Read Hilda - The Challenge for Free Online Page B

after a certain point. And even that certain point
was rather uncertain and fuzzy.
    William took off the mittens. "Okay, in that
order: 'all this' is known as breakfast. A bit lavish perhaps, but
your kitchen is a maniac when it comes to making food. What I have
done is make it, as far as your kitchen utensils let me do what I
wanted. You ought to teach them to back off when they are told to.
And last night nothing happened, except that you got drunk."
    "And?", Hilda demanded further
explanation.
    "And you almost fell, so I carried you to
your bedroom and put you in bed."
    "And?", she still wasn't satisfied.
    "And then I went to sleep myself, hoping that
you would not have a sore head this morning. Judging from how you
are acting, that seems to be not the case."
    "And that is all?" Hilda tapped her wand
against her leg impatiently.
    "That is indeed all. Now will you sit down
for breakfast?"
    "And how do I know that you are telling the
truth?" Hilda was not one for believing everything just like
that.
    "Well, you don't. You'll just have to believe
me." William pulled back her chair and waited.
    The witch stared at him. "That is my
chair."
    "I know," said William. "I am just being
polite. I'm holding it for you so you can sit down more
easily."
    "Leave my chair be. I can sit down by myself,
thank you very much," Hilda grumbled. She walked to her seat with
brisk steps and sat down, her mood not improving yet.
    Her anger and frustration became overwhelmed
by the sight and smell of the food that was on the table, and she
watched the salesman like a hawk as he walked around the table and
sat down himself. "You look ridiculous in that apron," she shared
with him.
    "You think so? I find it rather cute," he
grinned, "never thought though that I would ever wear a yellow
apron with bunny skeletons. But if you think it is ridiculous..."
He took off the apron and hung it over another chair.
    "William...", Hilda slowly said.
    "Hilda?"
    "You are not wearing a shirt."
    "I know. It was too hot in the kitchen and I
did not want to get stains on the shirt, so I took it off." William
poured her tea.
    "Oh." Hilda could not drag her eyes off his
naked torso and blindly grabbed things on the table, almost burning
her fingers on the hot veggies. "Crap!"
    William frowned for a moment, then understood
where the issue resided. "Oh, I see..." He got up, fetched his
shirt and put it on.
    "Oh..." Hilda sounded only slightly
disappointed. The two goldfish on her cup grinned and the witch
sucked her almost burnt fingers.
    As they ate, Hilda's temper faded away with
each fork-load of food. It was amazingly good. "You know how to
cook," she said.
    "I take that as a compliment," he said, "so
thank you."
    "Hm-mm."
    As she had finished, she leaned back in her
chair and looked at the man over her teacup. "I had every intention
of kicking you out of the house when I got up," she said.
    "Is that so? And what was- oh, I see. You
thought dishonourable things of me." He winked at her.
    "Yes. I did. Not sure if I should still do. I
don't trust people just because they tell me to."
    "Smart attitude, Hilda. I hope you believe me
when I say you look charming?"
    Hilda glared at him. "I look crumpled. And a
mess. And you should have said so last night."
    "I was going to, Hilda, but you did not let
me. You were the one that said I should not look at you, which
brought up the change of subject."
    The wicked witch was caught in the corner and
she knew it. She whispered a spell to the cup. Then she held it out
and asked: "Can I have some more tea?"
    As William poured her tea, the house
announced: "There is an archer coming to the door."
    Only seconds later there was a knock on the
door that the archer had come to.
    Hilda put down her cup and went to open said
door, greeting the archer with: "What?"
    "Here is a note for you, honourable witch."
He held up a piece of paper. "And we would like our arrows back,
please."
    The witch muttered something under her
breath. Then she flipped