Page 81 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

“When they gave me their powers,” Leonid says, “they knew I might be able to block them all from using them.”

“When we failed to contain you, we knew it was a risk,” Katerina says. “But Baba Yaga’s the one who told us to stop you, so we’re calling her to help finish what we started.” She hurls something at the ground, and Gustav pulls out a blow torch.

Of course.

They’d be prepared for Leonid to take their powers. Contingency plans are just smart. Now Katerina’s chanting something, and then the stuff on the ground kind of half-explodes. Katerina and Gustav leap back.

All around us, thunderbolts strike.

The earth groans, almost like it did before, when Lechuza came to yell at us. Then there’s a strange moaning sound, like the pounding of sledgehammers against the foundation of a large building, and then a clap of thunder again, but this time without the lightning.

I blink.

And I cover my ears.

Not that it matters. The voice is booming inside my brain. “How dare you call me here of all places?”

I crouch down, releasing Leonid’s hand. He wraps himself around me, his arms making me feel both stronger and braver. “It’s fine,” he murmurs into my ear. “You’re going to be just fine.”

Redeemable. See? What kind of villain protects the girl? Unless the girl’s his only way to access his magic, I guess. Then, pretty much a hundred percent of them would.

Gah. See? Bad judgment.

When I finally poke my head around Leonid’s shoulder, I see her. From the voice, I expect a fearsome warrior the size of a mountain. Idon’texpect a tall, svelte woman in a very stylish ski-suit. She’s scowling something fierce, though. “Was it you?” She’s glaring at Leonid.

He shakes his head. “Not this time.”

“Who?” She swivels, and then she stops, glaring at Katerina. “It must have been you, then.” She scowls. “What do you want?”

“We have questions,” Katerina says.

“Do I look like a wiki page?” She grows precipitously in size—the woman I assume is Baba Yaga becomes larger, taller, and brighter. “You can’t simply summon me whenever you want, especially to someone else’s demesne.”

“About that,” I say. “We saw Lechuza, and she wasn’t very happy.”

Baba Yaga freezes. “You saw her?” She grimaces.

And shrinks.

“She doesn’t like being called Squannit, either,” Leonid says. “Just FYI.”

Baba Yaga rolls her eyes. “Does she think I chose the nameBaba Yaga? What a stupid name. We don’t get to choose the names that stick, but there’s power in a name spoken by a hundred thousand tongues.”

“We called you because we’re now connected,” Katerina says. “Gustav’s connected to this boy.” She points at Gabe. “And Leonid’s connected to her.” She points at me. “They can’t use their powers without touching.”

“And if we move too far away from each other,” I say, “Leonid passes out.”

Baba Yaga steps toward me slowly, her eyes studying me. “You’re different.” She glances around the group, pausing and studying Abigail and Gabe in the same way. “You’re born of magic.”

“So Lechuza told us,” I say. “She said we were the children of a witch and a horseman.”

Baba Yaga’s eyes widen. “She spoke of their union?”

I nod. “She tied us, according to her, to keep Leo from waking the horseman by using magic here. I guess Xolotl is near here, and close to waking.”

Baba Yaba trembles. “He’s. . .close to waking?” She inhales, her eyes wide.

“So she said,” I say. “But I’m not sure?—”

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