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Thornden did not trouble himself about Harreld for long. As soon as he had given Javan the errand of getting some supper for him, Thornden put him out of his mind and turned his thoughts again to the meal and the merry-making at hand. He entered the hall just before Athanar came in and he found himself a place to sit amongst a mixture of old and new Scarburgians. The two groups were mixing more freely now, and soon, he thought to himself, there would be no reason to differentiate who had been there longer.
He cheered with the others at Athanar’s short speech, nodded his head slightly when Athanar commended him and captain Coenred, and then, when the cheering and toasting was done, turned finally to his meal.
While he ate, he paid little attention to what went on about him. When he finished his first serving, he looked up and finally began taking notice of things. Falco sat by Athanar, and the two were talking away quite freely. Wynflaed sat on Athanar’s right, but Saeryn’s place was empty. Seeing that, Thornden turned his head to see if she was still serving people, but only Modtryth was in sight with a pitcher full of mead. Neither Ginna nor Saeryn were to be seen. Kara and Fordides, he assumed, were still busy at work in the kitchen.
“Well, that is good,” he said to himself. “Saeryn is probably talking to her about the letter. Perhaps she’ll find out more than I was able.”
And at that moment he saw Saeryn come out from the hall going towards the kitchen. She stood with her hands at her waist as though she were wiping them on her apron. Behind her, he saw a shadow dart across the hall and into the kitchen. Saeryn, standing in the opening, glanced over the people gathered their. Her eyes finally settled on Thornden. Their eyes met. Her eyes grew wide a moment and then she turned smartly about and disappeared into the kitchen as well.
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