by Sue Bentley
“Trolls and frost giants?” Storm flattened his ears and his silky white tail drooped.
Robyn grinned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I read about Viking legends and stuff when I knew we were coming here on vacation.”
Storm still seemed unsure about being aboard a ship. He reared up on to his back legs beside her and pressed his little nose to the window. His big midnight-blue eyes widened, and he gave a worried little whine.
“Are you okay?” Robyn asked, wishing she hadn’t mentioned giants and trolls now. She hadn’t realized that Storm would take her seriously.
“I think we are lost,” Storm woofed. “There is so much gray water and sky, but I cannot see any land.”
“That’s because we’re looking out on to open sea on this side,” Robyn explained. “We can go up on deck, if you like, and then you’ll be able to see land and mountains.”
Storm nodded, still not looking entirely happy as he jumped back down.
Robyn didn’t expect that any of the magical wolves from the Moon-claw pack had ever been on a cruise ship; or on any other kind of ship for that matter. In his home world, Storm never left land. No wonder he was ill at ease.
“Come on, let’s catch up with Mom and Dad,” she said to Storm, changing the subject. “I could eat a horse!”
Storm’s face showed surprise. “A horse? I have seen one of those. It was very large!”
“I know. I wouldn’t really want to eat one. It’s just something that people say when they’re really hungry!”
Storm’s little white muzzle twitched in a grin. Robyn was pleased to see that his anxious look had completely disappeared.
“I am very hungry, too!” he yapped, falling into step with Robyn as she set off again.
A buzz of conversation and a riot of delicious smells greeted them as they entered the restaurant. Robyn could see her mom and dad beginning to help themselves from the buffet area. She picked up a tray and joined them.
“Wow! Look at all this!” she whispered to Storm, her mouth watering. “I hardly know what to choose.”
There was an enormous display of food with hot and cold dishes of all kinds, salads, sandwiches, desserts, cakes, and baskets of fruit and chocolates. In the center there was an entire miniature village made of iced gingerbread and an amazing ice sculpture of a polar bear.
Robyn heaped her plate with food for her and Storm, and then followed her mom and dad to an empty table. As soon as she sat down, Storm jumped up on to her lap and curled up.
After almost two days of just drinking water, Robyn ate hungrily. She slipped bits of meat and fish under the table to Storm without her mom and dad noticing.
“Human food tastes very good,” Storm woofed, licking his chops when he’d finished. “Thank you, Robyn.”
Robyn’s mom and dad were wondering what to do next. “We could go swimming or watch a movie or even have a sauna,” her mom said. “There’s a game room, shops, an Internet café, and lots of organized events, too.”
“Could we go up on deck and look at the view?” Robyn asked. If Storm could see that they weren’t far from land, he might feel less nervous about being on Sea Princess.
“Fine by me,” her mom said. “I think we should be steaming through a fjord by now. It should be quite spectacular.”
Up on deck a cold wind was blowing, and Robyn wrapped her coat around Storm to keep him warm. The tiny puppy was peeping out from the front opening and Robyn could feel him snuggled against her chest, like a fluffy hot-water bottle.
Sea Princess was moving up a wide channel that had been created thousands of years ago by melting glaciers. The fjord stretched deep into the surrounding mountains. Painted wooden houses were clustered on the slopes and the towering, snowcapped tops were hidden by clouds.
Some people sat on deck in chairs, bundled up in warm blankets as they enjoyed the dramatic scenery. Others were lining the ship’s rail, pointing out details to each other and taking photographs.
Robyn found a place to stand at the rail and looked down at the gray-green water, far below. “I wonder how deep it is here,” she commented to Storm.
“Some of these fjords are almost four thousand feet deep,” her dad said, coming to stand beside her. “That’s as deep as the mountains you can see.”
Robyn realized that she must have spoken more loudly than she’d intended to, and her dad had thought she was speaking to him. She would have to be more careful about keeping Storm’s secret.
“That’s scarily deep,” she said to her dad.
