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Hilderinc
As they rode out with Thornden, Hilderinc felt somewhat unusually tense and attentive - partially probably because of Áforglaed, who rode just on the other side of Thornden and who still seemed on edge. Even Thornden had noticed that. Hilderinc wondered what could possibly happen had they found Erbrand and Áforglaed's anger went off in an uncontrolled way. Hilderinc had seen a fair share of such events among less disciplined men he used to serve with under various masters; he could well imagine one soldier's nerves breaking, others trying to stop him, somebody getting hurt and the tracked men using the confusion to escape, only to be shot in the back a few moments later, effectively negating any chance for being brought to justice...
To prevent his mind from conjuring dramatic scenarios, Hilderinc tried instead to focus on his surroundings. The road in front of them was empty and no signs of anybody else's presence in the vicinity could be seen. Thornden was quiet, but the soldiers in the back, Quin and the young "stablemaster", as he jestingly called him in his mind since their arrival - was it only the day before? - were talking to each other. With his keen senses focused on the surroundings, Hilderinc overheard bits of their conversation. His interest was abruptly raised by realising that the "stablemaster" seemed to talk about Erbrand in rather positive tone, too. Hilderinc casually slowed down his horse's pace just to be a few steps closer to the discussing two.
What the boy was saying was just the same all the others have been saying. "He may act a bit rashly sometimes, but inside he is a kind person" - it was said so many times that it was becoming sort of persistent. Hilderinc tried to remember his encounter with Erbrand in the morning. Well, it was true, Erbrand seemed kind. And as for attacking Scyrr... now that he thought about it, Hilderinc really knew Scyrr well enough not to think that he was completely innocent in starting the fight.
But that only raised the importance of bringing Erbrand back. Similar questions like those the "stablemaster" raised were going through Hilderinc's mind. How will Athanar act? Hilderinc knew Athanar to be a fair man, on the other hand, almost killing a soldier of one's own army was one of the worst things a man could do. The best masters Hilderinc had were those who could maintain order among their men, and one of the best ways to do this was to make an example of those who disturbed the order. In his initial years of service, during the War, Hilderinc had also heard and a few times even seen on his own eyes how such doctrine was taken into the extreme by the Uruk-hai of Isengard. He preferred not to recall the memories of it, however, and he doubted than anybody would like to. Civilisation was, after all, one of Men's advantage against the Orcs. Still, even though Erbrand's - and Lithor's, if he had indeed helped the tanner escape - destiny would not be as grim, still it probably would not be anything enviable.
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