Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish Page B

straight in the eye.“Otherwise we might organise a little dogfight.Understand?”
    Peer understood. He compressed his lips and nodded,as slightly as he dared.
    â€œRight!” Baldur broke wind noisily and began topick his teeth with a dirty fingernail. “Now what’s all thisabout Ralf Eiriksson?” he asked, exploring a back molar.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Peer sullenly. “No!” he addedquickly. “I mean, I talked to his daughter Hilde and shesays he’s walked to Hammerhaven this morning. He’sgoing a-Viking for the summer. That’s all I know, I didn’task any more. I didn’t know you’d be interested,” headded feebly, hating himself for crawling.
    His uncles winked at each other. Uncle Baldurremoved the finger from his mouth and rubbed hishands together, chuckling gleefully. He kicked Peer onthe ankle.
    â€œWhere did the girl go?”
    â€œDown to the village. She was going to buy fish.”
    â€œI want to see her on the way back,” said UncleBaldur. He jabbed Peer in the chest. “You look out forher, and make sure you bring her to me. Right?”
    He turned to the table, not waiting for Peer to reply,and tossed him a stale end of bread. “Eat that and get onwith the chores,” he said abruptly. “Grim’ll show youwhat to do. And remember – fetch me that girl!”

CHAPTER 5
Trouble atthe Mill
    Hilde’s shoes sank into the wet sand and she rubbedher arms, willing the sun to climb higher. It was chillyhere. The shadow of Troll Fell leaned over the beachand out across the water. The pebbles glistened fromlast night’s rain and from the retreating tide. Cold greywaves splashed on the shore.
    â€œHalf a dozen herring and a couple of crabs? Done!”agreed Bjørn cheerfully. He shouted to his brother whosat in the boat sorting the catch. “Find us a couple of goodbig crabs, Arnë!” He turned back to Hilde. “Any news?”
    â€œI should say so!” said Hilde gloomily. “My father’sleaving – going off for the whole summer on a longshipthey’ve built at Hammerhaven.”
    Bjørn whistled. “Hey, Arnë,” he yelled. “Come andlisten to this!”
    Arnë clambered out of the boat with a live crab ineach hand, and Hilde discovered that explaining it all totwo interested young men cheered her up – especiallywhen Arnë fixed his dreamy blue eyes on her face.
    â€œLucky Ralf,” he said enviously. “I wish I’d heardabout it. What’s the ship like?”
    â€œLovely,” Hilde assured him. “She’s got a dragon head,all carved and painted.”
    â€œYes,” Bjørn laughed, “but how long is she? Howmany oars?”
    Hilde didn’t know. “Ask the boy at the mill,” shesuggested waspishly. “He ought to know – his fatherbuilt her.”
    â€œWhat boy?”
    â€œThe millers’ nephew. I just met him this morning.They’ve taken him in because his father died.”
    Bjørn’s eyebrows rose. “The millers have taken in anorphan? What’s he like?”
    â€œHe’s all right,” said Hilde without much enthusiasm.“He seems a bit nervous.”
    â€œI’d be nervous in his shoes,” said Bjørn darkly. Heelbowed his brother in the ribs. “Arnë! Dreamer! Handover those crabs!”
    With her basket full of herring and the two live crabswrapped firmly in a cloth, Hilde rode whistling back upthe steep path out of the village. The world brightenedas the sun nudged up over the edge of the mountain. Shethought about Pa. What a lovely morning to go to sea!How proud and happy he must feel!
    Her high spirits lasted until she came in sight of themill, crouching dismally under the trees. Even the springsunshine could not gild its battered timbers and slimyblack thatch. The brook rushed away from it, tumblingover itself in a white cascade as it tried