[Thinlómien]

Wulfric had been on a dark mood all evening and stormed off some hour ago after Théodfara - one of Athanar's stupidest soldiers and Wulfric's childhood playmate - had made an exceptionally stupid joke about dogs with various human bodyparts in place of their heads. Wilheard couldn't blame his elder brother for being moody after the recent events, but neither could he understand why Wulfric insisted on being so surly. There was little he could do about his situation just now, so why didn't he just adapt instead of brooding over it? "Oh bugger him, I hope he finds some kitchen maid to comfort him," he muttered.

"Kitchen maid, you said?" asked Osmund. He was one of the local soldiers, an amiable chap who had been quick to befriend Athanar's folk. He was quick to laugh, and liked to talk, especially about women. "I'm afraid our kitchen maids aren't very available, though. Kara - the curvy beauty with dark eyes - they say she had something with Erbrand - the guy who disappeared yesterday - so I doubt she'd be too excited to comfort any other men right now. Well - who knows women? Maybe she'd need some manly comfort.

Anyway, yeah, that's it about her. She surely has her way to cope with admirers so your brother - or anyone else of you guys, just saying - should know what they're doing when wooing her or else it's lost, especially if Frodides happens to appear. She's the old hag who prepares all this delicious food, bless her, but I doubt any of you would be so desperate that you'd try her. Although maybe she's had time to gather experience..."

There was general laughter, but a majority of the newcomers were listening to Osmund with avid ears. It was not everyday you heard useful information about the local women. "Then there's Ginna, oh she's sure a beautiful sight - I guess you must know whom I mean! Wouldn't you say she's perfect? However, everybody knows she and our smith Harreld have a serious thing for each other - and anyway she's noble born so that's aiming pretty high for us mere rascals and, yeah, well they say those noble girls are brought up in a different manner than the steady peasant folk, of course I have no first hand experience so..."

"They are quite different, I assure you, but all the better if you succeed in wooing them," Wilheard interrupted in a mischevious tone, and everybody laughed. Truth be told he didn't have much experience with girls, but you could learn a lot by just observing Wulfric and listening to his stories.

"Oh yes, well you're a nobleman sir so you sure know both!" Osmund said. "But what I was saying? Oh yes, that however sad that might be, she is definitely out of bounds. Then there's Modtryth of course - I actually think she's quite good-looking, maybe would've been better ten years ago but can't help that I guess, but anyway I understand if you disagree, after all you can quite plainly see she is at least half a Dunlending. Well I always liked dark girls, maybe that's some quirk of mine..."

"The women!" Baldwic interrupted and banged his fist to the table. Wilheard laughed. Shy Baldwic became such a loud barbarian when drunk.

"Sure!" Osmund said. "Well I just wanted to say that she is a married woman so no good either. Her husband's the carpenter but surprisingly good with a sword or a staff! I heard he used to be a soldier too..."

"The women!" Baldwic interrupted again, and everybody roared with laughter. Wilheard knew he'd be teasing Baldwic about this for at least a month.

"Sorry sir, I'm afraid there aren't more, any more kitchen maids at least. Or there was Rowenna - that was a beauty well fitted to my tastes - but she's gone away, I don't know where. So I'm afraid we do lack a bunch of pretty, young and free kitchen maids which is a shame. You didn't happen to bring any with you?"

Slowly the talk died out, and drinking became more serious. Wilheard tried hard to keep up with the rest, but the truth was that he had less experience with drinking and less bulk than many of the soldiers, so after some time he started feeling sleepy and some time later he found himself under the table. It was actually quite comfortable there, listening to the voices of the talking and laughing soldiers. Wilheard had never been the sociable type, but sometimes company was good, and these soldiers were good men. He drifted back to unconsciousness...

...And then he was awake again. A quarrel had broken out between two very loud men and their shouts screeched Wilheard's ears. He decided to get away, but all he could see was men's legs everywhere.

He started crawling until he was closer to the end of the table. He was alarmed to hear his father's voice amidst the general hubbub of noises. He was talking to somebody and now, he stopped. Wilheard hoped his father wouldn't find him under the table - Athanar didn't approve either of his drinking or of his pitiable tolerance of alcohol, Wilheard had never figured out which one - but he was relieved to find out he wasn't actually paying attention. With all the hustle and dogs going around and occasionally popping under the table it was quite safe to be a drunk man lying under the table.

"Go on, Coen, tell me," Athanar said and Wilheard pinched his own ears to keep awake. This would surely be something interesting, Coen was by far the most observant man in Athanar's company - Wilheard himself possibly excluded, but then again, Coenred could read men the way Will never could - and he didn't waste his words or his lord's attention on nonsense.

Horrified and excited on the occasions when he could concentrate on listening, Wilheard heard Coenred tell about Thornden's treachery and Athanar give some very peculiar orders. It was all very peculiar, Wilheard thought, but he couldn't force his concentration anymore, and it seemed like Athanar was giving some final orders to his captain.

Wilheard drifted back to unconsciousness. He knew he had just heard something he should tell Wulfric, but it was already slipping from his memory...