Frost Giants of Jötunheim

By Richard Denning

The third book in the Nineworlds Series

The evil sorceress, the Valkyrie Kendra has stolen treasures from the gods
and will use them to gain alliance with the fierce giants of Jotunheim.

So now the children must face a perilous world of tall mountains, deep
forests and icy wastes in an attempt to foil their enemy's plans.

The land and weather though is not the greatest peril they must overcome for
the Frost Giants of Jotunheim are a foe more fearsome than any they have
faced before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Denning
• Release date: Jun 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463261668

Richard Denning

Hi - I am Richard Denning. I was born in Ilkeston in Derbyshire and I live in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. For 27 years I worked as a GP before leaving medicine to focus on writing and games.Activities and InterestsI am a writer with a strong interest in historical settings as well as horror and fantasy.Reading - Well I love to. Here are some of my favourite booksLord of the RingsSharpe Series (Bernard Cornwell and his other books)Eagle Series Simon ScarrowDisk world books - Terry PratchettNeverwhere Neil GaimanGamingI am also a keen player of board games and other games and run UK Games Expo (the UK's largest mixed format Games convention). I am a game designer and have pubished several games one of which was inspired by the Great Fire on London.My websitesFor my writing projects go here: http://www.richarddenning.co.ukFor more on Great Fire: London 1666 (the board game): http://www.medusagames.co.ukFind out more about UK Games Expo: http://www.UKGamesExpo.co.uk

Book preview

Frost Giants of Jötunheim

By Richard Denning

Table of Contents

Title Page

Table of Contents

Copyright Page

The Author

Map

Notes

More by the Author

Frost Giants of Jötunheim

Written by Richard Denning

Copyright 2018 Richard Denning.

First Published 2018.

Smashwords Edition

Published by Mercia Books

All rights reserved. The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, for any reason or by any means, whether re-drawn, enlarged or otherwise altered including mechanical, photocopy, digital storage & retrieval or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing from the copyright owner. The text, layout and designs presented in this book, as well as the book in its entirety, are protected by the copyright laws of the United Kingdom, United States and similar laws in other countries.

Book Jacket design and layout by Cathy Helms

www.avalongraphics.org

Copy-editing and proof reading by Jo Field.

Graphics and map by Gillian Pearce

www.hellionsart.com/

Author website:

www.richarddenning.co.uk

Anglo Saxons Runes are Germanic Font 2 from:

www.fontspace.com/dan-smiths-fantasy-fonts/anglosaxon-runes with permission from Dan Smith

The Author

Richard Denning was born in Ilkeston in Derbyshire and lives in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. He is married with two children. He has always been fascinated by historical settings as well as horror and fantasy. Other than writing, his main interests are games of all types. He is the designer of a number of boardgames as well as the director of UK Games Expo, the largest tabletop games convention in the UK. Having trained as a doctor he worked for many years as a General Practitioner before leaving medicine to work full time in the games industry and on his writing.

Author website:

http://www.richarddenning.co.uk

Also by the author

Northern Crown Series

(Historical fiction)

1.The Amber Treasure

2.Child of Loki

3. Princes in Exile

4. The White Chariot

Hourglass Institute Series

(Young Adult Science Fiction)

1.Tomorrow’s Guardian

2. Yesterday’s Treasures

3. Today’s Sacrifice

The Praesidium Series

(Historical Fantasy)

The Last Seal

The Nine Worlds Series

(Children’s Historical Fantasy)

1.Shield Maiden

2. The Catacombs of Vanaheim

3. Frost Giants of Jötunheim

Dedication

As my editor, Jo is now planning a well-earned retirement, this is the last book we will cooperate on. I therefore dedicate the book to her with grateful thanks for all her help over many years.

Map of Jötunheim

Chapter 1

A Burglary in Asgard

Merciful Woden, but this place is huge! Wilburh said as he gasped in astonishment at the enormous structures that now surrounded him. He was typically a quite reserved and studious youth, but his blue eyes widened as he swept back a mop of fair hair to get a better view.

He was standing in the centre of the city of the Aesir gods in the world of Asgard. Behind him, Heimdall, Gatekeeper of the Gods, closed the gate to Midgard, Wilburh’s own world, which he and his companions had just come through. The journey via the mystical rainbow bridge between the worlds, known as the Bifrost, was always thrilling, yet it now seemed tame compared with the breathtaking sights all around them.

Next to Wilburh stood his friend Anna, a red-haired, green-eyed shieldmaiden - or girl warrior - of the people of Scenestane, the village where they lived. In the past, Wilburh, Anna and three other children, Lar, Hild and Ellette, along with their companions: a travelling tinker, story teller and poet named Raedann, and the gruff dwarf, Gurthrunn, had already shared two dangerous adventures that had brought them into contact with, and gained them the trust of, the gods.

