“He was.”
“True… but he wasn’t the most popular one. He wasn’t the most-worshipped one. Look it up. Odin was the god of the nobility. Thor was the god of the common man. He was the most popular. The most worshipped. The most beloved. It’s not Odin who got to be a comic-book hero, is it? There’s a reason for that. It’s all about Thor. It’s always been Thor.” She met his gaze again. “And that’s you. You are Thor and you need Mjölnir, and if your friends are saying you don’t, it’s because they’re jealous. You’re Thor. They’re… someone else.”
“If you’re upset about what Fen said, that you’re not really a part—”
“I don’t care about that. I care about getting that Hammer for you, Matt.”
That seemed a weird thing to be concerned about, and Matt suspected she really was hurt over what Fen had said, but he decided not to push it.
“No one’s saying I don’t need the Hammer. I know you’re trying to help, but we should get the shield first.” Now it was his turn to meet her eyes. “I understand if you don’t want to help with that, but it would be great if you could.”
Did he imagine it, or did she blush now?
“Of course I’ll help, Matt.”
The others had gathered in the kitchen. Matt walked in, Astrid trailing after him.
“Fen? You know where the Raider camp is, right?” Matt asked.
“Uh, I did. If your dad and his posse haven’t rousted them,” Fen said.
Matt turned to Laurie. “If Fen knows where it is, can you open a door?”
“I can try, but I’m not entirely sure how I did it the first time.” She paused and smiled. “You’re going after the shield. We’ll have one of the weapons then.”
“If we get it.”
“You want Laurie to open a door into the Raider camp?” Fen said. His voice wasn’t a full-out growl, but it was pretty close. “Seriously?”
“Not into the actual camp,” Matt said. “We’ll touch down a little ways from it and walk.”
“All of us?” Fen paused, and then he shook his head. “I’ll handle this, Thorsen. Laurie opens the door, and I’ll go through and get your shield.”
Even Laurie looked over sharply, as if shocked. Matt was a bit surprised, but it was nice to see Fen finally becoming a team player.
“I appreciate the offer,” Matt said. “But I’ve fought them with you. You’ll need backup. Lots of it. We’re all going in.”
“All?” Reyna repeated.
“Yes.” Matt fixed her with a look. “All of us.”
Fen locked gazes with Matt. “Not Laurie. She was just hurt. She’s not going in there, and she doesn’t have fighting skills like everyone else.” He glanced at his cousin and snapped, “Don’t argue.”
Laurie folded her arms over her chest and glared at him, but Matt was just glad she was mad at Fen, not him.
After a few failed attempts, Laurie opened one of her portals. She was shaking by the time she did it, and Fen looked ready to bite someone. Matt didn’t want to step between them, and he wasn’t sure who he’d side with anyway. Laurie was right that they needed her help, but Fen was right that she looked like she was going to be sick.
They stepped through a door that brought them out in a forest. After a quick look around, Fen declared the Raiders camp was about a quarter mile away. Blackwell was nearby, too. Matt thought about that—how close he was to home. He could be there in a half hour. But he couldn’t. Not now. Maybe not ever again.
At this moment, all that was important was that they were far enough from both Blackwell and the Raider camp that no one would stumble on them as they plotted. As evening fell, the forest shadows lengthening, Matt explained his idea.
“I don’t get it,” Baldwin said. “You said you needed us for a fight.”
Matt shook his head. “I said we needed everyone for backup. That’s in case of a fight. This is more than a couple of dumb trolls. These guys outnumber us, and they’re all good fighters. Plus, some can change into wolves. Big wolves.”
“So… there’s no fight?” Baldwin said.
“Thorsen’s right,” Fen said, probably because he was still angling to keep Laurie out of danger. “We don’t want a battle if we don’t need one. Better to sneak in and grab it while the rest of us watch for trouble.”
“Actually, I was going to ask you to come along,” Matt said. “You know the camp.”
“Just what I’ve told you already. I have no idea where they’re keeping the shield.”
Fen looked at Matt with a strange expression, half challenge and half pleading, and Matt realized that Fen must have been really shaken up by Laurie getting hurt. It made sense, considering how close they were.
“I think it’s better for everyone if I stay here,” Fen continued. “I’ll change to a wolf so I can listen for trouble, and I’ll run in if I hear anything.”
“I guess that’s okay.” Matt looked at the others, ignoring Laurie, who was staring suspiciously at Fen as he studied his feet. “So who wants to come with me?”
Baldwin and Matt peered out from behind a bush, having left the others back in the forest grove. Matt started sneaking around it when Baldwin motioned for him to wait.
“Before we go, I just want to say thanks for picking me.”
Matt shrugged. “No problem.”
