The Ogre of Oglefort Read Online Free PDF Page B

the First Norn.
    â€œWater in which feet have been washed,” said the Second Norn.
    â€œFeet of heroes,” said the Third Norn.
    The wizard took it and asked shyly what the foot water was for.
    â€œWounds,” said the First Norn.
    â€œHeals wounds,” agreed the Second.
    â€œUsually,” said the Third.
    But gifts from people who deal in magic nearly always come in threes, and now the Norns clapped their hands and one of the attendants came forward carrying a rusty sword.
    The Norns had ordered it when they realized that not one of the slayers had a proper weapon.
    â€œFor plunging,” said the First Norn.
    â€œOr thrusting,” said the Second.
    â€œOr stabbing,” said the Third.
    â€œInto neck of ogre,” said the First Norn.
    â€œOr stomach,” said the Second.
    â€œOr chest,” said the Third.
    The attendant continued to hold out the sword, but no one moved. The troll was strong and brave, but he worked with wood, not rusty metal. The wizard thought that the sword looked heavy, and carrying it would make it difficult for him to think. Then Ivo stepped forward and held out his arms, and the attendant laid the sword across them.
    The Norns were very tired now. Their heads kept falling forward on their skinny necks and they shook themselves awake. Then they beckoned once again, and another of their attendants came with a small packet.
    â€œOpen later,” whispered the First Norn.
    â€œAt home,” croaked the Second.
    And a few moments later, the cave resounded with their snores.
    The packet, when it was opened in the kitchen at Whipple Road, did not contain a phoenix or a dragon’s egg. It was a pleasantly ordinary parcel. Inside was a large map of the island of Ostland surrounded by ocean. A rocky bay on the northern tip of the island was marked with a black arrow.
    There was also a page of instructions for the journey—and four envelopes. Each envelope had on it the name of the person who was to travel. One said HILDA GARBUTTLE , which was the official name of the Hag. One said ULF OAKROOT ; and one was made out to BRIAN BRAINSWELLER . Inside each of the envelopes was a train ticket to Rylance on Sea and a boat ticket from there to Osterhaven, the most northern port on the island.
    â€œThere’s an extra envelope,” said the Hag.
    The troll picked it up. Quite clearly it was labeled IVO BELL .
    â€œOh but he mustn’t come,” began the Hag. “He absolutely mustn’t be allowed to run into danger. I’ll rub out his name—we can get the money back perhaps?”
    She found an eraser—but as soon as she started to remove Ivo’s name, the letters came back again, as clear as day.
    â€œBetter not meddle with the arrangements, Hilda,” said the troll. “Who knows, they must have seen something in the boy.”
    Ivo had the sense then to go quickly up to the attic and put himself to bed. But he was far too happy to go to sleep. Tomorrow, the day when he would have sat down to claggy meat and lumpy custard, he would be setting off on an amazing adventure.
    Ostland. . . . He had heard of it, of course, an island as big as England and Scotland and Wales all put together, afloat on a remote and mysterious ocean. Ivo had longed to see it, poring over maps in the encyclopedia, but he had never dreamed that he would make the journey. And he was going to rescue a young girl from dreadful danger! He could see her now, kneeling in terror before the great beast that threatened her. It was a pity she was a princess—Ivo did not approve of people being royal—but it was not her fault; one cannot choose one’s parents.
    And all this because a toad called Gladys had said no.

CHAPTER
6
MIRELLA

    O stland is an unexpected place. The south of the island is peaceful. It has a string of pretty towns along the coast and the biggest of these, which is called Waterfield, is the capital. In Waterfield you can