A Crystal of Time (The School for Good and Evil The Camelot Years #2) - Soman Chainani Page 0,47

sign: “FRIENDS OF HRISTO, FUTURE KNIGHT.”

“Every kingdom in the Endless Woods accepted the invitation,” said Rhian. “Every single one.”

Then he held up a red marble from the box.

“Except this one.”

His eyes lowered to the three hags. “And its leader was kind enough to send a message too.”

A projection leapt out of the ball in Rhian’s hand, with a greasy, bearded man glaring daggers at the king.

Hort’s and Sophie’s eyes widened, recognizing him at once.

“I’m sorry to decline your invitation, Your Highness,” the Sheriff of Nottingham said, “but as long as my daughter is in your dungeons, Camelot is an enemy of Nottingham.” He loomed closer in the projection. “By the way, strange coincidence, isn’t it, that the man who robbed my prison and freed the Snake is now the captain of your guard. Kei’s his name, isn’t it? Why would he want to go freeing the Snake? Hmm? One thing I do know: you robbed me . . . and soon I’ll rob you.”

The message flew back into the marble, which rolled out of Rhian’s hand and clinked gently into the box.

The king looked at the three sisters. “You have one job. To keep the kingdoms on my side until the wedding. All the kingdoms. And you can’t even do that.”

The low-voiced sister cleared her throat. “Just release Dot and the problem will disappear. Sheriff won’t cause trouble once she’s free.”

“I agree with Alpa,” said the high-pitched one. “You don’t need her. Dot’s dumb as a slug. That’s how we sprung Japeth out of prison. By using her.”

“Bethna’s right,” the hissy third nodded. “Nip the problem in the bud. The girl’s useless to you.”

Rhian took a sip of tea. “I see. A leader of a kingdom threatens to attack me and you’d like to kindly return his daughter.”

The three hags shifted on bony legs like egrets.

The king turned to a guard. “Send a team to kill the Sheriff. Make it look like supporters of Tedros did it.” Then he gazed darkly at the sisters. “As for you, I’d think long and hard about what happens to advisors whose advice a king no longer takes. Get out.”

The three hags sunk their heads and skittered from the room.

As they exited, Kei hustled in and blew past the pirate guards—

“Sire,” he said. “Today’s Camelot Courier.”

Rhian took it from his captain.

From the balcony, Hort could see the front page headline:

AGATHA SAFE AT SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

Leading a Rebel Army Against “King” Rhian

“A real captain would be catching Agatha instead of giving me old news,” said the king. “Japeth’s map already told me she’d made it to school. Lucky for you and your men, no one outside Camelot will believe it and you’ll have her in my dungeons soon enou—” He saw Kei’s expression. “What is it?”

Kei handed over two more newspapers.

THE NOTTINGHAM NEWS

AGATHA SAFE AT SCHOOL! STIRRING A REBEL ARMY?

THE SHERWOOD FOREST REPORT

AGATHA LIVES! REAL QUEEN OF CAMELOT LEADING ARMY AGAINST RHIAN!

Loud cracks detonated behind him and Rhian turned to see a hawk rapping on the glass with its beak, a scroll in its talons and a royal collar around its neck. Then a collared crow flew up next to the hawk with its own scroll . . . then a fairy . . . then a hummingbird . . . then a winged monkey . . . all unfurling notes against the glass.

“Messages from your allies, sire,” said the guard closest to the window. “They want to know if the Blessing will be secure, given rumors of a ‘rebel army.’”

Rhian bared his teeth, turning on Kei. “Catch that witch now!”

“The magical barrier around the school is stronger than we thought,” Kei defended. “We’ve recruited the best sorcerers from other kingdoms, trying to find one who can break through—”

But suddenly Hort wasn’t listening anymore. He was staring at Rhian’s tea mug, abandoned on the seat of the throne, directly under the balcony.

This was his chance.

As the scim curled around his right ear, Hort slowly slipped his hand into his left pocket, out of the eel’s view.

Standing to Hort’s left, Sophie felt his hand brush her hip. She glanced down and saw him draw two hazelnuts out of his pants, globbed in honey. Her eyes flew to Hort’s. But he didn’t look at her as he leaned across the railing on his right elbow, hung his left hand over the balcony . . . and smoothly released the clumped nuts.

They plunked deep into the mug of tea with the cleanest of splashes.

Sophie goggled at