Read Online Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish - Free Book Online

to escape.Nobody happy had ever lived there.
    Hilde gathered up her reins in case the millers’ hugedog ran out to frighten the pony. She felt sorry for theboy, Peer, but she didn’t want to stop. She trottedforwards, hoping to get past quickly. As she reached thebridge, Peer dashed out of the mill yard, waving. Shedrew rein.
    He ran up, looking pale and miserable. “I’m sorry,Hilde. My uncles want to talk to you. Will you come?”
    Hilde turned the pony into the yard. Both theGrimsson brothers were there, lounging on thedoorstep. They lowered their heads threateningly – likea couple of prize bulls, Hilde thought. Peer lurkedguiltily to one side, darting anxious glances at hisuncles.
    â€œWhat d’you want?” Hilde demanded.
    â€œA little bird told us,” Baldur sneered in his highvoice, “that Daddy’s gone away. The great Ralf Eiriksson,who thinks he’s so important. Is that right? Eh?”
    â€œOnly for the summer,” said Hilde icily. “He’ll beback before winter with a bunch of his Viking friends, sodon’t give me any trouble, Baldur Grimsson.”
    â€œVikings!” said Baldur. He spat lavishly. “I don’t give that for Vikings. And going to sea is a risky business.There’s storms and rocks and lee shores.”
    Grim nodded in agreement. “And sea serpents,” hegrunted.
    Hilde snorted rudely.
    â€œWait and see,” went on Baldur, scowling at his twinbrother. “He won’t ever be coming home again!”
    â€œHe’s as good as dead!” said Grim. Together theyflung their heads back and shook with forced laughter.
    â€œIs that all you want to say?” snapped Hilde. Thebrothers stopped laughing.
    â€œYou carry a message for me, girl,” snarled Baldur.“Tell your mother – and your grandpa –” he emphasisedthe words with a stab of his thick forefinger, “to keepoff that land on Troll Fell that belongs to us . Keepright off it, yes? Unless you want a lot of trouble.”
    â€œDeep trouble,” echoed Grim.
    â€œBut you could buy it,” Baldur suggested cunningly.“We might consider selling it to you – at the price of acertain golden cup!”
    Hilde went white. “You haven’t a shadow of a claimto that land!” she exploded. “How dare you threaten us?”
    Baldur came up close and grabbed the pony by thebridle. “Ask your mother which she’d prefer,” hewhispered. Spit sprayed from his mouth and Hildeleaned away. “That golden cup, or a quiet life? The landis ours. You’ll learn to respect that! Those sheep you haveup there have been eating at our expense! That makesthem our sheep! You and your family keep out of theStonemeadow.”
    He jerked hard on the bridle and stepped back, and asthe pony flung up its head in fright he whistled loudly.With a bloodcurdling bark Grendel came hurtling out ofthe mill. “See ’em off, lad!” shouted Grim.
    Hilde grabbed the mane. The pony whirled out of theyard and bolted over the bridge and up the hill. She wasfalling! Desperately hanging on to her bouncing basket, shehauled wildly on the reins. The terrified pony danced to asnorting halt, and she slithered off sideways. Her legswobbled. She patted the shuddering pony. “It’s all right!Don’t be silly!” she soothed. “The dog’s not after you now!”
    The pony rolled a wild eye and kicked. A little browndog burst out of the bushes. Hilde shook back her hairand stood up straight. “Hello!” she challenged. Therewere wincing and crackling sounds as someone tackledthe steep and brambly shortcut up the side of the hill.Peer’s pale and dirty face became visible as he partedsome branches. “Are you all right?” he puffed.
    â€œYes! – no thanks to you,” Hilde snapped. She glaredat him. “Was it you, by any chance, who told those –those oafs – that my father