A/N: Happy new year to all my lovely readers! Sorry about the long wait. Was on the beach. Anyway, enjoy!
The assembled boys turned in surprise to face Zac and stared at him. No one spoke. Even Tursgud was at a loss for words. Well, that's a first. Zac, for some reason, picked up a stick off the ground and dropped it. Everyone present could hear the dull thud it made on the dirt. Sigurd nodded.
"Alright. We have a third skirl."
Tursgud found his voice and protested vehemently.
"You're not honestly letting 'Hal Who' be a brotherband skirl, are you? He's a walking fishbone for Torshak's sake!"
The other boys mumbled agreement. Zac turned his glare on them and they quailed under his gaze. Those already on his mental list got red stars and the others joined their ranks. (A/N the mental payback list in the last chapter.) Will they just stop already? Oh well. It's their happiness they're sacrificing. He continued to plan his vengeance. Sigurd, however, wasn't happy with Tursgud's reaction.
"Hal Mikkelson has been seconded. Therefore, he is a brotherband skirl. If you're worried the 'Walking Fishbone' is going to beat you, you're more than welcome to go and become a serving girl in Erak's hall."
The unspoken threat to chuck him out of the program was there. Zac sniggered, and Stig followed suit. Soon, nearly all the boys were snorting in laughter as they caught sight of Tursgud's face. The person in question glared at the other boys. He decided that Sigurd's implied threat to throw him out was the greater insult and turned to face him.
"You can't chuck me out! My father is the Maktig..."
"Yes, yes, yes. We know your father is the Maktig. Gorlog knows you've told us enough times."
The teenagers turned to see who had interrupted. There, in all his glory, stood the Oberjarl, Erak. Sigurd touched two fingers to his forehead in an informal salute.
"Oberjarl."
"Sigurd."
Erak turned to look at Tursgud. The boy was looking obstinately at the Oberjarl with absolute disrespect. Zac was absolutely disgusted. Who would dare to ever show such disrespect the Oberjarl? Apparently Tursgud would. Erak looked back at Tursgud with the utmost contempt. Please let him be chucked out. Gorlog, if you're listening, please let Tursgud get thrown out of brotherband. The Oberjarl looked at Sigurd for a few more moments before their unspoken conversation ended. He then turned to Tursgud.
"Hal Mikkelson has been chosen as our third brotherband skirl. If you have a problem with it, leave. If not, start the choosing."
Tursgud glared at Hal. Stig took a step forward, but Zac and Hal tugged on his arms and dug their heels into the dirt in order to stop him getting himself kicked out of the program. Where is Gorlog where you need him? Thank Torshak Sigurd and Erak aren't watching. That was true. Erak was yelling at Tursgud for some comment he had made and Sigurd was helping.
"YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH BOY! IF YOU SAY ONE MORE THING LIKE THAT, I WILL PERSONALLY DRAG YOU BY YOUR HEELS BACK TO YOUR SAINTED FATHER! UNDERSTAND?"
Tursgud looked at his feet.
"Yes sir!"
Sigurd looked at Erak and took his cue to get back on track.
"Well, if we're finished with this, let's get on with the choosing! Brotherband skirls, out the front!"
Rolland and Tursgud strode confidently out the front while Hal shuffled forward nervously. Hal couldn't help but think, now what?