Some way further on, the ship slowly rounded a bend and Robyn saw a waterfall gushing from a gorge in a high cliff. Jagged icicles, like spears, hung down from the rock and the foaming curtain of water fell straight down between them.
“Warm enough, honey?” her dad asked cheerfully. “This icy air’s really bringing the color back to your cheeks.”
“I feel fine. I don’t mind the cold that much,” Robyn said, giving her dad a hug. Storm gave a little warning squeak as he got a bit squashed between the two of them. “Sorry!” Robyn whispered to him, when her dad broke away.
“Well, I’ve had enough of it for now,” her mom said with a shiver. “I think I might have a sauna to warm me up.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll come with you. What about you, Robyn?” her dad asked.
Robyn shook her head. “No, thanks.” She didn’t like all that hot steam, and she didn’t want to leave Storm by himself. “I think I’ll stay out here for a while. I’ll come and meet you at the fitness center.”
“All right, honey,” her mom said. “By the way, the ship’s docking at a fairly big town this afternoon. I thought we could all go ashore and do some shopping.”
“Sounds great. Enjoy your sauna. See you later,” Robyn called as her parents walked away. Now that she felt well enough to spend some time with her mom and dad, she definitely didn’t mind wandering around by herself with Storm.
Her dad looked over his shoulder and winked at her. “Watch out for trolls.”
Robyn grinned. “I will!”
She didn’t notice Storm shrinking further down inside her coat, his dewy eyes looking around nervously.
The fjord began to get narrower and more winding. The sides of the mountains were steeper here, without any houses or farms. Ice and snow clung to the jagged black rock face and the gray clouds seemed lower.
Robyn was quite enjoying the gloomy landscape. It was easy to believe that fierce trolls lay in wait for unwary travelers.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling cry rang out behind her. Robyn almost jumped out of her skin, and Storm yelped in terror. Robyn whipped around to see a number of hairy men with huge teeth, pointed ears, and lumpy faces running toward her across the deck. They were dressed in rough fur cloaks and shaking their fists.
“Trolls!” gasped Robyn.
Storm growled, his whole body tensing inside Robyn’s coat.
Robyn’s heart beat fast. Some of the other passengers screamed and one little girl hid behind her dad.
And then Robyn saw one of the “trolls” adjusting his mask and another one of them straightening his hairy wig. It was just some of the ship’s crew who had dressed up to put on a special performance for the passengers.
She started to laugh. “It’s okay, Storm. It’s only…,” she began in a reassuring voice, but it was too late.
Robyn felt a familiar, warm prickling sensation down her spine as big gold sparks flowered in Storm’s fluffy white fur and his ears crackled with magical power.
Something very strange was about to happen.
Robyn watched in complete amazement as Storm leaped out of her coat and sprang on to the deck, trailing a comet’s tail of gold sparks.
He lifted one tiny front paw and sent a huge spray of glittering sparks whooshing into the icy air. Robyn saw them hang there for a second and then transform into grayish smoke, which sank down on to the trolls in the thickest mist she had ever seen.
“Hey! What’s
going on?” one of them cried from the middle of the dense mist.
“Oops, sorry,” said another one, as he tripped over his friend.
They couldn’t see where they were going. Robyn could hear the disguised crew members staggering around and bumping into each other. The other passengers thought it was all part of the act and began laughing and cheering them on.
But as the magical mist spread, they became swallowed up in it, too.
“Follow me, Robyn! I will save you from the monsters,” Storm yapped. His little form glowed as brightly as a lantern as he scampered toward the door to the lower deck.
“Come back, Storm!” Robyn called to him above all the noise. “They’re not real trolls. They’re people dressed up. It’s just for fun!”
Storm stopped dead and then padded back toward her. In the little pool of light made by his magically glowing body, Robyn could see a shamefaced expression creep over his fluffy white face.
“I am sorry. I thought that you were in danger,” Storm yapped quietly, flattening his ears.
