“You have spies inside the school?” asked Agatha, gobsmacked. “But who—”

Tedros waved her off. “Doesn’t matter who. Even if you have spies to get us in, it still doesn’t fix the problem of the School Master knowing we’re coming—”

“Pay attention, boy. I said the Storian will tell him you’re coming only as long as you remain Agatha and you remain Tedros,” the wizard said. “Which brings me to secret weapon number two.”

Like a magician performing his final trick, Merlin carefully pulled a tear-shaped vial from his hat into the glow of the rising sun. At first they were blinded by a purple glare and Agatha and Tedros shielded their eyes from the vial. But as they slowly leaned closer, they saw a purple potion fluorescing hot against the stopper . . . until a shred of its smoke slid out of the vial and Agatha caught a familiar whiff of wood and roses . . .

She rocketed to her knees. “Oh no . . . noooooo way—”

Merlin grinned mischievously. “It is my recipe after all. Made just enough for two.”

Agatha wheeled to Tedros, who looked utterly lost.

“What? I don’t get it,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, that isn’t . . . that can’t be—no, of course not. Right?” He saw Merlin’s face and launched to his feet. “Right?” He whirled to his princess, violent red. “He couldn’t possibly make you into a . . . and me into . . . into a—”

But now he saw Agatha’s face too.

Tedros stiffened like a corpse. “Oh my God!” He clutched his heart as if he’d been stabbed and crumpled for a second time into his princess’s arms.

Merlin stared at the fainted prince a long while, before he pursed his lips and looked up at Agatha holding him. “Well, my dear. At least you can say you’re even now.”

16

Edgar and Essa

“Tedros?” said the honey-edged voice.

“Tedros,” Sophie repeated sleepily, coddled in silky black blankets like a cocoon.

“What about him?”

“Who?” Sophie breathed, still deep in a dream.

“Tedros. You’ve been saying his name again and again.”

Sophie launched awake. Rafal was sitting in the window, peering out at the dull morning, looking younger than ever in a black sleeveless shirt and short leather breeches that showed off his pale, sculpted legs.

“Seems strange you’d whisper the name of the boy you’re supposed to kill,” he said.

Suddenly remembering, Sophie looked down in a panic and saw TEDROS carved into the skin beneath her ring. She smushed her hand under her thigh and sat up on her elbows. “Oh, um, just thinking . . . no matter where I go, he seems to follow me like a rash . . .”

Rafal pushed onto his feet. “Then you’ll have to erase him once and for all, won’t you? Along with his fair princess.”