When they finally arrived home, they found the captains of the Stairon warships, the elders, and Heres, who, as usual, had found himself a spot off to the side in a quiet corner, in the main banquet hall. After a very brief introduction, the jarl took his seat with his guests and family at the head table, which, exceptionally, had been placed on a small raised platform at the far end of the hall, directly in front of the great fireplace, which, due to the fine weather, remained unlit.
In addition to the main table, two others had been set up in a perpendicular arrangement. Between them, fires had been lit, over which marinated piglets were slowly beginning to turn. All the tables were laden with cold dishes, roasts and fruit brought in the previous day on board the returning ships. The only thing missing from the tables was alcohol, which, in accordance with custom, would not be brought out until the first toast.
Einar, because his mother had sent Athil away with his nanny, sat at the very end of the table, with Surt as his only companion; who, in turn, was trying to find any excuse not to have to listen to Kari and Leif’s boasting. For this reason, Surt began telling his younger brother about the interesting events from his first voyage.
In the meantime, the jarl had exchanged all the requisite courtesies with the legate and welcomed him heartily as his guest. Only then did the knights, who had stood behind their commander throughout the official part of the event, removed their helmets and took their seats at the table between Captain Svenson and First Officer Hex.
Einar tried to hide the gasp of surprise he let out when he realised why the name Ru’tseh Tahon’veth had seemed familiar to him. The man belonged to a race of beastmen known as the Ceet, and more specifically to the Panther Ceet tribe. He looked like a humanoid panther with a muzzle covered in short, glossy brown-grey fur, round amber eyes that scanned his surroundings keenly, constantly twitching
