Hilda - The Challenge

by Paul Kater

  "And that would be?", William asked, very interested in any way to lift the boredom.

  Hilda popped out her wand. "You too," she said and explained what she wanted to do.

  With the both of them holding their wands, they joined forces and sent out a magical umbrella that reached over all the men and carriages in their caravan. As soon as it was in place, the rain was simply diverted to fall to the sides of the path they were travelling over. It did not take long until Captain Lambert pulled up his horse next to the carriage with the valuable assets, and thanked them for shielding them from the rain.

  "It is most unpleasant to ride in," he said, "so thank you, on behalf of the men!"

  Hilda grinned. "You're welcome. It gives us something to do."

  But the rain left, and the need for an umbrella left along with it, so it was back to sitting and riding.

  Hilda leaned out the window and shouted for Captain Lambert, who came riding up to them quickly.

  "Is something wrong, honourable witch?", he asked, concern ringing in his voice.

  "There certainly is. You are outside in the open air, and we are stuck in this shaking box. I don't want to be in here, so I'll strike you a deal. You find a few men on horseback that want to sit here for a while and we'll ride the horses for that time."

  "Oh. Uhm." Captain Lambert was quite unprepared for that request. The king had not given him any orders for situations like this one.

  "I am going to stop this carriage otherwise," said Hilda. Her tone made it clear that she was very serious, and Captain Lambert was picking up on that expertly.

  "I'll see what I can do for you, honourable witch," he promised and rode off to talk to some of the men. It did not take him long to find two men who wanted to hand over the reins of their horses to the magical people.

  The convoy came to a halt, to enable the switch of passengers and riders. As Hilda and William got out of the carriage, the wizard whispered: "Nice plan, but I have never sat on a horse before."

  "Don't worry. It is just like flying a broom," said Hilda. Blue sparkles were in her eyes and William knew that mischief was not far. He saw how Hilda swooped herself on the horse, the way she got on a broom. Only difference was that the horse was a bit higher. He followed her example and miraculously ended up on top of the horse.

  Hilda smiled widely and as the caravan started to move again, the two horses walked along out of habit. The pace was not fast as the carriages held everyone back.

  Hilda looked for Captain Lambert, who was very close to them, to be sure things were fine. "Captain Lambert... is it okay with you if William and I go up and ahead a bit, to look around?"

  "Of course not, honourable witch. Peter and I will accompany you," the captain said.

  "That is very kind of you, Captain," Hilda said with her sweetest voice, "you can come with us as far as you can, of course."

  Captain Lambert warned Peter who was not far behind him, and the two soldiers rode up next to Hilda and William. "Whenever you are ready."

  54. Pegasus

  Hilda was ready. William was a few moments later, as he had already understood what the wicked witch had in mind. Her mentioning that it would be "just like flying a broom" had said enough.

  The witch, more used to riding a horse than William, made hers go faster. William's horse followed, as did the two soldiers. Then Hilda's shrieking laughter made the soldiers cringe and William grin. He sensed how she wielded her magic, her wand in her hand. He flipped up his own wand and cast a spell around the horse he was hovering over, and then two of the four riders calmly lifted off into the skies.

  The two soldiers saw it happen and at first they did not really understand what they were seeing. Once the brutal fact had registered with them, they both started shouting that the two magical honourables should get down again for their own good and safety.

  Hilda laughed, as did William. They felt good being out of the cart and in the air, wind in their faces and hair. "We'll be back again, don't worry," Hilda yelled down at Captain Lambert. "Just proceed, we'll catch up with you!"

  Captain Lambert and Peter pulled the reins, stopping their horses. The entire caravan behind them came to a halt also as everyone peered at the two shapes on horseback, that flew higher and higher.

  "What do we do, Captain?", a few men asked.

  "You heard her," their leader sighed, "we'll proceed. And hope and pray that they won't get shot down. And Peter, next time I offer to escort a witch or wizard or so, kick me where it really hurts, okay?"

  "My pleasure, sir," grinned Peter. He looked back and waved his hand. "Come on, gang, onwards. They'll come back."

  With rattling noises, the small group started moving again.

  In the air, Hilda and William flew side by side. Their horses were probably amazed by the difference in level, but they did not comment. They seemed to enjoy their sudden freedom and ran like mad trying to go even faster. To no avail.

  "Ooooh, this is good," Hilda cried out, "I was going insane there. Maybe we should go ahead a bit more and- oh crap."

  The ground crews that kept watch for unannounced flying visitors were awake and they had seen the two riders in the sky. As a result, a small tree in the shape of an arrow was fired at them. As they were high up and still far away, it missed by several hundred feet, but still the warning was clear.

  "Maybe we should turn back and see- crappedy crap."

  There were three more arrows coming their way, and this time the distance to them was worrisome.

  "We'll go down and ride back to the carriage," William said. Hilda nodded, and they both dropped their horses to the cobblestone road.

  "Such a shame," Hilda pouted, "we were having such fun. And we weren't even bothering anyone."

  William laughed, leaned over and kissed Hilda on the cheek. "When you're right, you're right."

