“Just be careful,” he said. “If that piece of paper lands in the wrong hands, things are going to go from terrible to nightmarish in Ferryport Landing.”
Uncle Jake and Morgan headed for the castle yard and Sabrina followed. As they turned the corner, she took a look back at the little graveyard and remembered those who lay there. She said a quiet prayer for their eternal peace, then ran to the yard where her army was gathered. Many of them had never held a sword or a bow in their hands before. More than a few had never been in a fistfight, but they were the bravest people she had ever met.
“Your mother and Basil are safe,” Henry said as she approached.
Relieved, Sabrina turned to the assembled crowd. “Thank you all for being so patient. I know you’re all a little freaked out because I’ve kept what we’re doing a secret, but you can’t be sneaky if everyone knows what you’re up to. So let me explain. We’re going to lure the Hand into this castle—as many as we can. You’re going to fight until you hear the signal. Then you’re going to run! Get out of the castle. We’ll meet at the gathering site, and that’s when our war will really begin. I wish you all luck. Daphne, are the witches ready?”
“They are,” Daphne said.
“All right, Buzzflower, drop the cloaking spell,” Sabrina said.
“Are you sure about this?” the fairy godmother asked.
Sabrina nodded, and Buzzflower waved her wand into the air. Suddenly, the sky went from blue to sparkly purple. Tiny crystals drifted down from above like snow and blanketed the ground, then vanished.
“Here we go,” Henry said.
Sabrina took her sister’s hand. “Any luck with the book?”
Daphne shook her head. “We can’t leave it here.”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m sure whoever took it has got it with them,” Sabrina said, scanning her army and feeling sad to know one of them was a thief. “Don’t worry. It’s too important to leave behind.”
Then she turned to the crowd.
“Open the gates,” Sabrina ordered.
“Wait? Really?” the Frog Prince croaked.
“Yep,” Sabrina said.
“Have you lost your mind?” the Cheshire Cat cried.
“She knows what she’s doing!” Snow White said. “Now stop with the blubbering and get ready. They’ll be here any second.”
And Snow was right. Sabrina could already feel the rumbling of feet and the clanking of swords. The first attackers rushed through the door and were met by Arthur and Robin Hood’s men. Steel crashed against steel, shield slammed against shield, and a mighty roar filled the air. While they fought, Henry, Uncle Jake, Sabrina, and Daphne crouched beneath a hay cart and prepared for the next part of the plan.
The next onslaught from the Hand came courtesy of the Ice Queen, standing in the open gate. The temperature of the air dropped wildly, prickling Sabrina’s skin. The Ice Queen waved her hand at a few of Arthur’s knights and they were immediately encased in solid blocks of ice. Luckily, Mordred cast a spell to warm them rapidly. They were soggy, but at least they were alive.
The third wave of attackers was a motley crew of monsters in all shapes and sizes. They swung clubs and hammers with vicious intent. Two of King Arthur’s knights were killed within moments, and dozens more creatures piled through the doorway every second.
“Widow, how many more are coming?” Sabrina shouted.
The Widow flew up into the air and circled the battle. A moment later she returned. If a bird could look worried, the Widow was troubled. “At least a thousand, with more on the way.”
Puck was in the middle of the action, and Sabrina kept a close eye on him. The boy was arrogant—too confident in his abilities. He fought like war was play, and though he slashed and poked and leaped about, his opponents meant to kill him. She cringed to watch him, but she reminded herself that Puck had been alive nearly four thousand years. He knew how to take care of himself.
Her attention was torn away as another massive wave of fighters stormed into the castle. In this group, there were wizards and witches and mechanical men. They roared as they raced across the drawbridge like they had already won the battle. Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. It was exactly what she wanted them to think. Keep coming, she thought to herself. Every last one of you.
Magical animals followed. Sabrina saw the Swan Brothers and Hans My Hedgehog. Shere Khan and the Ugly Duckling. Large bearlike creatures with the faces of cats leaped into the fighting with merciless ferocity.
And finally a sixth wave stormed into the yard. Strange Everafters she had never seen before. There was a woman who carried her head in her hands, a cat who appeared to be made of glass, a girl made from patchwork quilts, a giant serpent, a stampede of intelligent horses, and a fleet of forks that leaped about, stabbing at anyone close enough to feel their tines.
It was time for the signal. She turned to Daphne, and the little girl nodded.
“Retreat!” Sabrina shouted.
“Sabrina, what are you up to?” Henry asked.