Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage
    Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage
    Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage
    Ebook154 pages1 hour

    Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage

    By Peter L. Ward

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Can Vimp and Freya and friends rescue a Saxon slave girl from sacrifice? Seizing a longboat they set out on a hazardous voyage, dicing with death. Upsetting Aegir the Sea God, defying pirates and escaping the deadly venom of the Serpent of the World, the young Vikings are guided through fog by friendly dolphins.

    They land on the Saxon shore but what sort of welcome can they expect? Will hidden watchers on the cliffs view them as friend or foe?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTrafford Publishing
    Release dateMay 22, 2012
    ISBN9781466908765
    Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage
    Author

    Peter L. Ward

    Peter L. Ward is a former chief producer in BBC Education who happens to live in a sleepy Sussex village. His trilogy for children (Trafford Books) Freedom of the Waves has been awarded glowing comments from top critics from The American Review of Books, ForeWord Reviews, Kirkus Reviews, and BlueInk Reviews. Ward’s first book, The Adventures of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press) has been translated and published in seven languages.

    Read more from Peter L. Ward

    Related to Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage

    Related ebooks

    Fantasy For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      In The Footsteps Of Dalesman

      Nov 10, 2022

      In The Footsteps Of Dalesman
      6 min read

    • Article

      Crocodile Escapades

      Dec 1, 2021

      Crocodile Escapades
      8 min read

    • Article

      ‘A Fun, Spoiling Pack’

      Nov 19, 2020

      ‘A Fun, Spoiling Pack’
      5 min read

    • Article

      In The Eye Of The Storm

      Dec 22, 2022

      DARTMOOR 26 November Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 Ivybridge, Devon LAST season, I had a memorable, if occasionally hair-raising day hunting hounds in the eye of Storm Dudley on the Quantocks from the late Ant

      6 min read

    • Article

      A Day To Dream About

      Feb 20, 2020

      A Day To Dream About
      5 min read

    • Article

      An Otter In The Valley

      Aug 2, 2023

      An Otter In The Valley
      4 min read

    • Article

      Great Banks There Was…

      Feb 2, 2023

      Great Banks There Was…
      6 min read

    • Article

      Otterly Wonderful

      Oct 27, 2021

      Otterly Wonderful
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Complete South African Safari

      Feb 4, 2022

      A Complete South African Safari
      7 min read

    • Article

      ‘A Paradise For Foxhunters’

      Dec 23, 2021

      catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 Wexford, Newbawn, Co Wexford “WEXFORD is a real paradise for those foxhunters who want the blood and bones of the thing, those bred to love sport rather than follow fashion,” wrote the late novelist Molly K

      5 min read

    • Article

      Admirable Performers

      Feb 20, 2020

      The Melbreak, Ennerdale, Cumbria THE Lakeland foot packs have their own unique history, set up as fox control organisations to help farmers protect their sheep. The high fells are far too steep and precipitous for horses and the “in bye” fields in t

      6 min read

    • Article

      Walk on Wye

      Oct 7, 2020

      Walk on Wye
      4 min read

    • Article

      ‘Real Drive And Determination’

      Dec 30, 2021

      catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 United Pack, Selly Hall, Shropshire ONE of the great joys of hacking home with hounds is the time it gives you to ponder and rerun the events of the day. The enjoyment of hunting is as much the warm aftergl

      6 min read

    • Article

      Saving Freyfaxi

      Jan 1, 2024

      Saving Freyfaxi
      8 min read

    • Article

      Where The Land Screams ‘Snipe’

      Oct 14, 2020

      Where The Land Screams ‘Snipe’
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Wye And The Wherefores

      Aug 15, 2019

      The Wye And The Wherefores
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Realm Of Real Men

      Dec 23, 2022

      The Realm Of Real Men
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Wild RENEWAL

      Sep 14, 2020

      A Wild RENEWAL
      9 min read

    • Article

      Love In Strange Places

      Sep 22, 2021

      A YEAR ago, our friend the Lovelorn Laird asked me to become a family trustee. I consented, honoured to be asked, anything to help and so forth. And then heard nothing more. Naturally, I thought this was just another example of the West Coast sense o

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Viking funeral

      Nov 26, 2022

      A Viking funeral
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Thrill of Fear

      Dec 16, 2019

      The Thrill of Fear
      4 min read

    • Article

      ‘Everything A Huntsman Would Want’

      Mar 24, 2022

      catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 North Cornwall, Camelford, Cornwall IN 1944, from Cornwall’s Davidstow Airfield where the North Cornwall met, the Royal Air Force flew Bristol Beaufighters to cover the west flank of the Normandy landings.

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Field From The Archives

      Dec 10, 2020

      BEING an American, there is a telephone at my bedside, and I was awakened on the first morning of the New Year by the ringing of the bell. The familiar voice of Holland, my huntsman, came over the wire: “Good morning, sir. Happy New Year. Is it brown

      4 min read

    • Article

      Lord’s Work

      May 26, 2019

      Lord’s Work
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage - Peter L. Ward

      Vimp

      the Viking’s Epic Voyage

      SKU-000531961_TEXT.pdf

      Peter L Ward

      Illustrated by Steve Crisp

      missing image file

      Order this book online at www.trafford.comor email orders@trafford.com

      Most Trafford titles are also available at major online book retailers.

      ©

      Copyright 2012 Peter L. Ward.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

      This book was created in the United States of America.

