Zelda (2009)
23 - Theo"I wish I had known that sooner," said William as he stretched out on the bed. "About wizards breaking all the rules, I mean." Hilda looked at him, standing next to the bed. "Somehow I think it was good you did not know. What wicked plan is churning around behind your eyes, William?" "It is not so much a plan yet as an idea," the wizard said as lights blinked in his eyes. "William?" "Yes?" "There were lights blinking in your eyes." Hilda sat down on the bed and leaned over her wizard. "No, no, keep your eyes open and your hands off me. For a short while. I want to see your eyes." William stared at the witch. Her staring was interesting but it also made him feel awkward, until he recalled the blue and red lights that could appear in Hilda's eyes. "Think again what you just thought," Hilda ordered. "Beg your witchy pardon?" "About the plan that is an idea, or whatever silly phrasing you used to confuse me." "Oh." He understood, and thought his thoughts again. "Think harder, wizard," she commanded, but no matter how hard he tried, the lights did not come back. "Maybe I was seeing things..." "Which would mean there is nothing wrong with your eyes, Hilda." "You really think so?" Hilda got up and started pacing in the limited space they had in their homely shed. "Just remember that I love you, William, and I don't want you to do something stupid. Crappedy crap, I wish I had not said that about the rules. These things are there for a reason." William sat up and looked at the witch who usually did not have much going for rules herself. It was obvious that she was very worried about him. Whenever she was worried, he had learnt, she could not sit still. "I know, pretty witch. Now come here, sit next to me and let me tell you something." "Talk to me while I'm here," she muttered. "Fine. You should know me well enough by now to know that I would not do anything to put someone in danger. Heck, not even Zelda. So when I think of breaking rules, that is not something you should be fretting about, Hilda." Hilda stopped her pacing and looked at the man who was sitting on the bed. "Not even Zelda. Suck an elf. Yes. You are such an idiot indeed." For a few moments she was silent. "And that is what I like about you. You sometimes spout nonsense, William, but you're a good man at heart." She walked over and sat down next to him. William took one of her hands and kissed it. "Glad you know me." She smiled. "I do. Glad you can talk to me, William. There are too many people who can't. Who don't dare or some such foolishness. It's not like I am going to bite their heads off when they do." William grinned. "True. You don't need your teeth for that." "Oh, shush you." She slapped William, ever so lightly. "Even if you're right. Just don't get into any trouble I can't get you out of." William glanced at his witch and nodded. "Promise." "Good. Now tell me about the rules you intend to break." William shrugged. "I'll know them when I meet them." "Oh no, you are not getting away with that. I want to be prepared for things like that," Hilda said, getting up and looking down at her wizard. "Then I'll let you know up front. When there's time." Hilda opened her mouth for a snappy counter, when there was a sound that could have been a knock on the door. She stared at William, who stared back at her. Again the sound sounded. It was a real knock. On a real door. "I'm not expecting anyone," Hilda whispered. "Nor am I," Willia said. Hilda went to the door and yanked it open. "What?" There was a young man outside. Actually, older boy fit him better: looking at ads was probably the closest he had come to shaving. He seemed nailed to the ground. "Who are you?" Hilda grabbed him by the arm, pulled him inside and closed the door. "We're a witch and a wizard. And who are you?" The involuntary guest failed to respond. His eyes jumped from witch to wizard and then back. "They told me this place was deserted," he finally managed to put out. "They? And who are you? What do you want here?" William asked as he got up. His dark blue wizard outfit made the boy stagger backwards until the door ended his amazement-induced retreat. "You shouldn't be here," the boy uttered, still not making much sense. Hilda and William seriously doubted the reasons for the boy to be here. "Listen, either you tell us who you are, or we'll help you a bit," William said. He was tall enough to do some looming over the boy, and magic as well as his attire did the rest. "Theo," the boy said, trying to avert his eyes from those of William. "Good boy, Theo," the