|
Of all the idiotic things Erbrand had ever heard this had to be the worst. Coming from people who were suppose to lead people like himself. People who scorn him as a peasant and then act like a peasant when they think their pride is challenged. What was worse is that no one spoke up to put an end to the matter. Where is the high proud Thornden? Why did lady Saeryn stay quiet? I know why: because it is best to make an example of one man instead of risking their own necks. One man who had done nothing but cause laughter and promote good friendship amongst Scarburg since its founding and now suddenly charged with treason. Treason, of all things! Why? I know why: because Athanar misunderstood Lithor that is why. So Athanar accuses Lithor of challenging the King’s authority, heh. So Athanar accuses Lithor of contending with Athanar’s rule, heh. Well perhaps if this lily livered lord would start acting like a lord, instead of being paranoid with his precious earldom from the king, then perhaps things can get back to normal! Athanar calls Lithor a traitor for his words and Lithor calls Athanar a thug for his tactics to suppress us. Athanar’s defense will be that he is speaking the truth of Eodwine. Sure he direly sick, but why did he have to cudgel us with it! Then that parchment from the king, producing it from his sleeve as if Eodwine had no hope to live and he were Scarburg’s only hope. I swear that the look on lady Saeryn’s face is enough to make my heart burst with pity. But Athanar’s defense will be that he was simply being honest. You can’t condemn honesty and good intentions can you? Lithor is being called a traitor for being generous and honest!
Erbrand’s thoughts raced through his head so fast he could not see straight. Even if his logic was not correct, something in his gut told him that there was something very unjust in all of this. There was nothing but silence when Lithor took his seat. Lithor should have kept his big mouth shut! It was not like him to pick an argument. Also, Thornden will be unjustly punished for this. That little phrase that Athanar spoke to Thornden was full of contempt. Crabannan might have a hard time ahead of him as well. It was no secret that Crabannan had never been to Erbrand’s liking, but this quick show of courage changed all of that. If the nobles would not speak for our rights, then perhaps it is people like Crabannan who will start speaking up.
The hall slowly livened up but nowhere near the extent that it would have before the outburst. Lithor’s spear still hung at the end of the hall as a ghastly reminder of the terrible argument. Erbrand slowly started to play on his fiddle, but the hall did not seem in the mood for it. He saw that Lithor left his chair and was leaving the hall.
“Carry on Crabannan.” Erbrand placed his fiddle on the stool and started after Lithor. The old soldier opened the great door (nobody seemed to notice the noise) and wrapped himself in a warm woolen cloak before stepping out into the frosty night air.
“Lithor,” Erbrand whispered after him once he was outside himself. The old soldier recognized the voice and smiled faintly.
“I guess I am not as stealthy as I thought. Does the whole hall know of my absence?”
“You will get in more trouble if you leave the table, Lithor. Come back inside.” Lithor looked at Erbrand with surprise. There was a silence and then Lithor began to laugh. Not a half hearted, forced, laugh but a deep throated laugh that one gives when genuinely amused—Lithor’s typical laugh.
“Shhh! You will draw more attention to you!”
“Have you not heard Erbrand, I am a traitor. There is nothing more they can charge me with; unless, of course, Athanar has outlawed laughter.”
“You should have stayed silent Lithor. Athanar would never have gone through with it.”
The smile slowly faded from Lithor’s face and was now staring at nothing. It looked to Erbrand as if Lithor was recalling some past event that was similar to this. Painful memories. “Tonight I took Athanar’s words all I could and tomorrow I will take Athanar’s sentence like a man. I did not argue because he called me a traitor, although that would give any man ample reason to argue, it was why he called me a traitor. Athanar was trying to dictate my actions, acceptable as they were. I am not his horse he can use when needed; I am not his dog to give him comfort and security; I am not some chicken he can spook; I am a man. To allow someone to dictate your conscience for you, Erbrand, is a terrible thing; it sticks in your gut until the day you die. I am too old to start changing.
“I acted like a fool tonight for arguing and tomorrow I will accept the consequences. Go back inside, have some fun before the evening ends. I just need time by myself.” Erbrand watched Lithor walk away without a word. It was scary to watch his best friend sound so defeated, entirely out of character.
The night was a cold one, and Erbrand suddenly realized that he had rushed outside without any heavy clothing. He did not feel like going back into the hall just yet and he door to the kitchen was unlocked. The warmth from the kitchen felt good on his face as Erbrand quickly closed the door.
“What’s this?” A familiar voice asked. Erbrand saw with joy to see Kara come towards him. She grasped Erbrand’s hands in hers and immediately led him to a place in front of the furnace. For a few minutes Erbrand let her fret over his cold condition. Kara’s eagerness to make him comfortable was so refreshing. Usually he was unnecessarily trying to make Kara feel at ease and usually upset a few things in the process. The other kitchen maids were busy waiting on the table for now and for a little while they would be alone.
“What were you doing out there?” She asked.
“Did you hear what Lithor did?” Kara shook her head gravely. Erbrand looked away imagining the whole scene, a flame of rage coming back into his eyes. He wanted to vent his frustration to Kara, she would understand. However, when he began to speak Kara gently placed her hands to his lips. Whether Kara meant that venting would do no good, or whether she thought Lithor’s punishment was just, or whether she simply did not want anyone to hear Erbrand could not guess. This is why he loved her, there was no reason to speak, she knew what he meant. The flame of rage quickly died and for a while he was content to simply just stare into Kara’s understanding eyes. Crabannan’s sweet melodies came to them from hall and suddenly Erbrand had an urge.
“Dance with me!” The excamation caught her off guard. Before she could answer Erbrand had jumped up and pushed back one of the smaller tables. As quickly as Erbrand had cleared the space, he grabbed Kara and lifted her high above his head (he did this only when in his best moods). Crabannan’s song was slow and soft. Erbrand was not a natural dancer when it came to slow songs but Kara soon caught on and took the lead through the song. Erbrand felt as if he was dancing with a daughter of the Eldar. She was too good for him. Kara would never do anything to hurt him and there was nothing she ever needed to hide from him. Erbrand had made a vow on lord Eodwine’s wedding day that he would stop taking everything that Kara gave for granted and be worthy of her love. She had changed his life, but he did not know if he had changed hers as well. He was never the courtier and moments like this almost never happened. For now he was content to forget about Athanar and his troubles and simply hold Kara in his arms until the music ends.
|