Free Magic and Mayhem: How To Date A Dragon (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Baba Yaga Saga Book 2) by Donna McDonald Page B

it, Jezibaba winced and had to will herself not to look away. Her lead warlock had been covering his face with the hood of his cloak for the last thirty years. Nathaniel was mortal, and had lived long even for a magical. Now she knew he’d been doing everyone a favor by hiding his face.
    “I know precisely the damage time has done to me, but I did not call you to learn your secrets about remaining young. What I want is for you to honor your favor to me by training two young witches to work with their innate magic. You must agree to my request before I will release you from the honoris circle you allowed between us.”
    “And what if I don’t agree to train them, boy? Do ya think to kill me with my own magic after all these years? Ya missed yer chance long ago if that’s the case.”
    Nathaniel shook his head. “No. It rather pleases me to see you well because saving you is something I’m proud of having done in my life. But I will not hesitate to leave your fate in the hands of those on whom you swore when you gifted me the stone, Zenos. So I need your word that you will do as I ask.”
    Zenos snorted. “It figures ya would be the one to hold me to my single moment of weakness. Ya know how I felt about what ya did then and I guess I haven’t changed my bloody mind about it. So who are these fecking witches I’m to fecking train? Are they the pathetic offspring of the female cowering behind yer foolish ass?”
    “No,” Jezibaba said, stepping to Nathaniel’s side. “And I’m not cowering. I was waiting patiently, which isn’t one of my better traits, so you’d best mind your tongue around me, Mage. The two young witches have been chosen by the Goddess Morgana to eventually replace me in my service to her. They are not your average magicals. They require a unique teacher.”
    “ Morgana? They belong to Morgana ? I wouldn’t spit on her if she was on fire. That Goddess steals and lies.”
    She and Nathaniel both flinched as the Mage turned his head and spat in the dirt beside him. They knew he risked death by violating a sacred circle. If not Morgana, what deity did the mage use to swear on the stone? Nathaniel said Zenos hated all the gods and goddesses.
    “Carol and Hildy just recently dedicated themselves to following her. To teach them, you will have to accept the one they serve… at least enough not to lead them astray.”
    After at least thirty seconds of silence while he considered her order, Zenos grunted. She wanted to laugh, but didn’t think it was a good idea, at least until he was locked into an agreement with them.
    “Yer giving my instincts a real workout. Do I know ya, witch? Ya look very familiar. Have ya shared my bed in the last century or so? I think I would have remembered a wench with hair nearly the color of my own, but I can’t bring ya to mind.”
    Jezibaba snorted. “No. We’ve never met… nor shared anything. You kept refusing to meet me in person.”
    Zenos made a face and nodded sadly. “Well, ya look like someone I know.”
    “Would that someone be the Jezibaba perhaps?” Jezibaba asked dryly, crossing her arms.
    Zenos laughed. “No… not her. I know that crazy, egotistical witch chooses to serve Morgana The Red. Such a foolish woman. I tried to help her once, but she was too far gone by the time I heard about her. Damn shame.”
    “Or she had too much pride to abandon the people she’d sworn to protect. Some people have real honor… and a lot more than can be stored in a small stone.”
    “ Honor? What does a hot tempered lass like ya know about honor? My honor is what landed me in this mess, didn’t it?” Zenos smacked his head. “Oh now I’m hearing the truth in yer tone. Can’t believe I’m listening to that same old song and dance about loyalty to the Goddess, as if Morgana wasn’t the manipulating bitch she is. Yer her favorite lackey in the flesh, aren’t ya?”
    “Watch your tongue, Mage. I have killed men for far less disrespect to the