When they had both looked at it, Liam held it high. "See Wolf's sword, Thingbane," he said and Wolf heard the echo off the walls around them. He returned it to the scabbard and then in a move that surprised Wolf, the boy handed it back to him. "Keep it for me, warrior, until it is time for me to carry it with honour."

"Thingbane!" the honour guard shouted as Wolf accepted the blade back from the boy. The lad had planned it. His grin gave him away. Liam would be a great leader. ...