Marty fastened his duffel shut, the worn canvas sagging with the weight of his few belongings. He turned to Roskva who was watching him and asked, “So how are we getting me back home.”

  “Come outside, you’ll see.”

  As he walked out into the courtyard, he was surprised to see his new shield leaning against the tire of his old 4Runner. Thialfi had a huge smile on his face. The new shield stood in stark contrast to his old wheels, its wood clean and unblemished—an unfamiliar weight on his mind as much as it would be on his arm.

  “Awesome,” Marty was dumbstruck, “You guys got my car.”

  “Only the best for you, gutta mi.” Thialfi said.

  Marty walked over and picked up the shield.

  “What kind of kid walks the halls of high school with a wooden shield slung over his back. What the crap am I supposed to do with it?”

  Thialfi, standing nearby, barked out a laugh. “Fight with it, gutta mi.”

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  Marty rolled his eyes. “Yeah, real practical. Just a cosplay kid cruising the hallways.”

  Thialfi cleared his throat. “Before you go, there are things you should know.”

  Marty turned, shifting the shield under his arm.

  Thialfi’s expression was serious now. “You’re not going back alone. We’re coming as well.”

  Marty frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Roskva stepped forward. “You’ll see.”

  Thialfi smirked. “You’d be surprised what we can arrange.”

  Marty exhaled. It made sense, he supposed. He’d spent the summer training, but outside of Valhalla, he’d be vulnerable. Loki knew he lived in Oakdale. If he wanted to strike, that’s where he’d do it.

  Roskva’s expression turned thoughtful. “Loki will make a move eventually. If we’re near, we can intervene. And you won’t have to train alone.”

  Marty sighed, leaning back against the car. It was overwhelming. He’d spent months in Valhalla, isolated in the mountains, removed from the real world. Now, he had to go back—to school, to normal life.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  He climbed into the driver’s seat of the 4Runner, tossed the shield into the back seat and took one last look at the distant mountains before stepping on the clutch, releasing the parking brake and pulling away.

  Friends.

  Oakdale, Idaho.