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While Hilderinc and Fearghall were discussing the holbytla, Thornden was also busy thinking about him. He saw him when he entered and felt a twinge of regret when he remembered their earlier meeting. He wanted to speak to him, but not at once. He would first go and refresh himself after his ride.
Some minutes later he emerged again into the hall, dressed in cleaner clothes and with his hands and face washed. The hall was busier now than it had been five minutes ago. Several of the soldiers were there, and most of the people who had stayed behind had gathered in the hall. Twilight was falling outside, and the warmth of the fire was welcomed by everybody. The women past to and fro, bringing out tankards for ale and just beginning to carry out great platters of food. Even Saeryn was carrying something. She passed him on her way back to the kitchen with a wide, empty tray held under one arm and a pitcher in the other hand.
“Saeryn,” Thornden said, swinging out of his path to follow her. She half turned to see who called her, but didn’t stop walking towards the kitchen.
“Thornden,” she said, smiling some. “How did it go?”
“Tolerably,” he replied. “The full tale will wait until dinner. Can I help you carry something?” He took the heavy tray from her without letting her answer. “Are you sure you should be helping serve? You are still a lady here.”
“Even I cannot afford to sit still,” Saeryn answered. “There are too many mouths to feed to leave all the work to the girls. I would have thought that Athanar would bring more of his servers from his household in Edoras.” She pushed open the kitchen door and went in. The air was hot and heavy with a mixture of smoke and steam. The clatter of dishes and serving spoons filled Thornden ears, along with the chatter and laughter of the women folk working there. He followed Saeryn to the table and deposited the tray he was carrying. Saeryn set her empty pitcher down and picked up another full one and put it along with several trenchers onto another tray and picked the whole thing up. Thornden confiscated it at once. Saeryn gave him an annoyed look.
“Walk with me,” he said. “I’ll carry it and you can serve, if you insist, but I want to talk.”
Saeryn could not help the smile on her face as she conceded with a little grace. She picked up another full pitcher of ale and led the way back out of the kitchen. “What do you want to talk about?” she asked as she threaded her way to the tables.
“Did the messengers from last night return?”
“No. I imagine they will be back this evening, late.”
“Right,” Thornden said. They paused and he stood still behind Saeryn while she filled some of the tankards and then emptied half of his tray and handed several men full trenchers of stew and bread. “And what of Ginna?” Thornden asked as they went on. Saeryn didn’t turn her head.
“What of her?”
“Didn’t she tell you she got a letter this morning from her father?”
Now Saeryn turned and gave him a surprised look with wide open eyes. “No, she did not say a word about it to me.”
“Oh,” Thornden said. Perhaps he had been wrong in his hopes that the letter bore good tidings and permission from her father to marry Harreld. The same thought seemed to be going through Saeryn’s mind, too. She turned away, her eyebrows still lifted and thoughtfully poured the next man’s drink. She emptied the tray and then took it from Thornden.
“You’ve ridden a long way today, you should sit down and join the others,” she said.
He nodded. “I need to talk to Falco. And perhaps I’ll ask Harreld what the news is.”
Saeryn shook her head. “I wouldn’t. I’d wait. If Randvér has told them he doesn’t want the match to take place, he is not going to be very happy.”
“If he has been disappointed, perhaps having someone to talk to will be a good thing,” Thornden countered.
Saeryn shook her head and went off to the kitchen. Thornden went in search of Falco. He found him as of yet still alone. None of Athanar’s soldiers had gotten over their shyness and wonder of him to approach him yet with no other reason save curiosity.
“May I sit by you for a moment?” Thornden asked.
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