A Question of Magic by E. D. Baker Page B

mother is very sick. She’s getting worse every day. My father died when I was a baby, so it’s just the two of us. I don’t know what I’d do if …” Dielle swallowed hard and wiped her eyes with her knuckles. “What can I do to help my mother get better?”
    â€œGo to see Doctor Tesar in Stary Smokevec,” Serafina said in the voice that wasn’t quite hers. “He knows of something that will help your mother live longer and in less pain. The doctor will ask for more gold than can be found in your entire village. Tell him that you don’t have the gold, but that I sent you to him. Tell him I said that if he helps your mother, I will answer his question. If he does not, I will leave and he will never get the chance.”
    Dielle frowned in concentration. “I’ll go today,” she said. “Do you know where Stary Smokevec is?”
    Serafina shook her head. “No, I don’t. Sorry,” she said in her own voice.
    â€œOh, right. That was my second question.” Dielle stood with a sigh. “Thank you. Now I know what to do. I just have to find out how to get there.”
    Serafina got to her feet and crossed to her cupboard. “Here,” she said, taking a few coins from her own supply. “You can use this to pay your way.”
    The girl smiled shyly as she took the coins. “Thank you!”
    â€œI’m glad I could help,” Serafina said, and watched as the girl opened the door and hurried to the gate.

    It was less than a week later that Dielle was back, her footsteps lighter and her news good. The doctor had come to see her mother and given her a bottle of medicine that already seemed to be working. Dielle couldn’t thank Serafina enough and brought her another bouquet of flowers.
    Only two days after that, a fancy carriage that was ill-suited to traveling the narrow, uneven path rolled to a stop in front of Serafina’s cottage. Serafina was outside when the carriage arrived. She watched as a footman jumped down and opened the door for a plump man wearing gold-colored leggings and a cape trimmed with fur. The man spoke to his coachman for a moment before turning to the cottage. He was halfway to the door when he noticed Serafina. Tilting his head back, he looked down his nose at her, taking in her poorly fitting gown.
    â€œYou may tell Baba Yaga that Doctor Tesar is here,” he said, then turned away to examine the cottage.
    Serafina’s lips twisted in a wry smile as she strolled inside. She took her time brushing her hair and straightening her clothes before going to the door. “You may come in,” she told the doctor, then turned her back on him and took her seat at the table, leaving him to shutthe door. Not liking his manner, she saw no reason to be polite.
    The doctor strode into the cottage and looked around, obviously expecting someone else to be there. He seemed surprised when he found that Serafina was alone.
    â€œ
I’m
Baba Yaga,” she said. “What is your question?”
    Ever since Dielle came to tell her about her mother’s improving health, Serafina had been looking forward to the doctor’s visit. She had convinced herself that a dedicated doctor would ask her something important, like how to cure a wasting sickness or repair a damaged heart, so she wasn’t prepared when the doctor said, “My father hid all his gold shortly before he died. Where did he put it?”
    It was the kind of question that she had been asked many times and had answered without thinking, only now as she answered she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
    â€œHe didn’t hide it,” she replied in her Baba Yaga voice. “He invested it in the cargo on a sailing ship. He died before the ship returned. Go see Captain Dolinski docked at Drapno Bay and take proof that you are your father’s son. The captain has your father’s money and will give it to you once he knows that