Peter Ward's vivid adventure story for 9 to 12 year-olds.
Desperate to escape the next raid on Saxon England, Viking youngster Vimp flees to the forest where he discovers highborn Freya, possessor of extraordinary gifts. Vimp immediately falls under her charms.
Freya’s friend is a captured Saxon slave girl about to be sacrificed. The village boys and girls join forces to rescue her, commandeering a longboat and setting out on a hazardous voyage. The crew fail to seek permission to journey from Sea God, Aegir, who rages at their insolence and threatens to crush the slender craft in his massive fist.
Menacing pirates attack before Freya summons the awesome Iormungandr, Serpent of the World. The bullies plunge to watery graves.
Aided through sea fog by friendly dolphins, the youngsters find land but the adventure is far from over. Emma and her friends, ambushed by a Saxon patrol, are taken captive.
The crew establish their shore base unaware that they have been closely observed by Saxon defenders high on the cliff tops. But a second Viking longboat boat rows into in the bay; a fully armed warship scouring the coastline for the absconding youngsters. A huge row breaks out as Vimp and Freya stand defiant, refusing to return home and face punishment. Freya seizes the initiative, forcing the Viking aggressors to back off when confronted by her powers.
Emma convinces her Saxon captors that the young Viking immigrants offer no threat so they are permitted to settle. But there’s a twist in the tale when the ethereal Freya deserts her mortal friends.
See 'Freya' button (above) for 2010 sequel Freya and the Fenris-Wolf.
Is Vimp a wimp?
