One year of her life stolen. One year held in the cruel hands of an evil captor. But Isa Bjorndottir was home now. Free. And it was time to recover. If not for herself, then for her mother. The new Shieldmaiden was facing enough without her wayward daughter falling apart at every turn. She just needed to hold on. To endure just as she had when she was taken. As long as there were no new surprises.

After almost a decade of running, Reidar Gunnarsen was one small task away from leaving the shores of the Northlands forever. All he had to do was locate an elusive hoard of treasure and sneak aboard a longboat. Easy enough with all he'd faced in his life. The plan was solid, as long as there were no new surprises.