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Coenred was about to respond regarding Įforględ, when he followed Hilderinc's gaze to a fight in the courtyard. There were two children, and one of them... Ędre! Oh no... She was screaming at the boy, looking worse for wear.
"Įforględ will have to wait," he said quickly, speaking to no one in particular anymore as his eyes were locked on the children. "If you find him before I do, tell him it would be best to be ready to report to me in the barracks before I have to look for him all over the Mead Hall." Coen was growing steadily more frustrated.
"Follow Thornden if he does not mind taking you to the barracks right now. I expect the rest of the supplies to be unpacked as quickly as possible, then keep to the barracks until I can have a word with you all."
His words came out in a rush, and he had no time to worry about whether Thornden wished to take the soldiers without their captain, or if he wanted to leave the problem of the children to Coen. He wondered why the young man had not stepped forward to deal with it in the first place - he seemed to be one used to running things around here. Perhaps he was waiting for more of an answer from Coen, but...
"Ędre!" he called as he stepped quickly toward the brawling children, all at once angry and worried - worried both for Ędre and what Athanar might think. "What is going on?" Coen grabbed Ędre by the shoulders - not roughly - and looked at the boy, presumably a local.
"I don't think your father would approve of you striking a girl," he said gravely to the boy, not waiting for an answer from either of them. He then glared silently, still expecting answers. His only experience with children he had was with his younger siblings, and he felt a little silly, but he knew that he should protect Ędre, and indeed all of Athanar's family.
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