By the time Harrod finished translating Barsali's words for Olwyna and the rest of the table, there were tears rolling down Olwyna's cheeks, and it was all she could do to hold herself back from rushing over to give the serpentine warrior a fierce hug.
Carwyn, however, showed no such restraint. As soon as Ashlynn gestured for them to rise, Carwyn took Barsali's sword hand in his, squeezing firmly while he threw an arm around the other man's shoulder for a tight hug that had no room for shame or embarrassment despite the size of the crowd watching them.
"You may have heard of the 'demon knight' who nearly killed Sir Carwyn not long ago," Ashlynn said to the assembled lords and ladies in the Great Hall. "What you may not know is that Barsali challenged Carwyn to a duel between champions, and he has always respected how hard Carwyn fought for his people."
