“No travel until you’re twelve? What utter nonsense,” Jezibaba said firmly. “If you’re old enough for a familiar, you’re old enough to start learning to transport. From now on, you two are going to be taking accelerated classes even if I have to teach you myself.”
They exchanged nervous glances and took one of the Jezibaba’s hands when she snapped her fingers impatiently. Moments later, Hildy was ralphing up her breakfast while Carol was staring at a bunch of girls her age who were sword fighting. It looked cool and she wondered how hard it was.
“I’m sorry,” Hildy said, very embarrassed. “I got real dizzy at the end.”
Jezibaba ran a hand over Hildy’s hair. Maybe she was pushing too hard, but it was the only way she knew to truly help them.
“It’s fine, Hildy. It happens to many witches when they start traveling this way. But your body will adjust and then you will forget this was ever uncomfortable. Now chin up, Queen Lilith and her guard are coming to greet us. Protocol is very important here.”
Carol and Hildy both drew in breaths as a group of tall, barely dressed women with tons of muscles walked their way. When they all stopped and got down on one knee in front of the three of them, the girls instantly looked up at Jezibaba, unsure of what to do.
“These women will be your new teachers. Thank them for agreeing to help you learn to fight,” Jezibaba ordered.
They obediently turned to the kneeling women and said thank you.
“It is our honor to serve the chosen ones,” Queen Lilith declared.
“Rise Lilith, Defender of the Amazons. It is I who am honored today,” Jezibaba declared. She waited until all the amazons had risen. “We had a little problem with our magical travel. Hildy got a bit dizzy. It was her first time.”
Lilith quietly looked off and motioned someone over. An older woman rushed to bring water and a tablet she pressed into Hildy’s hand. Hildy’s quiet thank you prompted a bow from the older woman. They all waited while Hildy swallowed the tablet and drank some water.
Once that was done Queen Lilith turned back to Jezibaba. “We discussed your request last evening. Our Goddess directed us to send some trainers back with you. Kaska and her daughters have asked to serve. If you approve of the choice, they can return with you today.”
Jezibaba turned as a woman of about forty stepped forward, accompanied by a set of twin girls who appeared to be just on the verge of adolescence. The woman, Kaska, bowed her head and nudged the twins until they bowed their heads as well. She pushed them forward and they cautiously approached Hildy and Carol. They looked at both girls, and then looked to each other, switched places, and then lifted their palms as they dropped down to one knee.
Carol snorted and crossed her arms. She turned a furious glare to Jezibaba. “Why do I need to apologize to them? I haven’t said anything bad to anyone here yet.”
Jezibaba lifted a hand to cover her mouth, fighting not to laugh at Carol’s outburst. It was very rude to be anything less than stoic in front of the Amazons. She dropped her hand and firmed her lips.
“Carol, they’re just asking you to accept their service. Each of you must touch the palm of the girl who kneels before you. Then they will speak to you. These girls will be your fight teachers—like helping you learn hand-to-hand, archery, and swords.”
She watched as Hildy and Carol exchanged worried looks, and fought laughter again when Carol growled to “oh just do it, Hildy.” They touched their palms to the twins and everyone seemed to deflate in relief.
Ritual served, Jezibaba moved her gaze to the crowd again and saw pride flash in Kaska’s gaze. She nodded in thanks to the woman, then looked back to Lilith.
“Could the girls and I look around while Kaska and her daughters make final preparations to come with us?”
Lilith smiled. “It would be my great pleasure to welcome the chosen ones to our world.”
“Is she talking about us?” Hildy whispered, looking up at Jezibaba.
Jezibaba lifted a finger to her lips, smiling and nodding behind it. With the twins now flanking her nervous charges, she drove the girls forward with a firm push on their shoulders. Soon though, the young Amazons were busily chatting and answering Hildy’s many questions.
Children were really the same no matter where they were raised. It was a blessing for all.
