[Folwren]

"Just you and me Thornden," Athanar said, "outside. We have a few things to iron out. And this cancels my earlier order." And without speaking again, Athanar turned and left him.

Thornden sat momentarily very still, his eyes fixed on lord Athanar’s knife and dagger. Then he slowly rose and looked out at the men assembled there. Some were looking at him, and he could not help but meet the eyes of his old friends. After pausing just a moment, he, too, took the dagger from his belt and laid it beside Athanar’s and then stepped down from the table and followed lord Athanar.

Half way to the door, Saeryn intercepted him.

“You cannot go out there by yourself, Thornden,” she said, grasping his sleeve.

“Why not?” he asked, turning sharply.

“We don’t know what he’ll do!”

“He is our lord and my leader, and I have wronged him.”

A questioning look crossed her face. “How?”

“I will tell you later, if you do not know. But I must go and meet him.” Saeryn still held him. “He cannot hurt me, Saeryn. He has laid down his weapons.” He felt it would be dishonorable to point out to her that he was yet young and strong and Athanar past his prime in life, and so he left it unsaid.

Saeryn may have understood, for she let him go, but not without saying, “Be careful.”

Thornden turned at once and strode swiftly to the door and outside. He saw Athanar standing in the middle of the empty courtyard, the cold light of the moon and stars casting a pale shadow at his feet. Thornden came towards him and stopped several feet away. He waited for Athanar to speak.