Of Sorcery and Snow Read Online Free PDF Page B

master, how could I defeat a real villain? The Director was keeping a secret from us, and Chase, Lena, and I were pretty sure this was it: that I was destined to take down the Snow Queen. So I just turned toward the fight.
    Chase was on the defensive, leaping back as Hansel swung his broadsword. I guess Hansel did have a few more tricks after all.
    â€œDon’t forget the boundary line!” Kyle called. “You’ll be disqualified if you cross it.”
    Chase glanced down to see how far away he was, and Hansel locked his hilt guard with Chase’s and yanked. Chase’s sword sailed from his hand, flipping hilt over blade in a high arc.
    I wasn’t worried. Handling a disarm was the first move I’d seen Chase do.
    Chase leaped up to catch it, kicking at Hansel’s chest on the way to buy himself time.
    But Hansel knew this trick too. When Chase kicked, the swordmaster caught Chase’s foot in his left hand and swung his broadsword to my friend’s throat with his right.
    The proctor rang the gong again. It was over.
    â€œCrap,” said Chase, stomping off and scooping up his sword. He stopped beside me. “ Crap . Have I mentioned today how much I hate Hansel?”
    â€œYou stayed in the ring longer than anyone else,” I said, trying to cheer him up, but Chase’s scowl didn’t soften.
    As the gong sounded and the next match started, Lena tried to help us think about something more pleasant, too. “What are you going to wear to the ball tomorrow?”
    Chase stared at her, mystified that he had to suffer a defeat and a conversation about clothes at the same time. “No idea.”
    â€œContacts,” Lena said. “That’s what I’m wearing.”
    â€œIf you’re trying to make sure someone asks you to dance, I can be bribed,” Chase said. “Lena, from you, I’ll take a Bat of Destruction. Rory . . . maybe delivery service from the Table of Never Ending Instant Refills on a day of my choosing.”
    I rolled my eyes—he knew I wouldn’t mind grabbing him a snack most days anyway—but Adelaide, who was obviously eavesdropping, looked excited about this information.
    Then a bell started ringing. My whole body stiffened.
    A Tale must have started. Someone was going to find out what kind of Character they were always meant to become.
    Or maybe, I thought, remembering Ellie and Rumpelstiltskin’s faces— the Director is going to announce a Failed Tale .
    Every Character in the courtyard turned toward the Director’s office. With all the people in the way, I didn’t see the door open, but I saw the crowd ripple as kids cleared a path, stepping onto the dueling arena and jousting lanes, the tournament forgotten. TheDirector walked to the podium set up just beside the Tree of Hope, like I’d seen her do dozens of times before, and everyone was falling silent, same as always. Miriam was so excited that she walked right behind the Director, so close she nearly stepped on the older Character’s long purple skirts.
    Even though I kind of suspected it was a Failed Tale, I couldn’t help hoping too. My heart thumped hard, like it was trying to climb out of my throat.
    I looked at Chase and found him looking back at me. We’d been worrying over our Tales more than usual. Most of the kids in our grade had gotten theirs in the past year. Plus, Tales were supposed to be contagious—if someone near you had one, the magic around them threw out invisible sparks that could easily ignite your own Tale.
    But Chase’s Tale hadn’t come, and neither had mine.
    â€œThere’s still a chance someone could be Red Riding Hood,” I whispered.
    Chase just shrugged with a tiny grin, his way of saying, Good luck .
    The Director took the podium, and on tiptoe, I could see her face past everybody’s heads. She looked kind of pale and just as stressed as Ellie had been.
    â€œA new Tale has