Land of Lost Things

by Cat Weldon

  Lotta looked around herself in amazement. ‘Did I do that? Feathers usually only appear when I transform . . .’

  Hel stamped her foot. ‘You FREAK! Helheim is filled with feathers. What next – flowers? Sunshine? PICNICS?’ Behind her, Vali grinned broadly.

  Freyja carefully looked Lotta up and down. ‘We’re leaving. Get on the chariot, you two.’

  Loki crossed his arms. ‘I don’t think so.’

  Freyja glared. ‘And whose army is going to stop me? Yours?’

  ‘No.’ Loki grinned. ‘Hers.’

  Beside him, Hel’s face had gone white with fury. She threw back her head and released an inhuman scream into the sky. All around her the drifts of feathers burst into wraiths of grey smoke. Freyja’s giant cats hissed and spat as the ground beneath their paws shuddered.

  The Helhest surged forward. Vali leaped out of the way of the glistening tide. It surrounded Freyja, Whetstone and Lotta in a wide ring before swelling upwards, turning into heavily armed cheerleaders, Hel’s Belles Armed Battalion embroidered on their uniforms. Mr Tiddles clawed his way on to the side of the chariot and hissed at them.

  ‘At Ragnarok the Helhest will rise,’ Hel spat. ‘Swarming over the Nine Worlds and bringing about the end of the Gods.’

  ‘It’s not Ragnarok yet, sweetie,’ Freyja replied unfazed, blowing a kiss and stepping gracefully into the chariot.

  Whetstone jumped up behind Freyja and reached down to help Lotta up. Instead, the trainee Valkyrie faced the Hel’s Belles and pulled out the rusty sword, which glowed with a new silvery light.

  ‘It didn’t do that before.’ Lotta whacked a nearby cheerleader, who crumbled to dust. ‘It didn’t do that either.’

  Loki gave a whistle. All heads turned to where he now stood next to the huge cats. ‘Don’t make me hurt them, Freyja,’ he said sadly. Green sparks leaped from his fingers. The giant tabby hissed.

  Freyja’s beautiful face curved into a snarl. ‘Touch one whisker and I’ll end you.’

  Loki grinned. Hel’s army marched forward, tightening their circle. ‘The only way out is up. Why risk the extra weight? Take the cat and leave the kids.’

  Vali put his hand on his sister’s arm. ‘Hel, let them go. Call off the Helhest.’ Two of the cheerleaders grabbed him. He struggled, but might as well have been trying to fight a river.

  Green light crackled, but before Loki could do anything, Hod’s strong arms caught him from behind, pinning his arms to his sides.

  ‘Dad!’ Whetstone lunged over the side of the chariot, desperate to reach his father. Lotta stepped into the chariot, trapping Whetstone inside.

  ‘Get out of here!’ Hod called, struggling to keep hold of Loki, who was transforming into different animals, trying to free himself. A snake, a fish, a bird . . . ‘Take the harp string and go!’

  Whetstone looked hopelessly at Lotta. They couldn’t go, not like this. Guilt at almost forgetting about his father surged through him. He had come to Helheim to try and reunite his family and now he was expected to leave his dad behind. ‘I can’t. I—’ He tried to push past the Valkyrie.

  Lotta clapped a hand over his mouth, shoving him back. ‘GO!’ she screamed at Freyja, who cracked the reins. The two enormous cats leaped into the air, pulling the chariot and its occupants into the sky.

  Whetstone tugged Lotta’s hands off his face. ‘We have to go back.’

  ‘Hel was right about one thing: Heroes have to make tough choices. We have to get the harp string away from Loki,’ Lotta said firmly, keeping hold of the struggling boy. ‘We need to leave before Hel turns those cheerleaders into giant eagles or dragons or . . . something.’

  A screech echoed from below them. Dark shapes swirled. Freyja urged the cats higher. ‘Why did you have to think of that?’ she muttered.

  Above them hung the red dome of Helheim’s sky. Whetstone closed his eyes as they passed through it and out into the roots of Yggdrasil, the shrieks of Helheim drifting into silence.

  Lotta peered over the edge of the chariot, watching as Helheim rapidly vanished below them. ‘Shame. I was just getting used to the place,’ she said, releasing Whetstone.

  ‘Sometimes being a Hero is really rubbish.’ Whetstone massaged his jaw where Lotta had gripped him. ‘If I was an ordinary person, I could’ve taken Loki’s offer and gone back to Midgard with my dad.’

