9

Ianto heard yelling and considered ignoring it but the thought of it being another naked tryst made him walk out to watch the show.

It was two men fighting, a head being banged on the ground. It was Geddrin Skull-Splitter's. The person doing the banging was an enraged Bormeth the Berserk. Suddenly The King pushed his way through the crowd and separated them. He had a large cane in his hand, the handle a huge fist sized knot of wood and Ianto knew looking at it that it was not for aid in walking, the old man had craftily armed himself in a place where weapons were not allowed.

"They must fight to the death." Someone yelled from the sidelines and the others roared their agreement.

"That's right! Bormeth must kill me." The other man leered and then danced back as Bormeth ground his teeth and struggled to get at Geddrin, but The King still kept them apart.

"Aren't you afraid of death, Goddrin Skull-Splitter?" the King laughed, "Come, this is not the arena for this, it is a naming!"

"So?" Goddrin shrugged "Death by the sword! It means I shall drink in Valhalla with the great warriors."

"Come on, you don't still believe in all that Valhalla stuff, do you?" the King asked with amusement, "Come on! We take our games too far old friend."

The King looked at his right hand man "And you, Bormeth, aren't you afraid of crossing the Rainbow Bridge to Asgaard?"

Bormeth shrugged "I will join my grandfather there."

"He's not in Valhalla! He died of old age!" Goddrin laughed, "Even the king here took pity and did not take his head along with his little meagre crown of pig shit!"

"You liar!" They started trying to kill each other again, and crashed through a fence into the pig-sty.

Pigs squeal and run in all directions.

"Stop it!" Byrd cried as her pigs scatter and people began to chase them.

"Well?" Goddrin sneered "You MUST kill me!"

"Yes! That's right!" Bormeth struggled again to oblige, and they both toppled into the children's little paddling pool pond. The King dove back into the fray to keep them apart.

"Stop it you fools, this is no place for this madness!"

Goddrin starts attacking Bormeth again. The King decides there is only one way to make his point. He lets fly with his cane and lays both the antagonists out for a moment.

"Enough of this!" he roars, his anger showing as he stands over the two men, seeming taller and larger than he ever had "Anyone seeks to argue with me or my right to rule do so now! I am the fucking King here!"

Ianto was impressed with both the prowess and the intelligence of the old man to not only take them by surprise, knocking both men out with his cane but also asking for challenge when the only two who might possibly do so are out cold at his feet.

People started to disperse, all careful not to make eye contact as Luc finally relaxed, letting his hand move from the knife at his hip. The old King looked over and caught the movement, his face showing surprise that his son had not been challenging but protective in his stance.

"Before you all skulk off, catch the child's pets and fix that mess!" the King roared and he nodded to Ianto as he stalked off, Ianto watching silently then turning to find Jack behind him with a matching look of thunder.

"How serious was that?" he asked.

"To the death apparently" Ianto shrugged, "Sorted. Look, the little queen is getting over it."

Byrd was now perched on a chair with her arms folded, watching the men race about catching her pigs, some of them also fixing the fence with Goddrin helping, blood still running down his face.

"That was bound to happen. After getting caught, Bormeth has to take everyone's thoughts off what he was doing lest they tell the King. Now all they are talking about it the fight. The King is pissed, will not listen to anything to do with him at the moment, he will soon clear the board" Ianto hissed as he pushed Jack towards the trees where he kissed him and rubbed against him "So strong and so stupid. Fighting one another like that when they really should learn to kill with intelligence."

"How do you mean?" Jack asked, Ianto's face changing as he stepped back.

"Cariad, you are wonderful for my synapses" Ianto said before turning and heading off in search of Goddrin.

Jack remained leaning against the tree panting until he could control himself and then he cursed for not seizing Ianto and dragging him off for a seeing to.

Oh well.

Always later.

As he walked towards the house he glanced over with his little boy under his arm, Lin laughing as he wriggled and Jack saw Ianto talking softly to the man in question, the man nodding and showing extreme interest in Ianto's' advice.

Jack wondered what Ianto had thought of, his talks with Luc longer and more involved with the rules and history of these people and their Viking love.

Whatever it was, he had a feeling it would involve blood.

Both were smiling.