What a strange name, too.
We looked at one another, uncertain still, though the guy seemed friendly enough. I couldn’t tell what court he wasfrom, or if he was a Timekeeper, but he was obviously part of the game.
“Might as well,” Seth finally said. “We have to finish the game, don’t we?”
We absolutely did.
March squeezed my hand once before he pulled me to walk with him. “Close,” he whispered to me. “We’re close.”
Except hadn’t the White Queen said that there would be two parts to this trial? Mimi reminded us all just now, too.
Either way, I said nothing, and we all went to sit around the table.
March and I sat at the end on the left side, together with Mimi who sat on March’s other side, then Seth, Silas and Reggie near the host. Across, the others made themselves comfortable, but we all looked wary—especially Cook who sat right across from me. He looked pale. Almostgreenin the face, like he was going to be sick soon.
I reluctantly leaned back on the chair.
“Okay, well,” Levana said, and cleared her throat. “We’re all here. We’re all seated. What, uhm… what’s the deal with this trial?”
“The deal is simple,” Host Ticktock said as brought his teacup to his mouth and took a sip.
Anika, who sat near him on the right of the table brought a hand to her cheek and mouthed at us,it’s empty!
The host’s cup was empty, yet he went through the motions of swallowing and licking his lips, too.
Suddenly, he slammed both hands on the table, and we all jerked back. The dishes and the clocks did, too. “Oh, but what a splendid, splendid tea! I do so wish I could taste it. It’s been so long…”
Nobody was smiling anymore.
“Host Ticktock,” said Silas, his voice calm. “The trial. What are we required to do to win this trial?”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t tell you that, my boy.” He smiled—and just now, I could have sworn there wasmadnessin his eyes.
“But…you’re the host,” said Erith from the other side.
“True, true—I am. Host Ticktock, at your service.” He stood up, bowed to her deeply, and the hat within the hat within the hat on his head didn’t even budge. He then stuck out his backside to push the tail of his vest again, and sat. “But-but-but, what Icando is…” His voice trailed off as he took the empty cup in his hands again, and took an imaginary sip. “Singit.”
My brows narrowed.Sing?
“We really don’t need a song—if you could just—” Russ started, but Host Ticktock wouldn’t hear it.
“Youalwaysneed a song!” His laughter, too, had that same quality to it. It spelled outmadnessin my mind. “Andmysong goes something like this.” He spread out his arms to the sides, closed his eyes, and began.
“I am frozen. Yes—quite sick. Hour six is stiff as a brick…”
It wasn’t quite singing, though. His voice was higher, yes, but it was like he was reciting a poem written somewhere on the inside of his lids, judging by how fast he was moving his eyeballs from one side to the other.
“You can help me, dearest Hands. I’ve waited for you in elevens and tens. Stir the sugar, will you pour the tea? Make six into seven, and set me free!”
Slowly, he brought his hands together in front of his chest, and opened his eyes, that smile never leaving his face.
We looked at one another for a moment.
“It’s six o’clock,” Helen said. “That means?—”
“Yes—it’salwayssix. It’s always time for tea,” Host Ticktock cut her off.
“And we must make it…seveno’clock?” Levana asked.
