The Sleeping Army by Francesca Simon

Author:Francesca Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
Published: 2011-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

She was dreaming of fire. Warm, warm fire. The lovely heat, spreading through her body … while a horse neighed and neighed …

‘Get up!’ shouted Snot. ‘The roof is on fire!’

The air was thick. Hot cinders fell in the darkness all around them. Freya’s eyes stung and her mouth filled with acrid smoke. Her throat and nostrils burnt.

‘Use Woden’s charm, Snot!’ screamed Roskva, coughing. ‘He gave you a fire-quenching charm! Say it! Say it!’

Snot muttered the ancient words. The fire roared louder.

Stumbling and choking, they felt their way along the bristly wall and ran outside, coughing and spluttering.

The burning glove lit up the night sky. They backed away into the forest, stumbling through the dense undergrowth, snapping rotten branches and tripping over tree roots, their sleeves and hems caught by brambly bushes.

‘It didn’t work, Snot!’ said Roskva. ‘You stupid idiot! The fire’s burning harder than ever. You must have said it wrong. Say the rune again. Honestly! Do I have to do everything myself?’

She glared at Snot. Then her face softened.

‘Let’s get away from here,’ said Alfi. ‘It’s not safe. Giants set that fire – they knew we were inside.’

Roskva didn’t move.

‘Roskva? ROSKVA!’

Roskva was blushing and gazing at Snot. But not just gazing. She was devouring him. A silly grin spread across her face and she sidled up to him, looking at him sideways with lowered lashes.

‘Hello, handsome,’ she said, flicking her hair and giving him a little half-smile. ‘Where have you been all my life? I never noticed before how absolutely gorgeous you are. I must have been blind.’

‘What’s got into you, Roskva?’ said Alfi. ‘We don’t have time for your silliness. The whole forest is catching fire, we need to move. The giants know we’re here.’

Roskva ignored him. Snot stared at her as if she’d just been changed into a salmon.

‘What do you say we ditch these infants and find somewhere a little more … uh … private?’ she giggled. ‘To think you were in Asgard all this time and I never noticed what a handsome hunk you are.’

‘Stop it, Roskva,’ said Alfi. ‘We’re in terrible danger.’

Snot bristled.

‘You making fun of me?’

Roskva’s face crumpled. ‘Making fun of you? Snot, I love you! I love you more than my life. You are fairer than any god. You’re the sun, the moon, and the stars. None beam as brightly as your eyes. And your crooked brows … and strong arms … and muscular chest … and … and … Oh Gods! Let’s run away together! Now! Come on! The night is young,’ she simpered, tugging frantically on his hairy arm.

‘It’s not funny,’ scowled Snot. ‘Go play with the trolls.’

‘It’s like someone’s cast a spell on her,’ said Freya. Grumpy, bossy, complaining Roskva was a hundred times better than this one.

Alfi slapped his forehead.

‘Snot, the rune the All-Father gave you. He must have told you a love-charm instead by mistake. What are we going to do?’

‘Can’t you both PLEASE just go away and leave me alone with my darling love?’ wailed Roskva.

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