Chapter 18 Golden Locks

“Are they gone?” Gretel popped up a floor board. Hansel signaled her to be quiet peering through a break in the wooden shutters. It was a long while before he nodded and closed the slit.

“We have to be more cautious. Since they have eaten a piece of me their hearing is bound to get better.” Hansel turned to see Gretel trying out a bed.

“Hey what are you doing?” He motioned for her to get off but she only smiled and bounced.

“Oh come I am sure he will be gone for a while and I am getting tired of sleeping under this house. It is so cold being a human.” She examined the pale skin of her arm.

“It is more difficult for them to smell us in human form, not impossible. You will get gold locks all over the bed.” He sat in a chair that creaked so he moved to another.

“Please brother it was I not you who cast that white witch besom spell to keep her out of the house. Old crone did not even realize she was being repelled.”

“You are always over confident. Baba Yaga has been known to sweep away her own traces of dirty work.” Hansel went back over to the floor boards after both their stomachs growled. “I was speaking about Sadko he is not as oblivious as the others you know. I would hate for us to lose this place. The vantage is great from on top of this hill. Being alone he builds great fires to keep warm at night and those ashes hide our scent. And my dove seems to get on pleasantly enough with the geese.”

Gretel got up and tried the next bed, it sunk so abruptly she leaped out. “Hansel if it were up to me we would keep moving. I do not understand what you hope to accomplish by staying in the midst of her cattle. Besides I detest this bachelor’s home. The man makes extra porridge at night so he can eat it cold in the morning.” She sniffed with a crinkled nose at the open pot on the table.

Hansel’s voice was muffled for his head had disappeared under the floor. “Is not it a pity? All this food around us and we cannot even have a bite of it. Every plant, every person tainted.” He pulled out two long snakes.

“Are not those tainted? You brought them in days ago.” Gretel folded her arms.

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“I put a preserving spell on them.” Hansel shrugged and instantly she pounced on one. Snake was never enough meat but it did have a nice flavor.

“Why do you suppose the man has three beds?” Gretel licked her fingers.

Hansel was still chewing slowly looking around. He pointed at each, “Father, Mother, and son.” His last swooping motion was towards Sadko’s bed.

“You are kidding; the man still sleeps in a baby bed?” Gretel laughed.

“I am sure he meant to move on up once he mated and had cubs. This is all quality furniture.” Hansel finished with a gulp and Gretel got up and examined it.

“You are right, very fine. His Father must have been a good merchant. Hansel, do you think we should bring our brother here once we rescue him? I think he would like this place.” Her fingers traced the intricate bear carvings on a chair.

“I do not want to think about that.” He hurried and collected up the remains of breakfast.

“When will you forgive him? He has learned his lesson. He was and is a prisoner of hers.” Gretel sat and Hansel watched helplessly as the chair broke into pieces, broke into pieces just like their clan had thanks to his “brother” and that witch.

“I do not mind talking about him.” He said helping her up and examining her back for splinters. “I mind talking about him with you. You worship him too much.”

Holding hands they cast a spell together that fixed the chair. It was better than before, more solid. After that Gretel lay down on Sadko’s bed looking up at the ceiling, her eyes far away perhaps thinking of the beginning like he sometimes did.

In silence Hansel rubbed himself down with ashes from the fireplace and then threw on one of Sadko’s shirts. He cast a variation of the preserving spell to preserve the strong scent and lessen his own. It would probably help if he cast away his skins underneath, he would not for they held an abundance of tricks for protection.

“Why are you going out during this time? It is very dangerous.” Gretel spoke with only the slightest hint of worry. “You think you will be safe just because our brother does not prowl during the day and the hunter is working in his forge. Yet if the villagers spot you they will try to take you in and then she will eat you for sure.”

“I can manage; watching that girl walk down the hill reminded me she might still have some traps between the edge of the field and the forest.”

“More likely her lovely calves made you hungrier. You always did prefer the lean ones.” They mirrored each other with their wicked smiles. This only proved to Gretel that she knew her brother well.

“Oh sure I’ll just make myself a little snack out of her favorite.” Hansel rolled his eyes speaking sarcastically. “That would not be like setting fire to the wood.” That might not be a bad idea; he was certain Baba Yaga did not leave those woods very often.

“It would serve that witch right. Besides you would be doing that girl a favor in the end.”

“Do not nap too long golden locks. How is that bed compared to the others?” Hansel opened the door a crack to make sure he could slide out unnoticed.

Gretel’s eyes were already closed, “Just right.” The door clicked shut.