Hanauer Rulantica (1)

Hidden Island
1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-3-649-64012-7
Verlag: Coppenrath
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 272 Seiten

Aquina is a mermaid. She has always felt different from the other merpeople on Rulantica. Shortly after her twelfth birthday, she finds out something incredible: she has a twin brother. Mats, a human boy! And he is in great danger. For Aquina, there's no holding back: she has to find her real family before it's too late. Ever since he was found on the beach as a baby, Mats has been brought up in a children's home. He has always been afraid of the sea and of water. What he doesn't know is that he'll soon be diving into the biggest adventure of his life! By coming together, Aquina and Mats are fulfilling a centuries-old prophecy by the Nordic gods - this could be a chance to save the island world of Rulantica, but it could also mean its total destruction ...

Michaela Hanauer wurde 1969 kurz vor Weihnachten geboren und lebt mit ihrem Mann und ihrem Kater Wuschel in München, wenn sie nicht gerade unterwegs ist, um das andere Ende der Welt zu erkunden. Bereits in der Grundschule wollte sie nach einer Verlagsbesichtigung am liebsten gleich da bleiben und beschloss, eines Tages dort zu arbeiten. Diesen Beschluss hat sie nach ihrem Studium in die Tat umgesetzt und viel Branchenerfahrung gesammelt, bevor sie sich selbständig machte. Wäre sie nicht Kinderbuchautorin geworden, dann hätte sie vielleicht Flugunterricht auf einem fliegenden Teppich genommen, wäre mit Delphinen um die Wette getaucht oder hätte eine Zeitreiseagentur gegründet. Das einzige, was ihr noch mehr Spaß macht, als Geschichten zu erfinden, ist Kindern daraus vorzulesen.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hanauer, Michaela

