Ragvald’s eyes glittered in the firelight. It might have been nothing more than the flickering shadows, but he thought the wyrm gave him the tiniest nod of approval.
“But that’s not a challenge,” Estelle complained. “A dare is supposed to be something youdon’twant to do, not something you do.”
“Yeah, like stuffing eight marshmallows into your mouth,” Tiff said. “Or putting your pants on your head, or letting someone smear shaving cream over your whole face.”
“I’dwant to do those,” Archie said under his breath.
“I’m with the kids on this one, Shan,” Leonie said. “I really don’t see how this is meant to be difficult.”
He shrugged. “Then do it.”
She glared at him as if he’d dared her to strip naked and streak through the camp. “You can’t make me set my own dare. You’re not playing the game properly!”
“It is a valid challenge, shield-sister,” Ragvald said mildly. “And not one that seems difficult to meet. Why do you balk at it?”
“Come on, Leonie, you’re holding up the game,” Beth urged. She was fidgeting, impatient for her turn to spin. “Just pick something.”
Estelle’s expression turned crafty. “Yeah, there must besomethingyou want to do.”
“I can’t think of anything,” Leonie said firmly, and he tasted the acrid bite of a straight up lie. Reaching for the bowl, she marked a second stripe of soot on her cheek. “So I can’t do it. Pass.”
“But that means Shan gets a black mark as well,” Finley said. “And he’s already got two.”
“He should have thought of that before setting such a silly challenge.” Leonie sat back with a smug smile. “Looks like you’re out, Shan. What a pity.”
He hadn’t intended for her to refuse his challenge. Hereally should have anticipated it, though. It was very like her. Had sheeverdone anything just for herself?
He marked a third and final line across his face, then stood. “If my presence is no longer required, I should get back to my other duties. I will leave the rest of you to the game.”
“Hold,” Ragvald barked. He stood as well, and Shan was abruptly reminded of just how large the wyrm was. “Did you think the marks upon your face came at no cost? There is a penalty for those who flee rather than face their fears.”
Of course he wasn’t going to escape that easily. “There is?”
“Yes.” Ragvald leaned in close, voice dropping to a deep rumble. “You must live with yourself.”
Not giving him a chance to react, the wyrm straightened, addressing the whole pack once more. “One who hides from the truth has no place at our fire. As we agreed, he must be cast out into the cold!”
“It’s summer,” Spencer pointed out.
Ragvald beamed at the basilisk shifter as if he’d just answered a tricky trigonometry problem. “Exactly, our clear-eyed companion! Self-reflection is easier when alone in the icy wild. In my homeland, we would simply strip him of his furs and toss him into the nearest snowdrift. Alas, your sweltering climate makes this difficult.”
“We could push him into the lake,” Archie said hopefully.
“A suggestion not without merit.” Ragvald clapped a hand onto Shan’s shoulder. “But I have a better one. Come, striped one. I know a place where you may properly meditate upon your failings.”
Shan was not at all sure he liked the sound of this. However, there seemed no way to get out of it. At least, not without breaking his colleague’s arm.
He let Ragvald steer him away from the fire, Leonie andthe kids following like a string of confused ducklings. He’d somewhat expected Ragvald to head for the woods—possibly to strip him naked and abandon him there—but instead the wyrm pushed him back into the dining hall, where other packs were still playing card or board games. He could only hope they were enjoying games night more than he was.
Ignoring the bemused stares from counselors and campers, Ragvald paraded him straight across the hall and into the kitchen. The big, utilitarian space was deserted, all the cooks and cleaning staff having long since finished for the evening. Shan had never set foot in here before, but Ragvald seemed to know where he was going.
“Here,” the wyrm declared, halting in front of an industrial steel door. “Not as good as the quiet solitude of a frozen lake, I admit. But it will have to do.”
“Ragvald!” Leonie exclaimed. “You can’t make Shan stand in the freezer!”
“Indeed, I cannot,” Ragvald replied gravely. “But he is a man of honor, if not wisdom. I am certain he will do the right thing. Will you not, friend Shan?”
He didn’t exactly relish the idea of sitting amidst the frozen chicken tenders for Ragvald-knew-how-long, but it was easier than trying to argue with the wyrm. And at least it got him out of the game.
