The guards opened the doors of the mead hall. The warmth of many smouldering fires and the scent of mead was quite overwhelming. The brothers were still clothed in their carpenters shirt full of wooden splinters. There was some murmering coming from the other side of the hall.
They made their way before the throne of Reeve Athelward who was discussing something with one of his advisors. They waited a moment for the Reeve to finish. Ulfdred looked at his brother who was growing impatient. Hildred started to cough in hope to draw the attention of his lord. Athelward turned his head towards them "ah! You two..". The brothers bowed before him "you have summoned us mylord?".
The Reeve gestured them to rise "Yes, an urgent matter. Word reached us that Stangard is lost. Our northern most border in hands of our enemy, we cant affort orcs attacking us from all sides. I want you to ride out north and find out how dire the situation is. And try not to get yourselves killed, I have lost enough good men as it is".
The brothers bowed their heads "it will be done my Reeve, is there anything else?". Athelward leaned back in his chair "No. Dismissed".
Ulfdred and his brother walked out of the mead hall. The sky had turned red as the sun had fallen beneath the horizon "We ride at first light...".
