Hilda: Aiaia

By Paul Kater

Hilda and William receive a cry for help from one of Hilda's former schoolmates. Of course, Hilda is going to do all she can to help, even if they have to travel to Aiaia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Kater
• Release date: Jun 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476082622

Paul Kater

Paul Kater was born in the Netherlands in 1960. He quickly developed a feel for books and languages but ended up in the IT business despite that. Books and languages never ceased to fascinate him, so since 2003 he's been actively writing, encouraged by friends on the internet. The internet is the reason why most of his work is in English. A friend asking for writing help is why some of his writing is now also in Dutch. Paul currently lives in Cuijk, the Netherlands, with his books, possibly with cats, and the many characters he's developed in the past years, who claim he is a figment of their imagination.

Book preview

Hilda - Aiaia

by Paul Kater

Book 9 in the Hilda the Wicked Witch series.

Published by the author at Smashwords as a member of the

Alexandria Publishing Group

© 2012 Paul Kater

License Notes:

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Previous books in this series:

1. Hilda the wicked witch (Smashwords, July 2010)

2. Hilda - Snow White Revisited (Smashwords, September 2010)

3. Hilda - The Challenge (Smashwords, December 2010)

4. Hilda and Zelda (Smashwords, February 2011)

5. Hilda - Cats (Smashwords, April 2011)

6. Hilda - Lycadea (Smashwords, June 2011)

7. Hilda - Back to school (Smashwords, September 2011)

8. Hilda – Dragon Master (Smashwords, September 2012)

Contents:

Acknowledgement

1. Crappedy crap

2. Aiaia

3. Journey to Aiaia

4. Going to Aiaia

5. Welcome to Aiaia

6. Circe

7. There's your problem

8. Wheat happens here

9. Resort to reason

10. Meet the parents

11. Night flight

12. The librarian

13. Midas

14. Not proper bread

15. Village life

16. Going down

17. Circe's little zoo

18. Storybook

19. Table talk

20. Go west

21. He who has magic

22. Going for gold

23. Turn to gold

24. Back to bread

25. Random acts of food

26. Of glasses and children

27. Bait

28. The way of wheat

29. The master plan

30. Vacation

31. Discoveries of baking

32. Look what's in store

33. Good news

34. Clearing things up

35. Findings

36. Takings

37. Surprise

38. Attack

39. Many questions

40. Let's party

41. If ever you need us again

About the author

About the Alexandria Publishing Group

Did you like Hilda - Aiaia?

Acknowledgement

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this book a reality:

Carol Edwards, for picking out the linguistic errors (any remaining are solely my efforts);

Cathy and Alyssa Hall, for reminding me about something in Snow White Revisited;

the makers of myths everywhere in time and space;

the Grimm brothers;

Hilda’s fans, who encourage me to write more.

Image sources:

Hilda the Wicked Witch, painted by the talented Miss Victoria Smith (find her on Facebook)

Map of Greece, courtesy of the Internet

Goddess image, by John William Waterhouse (painted in 1891)

###

1. Crappedy crap

Crappedy crap! William! The sound of breaking wood almost drowned out the angry outcry of the wicked witch.

The wizard rushed into the house, leaving his stack of branches and some half-finished products. What's happening?

Your bloody broomsticks are what's happening, Hilda snapped, pointing at the remains of two former brooms as her wizard reached the kitchen.

Oh. These didn't work either?

Hilda, hands on her hips, tapped her foot on the floor. If you want to pretend to be an apprentice, let me tell you that you can stop practising. You passed.

Ouch! William looked around and grabbed the half-done broom that had just slapped him in the back. He spat a spell at it and the half-broom stopped trying to get into the kitchen. Hmm, yes, perhaps I should stop this child's stuff and go back to being a proper wizard.

Go back? Hilda sneered. You're still learning to become one! She looked at the pieces of broom that lay scattered on the floor. Why do they all try to get into the kitchen anyway?

For the buckets. William knew he had to explain more. I once saw a movie where brooms were made to help cleaning, and they went to get buckets with water.

"Movie. Brooms. Buckets. You need to lie down, William, and I need to contact someone to come over and have a look at you. You were fine for a while, but these flashbacks from your old life are taking over again. Hilda left the kitchen. I am going to do sensible things. You are in charge of removing this mess and fixing dinner."

William scowled at the back of his witch. Hilda and sensible things. Then he turned and faced the remains of his experiment. Maybe, he thought to himself, this had not been such a good idea after all. Obsidian Shadow looked at William from the bookshelf nearest the kitchen. Meow, was all the black cat had to add.

