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For once, Léof was grateful when Athanar started giving another one of his speeches, thus interrupting all conversation. He paid little attention to Athanar’s words, however, for he was preoccupied with trying to figure out how he might respond to Hylath.
So few knew his true story; since coming into Eodwine’s employ, he had told only one person the full truth about why he had left home, and he had not seen her in many months. At first, the truth had shamed him, so he had kept it hidden for fear of losing his position. Now he was secure here, and time had lessened the sting of banishment from his father’s home. What was more, if ever he was to rescue his sister Cerwyn, the truth must come out eventually.
It was not as though he had ever lied about it. Well, once. To Garwine, some time ago. But he thought that mostly he had simply neglected to tell anyone anything, which was his right, perhaps: to bury his past if he saw fit. But he supposed that the past could never be truly buried… and perhaps it was time he was honest with someone, at least a little bit. He liked Quin well, though he knew little of Hylath. He was out of time to decide, however, for just then Athanar was declaring, "Let's ride men! For the King and the Scarburg Mead Hall!" Léof nudged Æthel with his heels and they were off.
“So, you were about to tell us of yourself,” Hylath prompted, resuming the conversation.
“Well, I was raised out in the West Emnet, in a village some days’ ride from here. It was a good life, though I fear I had little desire to farm as my father did. My father and I… I fear we did not get along well, and last spring we had something of a falling out, and I left. I came to Edoras hoping to find a place for myself, just as Lord Eodwine was setting up as Eorl. This was before he moved out here, you see. He had a place in Edoras, then – it used to be an inn. Anyway, I had always taken care of my family’s horses, and Eodwine had need of an ostler, so here I am.”
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