Hilda - Lycadea Read Online Free PDF

them
said, kissing the queen's fingers.
    "Are all your rings still there?" Rebel asked
as the captain had stepped back.
    Quickly Queen Velda checked her hand. "Yes,
they are. I think. Care for a truffle?"
    As the queen kept counting her rings, the
king offered the guests seats, tea and cake. Rebel was asked to sit
next to the king, a rare enough thing to happen. William grinned as
he sensed Hilda's feeling about that.
    "We heard that your ship has arrived in Green
Lake," King Walt said, "and we were curious to find out where you
are from. And of course what it is you have brought."
    William wasn't sure what was happening; the
king talked to these people as if he knew them since long. Hilda
was not much help, she had taken command of the chocolate cake and
her whole attention seemed focussed on that.
    Maurizio seemed well prepared for this
though, he had probably handled these questions before. "Oh, you
know how that goes," he said in an amiable voice, "we were happily
sailing along when we happened to come across your country. And
since everything looked so nice here, and the people were all so
friendly-" he nodded at the two magicals "-we decided to stay here
for a while. And so far, I have to say, they have been very helpful
and informative also. They even brought us here on their...
brooms." It was clear that he still was coming to grips with that
concept.
    King Walt went for the praise. "Oh, yes, the
honourable witch and wizard are very highly regarded here. They are
very valuable to our little kingdom." The he asked about Rebel, who
very quickly was introduced as Maurizio's cousin.
    William looked at Hilda, who offered him a
piece of the cake. She winked. He accepted the cake and another cup
of tea. While they took care of the edible part of the visit,
Maurizio and Rebel avoided every question to their background with
skill, and soon King Walt and Queen Velda had the feeling they were
fully up to date on the ship and its crew.
    "It was really delightful talking to you,"
said the queen as the four got up and said their goodbyes. "Do come
by again when your ship is in the lake again."
    "Prego, signora queen," Maurizio smiled with
an elegant bow, his eye patch in place again. "It was our honour to
be visiting with you."
    Rebel bent down and kissed the king on a
cheek. "Thank you, king, it was great talking to you. And I love
your tea."
    "Oh, how sweet," said King Walt, "let me
arrange that you take some tea home with you."
    "Oh," Rebel startled (she was not fond of tea
at all), "that won't be-"
    "Tut-tut," said the queen, "you will take
some tea. He is the king, after all."
    "Yes, Mrs. Queen," Rebel said. "And thank you
too for a really nice time here."
    Queen Velma produced a caring smile and then
located another truffle in her tray.
    With a large bag of tea under Rebel's arm,
the small group returned to the yard of the castle again. The
servant, who was still holding the by now squirming brooms, visibly
relaxed as their magical owners relieved him.
    With brooms hovering, Hilda invited Rebel to
hop on, but the woman, whose metal clothing parts glistened in the
sun, shook her head. "Thanks, but no need for that. I know where
the ship is."
    "You do? And you're going to walk there? Did
the broom flight scare you so much?"
    Rebel grinned. "No, the flight was fabulous,
really. But I can get Maurizio and me back to the ship faster than
flying with you. And you and William too, if you want."
    "I'll stick to the broom, thank you very
much. But I want to see how you do that," said Hilda as she mounted
her broom.
    "Sure," said Rebel. "Moro, ready?"
    "Almost. Do you want to join us for dinner
aboard the Mimosa, Mr. and Mrs. Witch?" the captain asked as he
buttoned up his coat.
    The two people missed the rapid conversation
through the link that Hilda and William shared. "Yes, that would be
nice. Thank you for the invitation," William said. He got on his
broom also.
    "Okies, people, see you in a while then,"
Rebel said as she took