William stroked his cat over the head. You're right. I should have listened to you. Then he started cleaning up. At least there was plenty of wood for the fireplace after this.

By then, Hilda had gone outside. She did not want to face more brooms of her wizard, but escaping them proved difficult. There still was a stack of them, in various stages of completion, outside the house. William!

I'll take care of those later! he called back, knowing exactly what the witch meant.

Quite displeased by all this, Hilda sat down on one of the sun chairs William had once made. Perhaps one of his better ideas, she thought to herself; that and the fact that the bedroom now was purple and the house did not object. As she was still settling into comfortableness, a white rabbit in a red jacket came from a patch of forest near the house, in a mad dash. Hilda stared at the animal as it came to a halt in front of her. Crappedy crap, what is this then?

Have you seen my watch? the rabbit asked. I lost my watch, and oh oh oh, now there will be trouble!

I have no watch. I don't even know what you are talking about. You can have some brooms though. Hilda prepared to pop up her wand, but the strange white creature raced off again, disappearing into another part of the forest.

I don't know what is wrong with the world today, the wicked witch sighed. Dinner had better be good.

Twok.

Suck an elf! Hilda threw herself off the sun chair and tried to locate the archer who had shot an arrow at her. It had lodged itself mere inches from her left ear in the wooden backrest of the chair.

William came running out of the house, a dripping spoon in his hand. Hilda?

I'm here, and I'm fine. Some archer with a death-wish tried to put an arrow through me, she growled as she got up and patted the dust and sand from her black dress.

Calmly Grimalkin came outside, to inspect what all the fuss was about. Obsi was right behind her, as curious as his sister. The two sat down at a little distance, stoically taking in the scene through their big yellow eyes.

And then I don't even mention the rabbit in its red coat that came running by just now, Hilda adds to William's confusion.

Rabbit?

You know what a rabbit is, wizard. Furry white thing, long ears.

William had trouble keeping his eyebrows on his forehead, so high did they rise. Did it have a watch with it? he asked with a grin.

No, but it was looking for one. How do you know? Hilda turned to the chair and yanked the arrow from it. Oh, look at that...

As William was still wondering how such a rabbit had appeared here, Hilda took a little scrap of paper from the arrow, and read it out loud.

As you see, this is a worrying situation, so please come as soon as you can. Signed: Circe. The witch scratched her nose. This does not make sense, does it?

Not at all, William admitted. Looks as if only half a message came through. What is a Circe anyway?

Circe is a witch I was in school with, Hilda explained. She was not particularly good at general magic, but she was extreme with shape shifting and potions. And one of her hobbies would make Krypteria happy.

Before William could respond to that, Obsi looked at his wizard and meowed a warning. Holy Bejeebus! the wizard uttered upon that, and ran back inside to make certain that dinner would still be dinner around dinnertime.

Obsi and Grim looked towards the forest as Hilda reread the note. An arrow came flying from the woods, missed the pole that the magicals had erected for messages. Luckily it also missed the witch, and instead flew into the house, pinning an old cloak against the wooden wall.

I sincerely object to this, the house immediately informed the magicals. I demand that this archer be hunted down and... and... Houses, as you may know, are good at complaining but not so good at thinking up punishments.

"What are you on about?" Hilda asked, who had missed the entire arrow-incident.

"There is an arrow in my wall!" This, the house assumed, should be enough of an explanation.

Where? Hilda looked and saw no arrow.

Inside. Just stand in the door and you can't miss it. The house sounded thoroughly displeased.

Touchy today, aren't we? Hilda muttered as she walked to the open door. First someone shoots an arrow at me and - oh, look. An arrow! How did that get there?

Some ingrate shot it at and in me, the house elaborated, but its words fell on deaf ears.

Perhaps that is the first part of Circe's message, Hilda thought out loud.

Grimalkin tip-toed inside and started pulling at the arrow with her teeth, trying to take it out of the wall.

I don't care who it's from, the house proclaimed. The arrow clattered on the floor. Ah... Thank you, quadruped.

Hilda picked up the pointy thing. Good little cat, Grim, she coo'd at her cat, and then started to undo the many knots in the thin wire that kept a piece of paper attached to the wooden shaft.

She was still working on the many tiny threads as she walked into the kitchen, where William was busy making supper. Smells good. We have an arrow.