  Her eyes flashed blue. "Am I ever not right?"

  "Yeah, right," said William.

  Before Hilda could question him on that, the soldiers had caught up with them.

  "Honourable witch and wizard," said the captain, visibly agitated, "would you please not do that again?"

  "You, Captain, are no fun. A spoilsport." Hilda hopped off the horse and handed it back to the original rider who had emerged from their carriage.

  William let the other rider take over the horse he had been flying and grinned at Captain Lambert. "Can't help it," he said with a wink. Then he grabbed Hilda, threw her over his shoulder and with her screaming at him he walked to the carriage. The soldiers did not dare to laugh, afraid of any consequences.

  "Was I convincing?", Hilda asked as they were in motion again. She grinned. "That was a bit of a surprise for me, you carrying me off, so some of the screaming was real."

  "You did well, little witch." William hugged her. They had conjured some wine and toasted to each other. The trip out on horseback had been a good one. It would be their last one, they knew, so they were going to keep the memory.

  They arrived at the border to king Herald's land, crossed it without problems and proceeded inland a while, until they reached a road station just past the town of Frad where they had been before, the town with the strange open wall that everyone had to walk through.

  The resting place was off the main road a bit, hidden in a forgotten patch of woods. The travelling group was happy about that, as the view of nothing but rock was very mind-numbing. After dinner, where they all sat together again, the guards were again talking about the deal with the bedroom door. Whether or not they would be allowed to sit on a chair in front of it, as all night standing got them sore legs. Captain Lambert agreed on the chair, so that was easily done.

  William and Hilda had been plotting though, and retreated to their room quite early. They waited until things in the corridor had calmed down and their guard would be halfway asleep, or at least on his nodding way over there.

  "I think he's gone," said Hilda who was listening at the door, a smile on her face.

  Will
iam nodded and, using his wand, turned their two chairs in two brooms. "Looks good like this?"

  "Very nice, will do for an evening," Hilda said as she picked up one of the brooms and balanced it on her hand. William took the other as Hilda opened the window. They were on the upper floor. Not high, but high enough to break a neck when falling down.

  They mounted their brooms and lifted off, first in the room to get a feel for their new rides, then they shot out of the window, making the thin curtains flap for a while.

  At least there were no inhibitions, or trees shot at them here. They could fly and be free for a while, alone without the ever-present soldiers. As darkness had unfolded itself over the land, they enjoyed their solitude even more. The light of the half moon lit enough of the area for them to see where they were. They raced over the stone plains, sprayed water around as they flew mere inches over the surface of a lake.

  After a good deal of unleashing their energy in flight, they lay together, on an elevated rocky platform overlooking a sea of boulders that had probably come down from a nearby slope long ago.

  "I feel alive again, William," said Hilda, her hand over his.

  "So do I. This is what we have to do."

  "It is what we're born for," Hilda agreed. It made William smile, hearing how naturally she included him in the experience, the idea. "Too bad we have to go back to the resting place, before they miss us."

  William sat up and looked at her. "We can stay here for the night. Wake up early and fly back. No one is going to get the idea in their head to wake up a witch in the middle of the night, right?"

  "Unless there is an emergency," Hilda said, nodded.

  "And usually you create the emergency, so they should be all fine," William grinned.

  "You flatterer," grinned Hilda, pulling his sleeve to make him lie down again. From that position it was much easier to snuggle up to him and kiss him. "I think you have just convinced me that your idea is a good one."

  Using magic, they pulled a comfortable and warm cover over themselves and that way they fell asleep.

  The next morning, as the sun was rising, they woke up. Stiff, from lying on the hard rock, but happy that they had escaped from their watchers. They got up and flew back to the place where their bed was waiting for them, unused.

  Their return did not go as unnoticed as they had hoped: several of their guards were already up and about, checking on the horses, so there was a bit of disturbance as they shot into their bedroom.

  After the two had had quick baths and cleaned their clothes, they went to eat and then the journey was on again. Today, they knew, they'd reach Heraldion.

  As the town that was their destination drew near, the magical couple fell more and more silent. Hilda stared in the small crystal ball that William had brought with him, he was paging through his special book. Suddenly there were some voices coming in from the outside and the carriage stopped moving.

  "Now what," William mumbled. Hilda was already out of the carriage by then, and he followed her.

  Captain Lambert was talking to a quartet of riders that had come from Heraldion. "No," he said, "you can not take them away from us. We have an obligation towards our king to see to their safe arrival and return. I understand your orders but they do not supersede mine."

  One of the four, clearly the leader as his trousers were covered in golden chevrons, stared past the good captain. His eyes seemed glued to Hilda.

  "Careful with that one," she whispered to William, "he's magical."

  William nodded. He had already sensed the magic that was radiating from the man on the horse.

  "You two will come with us," the rider barked, drawing his sword. He pointed it at Hilda. "I am serious."

  "Wrong," said Hilda. "You four are coming with us, and if you don't like that, go back to Lamador and cry on his shoulder. We were summoned by King Herald, not by one of his doormats." She prepared for an attack from the man who held the sword. She was certain that he used that as a wand.