  ‘And Loki would’ve opened the walls between the worlds, and you’d be flattened by a Giant,’ Lotta pointed out. She smoothed her black curls, watching him. ‘We’ll get him back – your dad. I promise. And Vali – we’ll get him too,’ she added. ‘He was pretty useful in the end.’

  Whetstone nodded and rubbed his eyes. ‘I got the harp string, but lost my dad. Again. It really is the Land of Lost Things.’ A hard lump formed in his throat, making it hard to speak. Who knew what Loki and Hel might be doing to his dad now?

  Something rattled inside his boot. Whetstone tugged it off his foot and a charm in the shape of a fish fell out. He pulled the harp string out of his pocket. No longer shining to warn of danger, it sat on his palm, faded and dull. He threaded the charm on to it before tying it round his neck.

  One down, two to go.

  Whetstone rubbed his face. He blinked, trying to distract himself from the hollowness inside. ‘What happened back there? You know, the feathers and the sword and everything?’

  Lotta shrugged. ‘I dunno. I felt kind of weird.’

  Despite himself, Whetstone sniggered.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Lotta, you literally turned a snowstorm into feathers. I’d say that was more than a bit weird.’ He looked at her carefully. ‘You said the feathers only appeared when you transformed, but you’re not currently a bird?’

  ‘Thanks for noticing.’

  Behind them Freyja snorted.

  Lotta carefully pulled out the rusty sword and held it in front of her, Whetstone leaning out of the way to avoid the long blade. Lotta swung the sword towards him. Silver beads appeared along the notched edge.

  Whetstone reached out to touch one. ‘Well, you are a dodgy Valkyrie, so I guess it makes sense that you’ve got a dodgy sword.’

  ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ said Freyja, not taking her eyes off the giant cats as they followed the trunk of Yggdrasil towards Muspell and Svartalfheim. ‘We need to get Eir, Goddess of Healing, to take a look at you, Lotta. I think something has gone a bit wrong.’

  Lotta lowered the sword and looked at Whetstone nervously. He shrugged, not knowing what to say.

  Lotta slid the sword back into its scabbard. ‘Are things bad in Asgard?’

  Freyja nodded. ‘Not just Asgard.’

  The smell of rotten eggs filled the air as they soared past the smouldering world of Muspell. Red sparks drifted towards them, leaving soot marks on the sides of the chariot. Whetstone peered over the side. ‘Muspell looks the same.’

  With a hiccup, a cascade of Loki-like green sparks shot out of one of the volcanos. Whetstone leaned back. ‘Green magic? That can’t be good.’

  ‘The Dwarves are quiet,’ Lotta remarked, pointing towards the mines and mountains which made up Svartalfheim. Red light glinted out of cracks and doorways, but there was no movement.

  ‘Glinting-Fire has put in a big order,’ Freyja replied. ‘She needs more weapons for her army.’

  ‘Her army?’ Lotta repeated dumbly.

  ‘We’ll be back in Asgard in no time,’ Freyja announced as they climbed higher and higher. Whetstone’s ears went pop. ‘Then you can see for yourself.’

  The chariot rocked gently as the flying cats pounded through the branches of the world tree, reminding Whetstone of the movement of the longboat. He sank on to the floor and rested his head against the wooden side. Giant cats were almost better than horses at pulling chariots. Whetstone wondered if it would catch on but thought that trying to get two cats to go in the same direction at the same time couldn’t be easy. Maybe it only worked if you had Freyja’s magic powers.

  The mountainous worl
d of the Giants emerged from Yggdrasil’s branches. Whetstone gazed at the snow-covered landscape and shivered. It reminded him too much of Helheim. He wondered what Odin was up to down there, and if he knew what was going on.

  Lotta sat beside him, chewing her thumbnail. ‘But why does Glinting-Fire need an army?’ she asked for the thousandth time. ‘Is it something to do with the training camps?’

  Freyja gave a tense smile.

  At last, Asgard, Home of the Gods, arose in front of them. It sat on a grassy island on the topmost branches of Yggdrasil. Whetstone had never seen Asgard from the outside before as he had been unconscious when Lotta had accidentally brought him there the last time. His mouth fell open in astonishment.

