Winter of the Ice Wizard

Wizard has no wisdom! The Frost Giant has no sight!
You
must go now and finish the story.”
    The three sisters smiled at their visitors. Their skinny fingers fluttered over their weaving like butterflies over flowers.
    Jack couldn’t help smiling back at them. But then he thought about Merlin and Morgan. He thought about all the dangers waiting outside. “One last question,” he said. “What’s the story of the two white wolves?”
    â€œOh, the wolves!” said the blue Norn. “Donot fear the wolves! A life without wolves would be a boring life indeed!” Her two sisters smiled in agreement. For the moment, their smiles made Jack feel unafraid of the white wolves—and the Ice Wizard and the Frost Giant, too.
    â€œGood-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye!” said the three sisters.
    Jack and the others waved good-bye. Then they slipped out of the House of the Norns and into the icy night.

S tanding in the cold, Jack felt afraid again. There were big paw prints in the moonlit snow all around the house.
    â€œThe wolves were here,” said Kathleen.
    â€œPerhaps we should go back inside,” said Teddy.
    â€œNo,” said Kathleen. “We must walk with Jack and Annie back to the sleigh and send them on their journey to the Hollow Hill.”
    â€œYes, of course,” said Teddy, nodding.
    As they all headed cautiously toward therocks, Jack glanced back at the House of the Norns. He wished they could return to its cozy warmth.
    Kathleen put her hand on his shoulder. “Come,” she said. “You must hurry.”
    Jack trudged with the others through the passage in the rocks. When they got to the other side, there was no sign of the two white wolves. The silver sleigh was waiting in the moonlight. Jack and Annie climbed inside it.
    â€œCan’t you come with us?” Jack asked Teddy and Kathleen. “Remember you said if we all work together, we can do anything?”
    â€œAye,” said Teddy. “But what the Ice Wizard said is true. Only mortals can undo a bargain with the Fates.”
    â€œDo not fear,” said Kathleen. “We will be with you in spirit. And we will meet you back at the wizard’s palace at dawn.”
    â€œHow will you get there?” asked Annie.
    â€œI have a few rhymes I can try,” said Teddy, smiling.
    â€œAnd I have a bit of selkie magic,” said Kathleen.
    â€œAnd we have our wind-string!” said Annie.
    â€œHasten, then, to the Hollow Hill,” said Kathleen.
    â€œAnd remember what the Norns told you,” said Teddy. “
Never
look at the Frost Giant.”
    â€œI know,” said Jack. He pulled out the wind-string. He took off his gloves and untied a knot. A breeze began to blow.
    Jack untied a second knot. The breeze grew stronger, the sail unfurled, and the runners slid forward.
    Jack untied a third knot. The wind blew hard. The white sail snapped, and the sleigh took off through the night.
    â€œStand fast!” Teddy called after them.
    Jack and Annie waved good-bye to Teddy and Kathleen as the sleigh slid swiftly over the sea ice. Soon the sleigh bumped onto the snow-covered plain and veered off sharply to the right.
    â€œNo, toward the North Star!” Jack called to Annie.
    Annie turned the rudder, steering the sleigh back on course. They sailed toward the bright star in the distance.
    As the silver runners swished across the windswept snow, Jack braced himself against the cold. He kept a lookout for the white wolves, but he didn’t see any sign of them as the sleigh sped across the moonlit plain.
    Soon he could see a row of snow-covered hills in the distance. “Look!” he said. “There it is!” He pointed to one of the hills—the only one without a peak.
    â€œTie her down!” Annie shouted.
    Jack tied a knot in the string, and the sleigh began to slow down. He tied a second, then a third. The wind died down completely, and the sleigh coasted to a stop at the foot of the Hollow Hill. Jack and Annie climbed out.
    Jack looked up at the steep white slope. “How do we get inside?” he said.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Annie. “How do you think the Frost Giant gets inside?”
    â€œOh … the Frost Giant,” said Jack. He really wished Teddy and Kathleen were with them. He felt as if part of their team was missing.
    Annie seemed to read his thoughts. “We can do it,” she said. “We have