Read Online A Question of Magic by E. D. Baker - Free Book Online

you are the right man.”
    It was only after the doctor had gone, riding away in his rattling, jostling carriage, that she realized he hadn’t brought a gift.
He probably thought that helping Dielle’s mother was enough
, she thought, and decided that it was.
    That very night another man came to see her, bringing a bottle of wine as his gift. A partially shuttered lantern swung wildly in his hand, the light jerking across the trees, the ground, and the sky as he stumbled and cursed.
    Serafina had just gone to bed when she saw the erratic light through her window, but she didn’t get up until she heard the person at the gate, trying to force it open. She was putting on her everyday gown again when she heard Boris yell, “Go away! Come back to see her when you’re sober!”
    â€œI brought her stupid gift and my question. I have as much right as anyone to hear her answer! Get the ugly old bat out here so I can ask my question, or I’ll smash you to bits!” the man shouted.
    Angry, Serafina threw the door open and stepped outside. “What is it that you have to ask in the middle of the night?”
    The man raised his lantern until its light fell on her face, making her blink and look away. He didn’t seem to notice that she was neither old nor ugly. “Invite mein first,” he said, waving the half-empty bottle of wine in the air.
    â€œI will not,” she told him. “Ask your question so you can be on your way.”
    Taking a long swig from the bottle, the man staggered against the gate, making it creak alarmingly. “What I want to know is this,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “My wife just gave birth to a boy with red hair. No one in my family has red hair. Is the boy mine?”
    The last thing Serafina wanted to do was talk to this man, but there was no stopping the Baba Yaga voice. “No,” she said, regretting the words she could not stop. “He is the son of the miller, who would be a better father than you ever will.”
    The man’s voice drowned out her last words as he cursed at the top of his lungs. Flinging the nearly empty bottle at the door, he shouted, “Here’s your blasted gift! You and your questions! I wish I’d never asked you! You shouldn’t be allowed to answer questions like that! Maybe I should come in there and make sure you can never talk again! Open this blasted gate, and I’ll—”
    Serafina stepped back into her house and slammed the door. She felt something bump into her legs and glanced down to see Maks, his eyes glittering in the moonlightthat came through the window. “Tell the cottage to go,” said the cat.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” she asked over the roar of the man’s voice.
    â€œTell the cottage to go
now
!” Maks shouted as the skulls screamed at the man.
    â€œBut Boris—”
    â€œWill be fine if you do this!” said the cat. “Just say, ‘Chicken hut, chicken hut, take me away,’ and it will.”
    â€œAll right! I …” Serafina took a deep breath, then said in a rush of words, “Chicken hut, chicken hut, take me away!”
    The cottage vibrated like a dog shaking itself after a bath. Beams creaked and floorboards groaned as the structure lurched to one side, then the other. Serafina grabbed hold of the back of a chair and held on. The cottage rose abruptly, and the man’s shouted curses became screams of terror. With a loud
thwack
the door flew open, allowing the stream of bones and skulls to rush through the doorway and down into their trunk. When the last bone had clattered in and the trunk lid had closed itself, the door slammed shut and the cottage began its swaying walk. Although the furniture didn’t move, small objects did. The book was the only thing on the table that didn’t budge. Everything else slid offthe side and fell to the floor. A cup shattered,