A Crystal of Time (The School for Good and Evil The Camelot Years #2) - Soman Chainani Page 0,114

times over. Merlin, who we need to win this war. Reaper could have chosen anyone here to rescue him. He chose you. But if you aren’t up to the task, then maybe you aren’t the witch I thought you were.”

Dot was speechless.

“Maybe Nicola should be in our coven,” said Hester.

“I like Nicola,” said Anadil.

“I’ll go,” said Dot.

Tedros sprung to his feet. “Didn’t you hear me? Merlin is too important to leave to anyone but me—”

The Sheriff of Nottingham cut him off. “Dot’s right: the Caves of Contempo are no place for three girls to be traveling alone.”

“Three girls who’ve thrashed you twice,” said Robin.

“I should be the one to go to the caves,” the Sheriff demanded.

“No,” said Reaper, his eyes cutting through him. “You won’t be going anywhere. You’ll remain here in the palace under my guards’ protection.”

He said this so sharply Tedros wondered if Reaper and the Sheriff had a prior encounter: something that made the cat distrust him.

Reaper turned back to Hester. “The witches will travel to Borna Coric and find Merlin.”

“And me?” Tedros pressured. “If I’m not going after Merlin, then I should lead the next mission—”

“Where are Hort and Nicola?” the cat said.

“Here!” said Hort, clasping Nicola’s hand.

“You two will go to Foxwood, where Rhian claims to be from,” said Reaper. “Find out what you can about him and his brother’s history.”

“Consider it done,” Hort said, winking at Nicola. “History’s what I do.”

“God help us,” said Nicola.

“Why is your cat ignoring me?” Tedros whispered to Agatha. “I’m the king. I’m the one he’s trying to get back on the throne. And he’s giving key missions to Hort?”

But his princess was listening to Reaper detail the next assignment—

“Bogden, Willam, you two will disguise yourselves to spy on Camelot. Willam knows the kingdom well, having grown up at its rectory. Use your wiles to discern Rhian’s condition. Find out his next moves.”

Bogden saluted him. “Aye-aye, King Pee Pee.”

“Teapea, you dolt!” Willam hissed.

Reaper appraised them, stone-faced. “Beatrix, Reena, Kiko, you’ll patrol the trees around the Gnomeland portal and ensure no one gets too close.”

“Fitting, isn’t it?” Kiko sighed. “Tristan died in a tree.”

Willam gave her a look.

“Now that you’ve addressed everyone else, including first years and altar boys,” Tedros stewed, “please tell me what—”

“As for the remaining students,” said Reaper, pivoting towards the young Evers and Nevers, “you will pair up, disperse throughout the kingdoms, and find those remaining rulers who have yet to burn their rings. Rhian will surely use any means necessary to turn them against the Storian and school. Do what you can to stop the leaders from destroying their rings without them spotting you. The teachers, meanwhile, will return to school and keep watch over the Storian in case it provides any further clues as to how we can defend it. Yuba, send me a secure message as soon as you count how many swans are left in the pen’s carving. Hopefully more than a few kingdoms have held their ground against the king.”

“Yes, King Teapea,” said the old gnome.

Reaper surveyed the room. “Everyone understand their assignments?”

Tedros was about to explode—

“What would you like me and Gwen to do, Your Highness?” said Robin Hood.

“Return to Sherwood Forest and recruit your Merry Men. Their days of willful blindness are over,” said the cat. “Guinevere will remain under my protection. The guards will take her and the Sheriff to their chambers in my palace so they can rest.”

“Rest? Me? Now?” the Sheriff blustered. “I can understand Guinevere needin’ a lie-down, but I should be up there fightin’ the king!”

“Me too! Me more!” Tedros burst out—

“All teams will depart at once,” Reaper commanded, ignoring the prince as the map under his paw evaporated. He leapt back onto his throne, dangling Sophie’s necklace. “My page will escort you to the surface in the Sheriff’s sack.”

“Samarbati S. Subramanyam at your service!” Subby pipped, poking his ruddy face through the waterfall that curtained the throne room door. “Let’s get ya sacked up!”

A gnome guard blew a trumpet next to him so loudly Subramanyam fell back through the waterfall—

“The Honorable Crown Royal Regis Teapea hereby dismisses you from his presence!” the gnome proclaimed. “Depart for missions!”

“DEPART FOR MISSIONS!” two more guards yelped.

Before Tedros could move, his friends, teachers, mentors, and the whole first-year class bounded up, tittering about their new quests and grabbing at their teammates as they blew past the prince and streamed through the waterfall in groups.

“Wait . . . hold on . . . ,” Tedros stammered, lost in