“The second problem,” said Merlin, “is that the School Master’s ring is surely crafted by the darkest magic, born of Evil. Therefore, it can only be destroyed by a weapon equally powerful, born of Good—a weapon that no Evil can withstand. I know of only one on earth that fulfills such a description . . .”

“What is it?” said Agatha expectantly.

But Merlin was looking at Tedros.

The prince’s eyes bulged. “Excalibur! My sword! The Lady of the Lake made it for my father and he gave it to me before he died. The Lady of the Lake is Good’s greatest witch . . . that means Excalibur can destroy anything—”

“Including the ring!” Agatha jumped in quickly. “Sophie just has to use Tedros’ sword!”

“Indeed,” nodded Merlin. “So if you can just produce this sword . . .”

Agatha’s and Tedros’ smiles dissipated at the same time.

“Oh no,” Agatha breathed.

“He . . . he has it . . . ,” Tedros sputtered. “The School Master—”

“And it’s no accident that he does,” said Merlin. “He knew full well to take it from you the night he came back to life. As long as he has Excalibur, Sophie cannot destroy his ring, even if she wanted to.” The wizard’s gaze hardened. “No doubt he’s hidden your sword in an impenetrable fortress . . . somewhere neither Sophie nor any other student is allowed to go . . .”

Agatha and Tedros slumped deeper. “The School for Old,” they groaned.

“And that is only your second problem,” said Merlin, pulling a shaker from his hat and seasoning a scoop of eggs.

“How can there be a third?” Tedros rasped. “It can’t get any worse.”

“I’m afraid it can,” snarfled Merlin as he chewed. “The School Master knows you’re coming.”

“What?” Agatha said.

“The Storian writes your story, after all,” replied the wizard, reposing against a shrub. “As long as you remain Agatha and you remain Tedros, the Storian will tell him precisely when and where you break into his school.”

“We’re doomed,” said Agatha and stuffed a block of walnut fudge into her mouth, waiting for Tedros to chime in with his usual pep talk. Instead, her prince shoved an even bigger piece of fudge in his mouth and twiddled with his sock. Agatha knew they were really doomed now: Tedros never gave up, no matter how dire a situation, and he cared too much about his body to eat dessert two days in a row.

“Goodness, you’re both a sight,” chortled Merlin. “As if I’d have brought you all this way if I didn’t have something up my sleeve. I am a Woods-famous wizard, after all.”

Tedros dropped his fudge instantly and he and Agatha looked up at Merlin with new hope.

“You see, we have two secret weapons that the School Master hasn’t quite anticipated. Two secret weapons that will break you into school, right under his nose, without him knowing,” said Merlin, peering down his spectacles. “The first explains just how I know so much about what’s happening within those castle walls . . .” The wizard huddled in with a catlike smile. “Spies.”