  Huge white walls surrounded the city. They blazed in the sunlight, making it look as if Asgard was protected by a ring of fire. Carved deeply into the mighty walls were the words:

  FROST GIANTS KEEP OUT

  Underneath and heavily crossed out was:

  Loki smels of poOo

  Whetstone found himself smiling.

  The cats circled the white walls before landing lightly in front of a pair of enormous and heavily barred gates. Freyja pointed a ring-laden finger at the gates and a jet of red light shot out of her hand. The gates swung open.

  ‘Wait, you don’t need a key?’ Lotta exclaimed. ‘That’s so unfair!’

  Freyja smiled. ‘Glinting-Fire certainly thinks so.’ Her eyebrows drew together; she lowered her voice. ‘You two had better hide. As you know, living humans aren’t usually welcome in Asgard, and I think it’s best if Glinting-Fire doesn’t know you’re back, Lotta.’

  The boy and trainee Valkyrie ducked down, pulling Freyja’s fur-lined cloak, which had been discarded in the bottom of the chariot, over their heads.

  ‘Go away, Mr Tiddles!’ Lotta hissed as the cat squeezed in beside them.

  The giant cats purred as they stalked in through the gates. A pair of Valkyries on guard duty struggled against magical red ropes. Freyja clicked her fingers to free them, but didn’t stop.

  Despite his sorrow at leaving his dad in Helheim, and his fear of being caught, Whetstone couldn’t resist peeking out to see if Asgard was as amazing as he remembered. The giant cats picked their way through the streets, crowds of glowing people parting before them. Ravens swooped through the air. Magnificent houses, each the size of the Great Hall in Krud, lined the paths, different silver emblems displayed on their doors to show which God lived where.

  Whetstone shuddered as they passed a low, dark house decorated with snakes: Loki’s house. The shutters were closed and no smoke came from the chimney. Beside him, Lotta held her nose and stifled a sneeze.

  Whetstone’s stomach rumbled at the smell of roasting meat as they approached Valhalla, its towering walls of spears and shields looming over the rest of Asgard.

  Lotta stuck her head out as they rounded a corner and the Valkyrie training school swung into view. Her mouth dropped open. ‘What is that?’

  Gone was the battered Valkyrie Training School sign. Now, bright flags hung from the walls. Symbols Whetstone recognized from the different Gods’ houses decorated some of the flags. He wasn’t surprised to see Loki’s snakes prominently in view. In the centre was a blood-red flag with a picture of a raven holding a warrior in its claws.

  ‘She’s got all the shields,’ Lotta whispered in a shaking voice. ‘Look.’ In the centre of the courtyard and guarded by Flee and Flay was a large shield rack filled with dozens of circular glowing shields. All nailed in place and encased in magical green ice.

  ‘I remember that ice stuff,’ Whetstone hissed. ‘It’s what Loki used to trap Flee and Flay.’

  ‘It must be how Glinting-Fire is controlling the Valkyries.’

  ‘Good thing she hasn’t got your shield, then.’

  Lotta ran her fingers lovingly over the splintery shield wedged in beside her.

  Valkyries jogged out of the courtyard to block Freyja’s path. Among them Lotta recognized Akrid with her distinctive dreadlocks. All the Valkyries now had eyes the same shade of green as the ice. One of Freyja’s giant cats hissed at the interruption. The other cat sat down to wash itself, making the chariot tilt drunkenly to the side. Whetstone pulled Freyja’s cloak back over their heads.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Freyja lifted her chin as the Valkyries lined up in front of her.

  The rows parted as Glinting-Fire stepped forward, her clipboard clenched tightly in her hand. ‘You shouldn’t have done that to my guard-Valkyries, Freyja. You know Odin, or one of his assistants – me – has to approve any trips out of Asgard.’

  Freyja fixed the tattooed Valkyrie with a scowl. ‘You are not in charge of Asgard, and you are certainly not in charge of me. Odin will return from Jotunheim and stop this nonsense soon enough.’

  Whetstone peeped out. A crowd of onlookers had gathered behind the chariot, trapping them. Mr Tiddles rubbed up against Lotta, who held her nose. Whetstone grimaced at her – she couldn’t sneeze now!

  Glinting-Fire walked round the chariot. Whetstone and Lotta held their breath as the short Valkyrie tapped the chariot with her pencil. ‘Have you given any more thought to my offer, Freyja?’

  Freyja pulled herself up to her full height on the wonky chariot. ‘I wouldn’t join you for all the warriors in Midgard,’ she announced. ‘And those who do join you are fools,’ she added loudly.

