A Bone to Pick Read Online Free Page B

giant, Hrimthurs, who wagered the gods that he could build a wall around Asgard in one winter. If he succeeded, then they must give him the sun and the moon, and the lovely Frigga for a wife. Now Loki, adopted son of Odin, had little faith in Hrimthurs, so he convinced Odin, Thor, and the other gods to accept the wager. Upon this agreement the giant began his work with the help of his giant horse, Svadilfari.”
    As Thorfinn recites the well-worn story, Sigrid sits on the edge of her seat, biting her nails. She sees in her imagination the giant, an ugly brute who thinks he can outsmart the gods and take for himself the beautiful Frigga. He must be mad, she thinks. He deserves the gory mess he will soon be in for daring to outwit Odin and the others.
    â€œSigrid, please take Snorri and tuck him into bed,” asks Gudrid. “He’s very tired tonight.”
    â€œNow? We’re in the middle of a story. He can wait till later,” Sigrid snaps back. Just then the toddler lets out an ear-splitting wail that commands attention.
    â€œI go sleep now,” he cries.
    â€œSigrid, do as you were told,” Thorfinn commands.
    The girl huffs and grabs the little fellow by the hand. “Come on,” she says as she yanks him from his mother’s lap. “Brat,” she says when they are out of earshot. As Sigrid tucks the toddler under the fur blanket, his eyes are already closed and his thumb is in his mouth. “Why do I always get stuck with you? I’m not your mother. And for that matter I’ll never be anyone’s mother. I’m going to be a shield maiden.”
    Sigrid knows if anyone heard her say such a thing — anyone except Snorri — they would laugh at her. No woman in her clan has ever become a warrior, let alone an orphan girl like her. But at the core of her being she knows she has the heart of a warrior, like Thor, and that is more important than anything.
    The girl lays her head down beside her cousin and whispers in his ear, “One day, Snorri, you’ll see. I will march into battle and strike down the enemy as fiercely as if I were Odin, the Allfather himself. They will call me Sigrid the Brave. You’ll see …” With images of fighting giants and dwarfs single-handed, she slips off to sleep.

Chapter Three
    The next morning came way too soon. Before the sun was fully up, Mom was in my room rattling around in my closet. Out of one eye I watched her open and shut drawers and pull my suitcase out from under my bed.
    â€œMom,” I growled, “what are you doing? I’m trying to sleep here!” She either didn’t hear me or didn’t care because she kept on thumping around. I pulled my pillow over my head. “This isn’t fair. Aunt Margaret said I could sleep in.”
    â€œNever mind. You can sleep on the plane,” she said.
    I lifted my head slightly and watched her shove my clothes into the suitcase.
    â€œOkay, that should be enough shirts and pants, undies and warm sweaters. Oh, where’s your raincoat? I’ve looked everywhere for it.”
    I sat up and stared at her. “Have you finally lost your marbles? What are you talking about?” I asked, now completely annoyed. “It’s a perfectly sunny summer day. Why would I need my raincoat? Mom, stop. Why are you packing my suitcase?”
    Mom just beamed at me, then looked at her watch. “We don’t have much time for this, but here’s the short version. Last night Eddy called.” I sat up quickly and could feel my heart pounding under my pajamas. “As it turns out, the field school is in need of a cook’s assistant. Apparently, they had someone lined up, but after just one day he suddenly quit. Eddy said that as soon as she heard she thought of you.”
    I didn’t say anything, just stared at her.
    â€œPeggy! You’re going to Newfoundland!”
    â€œWhat? But …” My brain was shorting out.