Rif and the Riddle

The death of a prime bull, which belongs to all the village, is a disaster for young Rif. After all, it’s his fault the bull died. He was supposed to be guarding it, with his grandfather Larrikin, but instead they went fishing. Now Larrikin is threatened with a dunking by the angry villagers, and Rif must make the dangerous journey to Gillitum, the Beast Keeper, to ask for a new bull calf. Along the way he encounters a pair of tricksters, a sad, overworked donkey and a friendly troll. And when he finally reaches Gillitum, he must pay for the new calf by answering a riddle. This is a superbly entertaining story with all the time-honoured elements of classic fantasy – a quest, a test, and a twist. And, of course, the triumph of wit over foolishness and good over evil.