The Adventures of the Billy Goats Gruff by Kevin Peter Futers

Author:Kevin Peter Futers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

He settled himself beside an ash just within the wood which provided a comfortable back rest and as good a view of the slope up towards the trolls’ settlement as could be hoped in the moon less night. Clouds scudded across the sky from the west but the stars shone through to provide their dim illumination. After a long wait, he saw movement down by the river, someone walking up the slope, calling out in a loud voice. The figure disappeared among the buildings and there was silence for a time before the sound of several raised voices came across the fields towards him. The sounds died after a time and Bert was left in the silence of the moonless night. He did not see the figure which left the settlement and started out towards him. He was thankful that he could understand animal speech that night, for he heard the words of welcome which the sheep lavished upon the shepherd. He looked again, scanning the field for some sign of the shepherd's location but in vain. Aware that a troll could see him more easily in this light than he could hope to, he quietly slipped into deeper cover. Rather than exerting his feeble night sight, he listened to what was happening. The bleating of the sheep had subsided and the loudest sound in the night was of a creature sobbing. As he stood, he thought that he could make out muttered angry words between the sobs but could make no sense of what was being said.

Bert considered his next move carefully, realising too late that he had come too close to the edge of the wood. He did not wish to appear suddenly and he was loath to backtrack in case the magic should betray him and return him to the goat shape. In the end he crept out of cover and started walking, taking short, quiet steps at first, then building up the sound as he came slowly forward, kicking the leaf mould as he went. As he emerged, he thought he could see a figure sat hunched over upon the ground some twenty yards away. It had not noticed his presence and the shoulders jerked every now and then, as the creature sobbed.

“Hello?” called Bert gently. “Could you tell me, have I reached the realm of the Orcneas?” The scarcely visible head nodded “Yes” without looking up. “I know that it is late but I wondered if you could point the way to a settlement. I am looking for someone.”

The head raised and looked at him. The hair on the head was long and black, partly covering the face but emerald eyes gleamed through the dark curtain.

“Who?” The voice was deep but not rough, perhaps the sullen tone of a voice which has just recently stopped crying.

“Well, I am not sure until I find her. I have come to seek a strong bride among the troll-folk. A wise man told me that if I want my sons to prosper they should have a mother from the Orcneas of the northern hills.

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