Chapter 85

Freya glanced over at Roger as he strolled past with his firkin cask under his arm.

"Headin' doon tae me ooncle's ur ye?" She called out.

Roger grinned and replied, "Yep, taking this to get it refilled." for emphasis, he patted the end of the firkin cask with his free hand.

Smiling at him, Freya commented, "An' hoistin' a tankard while yoo're at it, nae doobt."

"Of course!" came his reply, to which Freya merely rolled her eyes.

Phillip and Ildico smiled at their brief exchange, that sounded just like it would be between a husband and his oh, so patient wife.

Leaving Freya and her guests to their devices, Roger continued on to Old Harald's and his brewery.

It being mid afternoon, the place was only mildly busy as most of the denizens of this small village were busily tending their gardens, cooking, cleaning or at work in their shops.

Old Harald smiled as he saw Roger approaching with his empty firkin cask and called out, "Ah see yoo've blooter'd up mah ale again, will ye be needin' a kilderkin thes time?"

Roger laughed and retorted, "I have thirsty friends, what can I say? Even your niece says I should get a kilderkin next. Only they're pretty heavy for me and I'd have to get a bigger cask cooler for one."

He strode up to Old Harald and as they shook hands he said, "Maybe I should come up here more often or get a second firkin cask?"

Old Harald smiled and replied, "Ay coorse ye can aye cam up tae visit mair aft, an' gie a second firkin cask."

Roger laughed at the giant's remark and retorted, "How did I know you were going to say that?"

Old Harald gave a mountainous shrug and said, "Cannae blam a cheil fur tryin'."

Taking the empty cask from Roger, he looked at the markings on it and asked, "We're it ay th' braggott, wull an ale dae?"

"Beggars can't be choosers, ale will be fine." replied Roger with a crooked grin.

Old Harald grinned, "Ale it is!" He turned and called out, "We hae a cask refill, cam an' gie it!"

"Be reit thaur!" cried a voice from inside the building and moments later, a robust young woman emerged to pick up the empty firkin.

She was new to Roger and was quite the eyeful.

In addition to her being fully grown, she stood about nine feet tall and clearly worked out as her well muscled and bare, arms attested.

Like most Jotun women she was bosomy and robust with shapely hips, thighs and powerful legs.

Unlike most Jotun women and men, for that matter.

Her reddish hair was cut in a modish bob and her clothing was carefully tailored to accentuate her curves.

With snug fitting trousers, cut to hang a bit low on her trim hips and a sleeveless top that hugged her lush bosom and taut waist rather intimately, an eyeful was Old Harald's helper.

To Roger, she looked like one of the many athletic young women seen in so many sports and fitness magazines.

He found himself wondering where she had gotten her non traditional clothing and worked out to attain her level of conditioning.

She smiled as she approached and Old Harald said cheerfully to Roger, "Thes is Greta, she an' me grandson ur betrothed an' suin tae be wed."

He smiled at Greta, "Thes is Roger Tate, he is th' wee cheil me grandniece Freya is abidin' wi' doon sooth."

The two smiled at each other and Greta extended a work hardened hand, "Pleasure tae meit ye." she said as her large hand engulfed his in a firm, confident grip.

Roger grinned and replied,"Pleasure's all mine" as he shook hands with the gigantic woman.

Moments later, she picked up the empty firkin cask and looked at Old Harald for a moment.

He grinned at her, "Fill it wi' th' summer ale, ef ye please."

"Gotcha!" she said and walked back into the brewery.

Roger found himself admiring her taut backside as she walked away and he muttered, "Damn..."

Old Harald chuckled and murmured, "Best nae tae let yoong Freya hear ye talkin' loch 'at."

"Amen brother, amen."

The two men nodded in agreement.

Some things were best not mentioned around the fairer sex.

While Roger, in his travels, had encountered women who could make a sailor blush with their language.

He himself, preferred not to stoop to those levels.

"Caur fur a pint while yer waitin'?" asked his mountainous host.

"Surprise me." was his reply, he knew that whatever Old Harald served up would be good and chose not to quibble.

Moments later, a pint glass filled with an amber colored fluid was set before him.