Gurthrunn, who was well known to the gods, had often acted as a messenger between them and the human world. So it was that today he had come to Scenestane with an invitation from the gods for Anna and Wilburh to journey with him to Asgard. Both children, in very different ways, had given a significant service to Woden and the other gods of the Aesir. Anna had in the process become a warrior and Wilburh a sorcerer or wielder of magic. The gods had wished to thank the two children and show them a little of their city as a reward.

Having arrived by way of the Bifrost and been escorted into the city through a gate guarded by Heimdall, they now walked along an avenue past houses and mansions a hundred times the size of the hall held by Nerian, Anna’s father, who was the headman in Scenestane.

My race, the Dweorgar from my world of Nidavellir, helped build these halls, the dwarf said, looking up at the vast stone-built edifices, nevertheless the scale of them does sometimes make even me a bit dizzy.

Heimdall laughed. My brothers and sisters do like spectacle, it has to be said, he gestured to buildings as they passed by.

That first building inside the gates is Himinbjorg, the ‘castle in the sky’, as you humans put it.

He was pointing at a fortress-like structure that connected to the tall walls close by the gate they had entered.

It is, in fact, my house and also the gateway fortress that protects the entrance into the rest of the city. Over there is Gladsheim – the bright home. That is the Temple of the Aesir and contains Woden’s throne.

I have been there and met the All Father, Anna said in a hushed voice.

Ah yes, I recall the day, the gatekeeper said.

What is that other temple next door to Gladsheim? Wilburh asked pointing at the structure that looked almost identical to the first.

That is the Vingolf – a temple for the goddesses to call their own.

He led them on past other houses on either side of the grand avenue that started at the gateway. Almost at the end of the avenue stood a large hall, which again looked like a fortress. It had no windows but rather had two huge stone doors on one end which were currently shut.

There is the strong room which houses all our treasures, many of them fashioned by the Dweorgar in ancient times, Heimdall said with a bow of his head toward Gurthrunn.

On they walked past still more buildings until they finally reached the end of the grand avenue. Ahead of them was a massive banqueting hall, a structure so huge that the roof disappeared into the clouds high above them. What they could see of the roof and the walls was covered with tiles and bricks made of gold and bronze, so that the whole building sparkled in the bright sunlight. Access to this hall was through a multitude of doors dotted all around the outside. Beyond the hall was a town of wooden huts, which were much closer in appearance to those to be found in Scenestane and unlike any others in this city of the gods.

As the children watched, countless numbers of warriors clad in chainmail, both men and women, were emerging from the town clutching shields, swords, spears and axes. They headed towards the banqueting hall and were soon streaming into the building.

Who are they? What are they doing? Anna asked.

Wilburh, though, was smiling.

I think I know. They are the Einherjar – the victorious dead – fallen in battle and now brought to Valhalla. So, I guess this must be Valhalla, Woden’s banqueting hall?

Heimdall nodded. Come, I will show you, he said and led them through one of the doors.

Inside the hall, the warriors were lining up on either side. Behind them tables and benches had been pushed away creating a large central space across which the warriors now faced each other. One of the warriors started hammering his axe handle against the top of his shield and soon others on both sides joined in. The clattering noise grew louder and louder and the blows faster and faster.

It looks like they are about to have a battle, Anna shouted in an attempt to be heard over the din.

Even as she spoke there was a roar from one of the warriors that was soon joined by bellows, shouts and challenges from the others and before Anna could say any more the opposing lines of warriors charged towards each other. There was an almighty crash as shields smashed into shields and spears splintered on armour. Then the battle was truly joined and the warriors were soon hewing and chopping at each other. Axes swung up and down, swords slashed and cut and spears stabbed back and forth. Before very long a number of the warriors from both sides lay still on the ground and yet the battle raged on.

What are they fighting about? Anna asked.

Heimdall gave her a blank look. Nothing really, he answered vaguely.

The warriors are dying there aren’t they? she asked. Surely they know why!

Wilburh shook his head. They are dead already and risen from the dead. They are heroes: men and women who died fighting and were brought here by the Valkyries. Each day they come back to life and train for battle. Then each night they feast here in Woden’s Hall, that is until Ragnarok – the end of time – when they will fight alongside the gods in the final battles at the end of the nine worlds.

Heimdall nodded. You know the ways of Asgard well, child, he said.

He should do, Anna said. He spends all his time reading ancient scrolls in the temple in our village.

Heimdall opened his mouth to say something then quite suddenly he turned his head and stepped away from them out through the doors, leaving the warriors to their battle. The children followed him, puzzled by his actions. It seemed he was staring towards the strong room of the gods. The children glanced in the same direction just as a deafening, shattering explosion sounded from within the strong room making the whole massive structure shake. A moment later the doors to the treasure chamber burst apart and smoke and flames erupted from the building.

As they looked on, the figure of their old enemy, the Valkyrie, Kendra, appeared through the smoke looking quite unaffected by whatever immense force had so devastated the strong room. She stood for one moment at the doorway scanning the surrounding city. She was, as ever, quite beautiful and at the same time quite intimidating. Wilburh and Anna had once seen her sway their entire village to her will apparently using nothing more than her appearance and a presence that could not be easily dismissed. In one hand, she held a sack which seemed to bulge. In the other hand, she held what appeared to be a large curved piece of leather studded with metal.

