“But we still need a teacher to unlock them, Merlin,” said Agatha.

“Agatha’s right,” said Tedros. “The gates only opened for us first year because Dovey gave me permission to be in the Woods.”

“Trust me, my dears, I am smarter than the both of you,” said Merlin. “Now once you safely arrive in the School for Evil, the two of you will split up on two missions. One of you will go to the School for Old and find Excalibur. The other will remain in the School for New and rescue Sophie. As to which one of you will rescue Sophie—”

“Me!” his charges shouted.

Merlin sighed. “Uma did warn me this would happen. Nevertheless, the one to rescue Sophie should be the one who knows her best.” He cleared his throat and pulled what looked like a pack of purple playing cards from his star-covered hat. The wizard peered down his spectacles at the first. “What is Sophie’s favorite food?”

“Cucumbers!” Agatha and Tedros yelled.

Merlin muttered and shuffled to the next card. “What does Sophie use to wash her face?”

“Beetroot!” the Evers overlapped.

“What color is Sophie’s fingerglow?”

“Hot pink!”

“What position does Sophie sleep in?”

“On her back!”

“What scent is Sophie’s perfume—”

“Lavender vanilla patchouli!”

Merlin tugged at his moustache. “It seems switching sexes has improved your brain capacities. Perhaps you should stay this way permanently.” He shouted into his hat like a bullhorn: “HARDER, PLEASE.”

The hat ejected a single card that Merlin fumbled and caught. “Dearest me,” he said, squinting hard at it. “This seems rather unfair given Agatha practically grew up with the girl, but all right. Which of you knew Sophie’s mother’s name when you were on Necro Ridge?”

Agatha’s stubbly cheeks grayed.

Tedros’ girly face grinned.

“A twist in the tale, indeed! And so it seems Essa will rescue Sophie from the School for New,” the wizard said to Tedros, before turning to Agatha, “which means Edgar will go to the School for Old and find Excalibur. Now listen to me closely. We’ll have only one chance for you to escape the school upon completing your missions. We must meet here at midnight, precisely midnight, in this very spot—Tedros with Sophie; Agatha with Excalibur—and I’ll whisk the three of you to safety. Understood?”

“What about Sophie destroying the ring?” Tedros asked.

“For the last time, please use your girl voice, Tedros—”

“What about Sophie destroying the ring?” Tedros squawked.

Merlin rubbed at his ears. “I’m afraid destroying the ring is too much to ask of both you and Sophie for one night, my child. Tonight, your duty is to convince Sophie to escape the young School Master and follow you to a place where he will not find her. I am well aware gaining Sophie’s trust would be far easier in your princely form, but remember: as long as you are in the wrong bodies, the Storian ceases to write your whereabouts. Once you return to Tedros’ body, however, the Storian will tell the School Master exactly where you are and his entire school will murder you on sight. So if you plan on staying alive beyond tonight, don’t do anything stupid.”