Page 29 of To Sway a Bard
“Yes. There’s more. We believe the witch was using you to collect magical relics. She needed the power of seven, perhaps to free herself from an old curse or break the magic that kept her bound in the jungle.”
“Oh.” Zula came to a standstill, eyes wide with horror. “And I’ve been her magic supplier. Every heist, every magical relic I stole, somehow made its way back to her.”
Neo nodded. “That is the conclusion we drew too. And then there was the final relic, the jeweled egg.”
Zula slapped her palm against her forehead and groaned. “And I just handed it to her!”
“You didn’t,” Neo disagreed.
“But I did. I stole that egg three times.”
“Did you notice anything different the last time?”
“No. I was in a fog of misery. I’d just . . . ”
Zula trailed off and Neo waited, watching as knowledgetook hold and her jaw dropped. She pointed a finger at him.
“There was something different about the egg. It wasn’t as heavy and the gems weren’t as bright.”
Neo grinned. “It wasn’t the real one, just a decoy. We assumed thieves would return for the jeweled egg, so we helped the trolls disguise it. They are very good with stonework, and they moved quickly. Your final theft helped to heal the relationship between the trolls and the kingdom while we helped them restrengthen their borders.”
Zula stared at him. “You knew? You used me?”
Neo sobered, expression darkening. “I was hoping another thief would finish the job. I didn’t want it to be you.”
Zula’s eyes went shiny. At last she bit her lip and looked away. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve already apologized.”
She brushed impatiently at her face. “So what happens now?”
“I assume the witch discovered she’d been tricked, and she’s coming. She has enough magic to leave,but not enough to rise to her full ability. I think she’s coming for you, Zula, and it will be a battle, but it’s time to free you from the witch, time to free you from the dark purpose she cast over you. It’s time to give you what you want, to set you free.”
“I don’t understand—how will we defeat her?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard of the royal family.” He grinned at her. “I’m very familiar with them. I’ve been to the palace many times and I can tell you about their habits.”
Zula made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “Tell me.”
“Magic flows through their veins, and how does one fight magic?”
Suddenly Zula grabbed his arm, eyes wide. “Neo, I know how to fight the witch.”
26
ZULA
Neo had chosen the place well: a grassy knoll, surrounded by the jungle. Anyone might be hiding in the foliage, but those standing in the middle of the clearing had the high ground, and a clear view of anyone or anything that might come at them. Zula stood with Neo, nerves dancing up and down her spine. The air was thick with trepidation, with waiting, and she was the bait. She glanced at him, hardly daring to believe he’d given her another chance. Neo stood tall, shoulders back, head held high, but the biggest surprise was the sword he drew.
She hadn’t guessed him to be a swordsman, didn’t think he had the power in his shoulders, but if sheknew anything about Neo, appearances meant nothing. He, as ever, was full of surprises. Tossing the blade lightly from hand to hand, he looked at her, a calm surety in his gaze.
“Where is everyone?” Zula studied the clearing. “We’re the only ones here.”
“We onlylooklike we’re the only ones here.”
“Ah.”
A shimmer hovered at the edge of her vision, a ripple of magic visible in the air. Zula swallowed hard, wanting to freeze, wanting to close her eyes and wish herself far away. The clean scent of the plants shifted to something foul, an omen of death. Destruction. The grass shuddered, bending over, and out of the jungle walked the witch.
