The Sleeping Army by Francesca Simon Page B

And then another. And another.
    â€˜Oh Gods, he’s back! Hide!’ said Roskva.
    Snot bristled.
    â€˜I’m not hiding,’ he growled. ‘A berserk doesn’t
hide
.’
    â€˜Shut up and hide!’ ordered Roskva. ‘Or we’ll all die.’
    Snot hesitated, then slipped into the storeroom off to the side. ‘I’ll kill him later,’ he muttered.
    The others barely had time to duck behind barrelsbefore a giant stomped in, carrying huge buckets of speared fish, entrails and guts.
    â€˜That’s not Thjazi,’ murmured Alfi. Freya could scarcely breathe. The giant was wearing a coat of mail, a battered helmet, and carried a sword and an enormous round shield emblazoned with eagles gnawing at a corpse. He took off the helmet and armour and shook out tangled frizzy green hair. Freya gasped.
    It wasn’t a he. It was a she. The ugliest hag Freya had ever seen, with small, squinting, bloodshot eyes and a hideous wart-covered face. Great bands of fat swelled around her middle. Her arms bulged out of her tunic sleeves. Her thighs were like tree trunks. Her short dress was far too tight. Freya had a horrible feeling she wasn’t wearing any underwear.
    The giantess lifted her leg and farted loudly. A terrible stink hung over the room. Freya covered her nose and tried not to breathe.
    The disgusting creature picked up a vast drinking horn and gulped. She drank, and drank, and drank, the liquid pouring down her face and slopping onto the floor. She belched and wiped her dripping mouth with her sleeve.
    Then she sniffed the air.
    â€˜Snugglebum? Snugglebum? Is that you?’
    They froze.
    The giantess continued sniffing. A huge smile gashed her face and she punched the air with her hairy fist.
    â€˜You’ve come back for me at last, my little snugglechops!’ she cooed. ‘You certainly took your time. But your itty-bitty Skadi-Waddi isn’t mad. Come on out and show yourself. No need to be shy! Daddy’s not at home. Just your darling Skadi!’
    No one moved. Freya thought she would pass out. Thjazi had a daughter. A daughter. Now they had
two
giants to deal with.
    â€˜I can smell you, you know,’ said the giantess, primping and running her thick fingers through her bristly hair. ‘Why don’t you come out from the storeroom and give your little Skadi a kiss? Or do I have to come and
get
you?’
    Reluctantly, Roskva, Alfi, and Freya came out from behind their barrels and stood trembling at the storeroom’s entrance. After a moment, Snot joined them, hand on his sword. Next to the giantess, even he looked puny as she loomed over them, glowering.
    â€˜If she attacks, use the love charm,’ muttered Freya.
    Snot went ashen.
    â€˜I’ll kill her first,’ he spat.
    Skadi’s face fell.
    â€˜Oh,’ she said. ‘Oh. You’re not him. You’re just thieves. How dare you, you lousy, stinking—’ she drew her sword. Roskva, Alfi, and Snot drew theirs.
    â€˜No!’ said Alfi. ‘Wait! We’re not thieves. We’re …’
    â€˜No one comes here!’ bellowed Skadi, advancing towards them. ‘No one. Who are you and what are you doing in my house?’
    â€˜Tell her, Roskva,’ said Alfi, quaking.
    Roskva glared at her brother.
    â€˜We’re Thor’s bondservants,’ said Roskva. Her voice was shaking. ‘The door was open so we came in to wait for you.’
    Skadi looked confused. ‘Thor’s bondservants?
Thor?
Then you’ve come from … Asgard?’
    Roskva nodded.
    Skadi’s face lit up. ‘Was Loki there? Have you seen him?’
    Huh?
    Roskva hesitated.
    â€˜No,’ said Roskva.
    Skadi’s face sagged. Freya held her breath. Should Roskva have lied and said yes?
    â€˜Why are you here?’ roared Skadi. She glowered.‘Thor hates giants.’
    Snot gripped his sword and stepped towards her.
    â€˜Back off or I’ll kill