Jezibaba watched them without speaking until she felt Lilith’s strong presence at her side. She had known four generations of Amazon queens. Lilith’s great grandmother had trained her to fight, but Lilith was the easiest and the most progressive leader to date. Best of all though was that Lilith’s modern outlook had not changed how absolutely deadly she and her warriors were when they had to be.
“The children are very young. Even we don’t teach real fighting until a girl has received her first menses.”
“Someone powerful is trying to kill them. Time is a luxury I don’t have, Lilith,” Jezibaba said quietly. “I thought it might be easier if their teachers were children themselves. Evil will not wait for Hildy and Carol to get old enough. Your Amazon’s daughters will teach them to protect themselves.”
“You are very wise for a woman who has never borne a child. I remember the first time you visited after I was of an age to know who you were. The queen let me walk with you. You were limping from some fight the day before, but I still thought you were amazing. When a boar broke loose from its pen and charged us, you calmly stepped in front of me and held up your hand. I don’t know what spell you chanted, but the boar froze, fell over, and we got to drag him back to the pen without killing him. In my excitement to meet you, I had left the pen latches loose when I fed the boars that morning. I was the reason you were put in danger.”
“Interesting. Queen Diana never told me that,” Jezibaba said quietly.
“The queen spared me because you brushed it off as amusing. And I saw that a real warrior does not hold a child responsible for being a child. In my reign, we have women coming from all around the world asking to join us now. Our numbers have risen. Life is good. All of this is because the most powerful being I have ever met spared the life of the Amazon Queen’s misbehaving daughter.”
Jezibaba snorted and shrugged. “It is natural to make mistakes. Goddess knows, I make plenty still. The real test is in what you do to make up for them.”
Lilith smiled. “I can tell the one named Carol will be making her share.”
“Indeed,” Jezibaba said. “But she is highly amusing. It takes the edge off.”
Lilith smiled. “Yes. I noticed you laughing at her earlier.”
“I was hoping you didn’t notice.”
Lilith shrugged. “I noticed, but I forgive the Great Jezibaba as she did me.”
When Jezibaba led the girls back to the tree area where they’d arrived, the Amazons returning with them were waiting there as well.
“Hey,” Carol said. “Where are the big robe guys? I just realized they aren’t here.”
Jezibaba chuckled. “You mean the warlocks? They’re not allowed here. Only women are allowed on the island of the Amazons.”
“Cool,” Carol declared.
“Not really,” Jezibaba whispered, leaning down until her head was level with their ears. “Men make life way more interesting. If you hang out here for very long, it’s actually a bit boring. Nobody really argues or debates anything because the Queen doesn’t allow dissention. Personally, I’d rather have a healthy debate and lots of learning. I bet you would too if you had to choose.”
Carol sighed and slipped her hand into the Jezibaba’s without being asked. The Amazons were the coolest thing she’d ever seen in her life. “Sometimes I don’t know what to think about you.”
“The feeling is mutual, Little One.”
Carol heard Jezibaba belly laughing as the tall woman straightened to full height again. Once in the circle, she felt her new fighting teacher place a possessive hand on her shoulder. A shiver of excitement coursed through her and made her heart pound. A vision of herself fight
ing with a sword flashed through her mind. This day had certainly been strange.
Chapter 7
“I don’t like this. They’re getting the shit kicked out of them,” Damien declared.
“Yes. They certainly are,” Jezibaba agreed.
She glanced at Professor Hottie’s crossed arms and tight jaw. His complaint wasn’t as eloquent as his usual chastisements over pushing the girls so hard. “But I don’t see them quitting, or even complaining, do you?”
Damien snorted. “With their Amazon bodyguards hanging out with them, the rest of the children are avoiding them at recess. Hildy and Carol are being slowly ostracized. Is that what you wanted to happen?”