      ISBN: 978-1-4669-0876-5 (e)

      Trafford rev. 05/21/2012

      missing image file www.trafford.com

      North America & international

      toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

      phone: 250 383 6864 fax: 812 355 4082

      Contents

      Acknowledgements

      C H A P T E R 1    How Vimp Got His Name

      C H A P T E R 2    The Maidin the Forest

      C H A P T E R 3    Freya’s Wild idea

      C H A P T E R 4    Concert atthe Thing

      C H A P T E R 5    Warrior Training

      C H A P T E R 6    Girls on Board

      C H A P T E R 7    Freya Weaves Her Magic

      C H A P T E R 8    Breakfast at Sea

      C H A P T E R 9    Pirate Attack!

      C H A P T E R 1 0    Dolphin Antics

      C H A P T E R 1 1    Fogbound

      C H A P T E R 1 2    Safe Landing

      C H A P T E R 1 3    Anglo Saxons

      C H A P T E R 1 4    When to Attack?

      C H A P T E R 1 5    The Magic of Music

      About the Author

      This book is dedicated to grandson Jack

      Acknowledgements

      The author wishes to express his gratitude, for advice given, to former Senior Producer colleagues at BBC Schools Broadcasting, Radio: Paddy Bechely and Colin Smith

      Author web site

      www.peter-ward.net

      (orders and information)

      C H A P T E R 1

      How Vimp Got

      His Name

      The quiet waters of the sea lapped lazily at weed stranded on the shore. Across the bay, only the merest ripple disturbed the surface. But beyond, a formidable range of mountains frowned down from craggy summits. Eagles patrolled steep slopes, snatched suddenly upwards by air currents rising from meadows far below.

      There was hardly a breath of wind on the cool air. A tall young Viking stood arms folded, fair hair falling over his shoulders. Vimp gazed across the estuary trying to imagine the Gods glowering down.

      It seemed this morning that all was at peace. Yet in the middle of the night Thor, God of Thunder, had woken from his restless slumbers. White lightning crackled over his mountaintop kingdom, dazzling the rocky cliffs. Thor’s mighty voice boomed out. He smote his anvil with the colossal hammer forged in his furnace. The blow thundered across the night sky.

      Vimp had spent the night trembling in the shared straw bed on the floor of his family’s hut. He was anxious about the God’s bad mood. Perhaps Thor had been insulted by another God? He was known to have a prickly temper. If that was so, humans too would have to be on guard. These included the simple villagers living in the fishing hamlets on the estuary.

      Tucked under animal skins with his younger brothers, Vimp had lain awake for hours. His brothers never stirred, sleeping soundly through the storm in the mountains across the bay. Vimp felt sure that the great Thor was sending a message that something awful would befall the innocent Viking folk.

      Tossing and turning, Vimp detected a slender shaft of dawn light through the narrow gap between curtain and outer wall. As the sun crept over the mountain peaks, he finally dozed off, knowing that he had important work to do in the morning.

      His head felt fuzzy when he awoke. To his relief, the morning passed without incident. Thor was saving the thunder for his rival Gods. In the Viking settlement by the sea, people went peacefully about their work. Young boys herded their cows to day pastures whilst shepherds kept a wary eye out for wolves prowling behind boulders. Village mothers with children fed hens squawking and clucking around the safety of the huts. It had been a perfectly ordinary morning. Now, staring out over the bay, Vimp’s thoughts went to the boat he and his friends were building. It was starting to take shape and would soon be completed. The young apprentices were proud of their achievement. It was to be the funeral ship of the Old Chieftain.

      A call went up from the forest beyond the pastures. A hunting horn? There it was again. Short, sharp, and plaintive. Evidence that the Chief and his huntsmen were back from the chase. They had roamed the forest for days and the villagers eagerly looked forward to the game they would bring home. The people expected to celebrate, and mouths watered at the prospect of fresh meat.

      Harald Strongaxe had led his hunters into the forest. He was the new Chieftain of the Viking settlement. His father, the old Chieftain, had grown frail and would soon die. The old Chief’s grave illness was a reason why Vimp and his ship-building friends were so determined to finish their vessel. The brand new ship was destined never to sail, for it had been designed to be his funeralboat. After his death, the body would be placed in it and buried under a high mound outside the village.

      The hunting horn sounded a third time. Nearer this time. Children broke off from simple games and scampered over to the trees. Some of them had not seen their fathers for a week. Vimp turned to see riders emerge from the forest. Burly, bearded men rode their horses across the marshy meadow.

      Harald Strongaxe struggled with his steed as the children ran towards him. Older villagers ran up, having cast aside their tools or nets. They saw the long faces of the Chieftain and his men. The crowd quietened when they saw the hunters had returned empty handed. Harald faced them with his piercing blue eyes.

      ‘No deer!’ he shouted. ‘We hunted high and low.’

      He gestured towards a net of dead hares dangling from the side of an old mare. ‘A few overgrown rabbits to show for our efforts. What’s happened to the forest? The deer have deserted the trees for the higher ground. We searched the slopes, but never a sign.’

      A low moan of disappointment swept through the villagers. They turned to trudge back to work. Harald Strongaxe had let them down. He gathered his reins and rode towards the huts on the outskirts of the settlement. With a curse, he hurled his hunting horn high into the air.

      ‘It’s useless. There’s a curse cast upon it.’

      The horn landed on the village rubbish

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1