Hilda - The Challenge

by Paul Kater

  The couple left the tent. They had agreed that William would be wearing the wizard's clothes. Lamador had seen William in those before, at the house of Gerdundula, so that should not be a surprise. William also had the notes with him in which Lamador had written that he was allowed to participate in the challenge. Just to be absolutely sure.

  The tent of Lamador was again unmistakable. The largest, the richest in stuff added to it, and thanks to the area, just as depressing as everything else.

  William had a thought, but decided to put that on ice until he was alone with Hilda again. They stopped in front of a layer of guards that had the ceremonial task to protect Lamador, which in itself was ludicrous. Lamador was much more capable of taking care of himself than any amount of soldiers dressed up in uncomfortable and relatively useless battle dresses.

  "Who goes there?", one of them asked.

  "Yeah, don't you wonder," Hilda said. "Who would come to this tent, in this forsaken place? Do we need to spell our names out for you? We can do that, if you need that."

  The guard looked very annoyed. His mood wasn't sublime to start, and this answer did not make things better. He muttered something under his breath. Hilda as well as William were certain that it was something quite unflattering at their address, but they could not care less. "I'll tell the great Lamador that you are here."

  "Yes, you do that," Hilda said as the man paced off. "Idiot. I hate all that ritualistic nonsense."

  "Easy, Hilda, don't get overly excited. We're doing well, I think, let's keep our cool." William wanted to put his arm around her, but in this situation it would not be the wise thing to do.

  The guard, with a disgruntled face, reappeared. "The great Lamador will see you now."

  Lamador was seated on a throne that was larger and more richly decorated than the ones they had seen in the castle of King Herald. It looked wrong, bad, corrupted. The man himself was dressed in what looked like pure gold, which had to be a magical illusion.

  Hilda signalled to William not to be impressed by all this, using their bond. William wasn't. He was adverse of all those overdone things.

  "Well, well," Lamador sneered. "You dared to come. And you brought your friend with you too. And he is still dressing as a wizard too, how amusing. Why didn't you do that when you visited us in the castle?"

  "Would that have made any difference?", Hilda asked. She willfully ignored all the scorn and allegations in Lamador's words.

  "No." The word came out hard. Lamador had not expected that response. Then he got back to his balmy and disgusting gloating. "So you are really willing to sacrifice him as well, Grimhilda. Have you explained to this man what will be waiting for him? And", he grinned, "I do not just mean me."

  "William is well aware of what will happen here," Hilda told the man, "and he offered to help me in this. As you agreed to already, in your notes."

  William brought out the pieces of paper. "We have brought them along, just to make sure there is no confusion about this point. Maybe there is some kind of judge or referee that would like to check them, to make sure of the legal validity of these small bits of evidence."

  Lamador frowned. "An ordinary that speaks without being spoken to. How... fascinating. But of course, you are free to participate in the challenge, William. You did not bring along a bow and arrow, by chance? Or a big hunting knife? I know that ordinaries prefer such weapons. Rather childish, but then, one does as one knows." Lamador chuckled, looking around at his staff.

  "We are not interested in bows and knives, Lamador," Hilda said. "He asked for judges. Are there any around? We want this cleared, not to be the subject of your jokes."

  "Oh. The little witch is barking." Lamador pretended to show fear. "Call for Bregan and Nultos!"

  The two people mentioned appeared mere seconds later. Bregan was an ancient classic mage. He sported a long white beard and equally long white hair, proudly wore a pointed hat with stars on it. His black clothes made the white of his hair even whiter. Nultos was a young black woman, a witch. Her short black hair was spikey as it pointed everywhere. She wore yellow robes.

  "Here are your two judges," Lamador said, acting as benevolence itself.

  William showed them the papers and the two new arrivals declared with loud voices that they had seen the papers, that they had verified the seal of Lamador, and that William, consort of Grimhilda the witch, was allowed to assist her in the challenge. No buts or maybe's.

  66. Challenge (1)

  The first meeting with Lamador was over. Hilda and William walked through the camp, looking at everyone and everything Lamador had brought with him.

  "He surely needs a lot of junk to feel comfortable, doesn't he?", William commented as they passed along all the tents. So far they had seen at least two hundred people, most of them magical. The ordinaries in the camp were of an amazing amount of disciplines. Cooks and cleaners, but also people who could make new reins for horses and at least two blacksmiths.

  They thought of their small tent they had used on their visits over here. So much simpler and more convenient.

  "It shows how much power he has," Hilda said. "Everyone in the magical trade knows that this is wrong, but he is so powerful that nobody dares to argue with him or point out all this."

  "We'll point something out to him tomorrow, Hilda." William now did not hold himself back and put his arm around her. Hilda, in response, slipped her arm around his waist.

  The two people from King Walt's country attracted a lot of attention. Despite that, the people in the camp did not feel confident enough to approach to them, or even just say something. So deeply rooted was their fear of the great Lamador.

  Only when they reached a large tent where they could eat did people speak to them. Nothing but polite phrases, but at least there was something.

