49. Meeting Lamador

The days that separated them from the first dark moon came and went. Fast. It felt as if magic was toying with time.

Hilda and William had flown to Baba Yaga's hut a day early, so they could relax from the flight. As they arrived there, Babs told them that Lamador and quite a contingent of his followers had also arrived, and were camping somewhere not too far away, in a forest patch that did not act like her own piece of land did.

"He's been a good neighbour," the ugly witch commented. The three were sitting in the sunshine that miraculously made its way down through the thick layers of branches and leaves. "He's stayed off my yard."

"Has he come to see you?", Hilda asked. It would surprise her if the sorcerer had done that, but it never hurt to make sure.

"No, he stuck to his own for now. I've seen his camp as I was messing about in the air a bit. Decided not to piss him off by making it rain there. Doesn't make things any better, and he'd stop it in a moment again." Babs looked at the couple. "So, what are you going to do now?"

"We plan on going to see him," Hilda said, stumping Baba Yaga.

"You WHAT?"

"Just a courtesy call," grinned William.

"So you are crazy, right? Did that happen lately, or have you always been like that and you just managed to hide it?" Baba Yaga shook her head. "Do you know how he is going to react?"

"No, not really, but as it is our challenge," said Hilda, "he is honour bound not to harm us."

"Lamador and honour." Baba Yaga made a sound that did not convey much respect. "Maybe I should go along, as I am your referee and judge on fair play."

And so the trio mounted their brooms. William was wearing ordinary's clothes, and they made itlook as if Hilda was guiding his broom, so Lamador and his companions would not be alarmed. It was unthinkable that they would sense William's magic. If the two witches could not detect it, neither could the sorcerer. Magic was there or it was not.

Lamador's camp lay in an open spot in a rather normal stretch of forest. There were giant tents, but William was certain they were a lot more sturdy and comfortable than your average camping utitily. There was much colour and abundance in the camp, colours like yellow, blue and green prevailed. In several spots there were fires burning, and everywhere in the camp there were people busy with things.

Their approach had been spotted of course, so there was quite a reception committee waiting for them. Lamador was not in sight. That did not surprise them.

It was a group of four, three men and a woman, all magical people. Hilda wondered if Lamador would have any non-magical folk with him. Two of the men wore the brown of Earth Mages, the woman was in blue, signifying her abilities in the air, and the last man was in plain grey. He could be anything.

"You are the witch who challenged the Great Lamador." The words were spoken as an accusation, by one of the men in the long brown robes.

"Yes," said Hilda. "That must have surprised him."

The man disregarded her. "And you are the ordinary that has been seen around her."

"You make it sound like a bad thing," said William. "My name is William Connoley. And who are you?"

The man in brown clearly considered any further interaction with William below his dignity, as he turned to Baba Yaga. "And you?"

"Your part-time neighbour and their judge. Baba Yaga."

The man nodded and walked off.

"Nice chap," William mumbled, "really would like to go out with him some evening and have a few beers." He had sensed a lot of magic around the man.

"William. Shush." Hilda was not sure if it was a good thing to chat about like that.

The three remaining people that made up their escort did not say a word. They didn't even seem to notice the three guests. Some commotion happened near one of the large tents. It was about the largest of them, with lots of magical marks on it. It had to be the tent of their adversary in the challenge. Lamador's.

After a while the tent opened and someone strode out. This was really striding. The majesty beamed off this person. William would have believed that this was king Herald, had he not seen the paintings and statues of the king and his sorcerer in Heraldion.

Lamador was followed by the man in brown, who kept a respectful distance. People moved to the side as the great sorcerer approached and passed by, as if they were driven aside by a bulldozer. The Great Lamador wore a deep blue robe with gold stitchwork on it. There were dragons and moons on it, and some strange creatures that William did not recognise. On the man's head lay some kind of square blue cloth with small white pompoms on the ends, making the sorcerer look quite ridiculous.

The man that was so feared by everyone halted some five yards away from the three visitors, and looked them up and down. As was to be expected, he all but ignored William as there was no magic apparent around him.

"You." Lamador looked at Hilda. He lay all the disdain he could muster in the one word, emphasising it with a magical surge of superiority.

"Yeah. Me." Hilda stood up straight and proud, her arm touching William's. "I thought I'd come and see how you are. And make sure that you understand the rules of our challenge."

Lamador let her wait for a response. Another sure sign of contempt. "Challenge," he finally said. "You call this a challenge." He looked around for a moment. "You make me come out here... to this... place. I have to bring valuable people along, people who have better things to do, to make life less cumbersome in this environment. And you expect me to play along in this game that is fit for ordinaries?"

"Well, it looks to me that you consider this a proper challenge as well, your lordship," said William. It caused a wave of disturbance through the crowd that had gathered around them. An ordinary addressing the Great Lamador without being given permission to speak. That was unheard of, in the last fifty or so years.

Lamador looked at William, who was half a head taller than the sorcerer. Magic sparkled around the man in blue for a moment, and then he was taller than William. "And you? Do you have a wish to die?" Lamador's voice was soft, silken and threatening. A black wand appeared in his hand, the tip red hot and pointing at William's chest.

William's heartrate went up a few notches.

"I would not do that, Lamador." Baba Yaga stepped between the wand and William. "You have agreed that Grimhilda can bring him along in the challenge you sent her. She has given you the free hand in bringing along someone to this one, so harming him would be harming one of the contestants. I am sure you do not want to deprive yourself the pleasure of your own challenge?"

The tip of the wand slowly moved up until it was on the level of Babs' face. Then the sorcerer lowered it again. "I don't know what I have done wrong, that I have to waste my time with you."

"We wonder too," said Hilda, taking courage. "And I am sure that Gerdundula, Fidelma and Calandra are shaking their heads over the same question."

"These names mean nothing to me." Lamador's eyes however became slits for a few moments.

"They will," William said, stepping next to Baba Yaga. "And just because you are so big, that does not mean you can just mock everyone. You were invited here the official way. You accepted it, since you are here. We'll see you tomorrow. On the battle field. And remember, no magic. Bare hands and brains, that's all. We play for points."

Lamador focussed on William only a few seconds, but that was too long. Their eyes locked, then the great sorcerer turned and walked away without another word.

"Come, guys, we'd better get back home," said Baba Yaga, "looks like we're done here."

Hilda grinned as they walked to where they had left their brooms. The four people from their reception committee who had remained silent yet close, followed them, probably to see they would indeed go away.

As their departure was watched, Hilda and William had to put on a little play in order to get him airborne as an ordinary. He exaggerated the wobbling on the broom a bit, hoping it would look like the real thing. As they lifted off, Babs looked back. "They're still staring, hold the pose." Only after they had gotten away a good distance from the camp, William took to normal flying again.

"That feels better," he said. Hilda agreed. "Do you think we unnerved him?"

Hilda frowned. "I think he is feeling a bit out of place there, which is definitely an advantage."

Baba Yaga said: "The way he stared at you, William, bothered me a little. I am not sure if he will play by the rules tomorrow."

"He did not look very happy, indeed. I share your feelings, Babs," said the wizard-to-be. "I think that it is time to go to the battle field and set up the spells that betray the use of magic. They really will hold until tomorrow after the challenge?"

"When cast by professionals, yes."

"Oh. Thank you."

Hilda screamed with laughter.