[Nogrod]

As they got Faramund's hall into their sight lord Athanar immediately made the obvious observation. It was a lordly dwelling, starkly in contrast to how the more ordinary people lived and whose houses and fields they had passed - and also much more lavish than the Mead Hall itself was. Well, that is, how the Mead Hall is as yet... Lord Athanar thought to himself. But this sure is a rich place... I wonder how have they gotten this rich...

There were some people on the courtyard and they clearly noticed the approaching party. Just as one of them reached the doors of the hall they opened before him and a man was being thrown out from the hall by two henchmen. The man rolled down the few steps and something was yelled at him. Athanar couldn't quite make out what it was but the tone was in line with the way the man was handled. That is most curious indeed...

From the distance Athanar could see the man who had been rushing in in the first place pointing his hand towards the party and all three disappearing inside.

"Take your places! Straight lines! Let's show them some quality!" lord Athanar yelled and clearly straightened his own posture. They were reaching the sideroad that branched from the mainroad and went up the low hill on top of which Faramund's hall was located.

While they started climbing the narrower path towards the courtyard he glanced to his both sides nodding to Thornden and Coenred in turn.

"Cool now..." he said, as much to himself as to his two commanders.

They reached the courtyard where many of the men and women working outside had already gathered to see what the strangers were about. Although they kept their distance, standing around the barnhouses and the stables like they were ready to run away if needed be. They looked both curious and nervous. But it was not everyday a host of two dozens of armed eorlinga rode into their yard.

Lord Athanar halted the party about thirty yards from the hall's main entrance.