She has Megingjord! gasped Heimdall.

What? Anna asked.

It was Gurthrunn who answered. It is another treasure that my people made long ago for the gods. It’s Thunor’s belt of strength. When he wears it, his already impressive strength is doubled. He then becomes almost invincible, even compared to another god.

Kendra spotted them and walked a few steps away from the strong room in their direction. She opened her mouth to speak but whatever she was about to say was never heard because at that moment a shadow passed overhead. When they glanced up, Wilburh had to take a second look to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was. Passing by above them was a chariot that appeared to be pulled by two goats. The goat-towed vehicle flew on past and landed in front of them. With the thud of boots on stone, the huge form of a warrior god leapt down to confront the Valkyrie. Wilburh could see muscles rippling in his arms and powerful body and recognised the Thunder God, Thunor, also known as Thor, son of Woden and the mightiest of all the Aesir gods. His eyes burned with anger as he addressed Kendra.

Drop my belt and your other plunder and surrender to me, or I shall slay you today, fallen one.

Kendra turned her beautiful face towards the god.

Mighty Thunor, or maybe not so mighty… she taunted him with the belt.

Thunor scowled and moved determinedly towards the wicked sorceress, but before the god could reach her, Kendra had pulled a cloak around her shoulders. Anna gasped as she recognised it. It was an unusual cloak – being made of falcon feathers – and was itself a powerful magical artefact. It had once belonged to the Goddess Freya and had been stolen by the Valkyrie during the children’s past adventures in the world of Vanaheim. As they looked on, Kendra changed shape. First, she crouched down and extended her arms. Then her face and body blurred and metamorphosed into the form of a falcon, complete with talons, beak and feathers. Thunor’s belt and Kendra’s own clothes were somehow absorbed within the new shape.

Squawking in triumph, the falcon launched itself skyward with a few beats of its wings. Thunor roared in anger and aimed his hammer at the flying bird. A crack of thunder rolled across the air towards them all and at the same time a bolt of lightning arched towards the falcon, but by now the bird was far away, high above them and out of reach of even the Thunder God’s bolts.

Come, let us pursue! Thunor shouted at them and without discussion the children and Gurthrunn ran after him back to his chariot. It was far larger than a chariot might have been and they were not cramped or squeezed in as they clambered up after Thunor.

Hold on! he shouted at them. It was wise advice as the chariot leapt into the air. Wilburh let out a cry of alarm as he hurtled towards the open rear of the chariot, but Gurthrunn was there and seized him in one huge muscular arm.

The chariot climbed higher and higher, following Kendra’s route. The falcon was now a tiny dot speeding away into the distance. Below them, Heimdall returned to his post as gatekeeper – a seemingly minute figure now. The chariot raced on, reaching the clouds above the god’s city. For a moment they could see nothing save a white light and then suddenly they were above the clouds where the sun shone brightly, almost blinding them. The chariot circled as Thunor scanned the skies for Kendra. Then, with a shout of triumph, he spotted his prey still above them and pulled on the reins. The goats bleated in protest but responded with a burst of speed and the chariot banked to the right to follow her.

They had turned away from the sun into the darkness of the skies above Asgard, a sky dotted with strange stars that Anna did not know. Kendra seemed to be heading towards one of them and then in a flash of light she was gone. Thunor cracked the reins and the goats leapt after her. Wilburh could not describe what happened next. One moment they were above Asgard, home of the gods, and the next, Asgard had vanished. Just as suddenly, another world appeared in the sky – a vast dark shape against the stars. Then, with a flash, the crescent shape of another sun appeared in the new sky. A moment later the world was illuminated: a world of greens and greys, icy blues and intense white. A world of dense forests, ancient woodlands, mountains, snow plains and icy hill tops. They were witnessing the sunrise on another of the nine worlds. Which one though? Wilburh asked himself.

The falcon seemed to spot them as she made another immense effort and now was hurtling down through this world’s clouds towards a mountain range far below.

At Anna’s side, Wilburh was muttering his incantations and the next instant a ball of fire appeared in his outstretched hand. The ball hissed and sizzled. Wilburn examined it, apparently admiring his arcane work. He did not seem to notice the heat that was singeing Anna’s hair.

Closer, divine Thunor. Get me closer and I will roast this bird! Wilburh implored the god. Thunor, though, was shaking his head. The chariot flew on but the god did not close the gap. In the end, he gave a roar of frustration and pulled on the reins so the chariot banked away. Wilburh threw the fire ball even so, but it could not hope to reach Kendra and it faded away before it had crossed half the gap between them. The children watched as the bird grew smaller and smaller and then was gone, lost against the vastness of a mountain range.

Wilburh turned in frustration to Thunor. Why did you not let me try? Why give up now? Don’t you want to catch her?

Thunor nodded gravely and sighed. Yes, I want to catch her. Please believe me when I say I did not want to lose her.

"Well? What stopped you? She