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Scyld
For several minutes only the sound of chopping was heard as the men went about their work. Hilderinc seemed thoroughly embarrassed by his outburst and not yet ready to speak again; the others either did not know how to respond to Crabannan’s odd remark or did not wish to.
Scyld was at least momentarily satisfied. His companions were edgy, and Scyld had found that upset and emotionally charged men said things that they would never dare to speak when fully rational. In that way they were not dissimilar to drunk men.
He did not intend to let the mood pass, however. Something more than the Athanar-Eodwine showdown was driving each of them; something was making them each defensive. Scyld wished to know what. So he asked Crabannan, “Is the man that learns to lead a lesser leader because he had to learn it?”
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