  Glinting-Fire sniffed and scribbled something on her clipboard. ‘How disappointing. Many others have seen the light and joined our cause. You will change your mind in time. You like a Hero, don’t you, Freyja?’

  Someone in the crowd laughed. Freyja swung round to glare at them.

  ‘But where has she been?’ called Flee from her position guarding the shields. ‘She hasn’t said.’

  Glinting-Fire nodded. ‘Well, Freyja? We’re all ears.’

  Freyja drew in a breath. ‘I finally found my cat, if you must know.’ She fumbled under the cloak for Mr Tiddles. Lotta let go of her nose as the cat was lifted out.

  Glinting-Fire narrowed her eyes. ‘How interesting. Where was he – Midgard? Helheim?’

  Peering through a gap in the cloak, Whetstone saw Flee and Flay glance at each other.

  A clump of cat hair wafted past Lotta’s face.

  Freyja tossed her twists. ‘No. Niflheim.’

  Flee and Flay sighed with relief.

  Lotta squeezed her nose again, her eyes tight shut. Whetstone clutched her arm, mouthing, ‘No!’

  ‘Now if you don’t mind,’ Freyja said as her giant cats stretched and stood up, ‘I need to give Mr Tiddles a bath—’

  Lotta gave an enormous sneeze. ‘ACHOO!’

  ‘– because I think he’s caught a cold,’ Freyja finished quickly. She jiggled the reins and the cats moved forward, shouldering their way through the ranks of green-eyed Valkyries.

  Lotta wiped her nose on her shoulder and smiled apologetically.

  ‘The Nine Worlds are shifting!’ Glinting-Fire called after them. ‘The old order will be replaced. Join us and rise or stand against us and fall!’

  Lotta glanced at Whetstone. ‘She sounds like Loki,’ she whispered, her fingers squeezing her shield tightly.

  Whetstone nodded. ‘We stopped Loki and we can stop her too.’ He gripped Lotta’s arm. ‘Look at what we’ve done already. I got the first harp string, and you got your shield back, and you’re not under Glinting-Fire’s power like the others.’

  Lotta smiled a bit.

  Whetstone grinned. ‘You’re a Valkyrie. I’m a Hero. The Nine Worlds depend on us – what could go wrong?’

  Keep reading for more fun in the Nine Worlds!

  Whetstone left these scraps of paper behind in Krud.

  Maybe you can help Awfulrick make sense of them.

  Can you help Lotta fill in this form by writing in some examples of how she has used her Valkyrie skills?

  Why not recreate your favourite scene from the Land of Lost Things with your very own Helhest!

  M
ake sure you check with a grown-up first.

  DIY Helhest

  Ingredients:

  100ml PVA glue

  Black food colouring (gel is best)

  Contact-lens solution

  1tsp bicarbonate of soda

  An adult to assist

  Instructions:

  1. Add 1tsp bicarbonate of soda to 100ml PVA glue. Stir until fully mixed.

  2. Add food colouring to the mixture a drop at a time and stir until it is dark and menacing.

  3. Mix in small amounts of contact-lens solution. Keep stirring until it forms slimy strands.

  4. Teach it to obey your every whim and take over the Nine Worlds!

  Return your Helhest to a lidded pot or zip-lock bag when not in use to keep it fresh.

  Be careful it doesn’t stain your hands, clothes or enemies.

  Norse God or Goddess Name Generator

  Vikings had hundreds of Gods and Goddesses. Use the name generator to find out which Norse God or Goddess you could be.

  First letter of your last name:

  Aegir or Alfa

  Baldr or Beyla

  Cante or Cara

  Dagmar or Dor

  Eir or Embala

  Forseti or Fulla

  Gefion or Grimnir

  Hermod or Hati

  Idunn or Irpa

  Jarl or Jorth

  Kvasir or Kara

  Lodurr or Lif

  Mimir or Modi

  Njord or Nanna

  Otta or Odr

  Porg or Pri

  Querd or Quindr

  Raan or Rig

  Sif or Skirnir

  Tyr or Thiazi

  Urd or Ullr

  Vili or Var

  Woland or Wrigga

  Xeidr or Xirna

  Ymir or Yinga

  Zisa or Zven

  There are five Viking runes hidden in the illustrations throughout the book. Find them and use the translator below to solve the riddle and unlock the first chapter of: