Imerak said:
Larren snorts. "Fealty is overrated, if you don't mind me saying so. You folks have good intentions, fighting off these orcs, but so do I -- and my intentions haven't been forced upon me."
The cleric seems generally cheerful over the meal, adding in a couple comments such as "How do you kill a demon orc? Hit it harder." but mostly keeping to himself. He intends to guard his tongue after the near-incident earlier, as painful as it is for him. "Mallon Hill, you say? Perhaps we should head there for answers, although I doubt many will want to give them to us."
Edran smiles a bit indulgently at Larren's comments, though Osric doesn't look too pleased. Finally the younger man says, "Old Father, there is still the matter of the judgement."
The old knight looks rather sour at that, and shakes his head. "There is no need of a judgement, Osric. These good people are our guests, and of course Master Broderick is free to use the pass in any event. Old allegiances will be honored, so long as I command here. In any case, since they are serving the Thane of Stone in their business here, I would judge them free to cross our lands as they will."
Osric stands, snarling, "What has the damned Thane and his folk done for us, that you honor them so!?! That book tells of our folk dying to defend the dwarves' holes, but where were the dwarves when the Vale fell? Where were they when our people were scourged into the mountains, when our towns were burned? Tell me that, Old Father!"
Before the old man can reply, the warrior turns, and storms from the tent. One of the two women looks stricken, and dashes out after him. The other looks thoughtful, as Edran speaks again.
"Osric is...impetuous. He is too young to have seen what happened, in those dark days. When Rivenshield Delve fell, most of the knights of the Hill perished with it, as did many of the Thane's finest warriors. When the hordes reached our Vale, there were too few remaining under arms to do more then slow them a bit, while so many of our folk who could fled to the safety of the high places. The bloody days that followed claimed such few of the knights who remained, including my own master, Sir Greyman. He knighted me during the siege of Stone Mountain, though he did not survive the final battles of the war. Osric has heard, and experienced, much of suffering and want in his life. He does not understand, I think, that there was simply no help the Thane could have sent, at least no help that would have made a difference."
Shaking his head, as if warding off bad memories, he says, "Enough of that. I am embarrassed to take advantage of guests, but I wish to ask of you a favor. My granddaughter, Maris, has agreed to deliver my judgement to those who have inhabited Bright Rock. I am afraid that Osric, or most of my other young men, would simply start a brawl with the miners, but I do not want her to go unescorted to such a place."
