Saeryn slowly gathered her wits back together. She lowered her hand from her forehead and looked about the room. Talk had spread again among the people at the table, but whatever spirit of good will there had been was almost completely lacking now. Thornden had gone back to his seat. He ate in stolid silence with a face set in an expression of stone. She had to say something now, or else there may remain a permanent split in the inhabitants of Scarburg.
She stood up, using her hands to push herself to her feet. Crabannan wound his song to a quick, but well sounding end, and stepped back to indicate her. She felt cold, and her face was unusually pale. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and she looked in no condition to speak. But speak she did, her voice trembling at first, but growing stronger a she gained boldness.
“Friends of Scarburg,” she said. Her eyes swept across the tables, meeting the eyes of people she knew, and those she didn’t. “Friends, old and new. It is clear that we have all gotten off to a bad start. But this does not have to be so. We are all of us...all of us,” she repeated firmly, “wanting to find how best we can serve the king, and in serving him, serve our new eorl. There can be no rift between us.” She paused as she allowed her and Crabannan’s eyes to meet. Then she continued looking from person to person as she spoke.
“We have taken sides, and this can not be so. We are all Eorlingas. We can all work towards the same goals. I ask you – those of you who have been here in Scarburg for some time – join with lord Athanar for my sake. And I ask you – those who have come just today – join with those people who have been here before for your lordship’s sake. All of us are all the same, if we could only come down to the root of it. Yes, there are tensions, but I am asking you to bring yourselves beyond that. You are men and women of the Mark. Be proud of your brotherhood with the people here. Let us put the strife behind us, and live now together in peace.”
She slowly let her eyes travel about the hall again and then she took her seat once more.
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