First part? the wizard cook asked as he pushed a pot into the still not cooperating oven with all his might and then forced the door shut. Gotcha...

Yes. First part, Hilda confirmed as she magicked the remaining ties away. Someone had too much time on her hands, wrapping that one up. She unfolded the small paper, which grew into quite a large sheet as her hands moved it.

William stared at the effect. Only a witch would pull that off.

Or a wizard, Hilda said. When can we eat? Brooms make hungry. I'll leave you in peace, cook, don't worry about me. She left the kitchen, after saying the best words to make William worry. Even when they were at home.

"Cook, he muttered, and then quickly put a chair against the oven door as that tried to open itself again. One more time and I will replace you, oven."

The oven was far from impressed.

As William did his best to tame most conveniences in the kitchen, Hilda sat on the big couch in front of the fireplace. Grim was in her lap, Obsi lay next to the witch. Both cats stared into the flames, reading messages from them that could only be picked up by cat brains.

The wicked witch read the large sheet of paper over for the second time, as there was so much in the letter. It also helped her pass the time while William battled the kitchen utensils.

Hilda remembered Circe, but not too well. She was a tall girl then, with tanned skin, black eyes, black hair and a very unhealthy preference for anything containing olives. Krypteria, the morbidly pale girl in magic school, would have liked Circe. Circe was meddling with dark stuff. She was also into metamorphosis and illusion. Those latter two were reasons for Hilda to avoid Circe, as she never was sure who she was talking to. And now there was a letter from Circe. Call it half a novel.

The smell of food drew her out of her musings. The words Food is waiting for you made her get up and sit down at the table.

So what is the news? William asked as they sat eating.

The news is that there is a new hole in the wall opposite the door, the house started, and I am seriously bothered by the attitude of archers that have no shred of decency and respect.

Shut up, house, two voices said at the same time.

"The real news is, Hilda then said, is that Circe asks us for some help. This intrigues me, but at the same time it scares me."

It scares you. William did not like that. Hilda hardly ever was scared. The last time he remembered her being scared was when he arrived in this fascinating world, just as she was facing the challenge that Lamador had thrown at her. I do not like that.

Hilda looked at her wizard. Then she laughed. "No, it's not that she scares me, William. The idea of going to the place where she lives does. It's far away. And from the bits I heard of it, it's a strange place."

Oh? Where would that be then? William asked as he helped himself to more food.

Some place called Aiaia.

Aiaia. And you can say that without grinning. The wizard couldn't.

Hilda nodded. That's how it's called. And she asks us for help, because there are lots of strange things happening that she can't deal with. She does not state why, by the way. But what can you expect from someone who specialises in illusions?

2. Aiaia

William watched Hilda's face as he pondered her words. She is into illusions. Are you sure she's not related to Harry Houdini?

I am sure, whoever Harry Houdini is. Hilda decided not to give that remark more attention. William would probably never get over these strange things; best to acknowledge and then ignore most of them and focus on what was important. She traced her finger over the side of her favourite mug, chasing the two goldfish on it that swam left and right, as they tried to catch all that was said and done.

The hole in my wall is most certainly no illusion, the house thought it necessary to share. Its remark was met by a two-fold icy silence. But nobody cares, of course. I will simply fall apart around you in a few nights.

House...

I know, I know. I'll be quiet.

So. Aiaia, William brought the conversation back. What or where is it?

It is an island and it's far away. And I am not sure if we can handle this list of things on our own, so maybe we should talk to Babs about it.

And this list of things, what is it about? The wizard was quite curious now.

Apparently there is a group of witches in the area that has very special ideas about housing, and Circe writes that all the grain-crops are disappearing, which creates a problem, as there is not enough food for the people.

William stared at Hilda. That sounds strange, even for this world.

Strange, yes, but why 'for this world'? Hilda frowned for a moment, teasing him. Unfortunately, the wizard did not bite. That joke clearly had out-served its purpose.

Are these witches connected to the crops disappearing? the wizard asked.

She doesn't say in her manuscript, Hilda said. It's over there, you can read it for yourself if you want.

William nodded and decided he'd do that once they were done with their food. This of course was the plan, but reality, in this case consisting of two cats, had other ideas. Reality also wanted food, and William had to see to that first, because this two-fold black reality was not something you could ignore. Finally he sat down and unfolded the huge sheet of paper. Uhm...

Is something the matter? Hilda asked from behind her magic mirror. She was taking a look at King Walt's kingdom, to make sure things were in order.

Did you actually read this? William asked, pointing at the paper.

