Read Online Jake & The Giant (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 2) by E.G. Foley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: E.G. Foley
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smile.
“L oki was always the troublemaker,” she continued. “He loved causing chaos and could change forms at will—”
“A shapeshifter?” Archie blurted out.
When Miss Langesund nodded, all four children tried very hard not to look at Henry.
His smile turned brittle, but he managed not to give his secret away to his lady friend. He cleared his throat, lowered his gaze, and said nothing.
Miss Langesund resumed their lesson on Norse mythology. “Loki was a very interesting fellow—more mischievous than evil—though in some of the old stories, he could be pretty rotten. You didn’t want Loki for an enemy, to be sure. But personally, I always saw him more as a free-thinker.”
“Why do you say that?” Archie asked as he admired one of the daggers the archeologists had dug up.
She shrugged. “Loki never really followed all the usual Viking rules. He liked to experiment.”
“Really?” Archie glanced over in surprise.
She nodded. “ Once he turned himself into a woman for a while, just to see what it was like. The ultra-manly Thor was, of course, horrified.”
The others laughed, but Jake had gone stock-still, staring past the table. He alone was not surprised when a nearby stack of brochures suddenly flew off the table and fluttered in all directions, strewn across the floor.
“Oh, I’m so clumsy!” the lady-archeologist burst out in embarrassed surprise, since she had been standing nearest to the papers. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me! I do this sort of thing all the time!”
While she blushed crimson, Henry and Archie instantly stooped to help her pick up the scattered papers. But Jake stood rooted to his spot, staring at the bluish spectral figure looming behind the table. The hairs on his nape stood on end; goosebumps tingled down his arms.
“With all the delicate work we do, have you ever heard of anything so silly as a clumsy archeologist?” poor Miss Langesund was muttering, looking rather humiliated.
“It’s all right, Astrid,” Henry was saying gently.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” she mumbled as he and Archie helped her gather up her things.
Dani glanced at Jake, noticing his sudden stillness. But for his part, he didn’t even blink, riveted by the sight of the towering ghost who presently stepped out of the wall wearing a horned helmet.
Blimey.
Ghosts didn’t usually scare him, but this one looked terrifying, with his rough beard and tangled long hair with thin braids in front, flowing over his massive shoulders.
Tattoos of Norse knots and Viking runes covered his massive shoulders and arms that bulged li ke those of a circus strongman.
Scariest of all was the look of his bluish, spectral face—a glare of icy rage.
Jake gulped, rather sure he had just found the original owner of the Viking ship. Indeed, if he were not scared speechless, he could have told Miss Langesund, You’re not clumsy.
You’re haunted.
CHAPTER NINE
The Shield King’s Wrath
“ WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?”
The little ship museum reverberated with the booming spectral voice, but nobody reacted. No one else could h ear.
That honor belonged to Jake alone, thanks to the unusual talent he had inherited from his mother.
Henry and Archie c ontinued helping Miss Langesund pick up her things while the mighty Viking warrior ghost stormed past them.
Jake watched him warily, unsure what to do. The phantom must have used up most of his energy throwing down Miss Langesund’s stack of papers, for thankfully, he didn’t have much effect on anything else—which only seemed to frustrate him more.
Isabelle glanced around, as though sensi ng strong anger from someone in the room.
Una ware of the ghost nearby, she must have assumed it was coming from one of their party. Predictably, she raised her hand to her temple with a slight wince.
T he ghost was growing angrier by the minute. The less they paid attention, the more furious the Viking chief became. Jake could barely believe his
“L oki was always the troublemaker,” she continued. “He loved causing chaos and could change forms at will—”
“A shapeshifter?” Archie blurted out.
When Miss Langesund nodded, all four children tried very hard not to look at Henry.
His smile turned brittle, but he managed not to give his secret away to his lady friend. He cleared his throat, lowered his gaze, and said nothing.
Miss Langesund resumed their lesson on Norse mythology. “Loki was a very interesting fellow—more mischievous than evil—though in some of the old stories, he could be pretty rotten. You didn’t want Loki for an enemy, to be sure. But personally, I always saw him more as a free-thinker.”
“Why do you say that?” Archie asked as he admired one of the daggers the archeologists had dug up.
She shrugged. “Loki never really followed all the usual Viking rules. He liked to experiment.”
“Really?” Archie glanced over in surprise.
She nodded. “ Once he turned himself into a woman for a while, just to see what it was like. The ultra-manly Thor was, of course, horrified.”
The others laughed, but Jake had gone stock-still, staring past the table. He alone was not surprised when a nearby stack of brochures suddenly flew off the table and fluttered in all directions, strewn across the floor.
“Oh, I’m so clumsy!” the lady-archeologist burst out in embarrassed surprise, since she had been standing nearest to the papers. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me! I do this sort of thing all the time!”
While she blushed crimson, Henry and Archie instantly stooped to help her pick up the scattered papers. But Jake stood rooted to his spot, staring at the bluish spectral figure looming behind the table. The hairs on his nape stood on end; goosebumps tingled down his arms.
“With all the delicate work we do, have you ever heard of anything so silly as a clumsy archeologist?” poor Miss Langesund was muttering, looking rather humiliated.
“It’s all right, Astrid,” Henry was saying gently.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” she mumbled as he and Archie helped her gather up her things.
Dani glanced at Jake, noticing his sudden stillness. But for his part, he didn’t even blink, riveted by the sight of the towering ghost who presently stepped out of the wall wearing a horned helmet.
Blimey.
Ghosts didn’t usually scare him, but this one looked terrifying, with his rough beard and tangled long hair with thin braids in front, flowing over his massive shoulders.
Tattoos of Norse knots and Viking runes covered his massive shoulders and arms that bulged li ke those of a circus strongman.
Scariest of all was the look of his bluish, spectral face—a glare of icy rage.
Jake gulped, rather sure he had just found the original owner of the Viking ship. Indeed, if he were not scared speechless, he could have told Miss Langesund, You’re not clumsy.
You’re haunted.
CHAPTER NINE
The Shield King’s Wrath
“ WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?”
The little ship museum reverberated with the booming spectral voice, but nobody reacted. No one else could h ear.
That honor belonged to Jake alone, thanks to the unusual talent he had inherited from his mother.
Henry and Archie c ontinued helping Miss Langesund pick up her things while the mighty Viking warrior ghost stormed past them.
Jake watched him warily, unsure what to do. The phantom must have used up most of his energy throwing down Miss Langesund’s stack of papers, for thankfully, he didn’t have much effect on anything else—which only seemed to frustrate him more.
Isabelle glanced around, as though sensi ng strong anger from someone in the room.
Una ware of the ghost nearby, she must have assumed it was coming from one of their party. Predictably, she raised her hand to her temple with a slight wince.
T he ghost was growing angrier by the minute. The less they paid attention, the more furious the Viking chief became. Jake could barely believe his
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