|
Hilderinc remained in the saddle. Patting his chestnut horse - a good, strong stallion he got back in Edoras for the journey here - he carefully looked around for any sign of somebody who might look like a local stablemaster. He was not willing to dismount for two, no, three reasons: First, from the horseback, he could easily oversee the mess in the courtyard. Quite many people, he thought, many people for such a small place. Though remembering his journey, especially the last part of it, Hilderinc was thinking that any number of people could be considered surprising for such a place. He had seen other settlements as remote as this, or even more so, but he could not think of a place so pitiful, yet hosting such a noble lord as Athanar was. Well, save one. Briefly, he wondered what the previous eorl must have been like. But only briefly. It was not a matter to wonder about anyway.
The soldier's second reason to stay in the saddle was simply to keep the profile. His lord's flag folded, but still held in his hand, he considered it appropriate, as far as he could read Athanar's attitude, to stay "on top of things", to make the proper impression on the inhabitants of Scarburg. Personally, Hilderinc did not care, but during years serving different masters he has learned to correspond to their behavior. Even though every single one of them wanted you to fulfil your duties and obey his orders, each master also expected something different from you - something else that you had to discover yourself. It was a matter of, some would say, empathy. Hilderinc would say: it is a matter of making an observation and of applying it.
The third reason for remaining on horseback was indeed simply practical. He was the one appointed by Athanar, and whoever was responsible to take care of the horses from the natives' part would see whom to talk to. The soldier's eyes flashed a bit to the side – it seemed obvious that the stables were over there. Hilderinc did not concern his mind with the rest of the hall yet. One by one. There was a way to familiarize yourself with a new place, and everything had its time.
And now, he noticed a young man – no, a boy, actually – moving close to him. One look was enough. All right, so "stablemaster" was maybe too much of a strong word, Hilderinc corrected himself. But there was hardly anything to wonder about. He decided that it is possibly the right moment to dismount. The boy stood against him, small and fair next to the dark soldier. Hilderinc handed the reins of his horse to him.
"Lead the way," he said. Turning to the rest of the company, most of them already dismounted by now, he beckoned to them and followed the boy into the stables, to see the place and to put the horses wherever was necessary. Especially he wanted to find the place for his lord's own mount and the others belonging to his wife, sons and captain before leading them in. However, Hilderinc only managed to go as far as to the door when a strange noise came from behind. It was a terrified neigh of lord Athanar's white mare, which Hilderinc had left in the courtyard! What was going on?
|