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Baba curved her lips into a wicked smile. “Well done, Kazimir.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Well done?”
Then, Baba stepped around me and headed over to Delphine. “You are not the only one that can play chess, little one.”
“Little one.” Delphine mocked. “I know what you are, and you don’t scare me.”
“And I know what you want to do.” Baba pointed at her. “No matter how compassionate your purpose is, you cannot move the Lion and Mouse around like pieces on a chess board.”
Delphine’s men stepped forward.
She held her hand in the air.
They moved back into position.
Baba continued not even caring that the men had intended to harm her. “As you already saw with Maxwell, you move the lion to one space and the whole board will crack.”
Delphine’s small frame shook with anger.
“I did not see that happening to Maxwell.” Baba shook her head. “Did you see it?”
“Of course I did not—”
“The Lion and Mouse are not pieces. They are monsters. Erratic. Unpredictable. If you want them to help you create a better world, then there is only one thing you must do.”
Delphine crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell them what I want.”
“No. Close, but not exactly.” Baba lowered, placed her hand into the circle, and plucked a snake from the floor. Its scales shimmered in the room’s dim light as it coiled around her arm.
Delphine’s men tried to step forward again.
She sneered and held her hand up. “Step back. There’s nothing you can do with this one anyway.”
“That is right, boys.” Baba glared at them. “Stay over there.”
I raised my eyebrows.
Delphine rolled her eyes. “What advice do you have?”
“You never tell them both. You simply tell the Mouse everything. Share it all. And then she will convince the Lion.” Baba held up the snake, its ribbons of emerald and sapphire sparkling under the flickering chandelier light.
Delphine narrowed her eyes, yet I noticed that lip shiver again.
Whatever was going on. . .the fact that Baba was messing with that snake surely put Delphine on edge.
Baba studied the snake. “By the way. . .thank you for staying out of Paolo’s dreams. I appreciate that.”
With that, Baba dropped the snake back into the circle.
Fast, it slithered away to the other side of the circle as if terrified.
Delphine spoke, “When I was a little one, I read this Russian story about Baba Yaga. She lived in a hut that stood on chicken legs, deep in the forest.”
Baba turned to her. “She did.”
“She was an old woman with iron teeth. Sometimes, she was menacing. Other times, she offered guidance. Regardless, she was very mysterious, powerful, and deeply connected to the natural and supernatural world.”
Baba shrugged. “It is good you have read up on Slavic folklore.”
