A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)(77)

“I understand them well enough to wish for cotton to stuff in my ears.”

“I’ll find you something to stuff in your ears.”

“What did you say?” Barnabas glanced over his shoulder with a conspiratorial grin.

“Nothing,” he grumbled. “Are we nearly there?” They’d crossed through the field and now found themselves at the edges of a small village.

“We are indeed. Camilla lives somewhere around here.”

“You don’t know where?”

“No, not exactly.” He paused and stroked his beard, turning around in a circle to survey the area. Cottages dotted the landscape before them, which led up a grassy hill. Two hundred paces ahead was the village center, where they could see a tavern and a busy market.

Becca and Maddox shared a look and continued to follow Barnabas as he randomly weaved through the village, peering in windows and knocking on doors.

Finally, a helpful passerby pointed him in the right direction.

Just in time, too. Maddox’s feet were getting unbearably sore, and he was more than ready to rest. “So which cottage is hers?”

“We will know when we get there.”

“What do you mean, we’ll know when we get—” Maddox felt something tighten around his leg. A fierce yank pulled him up off his feet, and suddenly he was swinging from his ankles, viewing the world from upside down.

Barnabas, now also upside down, glanced up at the rope that had ensnared him. “We’ll know because she’s sure to have set traps for intruders. We’re here!”

Becca regarded them both with lighthearted concern. “Wish I could help.”

“Me too,” Maddox replied as he swung on the rope.

A ring of fire then snaked around both Maddox and Barnabas, trapping them inside its ten-foot radius.

“Camilla, my darling!” Barnabas shouted. “It’s just me, your devoted compatriot Barnabas, and a friend! Greetings to you! Please don’t kill us!”

The flames rose higher, the oppressive heat pressing closer and closer.

“She means to cook us alive!” Maddox exclaimed.

But suddenly, the flames were extinguished, leaving a scorched, smoldering black ring around them.

Barnabas nodded. “Yes, that’s much better.”

“You’ve finally arrived!” a lovely, melodious voice called out from behind Maddox.

“Camilla, my beauty,” Barnabas replied. “You are a sight for sore eyes. But, please, if you could release us from your ingenious trap, I’d be so appreciative. I’m afraid I’ve already lost all feeling in my right foot.”

All Maddox could see as he continued to swing gently from the rope was a flash of blond hair, a few shades darker than Becca’s, and then Barnabas, tumbling down from his snare. He got up quickly and brushed off his newly stolen clothes.

Camilla then went to Barnabas for an embrace. From this angle, facing her back, all Maddox could see was that she wore a purple cloak that hugged her curves.

“It’s so wonderful to see you,” she said, and then turned around to look at Maddox. “And who is your new friend?”

Maddox couldn’t hold back a wince as the ugliest woman he’d ever seen swept her gaze over him.

Her hair was patchy and balding in the front, and she had no eyebrows to speak of. One bloodshot eye was set much lower than the other, and her chin sported a full beard of warts.

“This, Camilla, is Maddox Corso.”

She inhaled sharply. “The witch boy.”

“That’s right,” Barnabas said proudly.

“I’d really prefer a different nickname,” Maddox said.

Camilla patted Maddox’s cheek with her gnarled hand. “Shall we get you down from there, dearie?”

“I would be eternally grateful for that.”

She held up a knife with an alarmingly large blade, but before he could utter a word of protest, she had hacked through the rope in a single swipe.

Maddox dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, then looked up to see Becca gazing down at him, her hands on her hips.

“Very graceful,” she said with a grin.

“I do try.”

“Excellent,” Barnabas said, nodding. “Now, let’s go inside and talk revolution.”



Inside the witch’s cottage, Barnabas placed the copper box on a wooden table.

Camilla shook her head in disbelief. “I can hardly believe you retrieved it.”

“I can hardly believe it, either, to tell you the truth. It was difficult enough getting into that dungeon and locating young Maddox here, let alone getting out of it with all our limbs intact.”

“I always knew you were a wily one, ever since you were a wee thing, Barnabas.” She rubbed her hands together with glee. “That you stole it right from under her evil nose gives me such joy, so much I find I cannot express it. Finally, we have the chance to make Valoria pay for all the pain that she’s caused.”

“I hope you’re right,” he replied. “Now, remember, the lock is enchanted.”

“I remember, of course. I was the one who told you!” She wiggled her fingers and leaned closer to the box. “Now let me just test exactly how enchanted this little box is. . . .”

She pressed her fingers against the lock and held them there. There was a sizzling sound, a sharp crack, and then Camilla fell over backward.