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Hilderinc almost spilled his ale upon hearing the words "temporary lord". He quickly glanced to the lords' table and saw Athanar slowly turning colors. Around him, the other soldiers were also raising their voices. Hilderinc looked again at the person in the middle of the hall. It was Lithor, he remembered even before the soldier introduced himself. The smooth-talking man from the courtyard. But gone was all his smooth-talk. What was the fool thinking? He must have been completely and utterly drunk.
Still, it probably took an arrogant fool to say things like that in front of the new eorl and his household. Hilderinc would not have minded the "guests" part, after all, part of the soldiers were only "guests", but "temporary lord" was a clear offense to Athanar and it was clear that he won't leave it unpunished.
And he didn't. Now it was obvious that this wasn't a diplomat's, but a soldier's speech. Hilderinc had to once again acknowledge lord Athanar's talent to settle matters. Although Hilderinc knew from experience that diplomatic speech can be far more useful to settle disputes among men, he also knew that for most of the leaders, soldier's attitude was good enough. Athanar was not being nice, but Lithor, in Hilderinc's opinion, hardly deserved otherwise.
Then Crabannan came in. His words puzzled Hilderinc for a while. What was that the man had said? "There are traitors and cowards in this room, but he is not one of them." What did he mean? Hilderinc scanned the faces of the other Scarburgians to see any trace of reaction. Has there been already any unrest among the people themselves before Athanar's men have arrived? Did they come into an already divided Hall? Was there somebody who deserved to be called a traitor and coward? That started to worry Hilderinc. This far, the Hall seemed easy-going enough to him, and the brawls among the newcomers and the original denizens nothing out of the ordinary (how many times he had seen things like that!). But the tense atmosphere and now Crabannan's words gnawed inside him. Was there something more going on?
Scyrr, sitting opposite to him, was of a different opinion.
"What does that scraper mean?" he said loudly enough for all at the soldiers' table to hear him. "Is he making fun of us again? That's for leaving that brawler of theirs unpunished, Hilderinc," he turned around. Hilderinc understood that he had interpreted Crabannan's words as pointed against Áforglaed.
"And he was there too," Scyrr continued, pointing at Crabannan. "He's one of that guy's friends. It was his, not our man, who ran away like a coward to hide himself from punishment. I still say we should've reported him."
Hilderinc wasn't listening anymore. Thornden was now speaking. Hilderinc felt some sympathy to that man, after all, he was probably trying to save one of his fellow soldiers. But he was perhaps too soft, or unsure of himself. A good potential for a leader, but he did not have enough courage to put all of his authority into his voice. But maybe, Hilderinc thought, maybe his manner will calm also Athanar down. He glanced at the lords' table. What will Athanar's response be?
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