“What kind of question is that?” Jezibaba demanded. “I’m not wanting anything detrimental to happen at all. That’s why I took them to get the Amazons in the first place. There is nothing I can do to change the fact that they will not be allowed to have an idyllic childhood. I doubt the Goddess Morgana herself could make that any different for them. All I can do is see they get to have a life that doesn’t include being locked away just to avoid attacks. The warlocks mention that option every damn day they look at what’s coming.”
Damien stroked the bridge of his nose. “And Amazons are your answer?”
“They’re one of them,” Jezibaba declared fiercely. “Do you know Hildy can already fly? Her parents taught her. Do you know Carol travelled magically and never felt a thing? She could be taught to do it alone. They need to learn to use what they have already developed innately until more power is available to them. It will be years before they have enough mental focus to cast real spells.”
She put her gaze back on Carol who lost her temper and went flying over her trainer’s head. The determined girl got back up, growled, and took her defensive stance again. Normally, that sight made her laugh. But not today. Damien was making her feel guilty and she didn’t like it.
“No one could possibly be more concerned about the girls than I am. They’re both like I was at that age. It’s like taking care of myself.”
Damien snorted and black smoke escaped his nostrils. He was more churned up than he should be, but the witch was driving him insane. “When in Morgana’s name do you ever do that? I haven’t seen you even eat dinner in over two weeks. The last time you stopped long enough to eat was with me.”
“Is this about the fact I’ve had to leave every day?” Jezibaba shrugged one shoulder. “I have a job, Professor. Being here and personally watching out for the girls is barely sanctioned as one of my tasks. When I get called for other work, I go and do what has to be done. I’m the Goddess-Damned Jezibaba. I shouldn’t have to explain this to you. You know who I am and what my real job is.”
“You came back last night reeking of werewolf and bourbon. There was blood all over your clothes. You slammed the door of your room in my face and wouldn’t even talk to me about it. What am I supposed to conclude from all that?”
“That I was tired after working,” Jezibaba declared. “And I told you weeks ago that we had no real future. Why are you giving me this kind of grief? I have enough to deal with, Dragon. I don’t need your third degree over things I can’t change.”
Before she could blink, Damien’s hand had grabbed the front of her low cut blouse and pulled her to face him. Given her height, they were nearly nose to nose, but only because he bent down far enough to stare into her eyes. A quiver shook her from head to toe, which was precisely why she had been avoiding him. She didn’t have time for any dragon-caused quivers—even if he was a male Emeritus and Morgana both had approved of to grace her bed.
Well, no way was she taking the man medicine being held out on a spoon to her. She’d choose her own lover or have none at all. And she would never willingly choose a dragon.
“You have no right to be jealous of what I do. We don’t have that kind of connection,” she protested.
“Yes. We do have that kind of connection. And I will kill any male who lays a hand on what I intend to make mine,” he said, black smoke drifting up into his eyes.
Coughing, she pulled out of his grasp and waved the smoke away from her face.
“Whew… Damien. How do you live with that smoking nose thing happening all the time? I think I’m blind now.”
When his breathing accelerated, his eyes turned to slitted black pools. She’d gone too far in teasing him and had lured his dragon to the surface. Sighing, she put both hands out and rubbed his arms.
“Stop fuming. Nothing like what you’re imagining happened. I don’t sleep with creatures I have to incarcerate or kill. Or at least I don’t do that anymore. The blood was the werewolf’s. The bourbon was a celebratory drink I had with his pack leader when I returned him to face his punishment. And frankly, I was too damn tired last night to deal with the anger I saw in your gaze. You have a lot of nerve making me explain myself. I don’t have to sleep here where you can come torture me. I can just as easily assign someone else to oversee the girls in my place.”
Damien stepped away, lifted a hand, and calmed himself. “That won’t be necessary. I guess I was operating under the wrong impression. I thought you returned my interest equally.”
Jezibaba shook back her long, red hair. And now to lie… “Well, I don’t. I’m sorry if my friendliness and flirting made you think there was more between us. I did give it some thought, but I feared the exact situation that just happened. You’ve merely validated my decision that more between would be a bad idea all around.”
