[Groin Redbeard]

The silence was unnerving. Lithor had expected immediate responses from the lord’s two sons, but all just stared at him wide eyed. Lithor was about to say something when Crabannan sprang forward like an energetic doe in the springtime. His words were as merry as his movements and clarified what Lithor meant. “I could not have said it better myself,” whispered Lithor to Crabannan. Lithor smiled once again to see if his challenge would be taken up.

His challenge was indeed answered, but by Athanar. "Quit disgracing yourself any more sergeant Lithor! And that is right now!" The lord’s first words sounded angry, but Lithor did not detect any hostility at himself directly, only at his challenge. Lithor picked up a spear and readied it to be accepted. So this lord is not such a stick in the mud, as I thought! This will be grand! Thought Lithor. Another of his smiles curled to its extent. His smile, however, died quickly as Athanar shot damaging accusations at him.

Lithor was stunned wide mouthed eyed. It was the only time that Lithor could remember that he was entirely unable to speak. Lithor had uttered some insults in his time but Athanar’s was the worst that he had ever heard. Treason! What had he done? He was not contending with the rule of Athanar. In the opening of his boast, Lithor had actually acknowledged him as “my lord”. Thankfully others spoke in Lithor’s defense. Crabannan was the first and then Thornden, but as Lithor’s senses returned it was his turn to speak.

“Commander,” Lithor called to Thornden, “I thank you for your defense and for yours, Crabannan, but I will speak for myself.” Lithor stepped past Crabannan.

Lord Athanar was about to call Lithor back to his place before he would even open his mouth, but looking at his determination and sensing the feeling in the Mead Hall he decided otherwise and just waited silently, not giving any response whatsoever.

“My lord, I have no ill feelings for you, your family, or your rule. I am a soldier by profession but a jester in spirit when a soldier’s duties are done.” Lithor suddenly began to feel very old. His hand was shaking and his voice was obviously quieter than it had ever been before and sounded very confused. Even his mannerisms were less confident than was normal, like a dog after it had been kicked in the gut.

“Tonight was meant to be a night for merry making."

Lord Athanar would have none more.

“Do you call offending your eorl and his family “merry making”? Or throwing spears in a fully-packed hall? I think master Thornden speaks wisely. Sit back to your seat, sergeant. This will be decided tomorrow. Do not make your situation any worse."

"What is my crime?" Lithor questioned, standing proud and defiant. "I am not accustomed being accused of something so dire as treason without knowing the reasons. Is it not enough that I have offered the better part of my livelihood away as a gift to any member of your house?"

"That's enough soldier!" Lord Athanar was getting angry again. "Do you really need me to tell you what you have done?" He looked at Lithor, but he clearly wasn't going to blink.

Lord Athanar sighed as he really didn't like to spell the thing out in public himself, but Lithor's defiance gave him no other choice.

"You have not only publicly disrespected your lord and his household but actually publicly questioned his rule... well, you have actually questioned your King's decree!"

Lord Athanar draw breath while still looking at Lithor to the eye, but then turned his head to face Thornden.

"Where I come from, questioning the rule of your superiors is called treason... Maybe you have another vocabulary here..."

Lithor was genuinely confused. He had not meant anything as defiance to Athanar's rule; in fact, he considered himself to be rather complacent in the changing of lords.

"My lord, I have not questioned the King's decree! I have addressed you as my lord as the King demands and I have welcomed the King's guests. I was not referring to you, my lord, when I said this. If I have offended you by describing your rule as temporary then I apologize for it," here Lithor paused and bowed apologetically. "But is that not the truth? Lord Eodwine will recover, despite your thuggish usage of the news of this illness! Such behavior becomes lord Tancred."

Lithor for the first time in his life had acted completely out of character and had insulted a lord. He hated the fact that his good will was being twisted so that this new lord could show how tough he is. What Athanar had won in reputation was soon lost in Lithor’s mind as he saw how the lord really was. Lithor did not mind boldness, but he hated Athanar's arrogance. Athanar had nothing to fear from him.

"Enough!" lord Athanar yelled cutting in over Lithor's last words. But then suddenly he calmed down as fast as he had ignited. There was a total silence in the Hall.

"Oh you wormtongue you..." lord Athanar almost whispered the words. "So you said something but then again you didn't. And you both apologise and call me a thug in a same sentence... and lord Tancred, eh? You would have been beaten already if I were him..." He still didn't raise his voice. He was about to make a remark of no one yet having survived a "dead man's life" - condition, but then thought the better of it. That would have been bad politics right there.

"This discussion is over for today." He said in his commanding voice and turned to Thornden.

"Thornden, see sergeant Lithor to his table." Turning to face Lithor yet again, he continued: "Let me not hear anymore from you this evening so that I don't have to arrest you. We'll settle this... tomorrow."

He sat back down and grabbed his goblet. He was clearly thinking.

Lithor bowed as Athanar took his seat. As he looked from Thornden to Saeryn’s eyes, Lithor could sense the deep resentment. Where they disappointed in him? He could not tell, they just stared at him with blank expressions. It was a very foolish move to talk back to his superior, but it could have been worse.

Lithor put a hand on Crabannan’s shoulder and said in a hushed voice. “I have doomed our chances of an early transition. Thank you for your defense, I was not worthy of it.”

Athanar’s orders were to return to his table and Lithor obeyed. He sat down very slowly and watched as the hall began to erupt with a cacophony of angry discussions praising and condemning him. This was not what Lithor wanted, he could not stand it. So slowly, without being noticed, Lithor rose from his chair and made his way from the main hall. He had been thoroughly ashamed of his actions. Some time alone was what he needed.