Jinx's Magic by Sage Blackwood Read Free Book Online Page A

why wouldn’t there be, especially among the family of the late queen. So when the king’s brother, Duke Bluetooth of Bayland—”
    â€œWas he really named Bluetooth?” Jinx interrupted.
    â€œYes,” said the witch, with a purple puff of annoyance. “Do you want to hear this or not?”
    â€œSorry,” said Jinx.
    â€œWhere was I?”
    â€œThe Duke of Bayland,” Elfwyn said.
    â€œYes. Duke Bluetooth. Yes, well, he seized the throne. Killed his brother. Did it himself, very properly, no assassins or poison or anything like that. He ran him through very nicely with a sword, as brothers ought, and he meant to do the same for the queen and the baby prince, only somehow or other in the confusion—” The witch stopped, took a sip of brew, and looked around at all of them.
    â€œYes?” said Elfwyn.
    â€œWhat happened?” said Reven.
    Jinx didn’t say anything, because he was still annoyed at being shushed.
    Witch Seymour smacked his lips over the brew. “That just happens to be the little bit that nobody knows. The lovely young queen grabbed up her baby stepson and fled from her brother-in-law. Some say he caught up with them and slew them both, and wiped his bloody sword on his sky-blue velvet pantaloons. I myself do not believe that. If they had been crimson, he might have, but sky-blue? Ridiculous. Others say she fled into the forest—that’s the Urwald to us—and was immediately devoured by werewolves. Or possibly vampires, I forget. Myself, I have always wondered if she might have known her way around the Urwald better than that. She had the look, to me, of an Urwald girl.”
    â€œLots of Urwald girls get devoured by werewolves,” said Jinx.
    â€œYour friend doesn’t seem to think that’s what happened.”
    â€œNo,” said Reven. “That’s not what happened.” He took a deep breath. The lines of his curse were red, and he had to struggle to say anything. “You can cross the Urwald if you stick to the path.”
    â€œOh yes. Trust an Urwald girl for that,” said the witch. “So, off you go to Keyland. Taking Simon’s apprentice with you because Simon’s decided to dabble in foreign affairs. And then what do you do? Do you go to the palace and explain to King Bluetooth that you’re back now and he’ll have to step aside? A problem: you can’t explain anything, because of your curse. Another problem: he’s still got that sword. What’s the plan, eh?”
    It was a good point.
    â€œI’m going with him,” said Elfwyn. “To explain to people who he is.”
    â€œAnd which people did you intend to explain to?” said Witch Seymour. “Because one can’t recommend explaining to King Bluetooth. Not from what one’s seen of him.”
    â€œWe hadn’t really planned,” said Elfwyn.
    â€œYou don’t say.”
    â€œWhat would you advise, sir?” said Reven.
    â€œSpeaking to Dame Franca. If she’s still alive.”
    â€œWho’s Dame Franca?”
    â€œWell, if you are Prince Raymond, she was your nursemaid.”
    â€œDoes she live in Keyland?” said Elfwyn.
    â€œShe did, the last one heard. She can probably tell you if our boy is really Prince Raymond. Don’t go calling her ‘Dame’ Franca, mind. Call her ‘Missus.’ No point in getting her killed.”
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t follow,” said Reven.
    â€œBeheaded. Invited to foxtrot in red-hot iron footwear. Parboiled. Et cetera.”
    â€œFor being called Dame?”
    â€œFor being a witch. Why do you think one left Keyland?”
    â€œOh,” said Reven.
    â€œTalk to her, but be careful. We don’t necessarily know whose side she’s on, do we, Whitlock? If she’s still alive, and still in Keyland, chances are she’s on King Bluetooth’s side, beheadings notwithstanding, and will turn