“It’s okay. I know you were only trying to protect me, but I think you’d better make the fog disappear now,” she said gently.
Storm nodded.
He sent a big spurt of bright gold sparks whooshing across the deck. The sparkles were like a powerful jet spray at a car wash, magically blasting the fog into thin strands. Seconds later it all blew away on the icy wind.
The disguised crewmen stood there on the clear deck, looking puzzled. Their wigs were all crooked and their troll masks were dangling around their necks. But they soon recovered. Straightening their costumes, they skipped around the deck, roaring and waving their arms.
Delighted applause broke out as more of the crew came on to the deck, holding trays of hot drinks, food, and snacks.
“You must pay the price for entering our land,” one of the trolls boomed, grinning broadly. “We order you to feast with us on troll brew and hot troll soup!”
As everyone began helping themselves, Robyn decided that this was a good time for her and Storm to make their exit.
Later that afternoon after Sea Princess docked at the harbor, Robyn, Storm and her mom and dad went ashore. They caught a bus to the south of the city with lots of other people on the cruise.
Robyn sat with Storm safely inside the shoulder bag on her lap. He stuck his head out to look at the broad, snow-covered streets and modern shops and offices.
Robyn could see colored lights gleaming from house windows, and there were lots of green wreaths hung on doors. Here and there, they passed traditional wooden buildings, painted in shades of red, orange, or mustard.
“Everything looks so Christmassy here. I love it,” she whispered. “I hope I can get some presents for Mom and Dad.”
Storm twisted round and looked up at her. “What is Christmas?”
“Oh, of course. I don’t suppose you have it in your world, do you?” Robyn realized. “Christmas is a special time when we celebrate the baby Jesus being born. We sing carols, and families all get together and exchange presents and eat lots of yummy food. Dad usually stuffs himself with turkey, stuffing, and pie and then moans about his pants being tight! At least, that’s what we usually do at home. It’s going to seem a bit different this year. We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve aboard Sea Princess.”
Storm looked a bit puzzled, but his midnight-blue eyes were twinkling with excitement. “It sounds very odd, but I think I will enjoy Christmas, especially the food!”
The bus stopped near an enormous cathedral with a towering spire and lots of amazing stone carving. Colored light streamed out on to the snow from its stained-glass windows.
Robyn’s mom produced a tourist brochure she’d picked up on the way to the bus. “I think I’d like to look around inside that cathedral. It says here that it’s almost a thousand years old. Imagine that!” she said enthusiastically.
“Wow!” Robyn said. She couldn’t imagine anything being that old. But she didn’t really want to walk around some musty-smelling old cathedral for hours, however impressive it was. “Do we all have to go?” she asked, without enthusiasm.
Mr. Parsons smiled. “I don’t think so. I’m not as interested in old buildings as your mom. You and I’ll go shopping and meet her later.”
“Oh good,” Robyn said, relieved.
“Fine,” Mrs. Parsons said. “I’m quite happy to wander by myself.” She turned to her husband. “I’ll see you back here in a couple of hours?”
Mr. Parsons nodded. “Sounds good.”
Robyn waved to her mum as she set off toward the cathedral, and then she and her dad set off in search of interesting shops. Storm leaned up and hooked his front paws over her shoulder bag, so that he could look at the surroundings.
They had been walking for a couple of minutes when Storm reached out and tapped Robyn’s arm with one front paw. She looked down to see that he’d pricked up his little ears.
“I can hear music,” he yapped.
“I can, too,” Robyn whispered. “Can you hear that, Dad?” she said in a louder voice. “It’s coming from over there.”
Mr. Parsons listened. “Oh yes. It’s quite faint, but it sounds like folk music. Let’s go and have a look.”
As they walked to the end of the street, the music got louder. They reached a cobbled square, surrounded by stalls heaped with crystallized fruit, gingerbread, and spiced cookies. Cheery lanterns were strung between the buildings encircling the small square, and green garlands and decorations were looped between the stalls.
