A Crystal of Time (The School for Good and Evil The Camelot Years #2) - Soman Chainani Page 0,54

was Sophie who deserved a prince. Only he was that prince, not Tedros. Agatha and Tedros, meanwhile, were fiendish usurpers who would bring shame to Arthur’s kingdom and destroy the Woods. It was up to Rhian, as the rightful king, to stop them.

Rhian didn’t believe any of this. But the women had more to tell.

Soon the day would come when Rhian must leave his old life behind, they said. On that day, the sword would return to a stone, waiting for the One True King to free it. And he was that One True King.

How could any of this be real? Rhian thought.

But just as the women promised, the day arrived when Excalibur returned to the stone.

Rhian couldn’t rest until he knew if it was true . . . if he was really King Arthur’s son . . . if he was the righteous ending to Sophie’s story instead of Agatha or Tedros . . . if Excalibur had returned to the stone because of . . . him.

From there, the story proceeded as Sophie had lived through it, but refracted and distorted: Rhian as the “Lion” saving kingdoms from a deadly Snake . . . Tedros’ jealousy growing towards the Lion . . . Agatha’s jealousy growing towards Sophie . . . Sophie accepting Rhian’s ring, uniting Evil and Good . . . Rhian freeing the sword from the stone. . . .

And now Sophie was on the last page, gazing at a painting of Tedros and Agatha beheaded bloodily as Sophie kissed Rhian, the two of them in their wedding clothes as Lionsmane glowed like a star above their heads. . . .

THE END.

Sophie’s heartbeat jangled, her mouth dry.

She didn’t know what was real about Rhian’s story and what was lies. Everything had been twisted and spun, even the parts of her own tale, until she barely recognized herself. If the people of the Woods were reading this, then any last sympathies for Tedros and Agatha would be gone—along with any hope of convincing them they’d crowned the wrong king.

Stomach sinking, she raised her eyes and saw Hort, Willam, and Bogden gawking down at the book with the same expression, having clearly read along.

Slowly Sophie turned and looked at Rhian, who’d been watching her the whole time with a sly smirk. The carriage pulled up to the church, and the king clasped her palm gently, as if he no longer expected any resistance. Then he opened the door to a roar like thunder and he kissed Sophie’s hand like he was her fairy-tale prince.

10

SOPHIE

Blessing in Disguise

“If any of them move, kill them,” Rhian ordered the scim on Hort’s ear, leaving Hort, Willam, and Bogden trapped in the carriage with the sadistic eel. The second the door closed, Sophie could see the scim start slashing at the boys for sport and Hort fending it off with kicks and punches as the driver moved the carriage down the road and out of sight.

Rhian was guiding her towards the church now, past the pen of royal transports from other kingdoms, including crystal carriages, magic carpets, flying broomsticks, levitating ships, and a giant, slobbery toad. A cool wind blew through the darkening courtyard and Sophie hunched deeper into her white dress. She could feel Rhian puff his chest, posturing for the crowd outside, but their attentions suddenly seemed distracted, their eyes fixed overhead.

“What’s happening?” Rhian murmured to Beeba, his pirate guard at the door, as he pulled Sophie into the church. Beeba hustled to find out.

Meanwhile, the leaders from other kingdoms rose from the pews as Rhian took the time to greet each one.

“You say you’ve caught Tedros’ princess,” spoke an imposing black-skinned elf with pointed ears, dressed in a ruby-and-diamond-jeweled tunic. “No truth to the stories of a ‘rebel army,’ then?”

“The only truth is that Agatha’s whimpering in my dungeons as we speak,” said Rhian.

“And you still think that she and Tedros were behind the Snake’s attacks? That they were funding his thugs?” the elf asked. “It’s a bold claim that you made to the Kingdom Council. I can’t say that all of us believe it.”

“The attacks have ceased, haven’t they?” said Rhian briskly. “I’d think Agatha and Tedros being in my prison has something to do with it.”

The elf scratched his ear, mulling this over. Sophie noticed a silver ring on his hand, carved with unreadable symbols.

“While we’re on the subject of the Kingdom Council,” Rhian probed, “have you given any further thought to my proposal?”

“No further thought is necessary.