Are you ready to go on a real adventure? For the first time, Peter Ward's Viking journey has been condensed into a single, omnibus volume, Freedom of the Waves. In book one, Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage, fear is not an option as the children escape their violent Viking roots and cross the sea. Not only do they escape the bloody heritage of their people, but they save Freya's slave, Emma, who was marked for sacrifice. Even so, their voyage has angered the gods. In book two, Freya and the Fenris Wolf, Freya must be punished for what she has done. The great god Odin will decide Freya's fate, but her dedicated friends will not allow her to suffer in silence. They will find a way to save Freya and set her free. In the exciting conclusion, Eric and the Mystical Bear, Eric must find the courage within himself to stand up to an evil creature of legend. If he doesn't, an entire village could be slaughtered. Freedom of the Waves shares a journey into the depths of mythology and into the hearts of friends who, despite witches, giants, and mermaids, will not back down. Their Viking spirits are strong, and their courage never wanes.

Bigotry, selfishness, and lust for position and power thrive in a sleepy twenty-first-century rural English village. The quietude of the surrounding rolling hills and woodlands is not all it seems. Self-appointed busybodies from the upper ranks of the community take it upon themselves to direct the lives of others. But they are amateurs at the game. At the same time, foreign investors move in to exploit mineral wealth potential that lies buried not too deeply in the strata beneath the quaint cottages and old church. The whole area of East Sussex is ripe for gas development. Local democracy is abolished on a "go it alone" whim of the new right-wing British government. Each community must now earn its own keep. The village of Denbridgehurst swiftly evolves into a place of fear and intimidation. Four elderly power women take over and connive with Russian oligarchs keen to exploit the riches underground. Meanwhile, the national government threatens to run a new motorway past the village, taking out the fourteenth-century church. Enormous opposition is formed and led by the women. Conservation organizations are called in to scour the area for rare or endangered species. These could hold up the planners. The Russians have other ideas. Their true intent is to build a hidden Hadron Collider beneath the village.

In their first adventure, Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage, rebels Vimp, Freya, and friends flee their homeland to save the life of Emma, a Saxon slave girl. In this sequel, Freya's companions don't know that she's been transformed into a gull and escorted by eagles to Asgard, home of the Nordic Gods. There, the Gods put her on trial for misusing her God-like powers when saving her friends at sea.

In Freya's absence, the teenage immigrants settle down to life in England with the Saxons and apply their boat-building skills. Young poet, Lief, is attracted to nearby Lindisfarne Abbey on the Northumbrian coast. When the monks are slaughtered in a Viking raid, Lief strives to cling to the illuminated historical treasure, the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Meanwhile, in exotic Asgard, the God's commute Freya's death sentence, and she is returned to Earth to be keeper of the expelled Fenris-Wolf, an animal with the strength of six wolves. Learning of Freya's fate, the young Vikings set sail to her rescue. Aided by Agnar, chief of the forest wolves, the friends face the biggest battle of their young lives as they confront not only the wolf monster, but his father, Loki, who seeks revenge.

Eighth-Century Adventure for Twenty-First Century Children In this exciting conclusion to Peter Ward's epic Viking Trilogy, Eric Bignose, bravest of the young Viking rebels, embarks on a dangerous journey. Together with Beowulf, his rescued mystical bear cub, Eric confronts the legendary demon dog, Black Shuck. But in so doing, he brings a curse upon his adopted Saxon village, and the villagers banish him to the wild. Yet Eric's loyal Viking comrades have not forgotten him. They rally to their friend's side and sail to Orkney, the islands north of the Scottish mainland. Here the young warriors avoid a sea witch's whirlpool, huge whales, and angry rock-tossing giants. When their longboat is wrecked by alluring mermaids, the youngsters are taken captive in a dark and dismal sea cave. All hope seems lost. But Beowulf and his extraordinary Merman friend, the Murrough of Scottish legend, may have the final say in their fate. Will Eric and his friends survive or is this the end of their journey-and their lives? A thrilling ride for young and old alike, Eric and the Mystical Bear will transport you to another era filled with adventure, danger, and courage!