Storm yipped excitedly as he saw the bandstand, with musicians playing violins. Women in colorful felt skirts and men in vests and buckled shoes were dancing. A festive smell of spiced wine and roasted nuts filled the frosty air.
“Oh, it’s a Christmas festival!” Robyn exclaimed delightedly.
Robyn sipped a cup of hot spiced apple juice as she watched some children building snowmen. It was a competition, and a number of half-built snow trolls and elves stood in one corner of the square. There was even a Santa Claus snowman with his snow reindeer.
In the strange half-light, the glowing lanterns cast a cheerful glow over everything. Storm jumped out of Robyn’s bag in another little flurry of sparks.
At first, Robyn was worried that his little paws would get cold on the frozen ground. But Storm’s white ears sizzled with tiny sparks, and she noticed that he was now wearing four tiny furry boots.
He looked so cute wearing them that Robyn burst out laughing, which she quickly turned into a cough. She didn’t want to hurt her puppy friend’s feelings.
As she and her dad wandered around the market stalls, they bought cheese, chocolate, and spice cakes for presents to take home for Gran and Gramps. Robyn didn’t see anything she wanted to buy for her mom and dad.
She spotted a shop on the other side of the square. “I’m just going to head over to that shop over there. I won’t be long,” she told her dad.
Mr. Parsons nodded. “All right. I’ll still be here.”
Storm scampered after Robyn as she headed across the square. Inside the shop, it felt really warm after the cold outside. Robyn took off her hat and gloves and stuffed them in her coat pocket.
There were lots of people looking at the gifts and cuddly toys. Robyn noticed a rack of knitwear. Maybe her mom would like a traditional hand-knitted cardigan.
As she went to have a closer look, Robyn heard raised voices. A sales assistant was speaking sharply to a tall, slim girl with black hair, who looked about twelve years old.
“I am not a thief!” the girl said in a low, angry voice. She was wearing a red felt skirt, decorated with bands of embroidery, and sturdy leather boots.
“We’ll see about that!” the sales assistant shouted, beckoning to a man from another counter.
As Robyn stood at the far end of the long clothes rack, the man hurried over. “What’s the problem?” he asked the assistant.
“This young lady has taken an expensive lusekofte. Se
e, there is the empty hanger,” the woman said crossly, pointing to the rack of knitted sweaters. “I demand that she opens her bag so that I can search it!”
“Did you see her take it?” the man asked.
The woman put her hands on her hips. “No. But she must have. One’s missing, and it was there a minute ago!”
“I told you. I have not taken it. I would never do that,” the girl said calmly, clutching her bag with two hands.
Her face was pale, expect for her cheeks, which were flushed a deep red. Robyn could see that the girl looked close to tears and admired the way she was sticking up for herself against the bossy assistant.
“That woman’s determined to search the girl’s bag. I hope she hasn’t stolen anything,” Robyn whispered to Storm.
Suddenly, Storm’s head came up, and he gave a triumphant woof.
Diving beneath the rack of sweaters, the tiny puppy jumped up and hunted around. He grabbed something and a loose sweater came free. Storm dropped it on to the floor before padding back to Robyn.
“Oh, well done, Storm!” Robyn praised him, pleased that it looked like the young girl hadn’t taken anything. “The sweater must have slipped off its hanger. It was lucky you spotted a bit of its dangling sleeve, Storm.” The sales assistant obviously hadn’t looked carefully enough.
On impulse, Robyn picked up the empty hanger and stepped forward. “Excuse me,” she said politely, holding it up. “Are you looking for the sweater that was on this?”
The two assistants and the dark-haired girl turned to look at her.
“I know where it is,” the woman snapped. “It’s inside this young person’s bag!”
“Are you sure?” Robyn asked. “Because there’s one on the floor. Look.”
The assistant frowned and went to investigate. A deep flush crept up her face as she came back holding the cardigan. “I…er…seem to have made a mistake. We’ll say no more about it,” she said shortly. Snatching the empty hanger from Robyn, she marched briskly away.