“You should tell her that yourself,” Sabrina said.
Charming shook his head. “I don’t want to encourage it. She could get hurt. I want to keep her safe.”
“That’s not what she needs from you,” Sabrina said.
“Bah! You’re just a child,” Charming snapped. After a long moment he spoke again. “Did she say something to you?”
Sabrina nodded. “Yes, but I don’t think she’d appreciate it if I repeated it to you. Let’s just say that treating her like a china doll is not going to work.”
Mr. Seven approached.
“Are they assembled?” the prince asked the little man.
Seven nodded. “Some are waiting in the Hall of Wonders and the rest of the soldiers are moving there now.”
“Very good, my friend,” Charming said, patting Mr. Seven on the back. “I think tonight a few of us are going to become legends. You included. But know this, if you get killed out there I’m going to fire you.”
“I don’t work for you anymore,” Seven said through a smile.
“Details, details. If you ever plan on working for me again, then you better stay alive. Understand?”
Seven nodded and reached out his hand. The two men shook respectfully, then Mr. Seven raced away.
“Have you noticed that despite everything we did to change the future a lot of it is happening anyway?” she asked the prince.
Charming nodded. “And a lot sooner.”
“Maybe we can’t avoid it.”
Charming shook his head. “I was in the future longer than you, child. I know what happens and when it happens. That gives us an advantage. Don’t worry. Tomorrow is not set in stone.”
The troops gathered beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Hall of Wonders. Charming entered and joined Snow White, Robin Hood, and Mr. Canis at the front of the crowd. He called for everyone’s attention and the Everafters grew still.
“There has been a lot of talk about fighting against the Scarlet Hand. Now it is time to tell you how you’re going to win.”
Sabrina and her family watched from the back of the crowd. Mirror had joined them and seemed quite interested in the plan. It was explained in complicated detail but when Charming was finished Sabrina understood that the assault would be on the Ferryport Landing Marina. It sat on the very edge of town only half a block from Sleeping Beauty’s former coffee shop. Charming claimed that he had spies living outside of Ferryport Landing, and according to their reports the Scarlet Hand was receiving shipments of supplies and magical weapons from Everafters sympathetic to the Master’s plans. If the troops could destroy the dock, there would be no place for the supply ships to land, thus cutting off a valuable source of aid to the evil army.
To accomplish this, Charming claimed the army needed a four-pronged attack. The first assault would be commanded by a new volunteer—Goldilocks. Sabrina was shocked to hear the woman had joined the effort and looked to her father. He seemed distressed but said nothing. Since Goldilocks had the unique ability to speak with animals, she would direct a literal air force of non-English–speaking birds who would draw the fire of the Hand’s guards. While the enemy was focusing on the birds, Robin Hood would launch a second assault with his trained archers, raining arrows down on any Scarlet Hand soldiers guarding the marina. After the first wave of arrows was launched, Mr. Seven would lead a team of Lilliputians and other small Everafters down to the docks, where they would attach explosives to the marina right under the nose of the Hand.
“Then we drop the hammer,” Prince Charming explained. “King Arthur’s knights will storm the docks and run off the guards. Anyone foolish enough to stick around will face Camelot’s swords and shields.”
“And what do I do?” Snow said. She was visibly angry. “If you think you’re going to prevent me from fighting so you can keep me safe you better think again.”
“Relax, Ms. White,” Charming said. “You’ve got the best job of the whole attack. You get to push the plunger on the explosives.”
Snow raised her eyebrows. “I get to blow everything up?”
Charming nodded.
“Oh.” Snow smiled. “I’m a big fan of this plan.”
“What about you, Canis?” Puss in Boots asked the old man. “What’s your part in this plan?”
“My assistant and I will be fighting our own battle tonight,” the old man replied. From behind him stepped Red Riding Hood. He placed his wrinkled hand on her shoulder. “Red has made tremendous progress. We have hopes that together we can reveal the identity of the Master.”
Prince Charming gestured into the crowd. “And now, Friar Tuck has offered to lead us in a prayer.”