  Venom all but dripped from the rider's eyes. "You are going to regret your words, witch." The man's voice was cold. Ice cold. "We are going to take this whole troupe into the city of cities." He tucked the sword away again and barked commands to the three that were with him. "And you two, get back inside the cart!"

  Hilda ignored the man completely and walked up to Captain Lambert. "Captain. Thank you for being the man you are," she said. Then, after a glance at the barking man, she turned and slowly walked back to the carriage.

  As soon as they were seated, the convoy went ahead again. The barking leader tried to push Lambert into going faster, but the captain was steadfast and maintained the speed they had held for most of the journey.

  An hour or so later, after Heraldion was well within view, the carriages and horses clattered into town. The streets seemed to empty themselves of people: the oncoming mass of horse bodies did not give reason to believe that they would stop for anyone. It was only as they approached the castle of King Herald that their speed dropped to a mere trot.

  Hilda and William were ordered to exit their carriage before going inside the castle walls. It was clearly an attempt to humiliate them, making them walk inside as people of low importance. They had however discussed that option already, Hilda bringing it up as she was well versed in things like those. As they had talked about this, they had also called up Captain Lambert and told him to inform the other guards that William was to be seen as a non-magical person. That message was of course a strange one for the guards but they would do as Hilda asked. After all, she was a witch, and witches were known for being obsessively opposed to anything normal.

  The witch and her companion found an insane amount of Herald's soldiers around them. Hilda insisted that Captain Lambert and his men were to accompany them as well, or she would not walk on. The magical, harsh leader of the Heraldic men cursed her and tried to make her move on magically, but her power combined with that of William kept her standing where she was. Grudgingly he gave in and allowed their own guards to come along.

  Hilda grinned. This little trick had shaken up the bullying magician, Gountar, quite a bit.

  He had not expected her to counter him that forcefully. His somewhat increased respect showed immediately in the way he treated her. "Grimhilda, please enter the castle."

  Hilda frowned as he only named her and did not bother about William, but decided that this was probably a beneficial thing and let it slip. They walked along, with their legion around them.

  William looked at the armed men everywhere. Men with lances, swords, bows and arrows and men with nothing but chain mail. These unarmed ones, he assumed, would be magicians or wizards. Good to know that Herald had a truckload of those around.

  55. King Herald

  The magical couple was taken to a rather secure wing of the castle. The security clearly showed through far too many soldiers everywhere. Gountar and his horde took them to a nice suite where they could freshen up and rest.

  "The king will call for you towards the evening. Dinner will be brought to your chambers. Do not attempt to leave the room. Lights in this wing will be extinguished magically." After that shorthand message he and many of the others paced away. A servant was left in charge of housing Lambert and his men.

  Captain Lambert wished the witch and the wizard a good evening. "I hope we will see each other again soon, getting ready to go home."

  "I second that, Captain," said Hilda. "We'll do our best."

  The captain saluted her and William, then the group followed the servant.

  There were a mere four guards remaining in the corridor, and they were clearly waiting for Hilda and William to go into their suite so they could lock up.

  They went inside. The door closed. No sound of a lock being moved. Hilda checked the door and nodded. "Magic." William took the dice from his pocket and Hilda inflated their luggage. Then they had a look around the quarters they were assigned to.

  They had their own large bedroom, with two separate
beds. Hilda looked at that construction and shook her head. "That's never going to work... we can't stay afloat all night to be together..." She took her wand and fixed the error. "That's more like it."

  William appreciated her wandiwork. The bed was wide, looked very comfortable too. It was made of wood, painted as white as the outside of the castle was and had fine carvings along the side. The pillows and covers were red and looked as if they were made of satin, although the fabric was different to the touch.

  Then they had a look at the bathroom, which was quite large. Everything seemed marble or at least very much like it, laid out in beige tones. Red thick towels lay waiting to be used. That got the seal of approval too, as did the living room they had at their disposal.

  The living room offered three large windows that looked out over the city, Heraldion. The windows were closed and not meant to be opened. Thick carpets in brown and green lay scattered over the floor, with a large stone table and six stone chairs in the centre, three chairs on each side of the table. All of them were dark grey with light grey streaks in the stone, and everything was polished to a shine. Everywhere they found low stone tables with a large candle on it.

  "At least this is all nicely in place." William had discovered a stone box that turned out to be a bar. There was water, he found several kinds of wine and some bottles that he was not sure of.

  Before indulging in the goodies that the royal apartments had to offer though, they first retreated to the large bath and enjoyed a long soak together. By the time they emerged from their water antics, a large amount of food had appeared on the stone table in the living room.

  "Magical room service," William grinned as they saw the treats.

  "At least the king here knows how to treat guests," Hilda said as they charged the food. It was delicious.

  "It's an interesting way to treat people who have insulted a high-ranking diplomat from here, though," William thought out loud. "Somehow this strikes me as odd."

  "Well, you have to consider that so far Herald's only heard one side of the story. That is why we are here."