“No wonder the poor kid is crying,” Liam whispered in Baba’s ear. “I’m a little tempted to do it myself. What the hell is that?”
“Not what,” Baba whispered back. “Who. Don’t be rude.” She bowed politely to the giantess and said in a loud voice, “Good day, Mistress Zorica. I am very sorry to intrude upon your home, but this woman has something that does not belong to her and we are here to take it back.”
Maya sneered at Baba. “Pretty words from one who has already lost the battle. I have given the lovely Zorica this child as a gift. You are too late.”
The giantess peered nearsightedly at Baba and Liam. “Baba Yaga, is that you? Why is this any concern of yours?” She pouted, her pendulous lower lip thrust out and sausage-shaped arms crossed over an immense sagging bosom. The ragged dress she wore looked as though it had started life as a circus tent. Twenty or thirty years ago. “I have already given up most of my power in exchange for this child to light up my lonely days. I am not inclined to give him back, to you or anyone else. Go away and leave me be.”
At this, poor Petey cried even harder, and Baba had to hold Liam’s wrist in an iron grip to keep him from going to the boy.
“I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mistress Zorica, but the queen has sworn to punish this woman, Maya, and anyone who aids her. She has caused great injury to the fabric of the Otherworld, and the queen is sorely vexed with her.”
The giantess blanched and covered her single eye with one meaty paw. “I only wanted a little company, Baba Yaga. It is lonely here all by myself. Tell the queen I meant no harm. Perhaps she’ll let me keep the child, yes?”
“No,” Baba said firmly. “You know quite well that no Otherworld denizen may keep a Human child against his will. This boy was stolen from a loving mother. He must be returned to her.”
Her voice softened. “I know your heart was set on keeping him, but perhaps we can find you a nice giant cat instead.” Or maybe something sturdier, like a small pachyderm. “Come with us to court and explain to the queen how Maya tricked you into giving up your power to her, and perhaps Her Majesty will be lenient, and forgive your crime. But it would be better for you to tell her yourself. We’re taking Maya there now; will you come with us and plead your case?”
The giantess wavered and Maya spat on the packed-dirt floor. “Oh for heaven’s sake, Zorica, you are four times her size. You can snap Baba Yaga like a twig, and have her pet Human for dessert. The queen need never know you have the child.” She put on a wheedling smile. “You know you want to keep him. Just kill Baba Yaga for me, and you won’t have to grow old all alone, pitiful and scorned in this ugly tumbledown hovel.”
Zorica scowled, her face as terrible as a summer storm. “What did you say about my house? Humph. You want Baba Yaga dead, kill her yourself.”
“See?” Baba whispered to Liam, whose hand still hovered hesitantly over his gun. “Rude. Not a good idea.” To Zorica, she said, “The queen has declared this woman’s life forfeit to the crown for her crimes. I am taking her in to court. It would be best for you not to interfere.” She bowed again, even deeper.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Maya said, pulling out a sword of her own that glowed a sickly poisonous green in the dim light of Zorica’s huge room. “I’ll kill the boy before I let you take him back. And then I will happily kill you too.” Rage distorted her exquisite face and turned her as ugly as the giantess standing above her.
Terrified, Petey started to wail in earnest, and Maya reached out the hand not holding the sword and delivered a vicious slap across his tear-stained face that sent his small body tumbling to the floor. “Shut up, you stupid little troll. Your noise hurts my ears.”
Baba felt a surge of fury rush up from the toes of her black leather boots and straight to her jewel-netted head. Flashes of lightning seemed to reverberate through the room as she leaped the space between her and the Rusalka, her silver sword in her hand without any conscious intention of drawing it. Since she couldn’t use magic here, and Maya could, Baba knew her only chance was to strike first and end this fight before the other woman could use her advantage.
Luckily, that would be a distinct pleasure.
“You. Do. Not. Hit. Children.” Each word came out with a slashing strike from her sword as she backed the other woman toward the rear of the cavernous house. “Never, ever, again.”