Scarburg Meadhall - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Folwren · 04-04-2011, 01:29 PM

The tension in the air dissipated in an instant. Thornden felt himself breath easier, and he wondered if he had been holding his breath. He smiled as he glanced about. Some of the men cheered at lord Friduhelm’s words. The old man turned to lord Athanar standing on the steps beside him. He spoke loudly enough for Thornden to hear from where he sat,

“Go, lord Athanar, and my men serve you well! I will stay home and deal with this whelp of mine, myself!” He turned his dark eyes on his son as he spoke. Thornden tried to keep the smirk off his face, but for all his decency, he could not help it. He studied for a minute the odd couple standing there on the stairs: the young man, full of life and vigor standing with his head bowed to hide the fury in his face, and his father, bent and old though he was, glaring at him as though he were young enough still to be whipped.

He did not observe them for more than a second. He turned his horse about again to face both Athanar’s men and Friduhelm’s riders that were just put under Athanar’s command. “Come! Prepare yourself to ride out. To horse, eorlinga!” The men still on foot mounted their horses Athanar went down the stairs to his mount and rode forward to head the column once more. As they wound up to the road away from the hall, Friduhelm could still be seen standing on the step with his son to one side of him and a step behind.

It was not a two hour’s ride to Lord Tancred’s. They reached the holding by mid-afternoon. The dust from their horses rose behind them high in the air and acted as beacon to those they approached. Tancred was waiting for them. He did not show a force of arms as Faramund had, though his men-at-arms did stand at attention at each door of the hall. Tancred himself met them in the midst of the courtyard and stood by while Athanar dismounted.

At first, Tancred seemed doubtful of Athanar’s claim as lordship of the Middle Emnet. Thornden observed him cast a grim eye over all the horsemen. Athanar, too, turned to look at the array of riders, and then he faced Tancred again and explained to him the great number of men. Tancred looked as though he had sour grapes in his mouth as he received the news of Friduhelm’s recovery. He looked again on Athanar and nodded. They spoke a few words and then he and Athanar withdrew into the hall.

Out in the courtyard, the men waited. Thornden looked about him. All seemed well in order here. People moved about in their daily business, looking nothing like the cowed and frightened inhabitants of Faramund’s hall. He and the other soldiers were looked upon with curiosity, but little hostility.

In a little while, Athanar came forth again. Tancred came with him and bid him farewell at the door of his house. A moment later, Athanar was mounted again and the column turned and rode once more out onto the road.

04-04-2011, 01:29 PM	#11
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	The tension in the air dissipated in an instant. Thornden felt himself breath easier, and he wondered if he had been holding his breath. He smiled as he glanced about. Some of the men cheered at lord Friduhelm’s words. The old man turned to lord Athanar standing on the steps beside him. He spoke loudly enough for Thornden to hear from where he sat, “Go, lord Athanar, and my men serve you well! I will stay home and deal with this whelp of mine, myself!” He turned his dark eyes on his son as he spoke. Thornden tried to keep the smirk off his face, but for all his decency, he could not help it. He studied for a minute the odd couple standing there on the stairs: the young man, full of life and vigor standing with his head bowed to hide the fury in his face, and his father, bent and old though he was, glaring at him as though he were young enough still to be whipped. He did not observe them for more than a second. He turned his horse about again to face both Athanar’s men and Friduhelm’s riders that were just put under Athanar’s command. “Come! Prepare yourself to ride out. To horse, eorlinga!” The men still on foot mounted their horses Athanar went down the stairs to his mount and rode forward to head the column once more. As they wound up to the road away from the hall, Friduhelm could still be seen standing on the step with his son to one side of him and a step behind. It was not a two hour’s ride to Lord Tancred’s. They reached the holding by mid-afternoon. The dust from their horses rose behind them high in the air and acted as beacon to those they approached. Tancred was waiting for them. He did not show a force of arms as Faramund had, though his men-at-arms did stand at attention at each door of the hall. Tancred himself met them in the midst of the courtyard and stood by while Athanar dismounted. At first, Tancred seemed doubtful of Athanar’s claim as lordship of the Middle Emnet. Thornden observed him cast a grim eye over all the horsemen. Athanar, too, turned to look at the array of riders, and then he faced Tancred again and explained to him the great number of men. Tancred looked as though he had sour grapes in his mouth as he received the news of Friduhelm’s recovery. He looked again on Athanar and nodded. They spoke a few words and then he and Athanar withdrew into the hall. Out in the courtyard, the men waited. Thornden looked about him. All seemed well in order here. People moved about in their daily business, looking nothing like the cowed and frightened inhabitants of Faramund’s hall. He and the other soldiers were looked upon with curiosity, but little hostility. In a little while, Athanar came forth again. Tancred came with him and bid him farewell at the door of his house. A moment later, Athanar was mounted again and the column turned and rode once more out onto the road.