Hilda - The Challenge Read Online Free Page A

not elaborate for William. That was
okay for him though, he was curious to see a castle in a fairy-tale
land. He had decided that that was where he had indeed ended up and
was reaching acceptance with that.
    The castle took his breath away. No picture
in any book, in any artist's mind, could have equalled the
appearance of this phenomenal white building, with its high towers,
wide moat, large inner courts and giant flowerbeds.
    The swoop they made around the castle did not
go unnoticed. Walt, who was walking outside for a while, enjoying
the last rays of sunshine, saw Hilda and the unknown guest. He
waved at them. As he heard the shrieking, cackling laughter of the
wicked witch, he grinned. It still was good to be king, and to rub
elbows with that witch at times. He did wonder who the person on
the other broom was. Perhaps, he thought, she had a visit from some
warlock, as the man seemed very much at ease on the broomstick as
well.
    William did not wave at the king, as per
explicit instruction of the witch. "We do not wave at people.
People wave at us and we're the ones with the stuck up nose that
don't wave back," she had told him. "I know you are not a witch,
but you are not going to ruin my reputation because of that detail.
Be warned." And so he was warned.
    After completing a full round along the
castle grounds, Hilda made the brooms set course to her house. She
praised herself for having a few more rooms. At least that would
not be a problem. A bed would be conjured up quickly enough. And a
lock.
    They approached the house. It's red roof was
visible from far away, as the rays of the retreating sun appeared
to set it on fire.
    "Looks like your house is on fire," said
William.
    "Looks are deceiving. This is my house, I
know how it can act at times. Here, have another cupcake."
    William did not dare to ask and accepted the
cupcake, a nice pink one. As all the others she had handed him.
"Somehow you don't strike me as a person who'd go for pink,
Hilda."
    Her cheeks turned red, not pink. "Shut up. I
have brooms to land," she tried to ward off his interest.
    As there was a second broom, she did not
attempt to land her broom on the green dot in front of the door. A
gentle touch down, as if someone pushed a really big feather under
his feet, was how they came back to the ground.
    "This was the most incredible journey I have
ever had," William said. "Thank you ever so much for this."
    "Could hardly leave you there in the
mountains, could I?", said the wicked witch. "Hey, any visitors
worth mentioning?"
    "Not really," said the house.
    "Holy Bejeebus," muttered William who had not
been prepared for a speaking house. It would not be the last thing
he was not prepared for.
    "Right," said the witch. "William, you can
let go of the broom now..."
    "What? Oh, okay." He let go of the broom that
floated away from him and parked itself against the wall of the
house. "Nice house you have here. Looks like brandnew too."
    "Hah," said the house. "You wouldn't believe
the pain in her ass I had to be before she painted me again."
    "Uhm..." William was a bit lost for words as
the house addressed him directly. "I doubt it was that bad."
    The house did not find the man worthy to
further talk to him for now, after that remark.
    Hilda walked up to the door, took the two
arrows from the doorjamb and walked into the house. William decided
not to wait for an invitation, he had already understood that Hilda
was not very much the kind for those. As he wanted to close the
door, the house beat him to it. Just to make a point.
    Hilda's broom, that had followed her inside,
went to its regular place next to the fireplace.
    William grinned as he saw it happen.
    Two goldfish on the cup that was still on the
large black table, curiously peeked around the rounding of their
home and almost fell off it in surprise, as they saw a strange man
in Hilda's house.
    Hilda stood in front of her magical mirror,
tapping her lip with an index finger. "Right. I don't get