The Villain Keeper by Laurie McKay

Author:Laurie McKay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

Outside, the sky was blue and the air crisp. The hills cracked with shifting ice. Caden’s enjoyment of it, his respite from his heavy thoughts, was short-lived. The new moon would bring about an end to Jane Chan. Then the half-moon would reinvigorate his curse. Both his fate and Jane’s were tied to the moon phase. He was so lost in thought, he almost didn’t dodge Tito’s poorly aimed fist. He did, though, and it swished past his shoulder.

Caden looked at him. “What are you doing?”

Tito lowered his arm and glowered. “Rathis says he’ll tell us how to find Jane and you decline? Bro, we’re doing what we have to do to find her. Period.”

Caden replayed the conversation. The dragons didn’t belong to Rath Dunn. Don’t call them dragons. Most ominously, Jane would die by the new moon. He watched the English instructor talking to a parent. He saw Mrs. Belle stumble on the sidewalk as she walked toward her car. Ward and Tonya said they were evil. Rath Dunn claimed they were banished like him. If they were all villains, any of them could have taken Jane Chan. As hints for a missing enchantress went, those were weak at best, designed to confuse at worst. “Falling into his trap will not bring her home.”

“Finding out what he knows might.”

Rath Dunn had wormed his way into the trust of men older and wiser than him and Tito. Their path was becoming twisted, their journey treacherous. The ground beneath his feet felt slick like the ice on the side of the road.

“He can’t be trusted, even if he speaks the truth,” Caden said, to remind both Tito and himself.

Tito rubbed his wrist, the one Rath Dunn had grabbed, and looked to the sky. “I don’t care.” There was iron in his voice, and he kicked at a nearby bench. The metal structure echoed with the force. Ice broke from it and landed whole on the hard ground. “He said she’d be dead soon.”

The kick, in Caden’s opinion, showed more promise than the punch. Maybe the bench with its stationary, unconcerned manner was just a better target. Tito had power and some natural fighting ability but he lacked finesse. With practice, he’d improve. His height and build were similar to Caden’s, and Tito looked fit enough. Caden had an idea.

Tito narrowed his eyes. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Caden would start Tito with the Korvan battle staff. It was easier for a beginner to wield, and unlike the sword, mistakes rarely resulted in lost fingers, arms, or feet. Besides, Caden’s sword remained confiscated by the police and a battle staff could be forged easily.

“I’ve decided to teach you the ways of the Elite Paladins,” Caden said.

“No,” Tito said.

“It’s a great honor.”

“No.”

“It will help us in finding your Jane,” Caden said. Tito’s bad mood would pass. Once Caden had assessed Tito’s skills, he’d plan a training schedule and revised weapon list. “We should not rely on the villainous tyrant’s help. We face enemies of great evil.

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