicola into the hallway and through the passage to the Blue Tower. They rushed into the dining room, past the full lunch spread, to the balcony, where all of Tedros’ team and the maids and cooks were pressed against the stone rail, staring up into the dark, storming sky.

Green scims flew over Camelot, forming a giant phantom snake like a beacon, its head rearing through dark clouds.

Screams resounded from the city and market, where the people could see it too.

The snake glowed like lightning.

“Tonight,” it hissed, echoing across the realm. “Midnight.” Then it broke into a thousand eels and went screaming into the rain.