“What clues, lass?” Blackbeard asks.
Kayla falters when she sees my face. “I…have this one we got today in the village. It mentions me.” The teachers look at each other.
Wolfington takes Kayla’s scroll and studies it. “Do you think it’s been bewitched with dark magic?” he asks Flora.
“It doesn’t appear to have any spells on it, but we can have Madame Cleo examine it closer.” She puts it in her pocket and Maxine sighs. “You children know better than to try to tackle a problem like Alva on your own. Have you learned nothing from what happened last time?”
“Last time we saved the day,” I remind Flora, who does not seem to like my answer. “We’re onto something here.”
“You children need to let us handle things,” Professor Wolfington says. “We have eyes everywhere, and we’ll take care of Alva and this mole.”
“But—”
“No buts, buckaroo.” Blackbeard cuts me off. “We got that Rumpel matey protecting the school and—”
“Professor Blackbeard!” Flora says.
The rest of us look at each other.
“You’re letting Rumpelstiltskin protect the school?” Kayla asks quietly.
“That dude is crazy!” Ollie agrees.
“Did you ask him about my family?” Kayla asks. “Does he know where they are?”
Flora puts a hand kindly on Kayla’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. He wouldn’t talk about your family. He was here for reasons I cannot discuss at this time.”
“Reasons that not all of the professors agree with,” Professor Wolfington lets slip, and Flora’s look is stern. “I believe there are better ways to protect FTRS.”
“Agreed, darlings! We don’t need his help here,” Madame Cleo says.
“That is my choice and it’s not something I want to discuss!” Flora is losing her patience. She glances at Blackbeard, who pretends to polish his sword. “But yes, he’s protecting the school since the royal court would not. Alva is waging a war to take over this kingdom and using the students at our school to do it. I will not let all our good work be in vain, so yes, I made a deal with him and it’s one I will have to live with!” She realizes she’s shouting and stops.
“That’s why you met with him?” Kayla’s lower lip quivers. “You probably never even asked about my family! You don’t care about me at all!” She runs from the stables.
“Kayla!” I yell. “Wait!” I turn to Flora. “How could you do that to her?”
“You can’t talk to the headmistress like that,” Jocelyn says.
“Since when do you stick up for the headmistress? Keep your nose out of our business!”
A loud wolf whistle silences our bickering.
“That will be quite enough,” says Professor Wolfington. “You two must learn that in life we sometimes have to work with those we don’t like to fight for the greater good.” I open my mouth to protest and Jocelyn does the same. “I know you don’t trust each other, but if we want to stop Alva, we’re all going to have to work together. Understood?” We both nod, but I don’t want to.
Flora runs a hand over her skirt to smooth it. “Now, please proceed back to your quarters and let us examine Maxine’s mini magical scroll. Saving the kingdom is not a job for children.”
I exhale loudly and we all trudge out of the stables. Jocelyn is with us, much to my chagrin.
“Dude, we can’t let Rumpel help our school,” Ollie says. “He worked with Alva before, and he will again. Our professors have lost their minds! They’ll never find the mole.”
Neither will we at this rate. Our breakout was a bust! If we’re going to find the mole, I need to get out of this castle and do some sleuthing on my own. But how do I break out again? There is no way out unless... The RLWs! They get to go to Royal Manor. Hmm... It couldn’t hurt to get chummy with some of those annoying RLWs anyway. I’m sure one of them knows the mole the way they were going on about their mission to protect themselves. I’m onto something here! Hmm…I wonder what Princess Ella will give my family if I save the whole kingdom again.
“What are we going to do?” Maxine asks.
“I just remembered somewhere I have to be,” I say as the others continue talking.
“We’re kind of in a jam here,” Jax says. “Don’t you want to talk about this?”
“We can at dinner.” I have no idea how long that royal tea is. “Or tomorrow!”
“Where are you going?” Maxine asks, but I don’t answer. I run as fast as I can so that no one catches up with me.
I’m back in the castle and three hallways down when I finally see the gold plaque with a bouquet of fresh pink roses on the door. I don’t bother knocking. I burst through the door. The RLWs see me and stop talking. Princess Rose steps forward.
“Um, is it too late for me to join in?” I ask, trying to sound proper and failing.
“Not at all. I’d be delighted if you joined us, Miss Gillian,” Princess Rose says.
And just like that, I’m in—and ready to go undercover on my own.
CHAPTER 10