He went back to work.
Sophie tugged at her wet hair. Her knight had a point. Tedros’ ego was delicate, especially after all that had happened these past six months. But it’s not like Agatha would mention what she’d seen to Tedros. Aggie might be relentlessly honest, but she wasn’t stupid. Being a good queen meant propping up your king when he needed it, not seeding more doubts.
Then again Agatha wasn’t queen yet. And massaging boys’ egos . . . well, it wasn’t her friend’s strong suit.
But she didn’t have time to obsess over Agatha’s love life yet again. She had a job to do. A job that was remarkably difficult, Sophie realized, as she and the witches tested more Nevers, including a shifty-looking dwarf.
“And you believe Tedros is a good king?” Sophie asked.
“As good as his father,” the dwarf said in a basso voice.
“And how good was that?” said Anadil.
“About as good as one might expect,” said the dwarf.
“Which is how good?” Hester pushed.
“Depends on your definition of ‘good,’” the dwarf said.
They didn’t give him a stamp.
But that was the rare interview where they got to talking about Tedros at all. Most of their tests went like this: SOPHIE: Do you believe Camelot is the leader of the Woods?
NEVER: I believe the Lion is the leader of the Woods so if he’s at Camelot then yeah, Camelot is the leader of the Woods.
Or:
HESTER: Do you believe Tedros is a good king?
NEVER: Not until he brought in the Lion I didn’t.
Or:
ANADIL: Are you willing to die to protect King Tedros?
NEVER: Tedros? Ain’t heard of ’im. I’m ’ere for a Lion.
Sophie glanced over at Rhian’s group.
“So you swear your loyalty to King Tedros?” Beatrix tested a seven-foot nymph with hot-pink lips.
“I swear my loyalty to the Lion,” said the nymph airily.
“But do you swear your loyalty to Tedros too?” said Rhian.
“Only as much as the Lion swears his loyalty to Tedros,” said the nymph.
“But I am the Lion,” said Rhian.
“Then you should be the one answering these questions, not me,” said the nymph.
Rhian frowned, but Beatrix approved the nymph anyway. “Loyal enough,” she murmured. “If we limit ourselves to Tedros fans, I wouldn’t even qualify.”
Sophie hurried off to use the toilet in the Hall and returned to find the witches bickering.
“What happened?” Sophie asked.
“Ani and Hester just let in a pirate!” Dot said.
“No, we didn’t,” Hester snapped. “You don’t think Ani and I know how to give a loyalty test? We spent the last six months interviewing School Masters!”
“So did I! I’m on your quest, remember?” Dot retorted. “I saw his face—it was Wesley, the sunburnt one from Jaunt Jolie—he had peeling flesh around his eyes—”
“You’re just paranoid after what happened with Kei,” Anadil growled.
Dot appealed to Sophie. “I saw him. I swear!”
“I just came from the Hall,” said Sophie skeptically. “Certainly didn’t see a sunburnt pirate—”
“Because he already has a stamp!” said Dot. “He’s probably sneaking into the castle as we speak!”
Sophie could see Dot about to cry. “Look, if you’re that sure, let’s at least check the Hall again. . . .”
A blast of thunder came over their heads, dark clouds assembling in curious formation.
The girls looked up, startled.
That’s when the Snake came with a message.
Before the Snake’s warning, there’d been a rowdy, aimless pace to the recruitment, as if the prospect of war with the Snake was itself a phantom. As if by building an army to fight him, it would never have to actually be used.
After the Snake’s message, things changed.
The chants quieted, an edgy silence falling over the Market. The witches stopped bickering. Sophie stopped checking on Rhian or worrying about her rain-streaked makeup. Tests moved faster. Lines whittled down. The Town Hall filled up with new soldiers.
There were only seven hours until midnight.
Evers and Nevers took their loyalty tests with grim resolve, mustering nice words about Tedros in order to win their spot behind the Lion. Sophie noticed the new soldiers giving Rhian awed stares as they received their stamps, knowing that it wasn’t just their loyalty to the Lion being tested but the Lion’s loyalty to them, for now both Good and Evil had put their lives—and those of their families and kingdoms—in the knight’s hands. Even Sophie found herself gazing into each candidate’s eyes with will and strength, silently reassuring them as if she were their queen. Indeed, the longer the testing went, the more Sophie began to forget this was Tedros’ kingdom and Tedros’ army and began to see it as hers and Rhian’s. . . .
A boy appeared next to her in a gold Lion mask.
“They love you,” he said, his pure blue eyes roaming the crowd. He looked over at Rhian. “Both of you.”
“Tedros?” Sophie said, stunned. She glanced back to see Agatha in her black hood, arms folded, standing in front of a horse.
“Found Rhian’s old mask in my bag before I rode down with Agatha. Didn’t want to distract the crowd from your work,” Tedros said. “Though it seems like I wouldn’t be the main attraction anyway.”
Rhian paled slightly when he saw the king.
“Y-y-your Highness,” he said—
“I’m under no illusions of my own popularity compared to yours, Sir Rhian,” Tedros said, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You’re the one who saved their kingdoms. You’re the one who saved me. Their loyalty to you will only be an asset.” The king’s eyes hardened through his mask. “As long as you grant me one request.”
“Anything, Your Highness,” said Rhian.
“I kill the Snake tonight,” Tedros commanded. “No one else. Understood?”
“Understood,” said Rhian.
“Good. We need to start moving soldiers to the castle. Snake’s coming in four hours,” said Tedros. “Meet me in the Hall so I can address the army. Move quickly, please.”
He walked towards the Hall.
“Look who’s decided to be a king,” Hester murmured.
“While wearing his knight’s mask,” mumbled Anadil.
“Why did you bring him here?” Sophie hissed, accosting Agatha.
“He’s the king,” Agatha retorted. “He has a right to address his soldiers.”
“The leaders want Rhian to command the army—”
“Rhian fights for Tedros. And so does any army of Camelot.”
“Don’t be stupid, Agatha! The last thing we need is tension between him and Rhian!”
“Well, maybe Rhian shouldn’t grandstand so much!”
“Grandstand! He’s been nothing but humble and loyal!”
“Then why is he pretending to be the Lion, riding around wearing a lion mask? Tedros is the Lion!”
“Is it Rhian’s fault he saved everyone? Is it his fault the other leaders trust him over Teddy? Is it his fault everyone here came for him?”
“Oh please. You just love to see Tedros humiliated.”
“So now Rhian’s successes are my fault? Is Tedros’ insecurity my fault too?”
“No, it’s mine,” said a voice.