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it.” Rafe held up a short spear with a long leaf-shaped head. “My grandfather taught me some basic moves with it. I want to practice them so I don’t forget. I want to be ready in case we ever run into more of those Amandán,” he said, referring to fighting side-by-side last month with Finn and Savannah against the goblins.
    â€œWhat happened to all those beads that were on the handle?”
    â€œI took them off. Now it looks like a real Zulu assegai.”
    â€œWhoa. What did you call it?”
    â€œ Ass-a-guy .”
    I will not laugh. Rafe is my best friend, and you don’t laugh at your best friend. I. Will. Not. Laugh . Finn bit down on the inside of his lip.
    Jabbing the tip of the spear at a clump of grass growing at the base of the wall, Rafe continued. “Yup—it’s called an assegai. Weird name, don’t you think? I wonder what ‘assegai’ means?”
    Finn bit harder. His eyes began to water.
    â€œAssegai,” Rafe repeated, making sure to enunciate each syllable.
    â€œDude, shut up,” Finn choked. He gave up and started laughing.
    Rafe joined him, teeth flashing white against his dark skin. “And my work here is done.”
    Catching his breath, Finn held out his hand for the spear. He slid his hand along the wooden shaft, admiring its craftsmanship before hefting it a few times, then testing a thumb on its bronze blade. “You need to sharpen it. Come in and I’ll show you how to use a whetstone.”
    Rafe glanced back at his house, brows drawn together. “Savannah and I aren’t allowed to come over anymore.”
    â€œBecause of what your parents think about Gideon?”
    â€œYeah. They don’t want us anywhere near him.” He shook his head. “And I don’t know how to tell them what really happened. That you guys saved us from those Amandán last month.”
    Finn thought for a moment. “Well, you shouldn’t be out in the woods by yourself. Gideon thinks you and your sister are on the Amandán’s hit list, too.”
    â€œAll the more reason I should learn how to defend myself.”
    â€œWhat—you’re planning on carrying an African spear around all the time?”
    Rafe shrugged. “It’s the only bronze weapon I’ve got.”
    â€œListen, I’ll loan you a knife and even ask Gideon to teach you how to use it. That way, you can carry it under your shirt when you run with your dad on the trails each morning. Better than nothing.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    â€œWe’ve got lots. Plus, Gideon has a bunch more stored in the basement. Come on, I’ll get you one.” When Rafe hesitated, he added. “Look, he’s over at Mac Roth’s, if that helps.”
    â€œAll right. But make it fast before my folks find out I’m over here.” The boys headed through the front gate, its wrought-iron pickets spiderwebbed with bronze wire. An earthy-peppery scent drifted over them from the sláinte nettle hedge spanning the north side of the yard.
    â€œHey, wait up. I’m coming, too.”
    They turned around at the sound of a girl’s voice. Savannah jogged toward them, her lanky build a duplicate of her twin brother’s. Her shoulder-length curls were held back from her face with a headband. As she approached, she smiled a hello, dimples deepening. Finn found himself answering with a loopy grin of his own.
    â€œGo away,” Rafe said, slamming the gate with a clang before she could enter. “This is guy stuff.”
    â€œSo why are you doing it?” She yanked the gate from his clutches, swung it open with another clang , and marched through.
    â€œYou know, she probably should be armed, too.” Finn reached around her to close the gate. He caught a whiff of something flowery or vanilla-y, he wasn’t quite sure. “She’s as much a target as we are. I say we let her come along.”
    â€œ She doesn’t