Weitere Mitwirkende

Sutherland, Marielle

Vogt, Helge

Leseproben

PROLOGUE
Once, the god Loki removed a little stone from the wall surrounding Asgard, the home of the gods. Loki was jealous of the other gods’ close bond with mankind, and he wanted to prove how fallible and weak mortals really were. The stone landed in the ocean and formed an island. Loki knew that, with this stone, he had sent a piece of divine magic to Earth. He delighted in exploring his island: the idyllic forests, mountains and rivers – but he could also see its fiery soul. He was particularly taken with a grotto where a spring burbled away cheerfully to itself. This seemed to him to be the ideal place for a sneaky trick. At the source of the spring, he spat a pip from one of the goddess Idun’s golden apples of immortality into the earth. From then on, the seed would release into the water the power of eternal life. Loki was sure no human being would be able to resist this temptation. Pleased with himself and his work, he kept an eye out for a suitable victim and soon found one in Viken Rangnak, the leader of a Viking clan. Loki revealed himself to Viken and showed him the way to a promising new homeland: Rulantica. And so began the game of life and death. Not for the first time, the young god Vidar feels he has big shoes to fill – those of his father, Odin. Until his demise, Odin had been the leader of all the ancient gods. Infinitely clever and wise as he was, Odin would have known what has happened to the stone. But it’s Vidar who is standing before the wall that was erected to protect the divine world of Asgard and the few gods who are still alive, and the wall has a hole in it. How did the hole get there? Vidar thinks. It’ll be easy for the giants and other enemies of the gods to breach the wall and launch an attack at the point where it is crumbling. One thing is clear to Vidar: nothing in Asgard happens purely by chance. But who might know something about the missing stone? “Hugin! Munin!” he calls. Right at that moment, long shadows fall across Vidar, as two ravens circle above his head. Their jet-black feathers are glinting in the sunlight. They come to rest on each of his shoulders and gaze intently at the young god. “I’m going to visit Vali to consult with him. Fly to Thor’s sons and to Loki’s daughter Hel, and bid them come as soon as possible to join our council!” The two ravens take off into the air to carry out their mission. Vidar finds his half-brother Vali in the courtyard of his castle, doing target practice with his bow. Vali greets him. “Vidar, how good to see you. So, what brings you to me?” “Did you know that there’s a stone missing from the wall around Asgard?” Vidar asks bluntly. “I’m very sorry, brother, but I’m much younger than you. If you don’t know something, then I won’t know it either.” “That’s what I feared,” admits Vidar. “But it might help if we survey the nine worlds from father’s throne.” “Then come into my hall,” says Vali. A silver dome spans the magnificent marble hall, the brothers stride through, hastening towards the throne. “Ow-ooo!” Two wolves are standing by a white pillar in the hall. They howl, but do not come any closer. Vidar greets Geri and Freki, the wolves. Vali inherited them from Odin, as well as the throne, which grants a clear view into all the worlds to anyone who sits on it. Vidar, on the other hand, inherited the two ravens from his father, along with the great task of ruling over the worlds as Odin’s successor. The two brothers wheel round at the sound of raucous bellowing. “Where is everybody?” “Is there nothing to drink here?” Magni and Modi, the sons of Thor, bluster in, and Vidar immediately regrets having summoned them to the meeting. “We’re trying to find out why there is a hole in the Asgard wall,” explains Vidar. “If you need a hole in the wall, I’ll happily make one for you,” offers Modi. Vali rolls his eyes. “Do you always have to boast about the fact you inherited Thor’s hammer?” Magni and Modi grin simultaneously. “We don’t have to,” says Magni. “But we like to,” adds Modi. “If I’ve only come to listen to this, then I’m out of here,” says a female voice. “I really appreciate you being here, Hel,” says Vidar quickly, trying to mollify her. “What’s worrying you?” Hel turns the beautiful side of her face towards Vidar. “How do you know I’m worried?” asks Vidar, startled. “I can see it in your face. Every day, many people cross my threshold into the kingdom of the dead. And I don’t like to be fooled, if you know what I mean.” “So, do you know anything about the stone that is missing from Asgard’s wall?” asks Vidar. Hel cocks her head thoughtfully. “Not enough yet, but I fear my father, Loki, is involved. She steps up onto the plinth of Odin’s throne, stands next to Vidar and points out into the distance. “Look for an island in the human world that contains the divine spark, and you’ll find your answer there.” But as hard as he tries, Vidar can find nothing in the whole of Midgard that fits this description. “I can’t see anything,” he says. “Me neither,” says Vali. “Ha ha, even more blind than their father, with his one eye,” quips Magni. Vidar ignores this impertinent remark and turns his full attention to Hel. “Don’t look for the obvious,” she says. “If it’s anything to do with Loki, then it’s something sneaky – something that, even after thousands of years, will let him slip in and get up to mischief in our worlds.” A shudder runs down Vidar’s spine. Even Odin couldn’t keep Loki in check – and without Odin, it will be almost impossible to get a grip on Loki’s latest meddling. Especially if no one knows exactly what it is he’s supposed to have done… He looks over at Hel and wonders what she’s thinking. “Don’t worry – I’m not my father!” says Hel. “If we find something, you can count on me!” Vali leaps up from the throne. “There! The fog in the middle of the sea! Could that be what we’re looking for?” The three young gods cluster around the throne and look out to see what Vali has discovered. “Something hidden by fog – that would be my father’s style exactly,” says Hel. “In the middle of the ocean. The stone could actually have turned into an island,” suggests Vidar. “A piece of Asgard in the middle of Midgard!” “So, all we need to do is go and destroy the island, and then we’re rid of the problem,” Modi proposes. “Exactly,” his brother agrees. “We’ll bring the stone back, and then we can repair the wall straightaway!” “No, we won’t,” Vidar interrupts. “We won’t destroy anything until we know more.” “And what if your hesitation puts us in danger?” Vali points out. “Whatever is hiding within the fog could be thousands of years old, older than you, older than me,” retorts Vidar. “A few more days won’t hurt if we’re trying to find out what exactly has been created there. I don’t want to annihilate the place and then ask questions. We are gods, not giants!” “You’re always spoiling our fun!” grumbles Magni. But Vidar doesn’t relent. “As your leader, I demand you swear that you will lift the fog before interfering in any way!” “I wouldn’t be so fussy,” grunts Modi. “Then all the better that Odin’s sons are guarding his throne, and not Thor’s hooligans,” says Hel pointedly. “You can talk,” snaps Magni. “Your father is probably to blame for the hole in our wall, and once again it’s us who have to suffer!” “That’s enough!” orders Vidar. “Swear your obedience to me, or you’ll be accompanying Hel back to her kingdom!” He holds out his hand. Vali is the first to shake on it. Magni and Modi follow hesitantly, and finally, Hel places her slender hand on top, sealing the five gods’...

Über Autor(innen)

Michaela Hanauer wurde 1969 kurz vor Weihnachten geboren und lebt mit ihrem Mann und ihrem Kater Wuschel in München, wenn sie nicht gerade unterwegs ist, um das andere Ende der Welt zu erkunden. Bereits in der Grundschule wollte sie nach einer Verlagsbesichtigung am liebsten gleich da bleiben und beschloss, eines Tages dort zu arbeiten. Diesen Beschluss hat sie nach ihrem Studium in die Tat umgesetzt und viel Branchenerfahrung gesammelt, bevor sie sich selbständig machte. Wäre sie nicht Kinderbuchautorin geworden, dann hätte sie vielleicht Flugunterricht auf einem fliegenden Teppich genommen, wäre mit Delphinen um die Wette getaucht oder hätte eine Zeitreiseagentur gegründet. Das einzige, was ihr noch mehr Spaß macht, als Geschichten zu erfinden, ist Kindern daraus vorzulesen.