  The food was amazingly good. Hilda explained to William that it was probably prepared by magical people. "Lamador won't accept less, I am convinced of that. He wants to be tough and hard, but all that life in the castle with King Herald has made him softer than he cares to admit."

  They reminisced about the challenge they had called in the forest. Lamador had not looked very much at ease, and also then he had brought along an amazing entourage to feel at home and comfortable.

  After eating, the magical couple retreated to their tent. Resting for the big event of the following day would be the smart thing to do, but the atmosphere around them, the strange muffled sounds and the unfamiliar scents kept them awake.

  Hilda cast a spell to make a screen of silence around them but for some reason that did not want to take hold very well. "Crappedycrappy magical garbage that's around here, that's what it is," she muttered, hiding her face against William's chest. "If Gurthreyn was real, maybe he could fix this noise bit for us."

  The noise bit remained unfixed, so they heard the sounds of the camp, even though they were not even that close to it. Finally silence descended over the camp. Huge walls moved inside the tall walls of the labyrinth."Go suck an elf."

  The man blowing the trumpet did not have a preference for elves. He blew his tune again.

  "I hate this part," Hilda muttered.

  "Want me to conjure a knife and end this torment?" William asked.

  "Does not make for good public relations. But the idea is tempting," Hilda said.

  They lay in silence for a while as the trumpeteer had ended his reign of terror.

  "Today's the day, William."

  "I know, sweetwitch. And we are going to kick some Lamadorian ass."

  "Yes. That's the plan. I hope he is willing to let us." She cuddled up to the warm body of her wizard and felt his love flow to her.

  "I doubt that he's willing, but we're going to make him. We are two, he is one."

  "And he is powerful. The 'great' bit in his name is not just a fancy word, remember that, William."

  "I know." William kissed her forehead. "But we have the initial advantage of surprise."

  Hilda crawled on top of Willi
am. "I hope that will do us good." She kissed the tip of his nose. "Remember, William. Protection, protection, protection. That is important."

  The trumpeteer had found more courage and started his racket again.

  "I will go out and hurt him," William stated, "public relations or not."

  "You can't. I am lying on top of you and you like that better than a trumpeteer. Unless I am very mistaken." Hilda rested her head on William's shoulder. "I love this..."

  After a while the trumpeteer started his third serenade.

  "Three. We have to get up and prepare." Hilda's voice was flat. "Urgh." She let herself roll off William and got up. The wizard followed that cue.

  They had breakfast in their tent; it was delivered to them by two women. After that they dressed for the challenge, placed their brooms on the right side of their tent and walked to the large gates in the looming wall.

  "I would not be surprised if the drama-queen is late," Hilda mumbled to William. And indeed, when they were at the gate at the designated hour, there was no trace of Lamador yet. They did not have to wait long, but just long enough.

  Lamador was carried to the gates, sitting in a chair. There were six men handling the large and evidently heavy thing, and the sorcerer did not seem to be bothered by that at all. After being lowered to the ground, he got off the chair. "Ah. You are here. The witch and... him."

  Hilda wanted to fume and was ready to try and hurt the man, but William's calm disposition and his hand on her arm held her back. She did not like it when her wizard was insulted in such a way.

  "Yes, we are here. And you're late," William said calmly.

  Hilda looked at him. It was not proper for an alleged ordinary to address a sorcerer like that.

  Lamador stared at William, uncertain if he should just reduce him to a heap of dust or let it pass.

  William saw the tension in the man's face and was not certain if that remark had been a smart move. He was ready to try and counter a strike by the sorcerer, whatever might happen. But nothing happened.

  "It just gave you a little longer to live," Lamador said. He allowed one of his servants to take his long wide cloak from his shoulders. "It looks like you are ready to face your doom."

  The judges, Bregan and Nultos, had arrived just in time to hear that remark. "Great Lamador, it does not comply with the rules of a challenge to influence your adversary in such a manner. Officially you should apologise."

  William gently squeezed Hilda's arm. "That's quite alright. We have the advantage that we are indeed ready to face our doom. Too bad the great Lamador is not ready to face his."

  "How dare you!" Lamador's wand was in his hand before the words had left his lips, and he flashed it in front of William's face.

  "I dare because I looked at the rules for a challenge," William said, calm and flooding that feeling through the bond to Hilda. "You are not allowed to hurt a participant of the challenge until the official starting signal. And I have not heard or seen that."

  Nultos, the black witch, nodded. "He is correct, Lamador. You are out of line." She did not seem happy to have to say that, but the rules of the challenge were as they were. And Lamador had to swallow that.

  The great sorcerer made his wand disappear. His face displayed anger. "Let's get this started then, and let's get it over with. I do not want to be here."

  William held back another remark. He had prodded the feelings of the man enough, and it was obvious to him that Hilda did not feel good about this.

  The two judges asked Hilda and William if they were ready also, and they confirmed that. "Very well. We will proceed to the gates."

  The small group started walking. As they approached the solid iron gates, the two doors started opening. It was amazing to see them move, without a sound, as if an invisible giant were opening them.