Of course. Otherwise I would not know what it says, silly wizard. Hilda then looked around her mirror and at William. Why do you ask?

Because this looks like nothing I have ever seen before, the man on the couch declared. How did you decipher that?

Hilda learnt something new about people who turned into magicals versus magical-born people. The former kind was not able to read just about anything without studying the language in which it was written. The witch tried to explain that to her wizard, but was not certain if he understood it entirely. He did however give it his best, and accepted her words without question, which was why she was so terribly fond of him.

Everything here is calm, Hilda proclaimed as she left her magical mirror. No need to get upset about anything unless you chose to. I'll see if I can reach Babs, about this Aiaia thing.

William nodded, but before Hilda could walk off he grabbed her by a hand and pulled her in his lap.

Hey, what's that? the witch grinned as her wizard wrapped his arms around her.

That, sweetwitch, is to show that I care a lot about you.

Awww... that is so sweet of you, Hilda said as she rested her hands on William's head. And then, being true to her wicked self, made water appear from her fingers, so William's head was soaked in just a few seconds.

You witch! he exclaimed, laughing.

Hilda escaped from his arms and laughed as well. Just reminding you that I am not to be trusted!

Tell me about it, the house muttered, breaking its silence for a moment. Hilda ignored it. As she often did.

William snipped his fingers to dry his head, and then he went to see what he could do about the hole in the wall. This to the great and silent joy of the house.

Hilda rubbed the crystal ball, said the spell to contact Baba Yaga's ball and waited for the little light inside it to start dancing. That did not take long.

Hilly? Are you up already? Baba Yaga looked at the wicked witch from inside the ball. She appeared to have gotten out of bed just a moment ago.

Up already? Babs, it's evening. What is the matter with you? Hilda had never seen her bestest girlfriend so mixed up with time before.

I think I overslept a bit, Babs muttered. I was trying out a few new herb combinations for some local folk, to get a better sleep. The latest one is perhaps a bit too strong.

Hilda averted her eyes as Baba Yaga yawned. There was a limit to what even the wicked witch could bear to witness.

So, what are you waking me up for? Babs asked after that exercise.

Hilda told her about the letter they had received from Circe, and how the first arrow had almost gotten to her.

Circe? That coloured person with the black eyes? Babs asked. From that far-away place Blayaya or so?

Aiaia, Hilda confirmed. The very same one. She did not write what she's doing there, but apparently it is not much witchy, as she asks me for help. And there are a few things wrong so I thought you might like to come along.

No kids with dragons this time? Baba Yaga grinned.

No. I don't have any wish to go back to that world again, Hilda sighed. It is an assault on people's nerves. And yes, I know he's coming. The witch knew her wizard was done with the wall and making his way to the crystal ball. The link never failed.

Hello, Willy, Babs tried to be cheerful. She seemed to be hiding another yawn, but the plenitude of wrinkles did most of the work for her, which was a good thing.

Good grief, William greeted the old witch in return, had a bad night?

Don't give me that, youngster. Baba Yaga tried to emit an air of superiority, but with her wearing a red and green chequered nightgown, the attempt was doomed to crash before it got off the ground.

The wizard had received a slap by that time. Hello Babs, he then said.

The old witch opened her mouth to say something, but a yawn escaped instead. Hilda quickly explained about the sleeping concoctions, preventing another 'good grief', or even a 'holy bejeebus'.

I think I will find some time to come with you two, and make sure you don't get into too much trouble, Babs then managed. But give me some time to sleep all this stuff off. I don't want to tumble from my broom somewhere.

The three agreed to leave for Aiaia in two days.

Good, Babs declared, that gives me time to prepare and do what is necessary for a prolonged trip. I'm off to sleep. You do what you want, but don't frighten the horses. With that cryptic message, the face of the old witch disappeared from the crystal ball.

Horses? William wondered. "I would have understood halfway if she had said cats but... horses?"

Don't break your head over that. This was Babs. And she was sleepy, Hilda reminded him. Tomorrow we'll send a message back to Circe and let her know that we will come over.

We could do that now, William said, but when he saw his witch's face he grinned. You're right. Tomorrow is early enough.

-=-=-

You are taking the mutts again? Baba Yaga had arrived at the witchy house, all awake and ready to venture out with her friends.

They are not mutts, they are cats, and yes, Hilda replied as she watched Grimalkin hop on the bristles of the floating broom.

William was loading the last bits of shrunken supply in the many hidden pockets