"Try thes me lad, thes is th' summer ale yer firkin cask is gettin' filled wi'."

Roger smiled at his genial host and was reaching for the glass...

"An' thes is me stoatin' ooncle Auld Harald, he was me granny's yoonger brither. Thes is his brewery." Announced Freya as she and her guests stepped up to the outside counter.

"Ooncle Harald, thes is me neighbor Ildico Swensen an' her boy friend, Phillip Thorsen.

Ildico helped Roger when he was attacked last year, an' we gae runnin' taegaither."

Old Harald smiled at the couple and remarked,"'Tis a pleasure tae meit ye both, woods ye caur fur a wee sup ay me summer ale?"

Phillip smiled at the aging giant and said, "Truth be told, I'm not much of a beer drinker. I generally drink wine if I choose to drink alcohol."

Ildico smiled and said, "I wouldn't mind a pint myself, I did work up a thirst climbing up here."

She grinned at her lover and said, "Go on, have a pint. Jotun ale is pretty good stuff. We can work it off later."

Phillip shrugged, "Alright. You talked me into it!"

Old Harald smiled and moments later, three more pint glasses had joined Roger's pint glass on the rough hewn counter with the smooth top.

Phillip's unasked question was answered when Freya picked up the pint glass in front of her and she took a sip.

She smiled warmly and said, "Thes, is, verra guid, Ah loch it."

Roger chuckled and commented, "That's good, because we're getting a firkin full to take home with us."

Old Harald grinned, "P'raps yoo'll be needin' a second firkin efter aw?"

Roger laughed and replied, "Let me give that some thought!"

Freya remarked to him,"A second firkin wull nae be a bad idea fur when ye an' Warren gie tae hoistin' tankards an' gabbin.'"

Roger shrugged and replied, "Okay, we'll get a second firkin."

Old Harald grinned and he called out, "Greta!"

"Aye?" came the response from inside the brewery.

"Fill up a second firkin while yoo're at it, please."

"Same as afore?"

"Aye!"

"Aye, a second firkin camin' reit up!" was heard.

The four of them sipped at their pints and enjoyed the rustic ambience of the tiny hamlet hiding in the shadow of Ape mountain.

Phillip remarked quietly, "What an incredible experience I'm having right now."

He grinned, "I'm here in Canada with my lady, sitting at a bar, sipping ale which I rarely do and talking to an honest to goodness, giant. How cool is that?"

He took out his smartphone and took several pictures of himself and Ildico together with their pints of ale.

Then he took more pictures of the brewery and of Old Harald with Roger and Freya all smiling at the camera.

When Greta reappeared, she was carrying a gleaming firkin cask under each arm with utter ease.

There was a moment of silence as she deftly stood the firkins on the sturdy counter.

"Haur ye gae, twa firkins filled wi' summer ale." she declared.

Smiling at Roger she asked, "Woods ye loch me tae deliver them fur ye? 'Tis nae problem!"

Standing there smiling, with her hands on her hips, she looked every inch the heroic, larger than life, figure.

It was Ildico who spoke first, "Do you work out?"

She immediately blushed freely and muttered, "Way to make a good first impression, Ildi, you ninny!"

Greta in turn replied, "Yea Ah dae, an' et looks loch ye twa wark it too!"

Then she glanced at Freya and added, "p'raps Ah shoods ask ye tay abit warkin' it?"

Freya smiled and replied, "Ah dae play a lot ay basketball an' volleyball wi' me mukkers at skale an' th' university. Ah also gae runnin' wi' Roger an' Ildico haur."

Greta smiled and remarked, "That woods explain wa yoor bein' sae slender fur a Jotun lass, aw 'at runnin abit doesnae gie th' fat a chance tae stick tae ye!"

Old Harald chuckled "Ay coorse et doesnae hurt 'at 'er stoatin' granny war Alfriede th' Fair. Freya is th' image ay 'er in 'er yoonger days."

"Aye, 'at woodnae hurt a'taw." agreed Greta.

Smiling at them, Greta asked, "Whaur dae ye abide doon sooth?"

