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"Wulfric. Neither did I. I would not have expected you out here... casting stones at people."
"Neither would I," said Wulfric, sardonic but not unfriendly. That was all the apology Hilderinc was going to get - Wulfric was a man much too proud for apologies, and it would never even have occured to him to apologise to someone of lesser rank or status. Nevertheless as he was calming down, he did feel a bit stupid, casting stones at soldiers like a wilful child.
"Sit down since you're already here. There's something I would like to ask you." Wulfric was improvising now, suddenly feeling life return to fill the gaps made by the disappointments and humiliations of the previous days. He had told his brother they had to get to know their men and get to know the place so that they would be ready when father would finally fail.
With just the slightest hesitation, Hilderinc obeyed and sat down on the cold ground. Wulfric paused for a moment to think what he knew about this man - he was probably in his thirties, he had not been a part of Athanar's household very long, he was a common soldier but clearly valued by captain Coenred and Lord Athanar himself, and his hair was cropped short in a very un-Eorling manner. Not very much that, Wulfric thought.
"So tell me, Hilderinc," he said after a while. "You haven't served my Lord father for very long yet. How did you come to serve him - why did you pledge your sword to him and not some other lord who would surely have welcomed your services just as gladly?"
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