The familiar sound of a sharp axe splitting a log felt satisfying. The raised eyebrow from his friend and family member Sean was answered by a tiny shake of Mikael’s head. There was no need to split the pieces further. Sean tossed both pieces of wood, now split into halves that would fit any of their numerous fireplaces, to the pile in the corner of the wood shed. Mikael handed the axe to Sean, barely able to suppress a groan.
“Tired already?” Sean grinned as the older man wiped his brow with his sleeve.
“Nah, just want to save my shoulder. I don’t get what’s wrong with it.” Mikael frowned.
“Might want to have Zoya take a look again.” Sean swung the axe in a perfect arc, and the thunk of the blade penetrating the wood and connecting with the chopping block made Mikael smile slightly. It