  The judges had their brooms brought to them. "We officially announce the challenge that the great sorcerer Lamador has called against Grimhilda, the witch. As Lamador has agreed, the man William will be allowed to enter the challenge as well, at the side of Grimhilda. Are there questions about this?"

  Nobody raised a hand or a voice.

  "The challenge will go on to the death. This is mentioned in the original challenge. The Great Lamador has graciously stated to spare the life of the man William."

  The three challenge-fighters did not twitch a muscle.

  "The people in the challenge are not allowed to carry their brooms inside the walls of the labyrinth. There are no other rules. If all this is clear, the people in the challenge will now enter the labyrinth. The judges will take position over the labyrinth. As soon as the judges are ready, a red flash will signify the start of the challenge."

  That was all that had to be said. Bregan and Nultos mounted their brooms and lifted off, as the three contestants slowly walked into the area that made up the labyrinth.

  It did not look anything like the previous times that Hilda and William had visited.

  Lamador started running away from them, down the corridor that was straight ahead.

  Hilda took William's hand and they walked to the left, which was the only alternative. They kept their eye on the sky as far as that was visible. The red flash would tell them the challenge was on. Hilda popped up her wand. William followed her example.

  "Sweetwitch, I love you."

  "I love you too, William."

  Then there was a bright flash that set the entire labyrinth aflame for a moment. The challenge had started.

  67. Challenge (2)

  Lamador did not waste time. That was something that became clear to Hilda and William very quickly. Big rainclouds formed over the labyrinth and a solid wall of water was streaming down. They quickly cast protection around themselves so they did not get soaked, but the water around them was rising at an alarming rate.

  William waved his wand and a small rubber boat came into existence. He lifted Hilda into it. "Sit and don't do funny things unless you want to fall out." He got into the boat himself.

  Hilda stared at the dinghy and touched it. "This is shiny! This is something from your crazy world, isn't it?"

  "It is. There's something good everywhere," he grinned. "Now, what will we do next? We'll have to find Lamador before he finds us."

  Hilda nodded. "Let's first see if we can play a bit here." She looked at the flood of water that was lifting them higher and higher. "Right..."

  William had no clue what was right in their situation, but he trusted Hilda.

  The wicked witch had located the side of their boat where the water was rising slower. She was convinced that was the side where Lamador would be to keep dry. "How do you move this thing? That way."

  William used his wand to make the boat move, as Hilda gave him directions. Unfortunately their path was suddenly blocked by a wall that had moved itself.

  "Crappedy crap," Hilda muttered. "That is not good." She threw magic around and all the water disappeared, making their boat flop down to the ground.

  "Holy Bejeebus," William said as they got up. "You can do that?!" He was seriously shocked at the amount of water that had vanished. This cast an entirely new light on the powers of the witch.

  From somewhere an explosion sounded, and that somewhere wasn't even very far away.

  "Looks like we are not far away from Lamador," William remarked.

  "True," Hilda nodded, "but with this everywhere" -she patted the wall- "it makes little difference."

  A wall started moving. The couple turned to see what was revealing itself in the new corridor. To their surprise they saw Lamador standing there, his back towards them. He was obviously oblivious of the wall moving. Through the bond, Hilda managed to orchestrate a mutual action. Raising their wands, a ball of vicious energy and fire emerged and shot at Lamador.

  Tremendous blasts and fireworks flew as the ball hit the shielding that the sorcerer erected around himself at the last moment. The impact of the ball was so huge though, that it threw him to the ground and made him roll over a
few times. As the sparkles of the ball dissipated, Lamador got up and looked at the two who still had their wands aimed at him. For a moment he looked as if he did not understand what his eyes told his brain. Then it dawned on the great sorcerer. "You..."

  Lightning fast he drew his wand and started weaving a giant spiderweb between himself and the magical couple, his piece de resistance being a nine foot spider that crawled from the web and started its run towards Hilda and William.

  William tried to destroy the web, but Lamador had the advantage of experience, he was just too fast in spouting his magic.

  Hilda fired at the spider. She slowed it down but was unable to stop the approach of the beast. It had long extra arms protruding from its ugly skull-like head. At the end of the arms were big, sharp hooks that moved independently from each other. A slash of either one of them would leave very uncomfortable marks. It would also make for cut off limbs.

  William joined Hilda in firing at the animal, which then at least stopped it. "Make a pit!", he yelled at Hilda, who reacted immediately. She aimed her wand at the rocky floor in front of them and magicked a pit twenty feet deep and twenty feet wide. William then stopped blocking the spider's approach. The beast shot forward as there was no more resisting force and skidded into the pit. As it was still falling, William aimed his wand and made large steel spears stick up from the bottom. The spider was impaled on at least a dozen of them.

  By the time Hilda had slashed through the spider's web, Lamador had disappeared from the corridor already. The end of the corridor had sealed itself off by that time, so there was no other option for the couple than to turn back.

  "I think this is the moment where we should try to bring our brooms in, Hilda."

  She nodded. "Would give us the advantage of speed, indeed. Let's try it, but not for too long. We have to keep moving, before Lamador plays another trick on us."