Free Vulgar the Viking and the Rock Cake Raiders by Odin Redbeard Page B

taller than Vulgar, even though they were both eight, but Knut always slouched so the boys looked almost the same height.

    Knut didn’t have a beard either. In fact, he looked even less like a proper Viking than Vulgar did. For a start, he was far too skinny. Proper Vikings needed to be broad-shouldered, with chests like rum barrels. Knut looked like a garden rake, with a turnip on top for a head. Even his helmet looked wrong. It was much too big. And Knut had accidentally broken off one of the horns. He’d stuck it back on, but because he wasn’t paying attention – Knut hardly ever paid attention – he’d put it back the wrong way up. Now one horn curved upwards, and one horn curved down. It madeKnut look like he had a giant letter “Z” stuck through his head.
    “History Day!” announced Vulgar. “Excited?”
    Knut shrugged. “S’pose.”
    They hurried off in the direction of the Great Hall, with Grunt trotting along behind them.
    “I wonder if there’ll be demonstrations,” said Vulgar.
    “Demonstrations of what?” asked Knut.
    “You know – proper Viking stuff. Like … like … pillaging!”
    Knut considered this. “What exactly is pillaging?”
    “Well,” began Vulgar, waving his hand about vaguely. “It’s like … um … it’s a bit like stealing. Only more, er…”
    “More pillagey?”
    “Exactly!”
    “Here, Vulgar,” said Knut, “maybethey’ll pillage us?”
    Vulgar stopped in the middle of the dirt track, his eyes suddenly wide. “That. Would. Be. Brilliant! ”
    He hurried on, moving even faster than before. The track took them through the town, past old women weaving on their front steps, past younger women scrubbing moss from the wooden walls of their thatched huts, and past men of all ages tending their rock gardens.
    “Look at that lot,” muttered Vulgar. “Weaving. Cleaning. Growing vegetables.” He shook his head in disgust. “I mean … vegetables !”
    “Someone’s got to grow vegetables,” said Knut.
    “Yes, but not us !” exclaimed Vulgar. “Not Vikings !We should be sailing to other countries and taking all their vegetables, not growing our own!” 

    Knut gave another shrug. They hurried on for a few more minutes, not even slowing down to admire the view of the snow-capped mountains across the fjord.
    Finally, they arrived at the Great Hall – the huge building in the centre of Blubber. It was twice as tall as any of the huts around it, with life-size polar bears carved on to each corner. Grunt took onelook at the steep steps leading up to the doors, slumped to the ground and started snoring.
    “Come on,” Vulgar said to Knut. “We don’t want to be late.”
    Inside, the Great Hall looked even greater than usual. Banners had been draped between the massive wooden pillars that held up the roof. A huge fire crackled in the hearth.

    The ceremonial weapons were all polished and gleaming. Long tapestries hung on the walls, depicting great battles of old. And the room was full of Viking children, all chattering excitedly about History Day.
    Only one girl was not talking with the others. Princess Freya Gold-Hair, the only daughter of King Olaf, sat on a padded chair with her back resting against one of the pillars.
    “Wotcha, Freya,” said Vulgar cheerily.
    Freya’s delicate nose wrinkled, as if detecting an unpleasant smell. She turned her head, deliberately looking away from Vulgar and Knut.
    “Helloooo!” said Vulgar, leaning around so Freya had no choice but to look at him. She met his eyes briefly, then turned away again.
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” said Vulgar, grinning. “I forgot you don’t talk to us commoners.” He gave an exaggerated bow. “Forgive me, your high and mightiness.”
    With that, Vulgar turned and scurried away. He’d only gone a few paces, though, when he stopped and tiptoed back towards the princess.
    “ Watch this ,”he mouthed silently, grinning at Knut.
    Knut covered his mouth with his handsto stop himself laughing as