“Oh!” Baldwin whispered, pointing. “Something moved over there. Did you see it?”
Matt hadn’t, but as he squinted, he spotted a glowing red dot, hovering in the air. Then he saw a dark figure holding out the dot to another, who took it and lifted it to his lips. Two guys sharing a cigarette.
The two guards were on the far side of the camp, downhill a little, by a stream. When Matt hunkered down, he couldn’t see that red dot anymore. Meaning they couldn’t see him. He smiled.
He whispered for Baldwin to stick behind him and stay quiet. He didn’t really need the warning—that’s what Baldwin had been doing the whole time. The perfect team member. Maybe the others could take lessons.
As they drew closer to the ring of tents, Matt’s amulet began to tingle. It didn’t exactly warm up, and it didn’t exactly vibrate, either. He wasn’t sure how to describe it, except as a tingle. Like it was reminding him it was there.
Was it reacting to the shield? But it was the shield from the longship, and he’d been around it lots of times and his amulet had done nothing. But it had done nothing around the Raiders before. So…
Follow the weird feeling.That’s what his gut said. So that’s what he did. They circled around the outside of the tent ring. The amulet tingled more with each step, until it started tingling less. Matt backed up and found the tent that seemed to produce the most tingle… which sounded completely ridiculous, and he sure wasn’t saying it to Baldwin. Again, he didn’t need to. Baldwin didn’t ask. He just trusted that Matt knew what he was doing.
Matt knew he couldn’t just sneak into the tent and expect Baldwin to knowhe should stand guard. Fen would; Laurie would. Baldwin had to be told, but once he was—in a brief, whispered exchange—he got it, and Matt had no doubt he wouldwatch his back.
Matt crept around the tent with Baldwin. Then he undid the ties on the flap, lifted one, and slipped in while Baldwin stayed outside. The only thing inside the tent was a pile of blankets. As Matt walked over, he swore his amulet was practically jumping with excitement. Sure enough, under that stack of blankets, he found the shield. He smiled, clutched his still-twitching amulet. Another power, then. Something that must have “turned on” after Hildar had told him what he needed. It would be nice if she’d explained. But, he had to admit, it did feel good, figuring this stuff out for himself.
He pulled out the shield. It was definitely the one from the longship. It was lighter than he expected, the wood smoother, too, as if polished by years of handling. He imagined it in the hands of a real Viking warrior, setting off to battle—
A nice fantasy, but this really wasn’t the time for it. He hefted the shield and, without even thinking, swung it over his shoulder, arm through the strap, letting it rest on his back. It felt good there. Comfortable. Protective, too, like he had someone at his back. Now all he needed was Mjölnir, and he’d be set. He grinned to himself and headed from the tent.
Baldwin was right there, waiting, on guard like a pointer, scanning the horizon for trouble. When Matt whispered, “Got it,” Baldwin stumbled, nearly tripping over his feet.
He saw Matt and looked almost disappointed for a second, like he’d been hoping for a real threat to fight off. Then he saw the shield and his eyes rounded.
“Is that…?” Baldwin said. “Wow. That is so cool.” He grinned. “Looks good on you.”
“Thanks. No sign of trouble?”
“Nah. Cancer boys are still down by the steam, sharing a smoke.” Baldwin paused. “I didn’t think kids smoked anymore.”
“Only the evil ones,” Matt murmured.
Baldwin started to laugh, then swallowed it and settled for a grin. “That’s so we can recognize them, right?”
Matt smiled. “Right. Now let’s head out. Mission…”
A figure stepped from behind a tent across the circle. Then another and another. Matt wheeled. More were behind him. A Raider stood in every gap between two tents. In every escape route. He turned fast, evaluating the least threat, ready to barrel through—
A familiar figure strolled between two tents. Skull—the biggest of the Raiders, the one Matt fought outside the fair. Matt looked over his shoulder to see a girl about Skull’s age. She was even taller than Reyna, with wide shoulders and blond braids. That must be Hattie—Fen had mentioned her. A half dozen of the biggest Raiders followed them.
TWENTY-TWO
MATT
“BATTLEGROUND”
You wouldn’t be stealing from me, would you?” Skull said. “Not Matt Thorsen, son of Blackwell’s finest.”
“You’re the one who stole it!” Baldwin said, jumping in front of Matt. “You swiped it from that longship.”
Skull laughed, Hattie echoing him. “Is that what Fen said?” He leaned around Baldwin to look at Matt. “Ask Fen again, Thorsen. Ask who really stole the shield. Better yet, ask why he sent youto get it.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Baldwin said.
Skull’s laugh rippled through all the Raiders. “Really? Huh. Fen delivered the shield… and now he’s delivered the champion.” He looked at Baldwin. “You can go. Tell Fen he’s all paid up.”
Matt replayed Skull’s words. He’d misunderstood. He must have. He could believe Fen stole the shield—this whole thing had started when he’d caught Fen trying to swipe it—but delivering the champion? Matt couldn’t believe that. It must be a trick.
It’s not. That’s why he agreed with Astrid about getting your stuff. That’s why he didn’t want to come into camp with you. He wasn’t helping get the shield; he was turning you over to the Raiders.
Baldwin stepped forward. “If you want him, you have to go through me first.”
Matt heard a noise behind him. He turned, but too late. A half dozen of the Raiders were running at him. He took out the first with a left hook as Baldwin raced in, fists flying.
“Ignore blondie!” Skull called. “You can’t hurt him, so don’t bother trying.”
Matt hit another Raider and sent him flying, but as he did, at least four others tackled him from behind. They swarmed over him, forcing him to the ground as he kicked and punched. Baldwin tried to pry the Raiders off Matt, but they’d just backhand him or elbow him away, which only made him madder, fighting like a whirlwind, yelling, “What about me? Hey, you, zit-face, come on! I thought you guys were Viking warriors! Fight me!”
When one finally swung around, as if ready to take Baldwin up on that, Skull shouted, “I said ignore blondie. He’s Balder. Can’t be hurt unless you have some mistletoe handy. Just keep swatting him off like the annoying little fly he is.”
That made Baldwin furious, and he fought so hard that Skull finally ordered a few of the Raiders to grab him and pin him down. Matt was already pinned. Lying on his back, spread-eagle, a Raider holding down every limb, a fifth one sitting on his chest. He’d struggled at first, but realized they had him and stopped, conserving his energy and waiting for his chance.
“Get him up,” Skull ordered.
The Raiders obeyed. They dragged Matt to his feet, two holding each arm. Matt felt his amulet, red-hot against his chest, and knew it was charged up, ready to go. But for what? He could take out one guy. That wouldn’t stop the other dozen standing around. He needed a better plan. A smarter plan.
“Now, where’s my shield?” Skull said.
A Raider had taken it from Matt’s back before they’d pinned him. The kid held it up.