Hilda - The Challenge

by Paul Kater

  "Holy Bejeebus... how big is that thing?"

  "No one knows. They tried to measure it, but it defies measurement. It changes itself, modifies itself." Hilda stared at the colossus. "Last time I was here, this wall was wider, and the left part was higher."

  "Can we get closer?", William asked.

  "Yes. We can go in there also. It is not charged for a challenge, so it is relatively safe."

  "Uhm, 'relatively' safe?" William did not like the background sound in that one word.

  "Yes. The labyrinth is considered a living entity and sometimes it has a temper. It doesn't happen often that someone dies in there, or gets wounded though. Not when it is at peace like this." Hilda, for some strange reason, felt less worried and scared as she was explaining this to William. It diverted her mind from her emotions and that helped in making the place less eerie.

  Taking on the role of tour-guide, Hilda started moving forward.

  William was right there with her. He remembered how she had tried to drink herself into a stupor when they had first discussed this place, so his admiration for her grew in leaps, seeing how she was doing now.

  As they moved around the outer wall, they passed by the odd petrified tree they had also seen in the mirror, in the safety of Hilda's living room. It was much larger than William had thought. He directed his broom to fly over the tree, and estimated the top to be about seventy yards high. The grey branches and the immense grey trunk of the tree seemed to depict death if ever he had seen an image for it. It felt depressing, and suddenly he had an enormous desire to leave this place and speed back to the lush and gentle environments in the kingdom of king Walt. He joined Hilda again, instead.

  "Spooky, isn't it?" She had picked up his urge to run away.

  "Eerie is not even coming close, sweetheart," William said, avoiding to look back to the immense tree.

  At a quicker pace they circumvented the gigantic place. Then Hilda led them to a specific place. From a distance they saw what looked like a small gate that would allow entrance to the labyrinth. They touched down close to it, and from that viewpoint the small gate was an impressive double-door gateway, twenty yards high, twenty yards wide. The doors were made of a dark metal. There was large grey symbols on them, William recognised them as magical symbols. He had seen them in some of Hilda's books. Their meaning had escaped him.

  "Well... welcome to Gurthreyn, William." Hilda's voice was flat. She too would rather pack up and leave, but they were here to inspect the place. They had not flown for so long, crossing many kingdoms and a queendom, to return home without doing what they had come for.

  They put their brooms against the wall. Hilda explained: "We can't take them in here. Won't get through the doors. Which stinks. But that's how it is."

  They stared at the huge doors for a while longer. Then Hilda took her wand and touched one of the massive metal contraptions. In utter silence the door swung open. Had it made noise, creaking and screaming, it would not have been so bad. The silence in which it happened made the feeling of ultimate discomfort only larger, more severe.

  William and Hilda stepped through the opening. There was a feeling around as if the air had gotten thicker, as if it had taken on the quality of lead in how easy it was to walk through it.

  "Use magic to get through it," Hilda warned William. Using magic helped. Once they had entered the main corridor along the outer wall, William faced a tremendous fright. He looked up at the wall and that did not want to acknowledge to his brain that it ended somewhere. The rough grey structure seemed to go on forever, even stab through the grey clouds in the sky.

  Then he looked at Hilda. "I am sorry if ever I gave you the idea that this is not so bad, Hilda. This -is- bad. We've been in here just a minute or so and it already scares the jeebus out of me."

  "Don't worry about that, William. Just keep yourself together." Hilda had sensed how he was feeling inside, and that worried her more than his doubting her. He had not known, and that was understandable. Nothing than being in this place would prepare someone for the feeling. She took his hand, as much for his peace of mind as her own. Being together and physically feeling that made the labyrinth less threatening.

  "Do you want to walk in here for a while?" Hilda squeezed his hand. "Nothing can happen now, please remember that."

  He gently squeezed back. "I know. Because you are with me."

  "No. Because you are with me," Hilda countered.

  William turned to the witch. "No way. You are here, you have been here before, and that makes it better for me."

  She stared at him. "Come on, don't make jokes, okay?"

  "I am not making jokes, Hilda."

  "Hmmf. Don't count on me being the hero, okay? I am just as scared here as you are."

  William looked at her again and then pulled her into a hug. "I guess we're both not too thrilled about this place then."

  Hilda nodded inside his hug, slipping her arms around him. "I'm glad you can hold me, William."

  They just stood there for a while, but somehow it made a world of difference. Once they let go, they locked hands and fingers and walked along the endless wall. For some reason they both knew deep inside, the environment was less frightening.

  The couple reached an opening in the wall to their left. The outer wall, on their right side, was as rough and grey as ever. They looked into the corridor that lay on the left side. It seemed to end after a mere thirty yards, but as they were watching, the back of the corridor came towards them. This did not happen in silence. A loud grinding and croaking sound accompanied the huge mass of stone and rock on its journey forward. The wall stopped just three yards from them.

  The sound of the wall moving was still ringing in their ears as Hilda and William walked on. William had the feeling that he now understood how an ant would feel in a shoebox. Or perhaps in a box of a more impressive size.

