Magic and Mayhem: Any Witch Way (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page B

inside. It was what he would do. A basic glamour spell to make a larger home look smaller. There could be complications, of course, but nothing that couldn’t be handled by the people they were about to see. These witches and warlocks were crafty and sharp. If they lacked anything in the power department, they often made up for it in intelligence.
    “What did we do to earn a visit from the Boguman himself?” one of the men said, by way of greeting. “We’ve kids here with us, but none I know who’ve earned a visit of this magnitude.”
    Gideon laughed. They seemed open to him. Better to try to befriend them and see what he could find out. “Well, now little Aurel is pushing the limits a bit lately, but he isn’t the reason for my visit. Yet.”
    The woman smiled, and her beautiful Komolvo features took on a light that shone from within. “That Aurel is a tough one. You might have a hard time getting through to him.” This particular carnival was made up of primarily Komolvo witches and warlocks, who likely hadn’t known anything other than the nomadic way of life. Outsiders were sometimes welcomed into the group over the years, and eventually accepted as family, but for the most part, the Komolvo line and features were evident in the faces of nearly every one of them.
    The third man had yet to speak, and was attempting to look the part of the tough leader who wouldn’t deign to speak to outsiders, but Gideon wasn’t fooled. The woman was truly the one in charge. This was a matriarchal clan, and no one would accept or reject him without her say-so.
    Gideon spoke to her now. “I’m not here on business. In fact, call me Gideon,” he said, then turned to Gwen. “This is Gwen.”
    “Is she now?” the woman said, watching Gwen with eyes that saw too much. “Seems I’ve known her all my life.”
    No one said anything for an uncomfortable moment. But the woman was the one to break the silence. “A witch with no magic.” She tilted her head. “No, that isn’t quite right, is it? You have all of the magic in the world, yet none of your own.”
    Gideon cleared his throat and moved closer to Gwen. It hadn’t occurred to him how defenseless Gwen could be at times. She wasn’t able to use the magic she held. She couldn’t fight back if anyone attacked her.
    “I’m Luca,” said the first man, “and this is Harmen and Floarea.” They all shook hands, and when Harmen continued to remain silent, Gideon wondered if he’d been incorrect in his first impression. Perhaps the man wasn’t trying to act tough. Maybe he couldn’t speak. It would be odd for a warlock given the health of most of their race, but perhaps a curse had left him mute.
    There was no explicit invitation, but the three turned and walked toward the encampment, and didn’t object when Gideon and Gwen followed. He supposed that was all the invitation they’d get.
    “How long will you all be staying in town?” Gideon asked after they’d met several others. A few children ran and hid when they spotted Gideon. It always puzzled him a bit that children could see who he was even when he was in warlock form. He was quite handsome in that form. There really wasn’t any need to run, but they always seemed to sense the Boguman and look for a place to hide. Except Aurel, he noticed. The boy really would need a visit soon. He simply jutted his chest out at the sight of Gideon and kept right on pulling the pigtails of one of the little girls.
    Luca shrugged. “A few weeks. Assjacket affords us a little rest from having to hide who we are around the humans who attend the carnival. It’s a much-needed break every year. I’m sure you understand.”
    “I do,” said Gideon, suddenly aware that he had felt some relief at not having to be the Boguman twenty-four-seven the past day. Despite the tension that continued to dominate every interaction with Gwen, he felt more at ease here than he had in a good long time.
    “Will you join us this evening for