wizard said. "Why are you dressed so strangely?" Theo asked. "This is not strange, boy," Hilda pitched in. "And we ask the questions here. So far one of three has been answered. Why are you here and who are the 'they' you mentioned?" Theo's hand clutched at his jacket; he appeared confused. "I had to leave something here." "And 'they' told you to do that, right?" William asked. Theo nodded violently. "Calm down, Theo, keep your head on. Come, sit down." William took the boy by the shoulder and steered him to a chair. Theo remembered how to sit down without being urged to. Hilda sat down on the other chair, and William sat down on the chair he magicked up, scaring Theo so much that the boy almost looked alive. "So, Theo. You were going to leave something here. For them." William was treated to a set of dumbfounded nods. "Good. I am glad we have communication established." Theo looked at Hilda. "Are you really a witch?" "Are you really stupid?" the witch asked in return. "Of course I am." "Of course I am," Theo repeated, nodding. Hilda looked at William. "He's weird." She popped up her wand. Theo jolted, almost falling from his chair. "Wha's that? How did you do that?" "It's a wand, Theo. Witches and wands come in pairs. Don't you know that?" "Just in stories," Theo declared, reaching for the wand and getting a slap with it for the attempt. "Ouch." "Never mess with a witch's wand, young man," the witch warned him. She quickly poked the wand at Theo's cheek and drew it back before the boy realised that he wanted to hit it away. "Suck an elf, William, there's something wrong with him." Hilda waved her wand. "Very wrong." William wondered what she had noticed. Hilda knew tricks that he didn't. "It is as if he is drunk. But then without alcohol," Hilda elaborated. William began to understand. "You mean he's drugged?" "Nothing heavy, people. Just a bit of a soother," Theo was helpful. "He's drugged. We're found out by a drug addict," William sighed. "That's great. Theo, you were going to hide some drugs here, weren't you?" "Yeah, but I'm not going to tell you," Theo said with a surprising bolt of confidence. "I am on a mission here, and they trust me." "Of course, Theo," William said as Hilda sat back, amazed at the strange exchange. "We can't have them being angry with you, of course." Calmly he slipped a spell towards Theo, creating an atmosphere of confidentiality, of conspiring friendship around them. Theo, susceptible to the spell as the drugs were messing with his awareness, nodded as he patted on his jacket. "Right. They're coming for this tonight, so it has to be here." "Tell you what, Theo," William said. "We'll go away and you can put your package here. Then you have done what you came for." Theo studied the wizardly face. This sounded so good that the little bit of nagging that was somewhere in the back of his mind was easily overruled. "Yeah, that's a plan." Hilda shook her head. She did not follow what was going on. William was talking gibberish the way he was able to so well and Theo ate it all up as if it was the best thing since brooms. William got to his feet. "Hilda, come. We have to leave Theo to his business." She gave him a funny look but got up and followed William as he walked to the door. "Theo," said William, his wand working, "we're gone now." "Right," said Theo. He looked over his shoulder, but thanks to the spell by William he could not see anyone. The drugged boy got up, took a small package from an inside pocket and put it on the table. Again the boy looked around, seeing nobody. He then nodded to himself. "I'm going now, guys," he said in a hushed voice. "They're coming later. When it's dark." As if he was moving through a snake pit, Theo carefully walked to the door and left the shed. "Now what was all that about?" Hilda asked after making sure Theo was out of earshot. William explained to her about drugs, drugdealers and their runners. "So Theo put a package with that stuff here on the table?" Hilda's eyes were large. "We have to destroy it, William. It is not good." She already had her wand in her hand, as William gently pushed her arm down. "Wait, hot-head. We should keep it here until the people who are responsible for that material come to collect it. We can take care of them at the same moment." "But we can do that without that abusive stuff, William!" "We can, yes, but I have an idea for that." William told her of what he had been thinking of, and Hilda smiled as she understood what William was aiming at.
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