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us?”
    “The Wicked Witch?” Theodora repeated. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    Evanora raised a sculpted eyebrow. “ I’m not the one underestimating her cleverness,” she pointed out. “Or maybe it’s you I’m underestimating. Have you finally joined her side, sister?”
    “Do you honestly think I could conspire against you? With her ?” Theodora protested. “You’re my sister, Evanora, and I love you. But we must all step back and allow fate to take its course,” she said as she took her sister’s hand and looked into her eyes.
    “You’re right,” Evanora agreed. “But I want proof that he is who he claims to be,” she said.
    “He’s already proven hims—” Theodora began, but Evanora was quick to cut her off.
    “Not to me he hasn’t,” she stated.
    Theodora let her sister’s words hang in the air as she considered them. “Very well,” she said.
    Satisfied, Evanora pulled her sister to the side and led her out of the throne room. “I just need to give him one little test,” she said as the two disappeared down the long green hallway.

C HAPTER S EVEN

    IGH ABOVE THE CITY, Oz found himself following Evanora across a narrow footbridge. He had been surprised when the older sister had offered to give him a tour of the palace, but he had quickly agreed. After all, it was his palace now, and it was truly magnificent.
    “Thank you for the tour,” Oz said as they walked along.
    “It’s my job,” Evanora replied with a slight bow of her head.
    “Giving tours?” Oz said, amused.
    “Taking care of the king,” Evanora replied.
    “Well, then,” Oz began, with a new gleam in his eye. “You know, I was thinking: a royal feast might be—”
    “My sister tells me your magic is quite powerful,” Evanora said, stopping Oz dead in his tracks.
    “Really?” Oz said, surprised. Catching himself, he went on. “I mean…yes, of course. Boggling to the minds of all who witness it.”
    Evanora looked back and gave him a charming smile. “I can’t wait to see for myself. Why not show me now?”
    “All things in good time,” he hedged. “And a good time for all things!”
    They continued making their way along the footbridge. At the other end was a large one-room turret. A gust of wind shook the bridge slightly and Oz looked down. He gulped. They were very, very high.
    “There’s one last room I want you to see,” Evanora said, oblivious to Oz’s nerves.
    Dragging his gaze from the dizzying heights, he saw that the older witch had opened the turret’s doors. His breath caught in his throat. The room sparkled and shone with thousands upon thousands of pieces of treasure. Gemstones of every color sat among chests full of gleaming gold coins. A large statue of a winged horse glimmered, its body made of solid gold, and nearby was a vase covered in intricate artwork. The treasure filled every nook and cranny of the room, completely covering the floor and rising up against the walls. This was the Room of Resplendence.
    “The Royal Treasure of Oz,” Evanora explained. “It belongs to whoever is king.”
    Oz’s eyes rolled back. He swooned, then looked back at Evanora. “It’s all right, Wizard,” she said. “Go and enjoy your riches!” That was all Oz needed to hear.
    As Evanora watched, Oz seemed to faint, hitting the treasure-covered ground with a thud. He lay still for a moment and then he began moving his arms up and down, making angels in the coins just like a giddy little schoolboy.
    “It’s mine!” he shouted with glee. “Mine! No more secondhand suits! Nothin’ but silks and satins and—” He reached down and picked up a gold cup. “A chalice! I always wanted a chalice! And now I’ve got one!”
    “Well, not quite yet,” Evanora said. Oz stopped rolling around in the gold and looked up at her quizzically. She went on. “You only become king after you defeat the Wicked Witch. That’s the prophecy. And since you haven’t done that yet…”
    “…I’m not actually