Grim Gruesome Viking Villain: Four thrilling adventures: The complete highly acclaimed series by Rosalind Kerven

Author:Rosalind Kerven
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Talking Stone
Published: 2013-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

Ragi shook his head.

‘Oh, go on,’ the pedlar coaxed him. ‘I’m on your side. I want to help you. But I can’t unless you tell me why you’re in trouble.’

Ragi peered through the horse’s legs at the pedlar. All that showed of the man’s face between the high fur mufflers and the low fur hat was a dark, ragged beard and a glint of eyes.

The pedlar turned to the horse. ‘This boy’s as stupid as I am if he doesn’t want to hear my wonderful secret,’ he said.

The horse whinnied softly and nuzzled him. It swished its tail against Ragi’s face.

Ragi couldn’t help being curious. Before he could stop himself, he was pointing to his bare feet and saying,

‘It’s just that...well, I’ve got these...peculiar pieces of skin between my toes. Sort of...webs. Like...you know...’ He swallowed and lowered his voice. ‘Like on a seal’s flippers.’

‘Aw Ragi, that’s fantastic!’ cried the pedlar. ‘I heard rumours about people like that before I came to these islands, but I never guessed that you were one. That makes me even more pleased to meet you.’

‘Really?’ said Ragi doubtfully. ‘Most people who find out are horrified.’

‘Why?’ said the pedlar.

‘Because...well, they say I’m not...normal,’ said Ragi wretchedly. ‘And that it’s because my mam’s done something wicked. You see, my pa died of sickness a few years ago. And as soon as he was buried, all my uncles accused Mam of poisoning him. They said my webbed feet showed that I wasn’t really Pa’s son after all – and that my real father must be a finman!’

‘What’s a finman?’ said the pedlar.

Ragi blushed. ‘A...a...sea-sorcerer. The type that can shape-shift into a seal.’

The pedlar let out a long breath. ‘Shape-shifting! Finmen, seals...you. You’re all the same kind, eh? Astonishing! That’s nearly as good as my secret, lad.’

‘It’s not good; it’s horrible,’ said Ragi gloomily. ‘Mam swears by mighty Thor and Odin All-Father that it’s not true. She’s never even seen a finman! She doesn’t even believe they exist! But my uncles turned my aunts and cousins against us too, and they threw us off the family farm. So now everyone despises us and we’re really poor. We live all on our own, in a horrible, tumbledown cottage with only one cow and hardly enough to eat.’

‘But if it’s just lies, why are you bothered about killing seals?’ said the pedlar.

Ragi leaned forward, letting the wind dry the seat of his trousers. He wriggled his webbed toes.

‘I suppose...I half wish it was true,’ he said. ‘People are all so horrible to me and Mam, sometimes I pretend that the seals are my real relations and friends. So if I killed one, it would feel like murder.’

‘I see,’ said the pedlar.

‘Dwarf spit! I wish I hadn’t told you now,’ said Ragi.

‘Well, I’m glad you did,’ said the pedlar. ‘That’s the most interesting thing I heard since I got my brains bashed in. And you’ll be glad too, when I tell you my secret. Because I can help you. And you can help me in return.

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