A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)(66)

Still, he didn’t make a single move to start taking off his clothes.

“Why don’t I wait over there?” She gestured to a grassy clearing and raised an eyebrow. “I promise I won’t watch.”

“Can I trust you to keep that promise?”

Her smile was mischievous at the edges. “Cross my heart.”

He frowned. “Does that mean yes?”

“Yes, I promise. I won’t peek at the two handsome skinny-dippers. Have fun.”

He watched her walk away, certain he’d heard her wrong. Handsome?

His grin returned, and he quickly stripped and tucked his clothes beneath his arm. The water felt cold but invigorating as he waded into the lake. When he was submerged to his waist, he started to wash the dirt from his skin. It felt wonderful.

Barnabas floated by on his back, spitting out lake water as if he were a fountain. “I’ll go hunting when we make camp later and bring us back some dinner. Unless you’d like the honor.”

Maddox had never had a father to teach him how to hunt. He’d helped his mother with her snares and her vegetable garden, gotten their bread from the local market, but that hardly counted as practice. “I’m not much of a hunter.”

“That makes one of us. When I was your age, I was the best hunter in the entire kingdom.”

And the most modest about it, too, Maddox thought. “I’m sure you were.”

“We’ll also take some time this evening to test your magic.”

“Test it how, exactly?” Maddox scrubbed his shirt, attempting to remove the more stubborn stains.

“Don’t worry too much about your clothes, my young friend. We’ll steal more the first chance we get.” Barnabas dove underwater and came up again a moment later, sliding his fingers through his black hair. “As far as the test . . . I haven’t yet seen any real proof of your abilities.”

“You said I was the one who raised the dead in the palace graveyard. Wasn’t that proof enough?”

“That was just a guess. An educated one, but still, only a guess. Did Livius ever help you practice your magic?”

He remembered how Livius would grow disgusted and threaten him whenever Maddox disappointed him. “No. But he got angry when it wouldn’t work on command in front of clients. Luckily, we encountered very few real spirits during our partnership.”

“Partnership, huh?” Barnabas vigorously scrubbed his hair and beard. Now that he was clean, Maddox saw that he was younger than he’d initially guessed. Perhaps only twice Maddox’s age. Barnabas’s smile had fallen away, and he now wore more of a scowl. “You were saddled with him for far too long. I’m surprised your mother was such a poor judge of character when it came to him.”

“What do you know about my mother?” Maddox asked, now guarded. “Do you know her because you knew my father?”

“You could say that.”

“And is that how you know about Livius? I don’t think I ever mentioned him by name.” Maddox watched Barnabas very carefully for his reply.

“Everyone knows about Livius. There was a reward for his capture, you know, for crimes of his past. A good one, too. Damn goddess stole my chance to line my pockets with gold when she caught him and killed him.” He eyed Maddox. “You don’t believe a word coming out of my mouth, do you?”

“Not really,” Maddox admitted.

“Smart boy. Never trust anyone until they’ve proved themselves to you. But give me time. I’ll earn that trust of yours.”

“Swear it on the goddess?”

“I’ll swear it on King Thaddeus’s name.” He grew more serious in moments. “That’s my ultimate plan, you should know. King Thaddeus’s offspring has been kept hidden away for safekeeping since infancy, and I mean to put that rightful child on the throne when I finally do away with Valoria once and for all.”

This seemed like an exceptionally honorable goal to Maddox. He never would have guessed that this crazy thief had such loyalty inside him. “You mean to steal the throne from a goddess and give it to a dead king’s son. That’s a dangerous plan.”

“It’s his daughter, actually.” He raised his brow as he swam in a slow circle around Maddox. “You immediately assume the rightful owner of the throne is a boy, huh? What would your pretty little spirit have to say about that?”

The knowledge of Becca’s existence still felt precious, like a priceless jewel he needed to guard.

Could he trust this man?

He was silent a moment longer, thinking hard. “She says she’s from another world. She says she’s connected to me somehow. . . .”

“Which, if you’re a necromancer, makes sense.” Barnabas lowered his brow. “Another world? Did she really say that?”

“She did.” The skepticism he’d pushed away earlier now came back with full strength. “I’ve never heard of a necromancer before.”

“You’re sixteen. I’m sure there are many mysteries in this world you’re not aware of yet. Or that I’m not aware of, for that matter.”

“You’ve met another like me?”

“Not exactly like you. No, my friend, you are most definitely one of a kind. But I know your magic is death magic. I’ve seen much proof of it already, but I know you can do more.”