Who's Who
Everyone and everywhere with a name, in the order you meet them. Names that come "from the old stories" are in the Norse myths. Names "made up for this book" are mine.
Chapter One
Thjalfi (THYAHL-vee). A twelve-year-old boy, the fastest goatherd in his valley, and always hungry. From the old stories.
Roskva (ROSK-vah). Thjalfi's sister, eleven, who remembers everything anyone says. From the old stories.
Geir (GAYR). Thjalfi and Roskva's father, a farmer who fishes when the barley fails. Made up for this book.
Bera (BEH-rah). Thjalfi and Roskva's mother, quick and sharp-tongued, strong at the loom. Made up for this book.
Steinsdal (STAYNS-dahl). The children's stony valley, running down to the sea. Their farm is the last one at the top. Made up for this book.
Tanngnjost and Tanngrisnir (TAN-nyost, TAN-gris-neer). Two big goats that pull a traveler's chariot. You learn their names later. From the old stories.
Chapter Two
Thor (THOR). The huge, red-bearded, hungry traveler who comes to supper. He is a god. From the old stories.
Mjolnir (MYOL-neer). Thor's hammer, with its short handle. From the old stories.
Chapter Three
Loki (LOH-kee). Thor's slim, quick, smiling traveling companion. From the old stories.
Orm. An old neighbor down the valley, deaf in one ear, who owns the only good boat. Made up for this book.
Jotunheim (YO-tun-haym). The giants' country, east across the deep sea. From the old stories.
Chapter Five
Skrymir (SKREE-mir). A giant as big as a hill, sleepy and mild, who travels with Thor's party for a while. From the old stories.
Megingjord (MEG-ing-yord). Thor's belt. When he buckles it on, he gets stronger. From the old stories.
Chapter Six
Utgard (OOT-gard). A giants' castle on a plain, east of the forest. From the old stories.
Utgard-Loki (OOT-gard LOH-kee). The king of Utgard. He is a giant, and no relation to Loki. From the old stories.
Chapter Eight
Logi (LOH-gee). A thin, red-faced man in Utgard's hall who eats very fast. From the old stories.
Hugi (HOO-gee). A tall, pale-haired young runner in Utgard's hall. From the old stories.
Chapter Thirteen
Elli (EL-lee). A small, bent old woman, the king of Utgard's foster-mother. From the old stories.
Chapter Fourteen
Bilskirnir (BIL-skeer-neer). Thor's own hall, with 540 rooms. From the old stories.
Chapter Fifteen
The Midgard Serpent. A serpent so long it lies in the sea all the way around the lands where people live. From the old stories.
Chapter Seventeen
Sif (SIF). Thor's wife, who runs Bilskirnir and carries its keys. From the old stories.
Thrudheim (THROOD-haym). Thor's land, where Bilskirnir stands. From the old stories.
Asgard (AHS-gard). The home of the gods. From the old stories.
Chapter Eighteen
Farbauti. A giant, Loki's father. From the old stories.
Chapter Nineteen
Odin (OH-din). The chief of the gods, and Thor's father. From the old stories.
Jord. The Earth herself, and Thor's mother. From the old stories.
Chapter Twenty
Sleipnir (SLAYP-neer). Odin's grey horse, which has eight legs and is the fastest horse there is. From the old stories.
Hrungnir (HROONG-neer). The strongest of the giants, with a head made of stone. From the old stories.
Gullfaxi (GOOL-fahk-see). Hrungnir's horse. The name means "Golden Mane." From the old stories.
Chapter Twenty-One
Freyja (FRAY-uh). A goddess, the only one in the hall brave enough to pour ale for Hrungnir. From the old stories.
Valhalla (val-HAL-uh). The gods' great drinking hall in Asgard. From the old stories.
Grjottungard (GRYOT-oon-gard). Stony ground on the border of Hrungnir's land. From the old stories.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mokkurkalfi (MOCK-ur-kahl-vee). A giant made of clay by the giants of Jotunheim. From the old stories.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Magni (MAG-nee). Thor's son, three nights old. From the old stories.
Jarnsaxa (YARN-sahk-sah). A giantess, Magni's mother. From the old stories.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Groa (GROH-ah). A wise woman who sings magic songs. From the old stories.
Aurvandil (OUR-van-dil). Groa's husband. From the old stories.