Leif Frond and the Viking Games Read Online Free Page B

didn’t work. Everyone else roared with laughter, which, of course, only encouraged her. It was just entertainment to them, but I’m
related
! The more I shushed, the more outrageous she got.
    You’d almost think she
enjoyed
embarrassing me.
    The match everyone was looking forward to most was the one between my brother Karl and Hildefjord’s best contestant, Manni. In spite of the fact that he came from the Widow’s settlement, Manni was a really nice person – and an excellent wrestler. They were scheduled last, as a sort of star event.
    Manni rippled his muscles at my brother and called out with a broad smile. “Don’t look so scared – I promise I won’t hurt you… much.”
    â€œBrave words, little man.” Karl grinned back at him. “Brave…”
    But just then a peculiar expression came over my brother’s face. He turned pale. Then he turned red.
    â€œI…” he said in a strangled sort of voice. “I… um…” And suddenly he was gone, racing for the latrines.
    â€œGranny!” I hissed.
    â€œSomeone must have shared their cup with him,” she whispered back defensively. “What, do you think I’d give it to him deliberately?”
    There was a pause as the crowd exchanged puzzled glances.
    â€œUm… there seems to be a lot of that going around,” said my father wearily.
    â€œI’m happy to wrestle someone else, sir,” said Manni politely.
    â€œThat’s very decent of you,” said my father. “But apparently there have been a number of disqualifications and we, um, we appear to have run out of competitors.”
    The Widow had already stepped forward to congratulate
her
contestant on being the winner by default, when…
    â€œNot quite!” shrilled Granny.
    â€œWhat?” said my father. He looked pained, as if he were getting a headache.
    â€œYou’re not quite out of contestants,” said Granny.
    I looked about, relieved. Who had shown up? Was it Brand? Or Haki? Not either of the twins, I hoped. They were both useless at wrestling. Who was she talking about?
    â€œJust give me a moment to strip him down, and he’s all yours,” called Granny. And then, for no reason that I could see, she grabbed me by the sleeve and dragged me away in the direction of the Hall.
    â€œWha… what?!”
    â€œIt’s you or nobody,” she grunted. “Now get your shirt off.”
    I could not believe what was happening. I tried to pull away.
    â€œWhat about Haki? Or the twins? Or – ”
    â€œHaven’t you been paying attention? Haki’s sprained his wrist, Brand’s wrenched his shoulder, and the twins have been disqualified for trying to nobble some of the Hildefjord wrestlers before the event.” Granny snorted. “I wouldn’t mind them having a go, if they’d been any good at it. But they weren’t. So, undress yourself
now
– or I’ll do it for you!” she said, as we arrived in the Hall.
    Reluctantly, I started to pull my shirt over my head, thinking all the while,
Manni is going to massacre me. My entire body’s about as thick as one of his arms. Why does my granny hate me all of a sudden
? Then, as I emerged,it got worse. She had a pot of something horrible and stinky in her hands, and a strange gleam in her eyes.
    â€œWhat’s that smell?
Hey
!” I squealed.
    â€œStop wriggling,” my granny scolded, as she rubbed great globs of the foul-smelling stuff onto me. “It’s my best quality goose-fat ache ointment.”
    â€œBut I’m not sore!” I cried, trying to squirm out of her bony grip.
    â€œYou will be,” she muttered, not letting go at all. “You will be.”
    And then, after checking that I was entirely basted in ointment, she herded me outside, and back to the wrestling ring.
    Have I mentioned I’m not exactly fully-grown yet? That might not give you a