Gunnar took Vinnie to the back of the blacksmith's shop.
He wanted Vinnie to see the Viking swords.
Mandy watched Old Dirk, the blacksmith, open the jewelry box.
It was filled with bracelets, rings, and necklaces.
"Where did those come from?" Mandy asked.
"When people do not have anything else that is valuable," Dirk said, "Vikings take their gold."
"You mean . . ." Mandy tried to calm herself.
"You mean, they stole these?"
"We Vikings take what we want," Dirk said proudly.
"May I ask one more question?" said Mandy.
"Sure," answered the blacksmith.
"Why is the captain called Skull-Crusher?"
Old Dirk laughed.
"Vikings are given nicknames for their fighting skills," he explained.
He started sorting the gold from the jewelry box.
"What's that?" Mandy asked, spotting a small wooden bear carving.
"It's so cute!"
Old Dirk picked it up and looked it over.
"Hmm. I don't know.
It shouldn't be in here with the jewelry.
Would you like to keep it?"
"Yes, thank you," Mandy said with a big smile.
She put the little bear in her pocket.
"Gunnar, this will take a while,"
Old Dirk called to the boys in the back.
He started melting the gold.
"You'll have to come back later."
Outside the workshop, Gunnar faced Vinnie and Mandy.
"I don't even know your names," he said.
"Oh, sorry. I'm Vinnie and this is my sister, Mandy," said Vinnie.
"Strange names," Gunnar remarked.
He shrugged and began walking away.
"So Gunnar, how long have you been with . . ."—Vinnie paused—"with Skull-Crusher?"
"Just one year," Gunnar replied.
"I want to be a Viking warrior like my father.
But he was killed.
No one would teach me to fight.
So I hid on the Sleeping Dragon.
The captain was upset at first, but he let me stay.
Now I'm his aide!"
Passing through Kaupang village, Mandy's view of the Vikings began to change.
She saw many farmers and fishermen.
So they weren't all robbers and warriors.
In fact, they seemed just like most people.
A group of children were playing a game on a field.
A crowd gathered to watch.
"What are they playing?" asked Vinnie.
"Knattleikr," replied Gunnar.
The children paused to watch for a while.
There were two teams.
Some players had wooden sticks.
They were hitting a ball around.
"It looks like hockey," remarked Mandy.
Suddenly one player caught a flying ball.
He threw it to another player who had a stick.
His teammate hit the ball.
But the ball flew wildly in the wrong direction.
Konk! The ball hit Vinnie right on the head.
He fell to the ground.
His eyes were closed.
He did not move.
"Vinnie!" screamed Mandy.
The crowd gathered around.
"Is he okay?" asked someone.
"Let's take him to my house,"
said a boy, coming forward to help.
Gunnar and the boy picked Vinnie up.
Mandy followed, very worried.