Roger smiled at the gigantic woman and replied,"We live in Portland, Oregon near the edge of town. Freya and I live together, while Ildi here is our neighbor."

He glanced at Phillip, "I have no idea where Phillip lives, to be honest."

Phillip grinned and replied, "I live across town in a townhouse complex and I edit a fitness and lifestyle magazine."

He paused, ""If you don't mind, Miss Greta, I'd like to ask you about your fitness regimen, what sort of exercise you do, your diet, that sort of thing. I think my readers would like to hear about you."

Greta's bright blue eyes opened wider and she said,"Ah'm flattered Ah aam. Oanly Ah cannae dae et today as Ah'm at wark. Wull tomorrow mornin' be fine?"

Phillip glanced at Ildico and asked, "What do you think? We can meet up with Greta here, work out with her a bit, take a few pictures and ask a few questions. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, tops."

Ildico shrugged and replied, "I don't see why not? It'll be fun."

Having finished their pints after making the arrangements to meet the next morning.

Freya led her guests off to see more of the hamlet she grew up in.

Roger meanwhile, set down his glass and asked, "Is that offer to deliver still available?"

Greta smiled, "Ay coorse, et wull be mah pleasure!"

She glanced at Old Harald and he nodded a yes.

"Ye may as well, et's still early an' et's quiet haur. Dornt dawdle noo, cam reit back!"

"Aye!"

With the ease of long practice, Greta took a firkin under each muscular arm and grinned.

Roger chuckled and said, "Right this way!"

"Whaur ur we takin' these?"

"To the Gunnarson's house."

"Aye"

As the gigantic young woman strode along with purpose, Roger asked her, "I haven't seen you before, where did you come from?"

"Ah cam wi' me yoonger sister frae th' Yukon near th' Roops Lakes. Yoo're nae th' first wee cheil abidin' wi' a Jotun lass Ah've heard teel ay."

"Oh?"

"Aye, a cousin ay me mum's es abidin' wi a wee cheil. They mit mony years agone when hees plane crashed an' she foond heem twa days later. She helped heem gie back haem, an' mony years later he cam back tae fin' 'er an' abide wi' 'er. 'Tis verra romantic!"

Roger mulled over her remarks and replied, "I heard something similar last summer when Freya and I were moving her granny's books down south. Not sure if there's a connection, or if it's a coinkydink."

"Och?"

"I met a young man who was visiting at Old Harald's and he commented that I was no surprise to him. He told me he knew of a jotun woman who was living with a 'wee cheil' up in the Yukon, where he had come from.

Later, a fellow I met down at Ape lake told me his floatplane had been retrieved from the forest up in the Roops lake region. He also mentioned an old story about a bush pilot found half starved in a hunter's cabin south of there. Coincidence?"

"Soonds loch one." replied Greta as she strode along with her burden, a few moments later she said,"Last summer me aulder brither visited haur while he was travelin', he tauld me sister an' Ah abit thes place an' we decided tae cam haur tae abide."
"Ah"

They soon arrived at Freya's home and Greta set the two firkins down on the heavy table outside the dolmenlike entrance to Freya's home.

Greta clapped her hands together a couple of times and smiled at him, "Firkins delivered!"

Roger grinned, executed a courtly bow and said, "You have my thanks, Miss Greta!"

Greta laughed, executed a perfect curtsy and replied, "Yoo're verra welcome, Sir knight!"

With that, she said, "Ah originally cam haur coz mah older brither tauld me abit thes place. Noo amm glad Ah cam!"

Smiling, she turned and strode away purposefully with a fluid grace.

Watching her leave, Roger heard Sigurd's deep voice murmuring, "She is quite th' eyeful isnae she?"

Roger smiled as he watched her striding away, "Ah, for the countryside, what scenery there abides..." quoth he.

Sigurd chuckled and murmured, "That she is, 'at she is."

Looking up at his gigantic host he said, "Ildico and Phillip are going to meet up with her in the morning for a couple of hours. Freya's still showing them around and Greta just delivered these firkins for me."

"Och"

Sigurd smiled and said in his basso rumble, "Efter scran, caur fer a swally at Auld Harald's?"

"Of course!"