  As they walked on again, William noticed that the floor under his shoes was not straight and even, even if it looked like it. It felt as if he was walking on pebbles. When he mentioned that to Hilda, she frowned.

  "The floor is flat and stable, William. Is there something wrong with your shoes?"

  They checked, but his shoes were in perfect condition. And yet, walking felt to him as if he was moving over something that was next door to a slippery surface. Hilda didn't understand it, and even when she tried to adjust the feeling for him by adding to his magic, it did not make a difference.

  "Maybe you are affected in a different way because you are not from here, William. We could go back and fetch the brooms. Perhaps that is easier."

  "Uhm, you know, when we go back then it is to go away from here, Hilda. This place is getting under my skin in entirely the wrong way. As long as we're on the move, I'm fine, but...phew..." He let out a sigh that told the rest.

  Hilda nodded. "That's okay. I think we're doing well, though. It was a good idea to come here. Maybe...", she swallowed hard and made sure she was willing to say what she was about to say, "maybe we should come back here a few more times before the challenge."

  William nodded. "Yes. Perhaps that helps to make the place feel less daunting. That would be a good thing, and really, I am sure that Lamador does that also. If he can go in here and not feel affected just like that, then he is really someone to be extremely scared of."

  Hilda wrapped her arm around his and held herself close to William. "He is anyway, William."

  "But we have the scrolls about the magician who designed this place," he smiled, showing more confidence than was inside him. Hilda knew that also, but said nothing.

  They had been standing still. They did not know if that was the reason, but suddenly they both felt that it was time to leave. Not really in a hurry but definitely motivated to get out of the looming corridor, they made their way back to the giant double doors. Without waiting or stopping they grabbed their brooms, mounted them and lifted off. As they sped up, they did not look back. Without anyone seeing it, the large door slowly and in silen
ce closed itself.

  38. Solo rounds

  The moment they saw that the colours of the landscape were changing, they both felt less pressured. Even as there were only dull brown and yellow streaks in the grey, it was a sign they were leaving the oppressive area of the labyrinth. They passed through the magical barrier, which again left them with a sickening feeling, but that was no more a problem. Things could only get better again from there on, and once they had reached the point where they felt safe and able to really breathe deeply, Hilda suggested they'd land and eat the food they had brought along.

  The packs from their brooms also held simple fold-up chairs and table that William had conjured up before they left, these to Hilda's surprise.

  The spot they were in was quite the desert, but the air was clear and not pregnant with daunting magic. The chairs and the little table came in handy, the food and water (which was quickly transformed into tea) tasted fantastic.

  Hilda had even magicked up a little fire. "I know it looks a bit silly, but I like to have a fire going already," she had grinned as William was wondering why on Earth she would do that. "Also, in the desert, I know that, it gets cold very quickly."

  "Well, that is something we share then, in my old world that is the same thing. But only when the sun is setting."

  Hilda nodded. "Same here."

  It was only then that William looked around and noticed that the sun was already well on its way to the rim of the Earth. Only an hour at best before it would disappear. "HolyBejeebus," he muttered. "Where did time go?"

  Hilda, tossing some more wood on the fire, said: "When you're inside the labyrinth you never know what happens outside. Today time decided to make a run for it. We can't possibly fly all the way back home now."

  "Okay... so we are sleeping here. In the desert." William bit his sandwich and looked at the surroundings. There was a lot of nothing.

  "Yes. Isn't that cute?" Hilda poured them some more tea, and then whipped up her wand. "Now, let's see..." She made some moves with her wand that were too fast for William to trace. It reminded him of a Zorro movie he had once seen. The difference was that Zorro just left a rough Z in clothing and Hilda's action made a funny little tent appear. There were no lines to hold it up, no visible sticks or poles that held up the canvas of the tent, but hey, who needs those things when you pack magic?

  "Now that is convenient," William said. "Not sure if it is large enough for two people, though."

  Hilda grinned, blue sparkles in her eyes. "I am sure we can work something out, sweet man."

  When night fell, they worked something out.

  The next morning, the tent had collapsed on them. Hilda and William had been exerting their energy and focus on things other than keeping their sleeping space intact, so they had to laugh about it when they woke up, and getting the tent back in shape was simple.

  They didn't hurry getting up, so when they finally were on their way home, a good chunk of the morning was already behind them. The air was still fresh, and as they were going in the right direction their moods were a lot better and lighter than the day before, when they were heading towards the labyrinth ofGurthreyn.

  They crossed over the queendom of Raghuna and finally made it to the kingdom of Walt again. From there to the house in the forest seemed a mere jump.

  "Oh, William!", Hilda cried out all of a sudden.

  "What's up?"

  "I have a most shiny idea!" Hilda smiled from ear to ear. "When we come home, I am going to take a long hot bath, and you are going to fly the rounds! Alone! How does that sound?"

  "You are serious about this, aren't you?", William asked.

  "Of course! And you can take as long as you want, doing the rounds. It will give me time to become all warm and pink and wrinkly."

  William grinned at the thought. "You got yourself a deal. I want to see that when I come back."

  Hilda let out her famous shrieking laughter, scaring some farmers beneath them.

