The pack had made camp in the center of a circle of large boulders. Men ranged around a large fire pit. They greeted Ragnvald with a fist on their chest and downcast eyes. Acknowledging each with a nod, the blond leader went forward to one central boulder and stepped up to a ledge to look out over the assembled warriors. Even with my gaze fixed on the ground, I felt the weight of their gaze.
“Kneel, Sabine,” Maddox murmured, and tossed a pelt on the ground for me.
Ragnvald sat and Maddox stood hovering at my right.
Under the scrutiny of all the warriors, I clutched Ragnvald’s leg. Images ran through my head--I could not look at the men, but in my mind’s eye I saw them--fighting, hunting, destroying. They went into battle wearing only wolf pelts and loincloths, and the enemy’s axes and b
