The Fire Keeper (The Storm Runner 2)

“Doubtful.” Ixtab tapped a finger along her sculpted chin. “The better question is how they penetrated my shadow magic.”

The magic that imprisoned us on the island, you mean? I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t afford to (a) make her mad or (b) give her any clue that I was planning to rescue my dad. “So, if the mud freak wasn’t there to steal my powers,” I said, “why was it there?”

“That is quite inconsequential right now.” Ixtab’s face reddened. “How dare anyone defy me and touch my magic! I’ve spread myself too thin, doing renovations on nine levels of the underworld simultaneously. Nine! And we’re adding a tenth level! Did I mention that I’m also expected to manage the souls, feed the demons, train…” She took a deep breath. “When I find whoever did this…” she said with a growl. Her honey-streaked hair began to shift to blue demon status, but just as quickly she got her temper back under control. “I will have to do some investigating. It could be just a rogue group. We get those from time to time. Lesser gods are always annoyed about something. But not to worry—they never succeed.”

“But how did they know I was alive?”

Ixtab’s expression gave away nothing, but I could tell she was doing some deep goddess thinking. “Don’t touch that!” she barked at Ren, who was stroking the head of a tiny golden crocodile statue.

Ren jerked her hand back.

Ixtab scowled as she circled the girl, studying her carefully. “Small for a child of a great Maya god. And yet so much…”

“So much what?” I asked.

“I will ask the questions,” Ixtab said. “Tell me, Renata…Where did you come from, and how is it that your skin buzzes with so much magic? Before you speak”—Ixtab held up a perfectly manicured finger with shiny black polish—“I should be fair and tell you that a single lie equals a two-year swim in Blood River. Two lies? Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that bloody mess.”

I was for sure going to be sick.

Ren looked from me to Brooks to Hondo. “Uh…Texas,” she managed.

“Texas,” Ixtab repeated. “Ah, yes…‘Remember the Alamo.’ Such a terrible siege! I am so good at inspiring revenge, which is the only reason the Texans eventually won the war. Nakon will tell you otherwise, but we all know what an exaggerator he is.”

“Er, but…” Ren faltered. “Aren’t you…like, from Mexico?”

Ixtab waved her hand through the air. “I am from wherever the power is. Now, Renata from Texas, it is no coincidence that you appeared on the island the night before this wicked perpetrator appeared, so perhaps you have the answers.”

“That’s what I said!” Ren beamed. Then her face fell. “Wait. I don’t have any answers….”

“Then prove to me that you’re not cloaked in magic and you really are a godborn.” Before anyone could blink, Ixtab closed the six-foot gap between her and Ren and grabbed hold of her hand.

Ixtab’s face was unreadable, but it was clear they were using telepathy. I was dying to know what they were saying. There was some nodding, a few gasps, and then Ixtab withdrew and blinked several times in astonishment. She turned to me with laser focus.

“Well?” I asked Ren. “Is she your mom?”

Ren looked away and shook her head.

“You…” Ixtab hissed at me. “This is your fault. You’re the reason…YOU put out a call to godborns?”

Note to godborns: If/when you put together a team for a quest, make sure you tell the members to keep their big fat mouths shut!

“My fault?” I could feel my cheeks reddening. “You told her?” I said to Ren.

“No! She…It kind of fell out of my brain.”

Crap! What else dribbled out?

Ixtab drew closer to me. But no way was I going to let her intimidate me, not for another second. Nope. I had a lot to say. And it sounded like…“I, uh…I had to be sure!”

“Who gave you the right to use the magic of Itzam-yée’ on such a stupid and reckless idea?” Uh-oh. Ixtab’s eyes burned with blue flames. “Do you have any idea what you’ve do

ne, Zane?”

“Yeah, I found a way to call to the godborns! Now maybe you can find other survivors.”

“No, Zane.” Ixtab stepped so close I could see her perfect pores. “You made the godborns visible to the gods.”

How could one nugget of truth cause such a massive shock wave? In that moment, Ms. Cab’s words came crashing down on me: Magic is so mercurial. One can never fully gauge its temperament or understand its logic.