He didn’t want to add that no one else had exactly jumped at the chance. Laurie had offered, but Fen gave Matt a look to say he’d better not pick her… or else. Ray volunteered, which earned Matt the same kind of look from Reyna. Astrid offered, but Matt didn’t know enough about her skills—her powers or her ability to defend herself. He probably would have picked Baldwin anyway. He couldn’t get hurt, and he’d promised not to try to cause a fight.
“I just wanted to say thanks,” Balwin said. “I’m usually not the guy anyone picks.”
Matt peered at him. “Why not? Everyone likes you.”
“Oh, I’m never left until the end or anything. But I’m never the first. If it’s math teams or spelling bees, I do okay, but lots of kids do better. Same with sports. Art. Music. Whatever. I’m never first.” Baldwin gave a small laugh, a little sad.
“I know what that’s like.”
“But we were definitely someone’s first pick now, huh?” Baldwin grinned over at him. “Those Norns or Valkyries or whoever. Someone picked us first.”
Matt smiled. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“They did. Anyway, we should get going. I just wanted to say thanks and that I won’t make you regret it. Not you. Not the gods. Whatever I need to do, I’ll do it, and I’ll do it well.”
Fen had warned Matt to sneak in downwind so none of the wulfenkind smelled them. There wasn’t much of a wind that evening, so Matt had to keep stopping and checking. When they were close enough to see the camp, he motioned that they’d stop behind another bush.
While Baldwin waited patiently, Matt pushed aside branches and peered out. He always thought of Raiders as Boy Scouts gone bad. Now, seeing their camp, he realized that wasn’t far off. He’d spent a year in Scouts himself, and part of the reason he’d taken up boxing and wrestling was to have an excuse to quit. His leader used to be in the army and ran his troop like they were cadets. Especially when they went camping. Everything had to be just right. A pile of logs beside the fire pit at all times, with the logs just the right size, piled just the right way. No garbage anywhere, which made sense, but the rule applied to anything you weren’t using at the time. Put down a mug and leave on a hike and you’d get fifty push-ups. Even though they stayed at the same campsite all week, they had to roll their sleeping bags and pack their gear every morning. In case, you know, the enemy swooped in and they had to evacuate. Crazy.
Now Matt was wondering if his Scout leader had been a Raider, too. The camp looked the same, with only the tents left up. Even those tents were arranged in a perfect circle around the fire pit.
“Looks like nobody’s here,” Baldwin whispered. “They must all be off on a
raid.” He paused. “Was Fen serious about that? They really raid towns? Like the Vikings?”
“More like vultures. They break into empty homes and steal anything that’s not nailed down. I’m sure they’ve left a guard here, though. We need to find him before we go in.”
Baldwin didn’t ask how Matt planned to go in. He just seemed to accept that Matt knew what he was doing. He was wrong. Matt looked at the camp and felt a weird sinking sensation in his stomach. There were at least a dozen tents that all faced the campfire in the middle, so how would he sneak into one without being spotted? And which was the right tent? Fen said it would probably be in Skull’s or Hattie’s—they were the leaders. But Fen also said that their tents looked just like all the rest. Supremely unhelpful.
“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 know he 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 would watch 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 you to 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.
“Put it in my tent.”
The Raider did as he was told. When he’d disappeared into the tent, Skull strolled toward Matt.
“There’s someone you need to meet,” he said. “But first I think you need a lesson about stealing.”
Skull’s gaze dropped to Matt’s stomach, and Matt knew what was coming. A blow to the solar plexus against a defenseless target. Except Matt wasn’t defenseless. He readied his Hammer as he watched Skull, ready to launch it as soon as he pulled back for—
Someone hit Matt from behind. A hard, fast hit to the kidney that sent pain jolting through him. He twisted to see the girl—Hattie—grinning. Then another blow, this one from the front, the hit he’d been waiting for. Straight to the solar plexus. The air flew from Matt’s lungs, and he doubled over, wheezing and hacking.
“Hey, Skull!” Baldwin shouted, struggling against the Raiders holding him. “What kind of name is that, anyway. Do you think it makes you seem tough? It better work with these guys, because you need all the help you can get, loser.”
Skull slowly turned on Baldwin.
“Yeah, I’m talking to you!” Baldwin shouted. “The loser who won’t even take a swing at Thor’s kid unless four guys are holding him down. You call yourself a Viking Raider? The Vikings wouldn’t have let you clean their toilets. You won’t even fight Matt without help from your girlfriend there. I can see where she comes in handy, though. One look from that ugly face and guys probably run before you need to hit them, right?”
Hattie advanced on Baldwin.
“I said to ignore him,” Skull said. “You can’t hurt him.”
Hattie punched Baldwin in the stomach, making him cough. “Maybe not, but it makes me feel better.”
“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Baldwin said as he caught his breath and bounced back, grinning. “Do you turn into a wolf, too? I bet you don’t. You don’t need to. You’re already a dog.”
Loki's Wolves Page 20
