“Right. Sure,” she said, stiff as a board. “New beginning.”

Tedros saw her making eye contact with everything but him. “Look, Agatha. Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. I just have to pretend to give Sophie a chance. So on that note . . .” He bowed dramatically. “Lovely to meet you Agatha of Woods Beyond, Daughter of Callis, and Friend of Sophie. I look forward to seeing whether you’ll indeed make an acceptable queen.” He kissed her hand and winked.

Agatha yanked her hand away reflexively.

Tedros gave her an odd look.

“If you two are finished with your adolescent theatrics, can we get back to saving lives?” a voice snapped.

Agatha turned to see Merlin glaring blackly.

“Lovely. Now, Agatha, because of your quick thinking last night, you managed to hide your friends in the Celestium, from where I magically transported all of you to League Headquarters,” said the wizard. “You took quite a blow to your head in the process, so you were hardly coherent and desperately in need of rest. Indeed, you and Tedros had broken into Evil’s fortress and accomplished everything I’d asked: namely, to find Sophie and Excalibur and extricate them both safely. I know how dangerous both these missions were, but we had no choice. Since Sophie’s kiss brought the School Master back to life, only Sophie could undo that kiss by destroying his ring. But now that we are in possession of Sophie, the ring, and the sword, she could finally send him and his Dark Army to their graves, and the three of you would be on your way to Camelot, your storybook closed.”

Merlin paused. “But I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans,” he said to Agatha. “As you fell asleep last night, you whispered that our League wasn’t safe—that ‘they knew where we were.’ I knew better than to question your babbling, given I’d witnessed the army of famous villains that chased you out of school. So we must move from our Headquarters immediately. The League will split up and hide throughout the Woods, while I escort you, Tedros, Sophie, and that surly, overmuscled Neverboy to a safe house where the four of you won’t be found.”

“Hort? We’re taking Hort?” said Agatha, trying to keep up. “And why do we have to hide at all? If the School Master is dead, the League can all return safely to their kingdoms just like you said, and Sophie, Tedros, and I can—”

She saw Merlin’s and Tedros’ faces.

“Change of plans.”

Agatha’s stomach dropped. “The School Master’s not dead?”

Tedros shook his head.

“Sophie still has the ring?” said Agatha.

Tedros nodded.

“Sophie’s still wearing the ring?” said Agatha.

Tedros bit his lip.

“How is that possible!” Agatha exploded. “Did anyone talk to her! Did anyone tell her what’s at stake?”

“Ha!” Hansel pipped, rolling by.

Merlin smiled tightly at Agatha. “We tried this morning, dear. The entire League tried.” He eyed Uma sweeping up the scraps of black satin. “Let’s just say Sophie won’t be destroying the School Master’s ring anytime soon.”