A Book of Spirits and Thieves

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.

Maddox looked down at the witch, who was now unconscious on the floor of her cottage, as she began to snore. “My guess would be . . . very enchanted,” he said.

“Yes.” Barnabas crossed his arms. “Well, it seems we have a little time on our hands. I’m going to see if she has any wine.”

After a short while, Camilla began to rouse, groaning as she opened her crooked eyes. “Oh my,” she managed. “That was quite unpleasant. But I do have my answer. As soon as I regain my strength, I will be ready to break the spell that keeps this box and its treasure out of our reach.”

“What do you think?” Becca asked. She sat cross-legged on the floor by the fire. “Are they going to tell you what’s inside or keep you guessing forever?”

She was right—he was tired of being kept in the dark.

“What’s in the box?” Maddox asked aloud to the room. “I believe I have a right to know, since I helped to steal it. Barnabas says it can pull someone from one world to another. Is that true?”

“You think I’d lie to you?” Barnabas pressed a hand to his chest as if stunned by this insult. Then he laughed. “Kidding, of course. I lie to everyone. But that was not a lie.”

“He’s told you nothing else?” Camilla asked, clearly surprised at how tight-lipped Barnabas had been.

“He’s told me lots of things. I don’t exactly know which of them to believe.”

She glanced at Barnabas, who gave her a nod. “Feel free to educate the boy,” he said. “Within reason.”