  The wizard-to-be felt amazing however. The fact that Hilda entrusted him with doing the rounds meant something. "I will change into my blue best though, before I leave again," he said. "People know that by now, I think that is a good thing to keep up for now."

  Hilda nodded. "Good thinking. They'll know it is you that way. I can't wait to get home..."

  The last leg of the journey was a short one, and they were glad to get off the brooms. Hilda and William together took care of the luggage they had stashed onto the broomsticks. William made the most of his time by stretching himself as much as he could before he was off again.

  Hilda had dashed off to the hot tub when he had changed his clothes.

  "Hey, witch," he said, knocking on the door, "behave, okay, while I'm gone."

  "I will! And William?"

  He opened the door, finding Hilda surrounded by purple bubbles and steam from the hot water. "Yes, sweetie?"

  "I think we did well back there. And I love you. For doing the rounds after this long ride home."

  "Only for that?" William faked a moue.

  "Of course! Now get going or you have to make dinner too!" She splashed a handful of pink water at him, that he easily warded off magically and threw back at her.

  Grinning, William walked down the stairs, while he heard Hilda laugh in her tub.

  As the man in blue walked out the door, Hilda relaxed her knees. The yellow toy dragon she had been holding out of sight for William popped up, covered in purple bubbles. She picked it up. "Ah, there you are. Naughty dragon, hiding where you did!"

  She closed her eyes and let the feeling of William in through the link. Doing it that way, she was very aware of him. A smile appeared on her face. "He's proud, my sweet man," she told the dragon without looking at it. "He is so proud that he is allowed to fly alone now."

  His exhilaration when he took off came through to her also, and her smile deepened. "I'm proud of you too, William," she whispered.

  William had for himself decided where he would go. He was able to find the castle and the village without a problem, as those were the fixed stops on the rounds. He also wanted to visit Mirror Lake once more, the strange silver lake that never seemed disturbed. It had made a profound impression on him, and the memories of the silly splashing were too good not to follow up again.

  His approach of the castle was not as bold as Hilda would have done. Not as fast either. He did make the complicated slalom through the forest of towers though and was thrilled that he managed that flawlessly. There was no one in the garden or near the fountain. Of course, he was later than usual, so the king was probably busy with kingly affairs.

  Still, William hovered near the top of the fountain, just for the thrill of it, challenging the fates on his own. He let his mind drift, deciding he would entirely trust the magic in and around him to make him respond.

  Hilda sat upright in her bathtub, with baited breath and sparkling eyes.

  Something happened. The door of the castle moved. William knew. His magical instinct had expanded and grown. As the first inches of water were coming up from the highest point of the fountain, his broom was already moving upwards. The water touched the end of the broomstick, lapped at the tip of his cloak, but he was up and away, out of the reach of the water. He laughed. And he let his magic enhance his laughter, making it boom over the area. It was so loud that he was almost shocked by it himself.

  "Squeeeee!", yelled Hilda. She threw the dragon in the air. For a moment it wore something blue.

  William knew he had outrun the water and spiraled down to the king who had run out and was gazing upwards.

  "Wizard William," he said, "where is Grimhilda?"

  William dropped his hood back, using magic. "The witch had other things to do, so she asked me to make sure that things are well. Are things well, king Walt?"

  Walt grinned and nodded. "Things are well, William. More than well, as I almost had you!"

  "That you did, king," William admitted. "You are improving every time."

&nbs
p; "One day, William, one day I will have both of you, dripping wet!" Walt's face showed his joy with the mere thought of it.

  "We will celebrate that day, king Walt. And for now, I wish you a good day." William put the hood over his head and flew his broom off, at the highest speed he dared. Not as fast as Hilda could do, but still considerable for someone who was in training for about a month.

  "He loved that," Hilda told the dragon and kissed it on its snout. Then she lay back in the water, heated it up again and waited.

  William felt good. The first stop had gone well, very well. His adrenalin level had risen on the ride straight up from the fountain chase, and it refused to come down. With wide swoops, as if he was testing the handling of a car, he made his way to the village, keeping an eye on the area in case there was something that required attention, or even intervention. Nothing of the kind was there though, so he reached the village that lay calm and peaceful in the mild afternoon sun. He hovered over the market square for a while, remembering the first action he had participated in while Hilda had wielded her magic with the vegetable thieves. The smile on his face was hidden from the people walking by beneath him.

  "Oh, he still remembers that," Hilda said to the dragon. "I didn't know it made him feel so good about knowing me. Do you feel good about knowing me too? Hmm?"

  William set course to the more busy streets in the village, where lots of people were now engaged in their shopping and selling. He thought for a moment about floating through one of the streets so people could see him, but he was not certain if that was a good idea at this point.

  "Do it, William, do it," Hilda whispered, hoping she could encourage him through the link, even if he did not sense her through it. "Just go to the street, show yourself."

  William slowly glided downwards, dropping into a calm spot in the street. What had given him the push, he didn't know. He did enjoy having done it, slowly flying through the street on his broom. He looked left and right, taking in the sights of the people and the stores, the goods in the stalls, the smells and the sounds. People looked at him and nodded, greeted him and made sure he could pass through everywhere.