Ragvald reached behind his back, in a gesture the entire camp had come to know and dread. Kids bolted for cover as—sure enough—he pulled the inevitable pair of axes out of his apparently infinite ass.
“Buck of Thunderbird Steading, I challenge you!” Ragvald boomed. He flicked a wrist, sending one of the axes hurtling into the ground half an inch from Buck’s foot. “Let us settle this like men!”
(“Thisis your idea of a diversion?” Ignatius hissed at Finley from behind a nearby canoe.)
There still wasn’t a flicker of reaction from the asshole beast, but he didn’t need the fucker anyway. A very human anger filled him.
“You know what?” Buck yanked the ax out of the ground. “I havehad itwith everyone getting up in my face about things that are none of their business. I have had it with this fated mate crap, and having a squatter in my skull, and this whole goddamn camp. And I have especially had it withmotherloving shifters!”
(“Uh, guys? Was this the plan?”
“No! I need him distracted, not dead!”
“Well, he’s definitely distracted.”
“I’m sorry! Ragvald swore he would keep Buck busy. I didn’t think to ask how!”
“I amsurroundedbyidiots.”
“Iggy, stop complaining and go!”)
“You want to settle this like men?” Buck snarled, as a small figure broke from cover and dashed away. He fell into a combat stance, ax held low and ready. “Fine. Let’s dance, sunshine.”
Ragvald made no move to raise his own weapon. He didn’t even drop into guard. “What in the name of the ancestors are you doing?”
“Getting ready to kick your motherloving ass,” Buck snapped. “Are we fighting or not?”
Ragvald stared at him as though Buck had just suggested they pleasure each other with the ax handles. “You want tofightme?”
“Why do you sound surprised? You’re the one who just handed me a motherloving ax!”
“Ah, Ragvald?” Moira said. She had her arms spread, holding back any kids from getting too close. “I think something is getting lost in translation. To us, demanding to settle things like men means that you’re challenging someone to a duel. Especially if you punch them in the face first.”
“Sea and Earth,” Ragvald muttered. He shook his head. “Outlanders. How there can be so many of you is a mystery. You are all insane.”
Buck was starting to feel rather ridiculous, standing there like a gladiator while everyone else discussed linguistics. “Does someone want to tell me what Iamsupposed to do with this motherloving ax?”
“Chop wood,” Ragvald said, as though this should have been obvious.
Buck blinked at him. “What is this, competitive lumberjacking? Biggest pile of wood wins?”
“Now you are being silly.” Ragvald slung his ax over his shoulder. “Come, oath-breaker. To settle such a great grievance will take many logs.”
Ragvald strode off toward the woods. Buck cast at Moira, but apparently she had no more idea what was going on than he did.
“I’ll look after the campers,” she murmured. “You’d better go with him. I don’t think Ragvald will let you back out of… whatever this is. I’m afraid wyrms take their traditions extremelyseriously.”
Since he didn’t seem to have much choice, Buck headed after Ragvald. For such a big man, he moved damn fast.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret asking this,” Buck said. “But why, exactly, do we need logs?”
“To burn, of course.” Light glinted from the blade of Ragvald’s ax. “In the sauna.”
CHAPTER39
Buck didn’t come to say goodbye.
She’d packed her things last night. Her car was all loaded up, ready and waiting. She’d dragged her heavy suitcase across the camp with her own two hands, powered by anger and grief. Probably one of the shifters would have helped her, if she’d asked, but it had felt right to do it herself.