Bigotry, selfishness, and lust for position and power thrive in a sleepy twenty-first-century rural English village. The quietude of the surrounding rolling hills and woodlands is not all it seems. Self-appointed busybodies from the upper ranks of the community take it upon themselves to direct the lives of others. But they are amateurs at the game. At the same time, foreign investors move in to exploit mineral wealth potential that lies buried not too deeply in the strata beneath the quaint cottages and old church. The whole area of East Sussex is ripe for gas development. Local democracy is abolished on a "go it alone" whim of the new right-wing British government. Each community must now earn its own keep. The village of Denbridgehurst swiftly evolves into a place of fear and intimidation. Four elderly power women take over and connive with Russian oligarchs keen to exploit the riches underground. Meanwhile, the national government threatens to run a new motorway past the village, taking out the fourteenth-century church. Enormous opposition is formed and led by the women. Conservation organizations are called in to scour the area for rare or endangered species. These could hold up the planners. The Russians have other ideas. Their true intent is to build a hidden Hadron Collider beneath the village.

Are you ready to go on a real adventure? For the first time, Peter Ward's Viking journey has been condensed into a single, omnibus volume, Freedom of the Waves. In book one, Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage, fear is not an option as the children escape their violent Viking roots and cross the sea. Not only do they escape the bloody heritage of their people, but they save Freya's slave, Emma, who was marked for sacrifice. Even so, their voyage has angered the gods. In book two, Freya and the Fenris Wolf, Freya must be punished for what she has done. The great god Odin will decide Freya's fate, but her dedicated friends will not allow her to suffer in silence. They will find a way to save Freya and set her free. In the exciting conclusion, Eric and the Mystical Bear, Eric must find the courage within himself to stand up to an evil creature of legend. If he doesn't, an entire village could be slaughtered. Freedom of the Waves shares a journey into the depths of mythology and into the hearts of friends who, despite witches, giants, and mermaids, will not back down. Their Viking spirits are strong, and their courage never wanes.

Eighth-Century Adventure for Twenty-First Century Children In this exciting conclusion to Peter Ward's epic Viking Trilogy, Eric Bignose, bravest of the young Viking rebels, embarks on a dangerous journey. Together with Beowulf, his rescued mystical bear cub, Eric confronts the legendary demon dog, Black Shuck. But in so doing, he brings a curse upon his adopted Saxon village, and the villagers banish him to the wild. Yet Eric's loyal Viking comrades have not forgotten him. They rally to their friend's side and sail to Orkney, the islands north of the Scottish mainland. Here the young warriors avoid a sea witch's whirlpool, huge whales, and angry rock-tossing giants. When their longboat is wrecked by alluring mermaids, the youngsters are taken captive in a dark and dismal sea cave. All hope seems lost. But Beowulf and his extraordinary Merman friend, the Murrough of Scottish legend, may have the final say in their fate. Will Eric and his friends survive or is this the end of their journey-and their lives? A thrilling ride for young and old alike, Eric and the Mystical Bear will transport you to another era filled with adventure, danger, and courage!

In their first adventure, Vimp the Viking's Epic Voyage, rebels Vimp, Freya, and friends flee their homeland to save the life of Emma, a Saxon slave girl. In this sequel, Freya's companions don't know that she's been transformed into a gull and escorted by eagles to Asgard, home of the Nordic Gods. There, the Gods put her on trial for misusing her God-like powers when saving her friends at sea.

In Freya's absence, the teenage immigrants settle down to life in England with the Saxons and apply their boat-building skills. Young poet, Lief, is attracted to nearby Lindisfarne Abbey on the Northumbrian coast. When the monks are slaughtered in a Viking raid, Lief strives to cling to the illuminated historical treasure, the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Meanwhile, in exotic Asgard, the God's commute Freya's death sentence, and she is returned to Earth to be keeper of the expelled Fenris-Wolf, an animal with the strength of six wolves. Learning of Freya's fate, the young Vikings set sail to her rescue. Aided by Agnar, chief of the forest wolves, the friends face the biggest battle of their young lives as they confront not only the wolf monster, but his father, Loki, who seeks revenge.

Can Vimp and Freya and friends rescue a Saxon slave girl from sacrifice? Seizing a longboat they set out on a hazardous voyage, dicing with death. Upsetting Aegir the Sea God, defying pirates and escaping the deadly venom of the Serpent of the World, the young Vikings are guided through fog by friendly dolphins.

They land on the Saxon shore but what sort of welcome can they expect? Will hidden watchers on the cliffs view them as friend or foe?