She pointed to where Hildy and Carol were now dancing with the Amazon twins.
“Still think they’re being abused, Professor? Until those little witches grow up and choose to replace me, my life will be full of tasks like the one I did last night. I can’t answer to anyone but the Goddess Morgana for them. I never have and I never will apologize for doing my job the way I see fit.”
Damien clenched his fists to keep from grabbing her again. If he touched her now, the students would get too much of an education. “Your arrogance exceeds any dragon’s I’ve ever known—even my own.”
Jezibaba nodded. “Yes. I suppose it does. I’m not going to apologize for that either. My self-centered preservation serves me well and keeps my arrogant ass from making mistakes.”
Damien came back and stood near enough to force her gaze to his once more. “Tell me something, Witch. When do you get to have a life of your own?”
“Well that’s the thing, Dragon. I don’t know if I ever will. That’s the reason I’m trying to save those children the best way I can.”
When her gaze fled from his, Damien snorted and walked away before he was tempted to show the Jezibaba exactly what she was passing up in not admitting her feelings for him.
***
Jezibaba knew Damien was still pissed over their argument because he’d left her alone with the entire class with no explanation of what needed to be done.
Following a teaching lead she’d helped him with many times, she’d set up centers, divided them into small groups, and now they were busily building block creatures to animate. She’d promised to pick two or three of the best ones so long as they had been made with sufficient limbs for walking. It was a task that would keep them occupied for the better part of the next hour—she hoped.
She’d sent the Amazon twins back to their mother because she’d quickly observed Damien’s comments were true about the intimidation factor the towering muscled pre-teens caused among the other children.
Trying not to dwell on how upset Damien was with her, Jezibaba visited each group, then settled at a table where Hildy and Carol were putting together their creations.
“Were you and Professor Smoke fighting about us while we were training?” Hildy asked.
“You’re quite the little observer, aren’t you?” Jezibaba asked. Smiling into the girl’s direct gaze, she shook her head. “No, Hildy. This time Professor Smoke and I were fighting about my other work.”
“What other work?” Carol asked, stopping what she
was doing to listen.
Jezibaba thought carefully about how to explain her job to her too-young replacements without scaring them. “I’m like a policeman for magicals. There are laws for people with power like ours. If they break those laws, people without power can be hurt. I try to stop this from happening.”
“People with power hurt animals sometimes,” Hildy declared.
Jezibaba nodded. “Yes. They do. I try to stop that as well. I like animals almost as much as you do.”
Carol laughed. “Is it hard to be a police witch?”
Jezibaba laughed at her term. “Sometimes. Mostly, it’s a lot of chasing. People breaking magical laws don’t want to be captured.”
A roaring thunder from outside the building stopped all conversation.
“Emeritus!” Jezibaba called loudly, rising to walk to the door. When he appeared, she waved a hand over the children. “Protect them.”
She looked back at Hildy. “I need to go see what’s going on. If I don’t return in two minutes, I want you to turn all your classmates into toads, Hildy. Emeritus will help you put them in a box and then he will hide all of you. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes,” Hildy said, pretending not to notice the sudden fear on her classmates’ faces.
“Not me. Please don’t make me be a toad, Jezibaba. I hate eating flies,” Carol begged.
“It’s only for this one time and I may need Emeritus to help us deal with what’s going on outside,” Jezibaba said, leaving before Carol could protest further.
Chapter 8
Magicals in the form of instructors and staff poured out of every door of the elementary building. Across campus, the same was happening for every age range. Grateful for the sneakers she’d worn with her leggings, Jezibaba ran down the steps and stopped at the bottom to stare up at the large creatures circling overhead.
“Griffins? What are they doing here?” She’d whispered the question, wondering where so many of them could have been hiding in the world. She had only known of two who still lived, but there used to be four.
Magic and Mayhem: How To Train A Witch (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Baba Yaga Saga Book 1) Page 6