Highin themountains of the Lake District is a secret valley where the Vikings have their last stronghold--their Shield Ring. The Normansseek to crush this group of Northmen and to bringall of Englandunder their control. They build a castle in Carlisle and send an army north.Meanwhile, the Northmenlamb and harvest as though life werenormal, but Ari Knudson sharpens Wave-flame and theJarl prepares his War Host.Two youthsof the village--Frytha, a Saxon girl who fled to the valleywhen the Normans burned her home, and Bjorn, the foster-son of the old harper--make ready, too. As the Norman's approach the secret valley, the Northmen recruit able bodies, and Bjorn volunteers to enter the Norman camp as a spy. Frytha knows Bjorn's deepest fear: that if he is captured, he will fall to Normantorture and reveal the location of the Shield Ring."