Before the southern guard could even stutter out a proper reply, a small tug on Knud's dirty tunic caught his attention.
It was one of the barefoot street kids who had been running happily alongside the dark horse just moments ago.
The young boy, named Finn, looked up at Knud with wide eyes.
"Knud..." Finn whispered, "I know who that man is. I saw him this morning near the great longhouse."
"Who is he?" Knud asked, keeping his voice low.
"He is the one who was talking to King Horik," the boy explained quickly, "He wasn't just talking, Knud... he was shouting at our King. From the talks I heard through the window, he is a man with much more authority than the one executing Jarl Torsten up there."
Upon hearing these words, Knud was greatly surprised, but he quickly relayed the faint whisper to Halfdan, and the rumor spread rapidly among the crowded mass.
The furious shouts and the aggressive rattling of hidden weapons died down.
