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Gárwine stood a few paces away from Eodwine and the Dunlending, listening to every word they tossed at each other. The Dunlending subtly had just called the eorl a lout and a plunderer, and still avoided the question posed to him. Gárwine made up his mind that the Dunlending was an outlaw; for what other reason would he skip over Eodwine's question, throwing out a mouthful of rash words as a poor substitute for an answer? He confirmed Gárwine's image of a Dunlending: a rude, sly, dishonest man who did not know how to treat his lords.
And Gárwine was grieved to see Eodwine spoken to by the Dunlending in such a way. Gárwine was already fond of his eorl, who had given him a job and a roof over his head, and here he was, standing before his steward, guard, and very own daughter, asked such insolent questions by one of the people who had slaughtered his family. Gárwine glanced at Gudryn, but her solemn face gave no sign of her feelings.
"Thornden, how would you speak to this man were you in my place?" said Eodwine, commanding the room's attention and turning to his steward. Gárwine gave a thin smile. Eodwine would show the Dunlending not to wield words against an eorl of the Mark.
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