Snippet #2645326

"Are we? All the same?" Landry smiled with blatant disregard for Aethelstan's belittling and threats. "Speaks the paragon of knowledge. And such a way with language."

He watched the Earl's show of masculinity with a jaundice gaze; supposing they all had a right to their biases. The Baron did not feel the need to portray his power in a show of boldness or aggression like the Earl. It was quite amusing to be quite honest; with a ting of irony. Wasn't it Northerners like himself who were known to be roguish outspoken oafs? So much for stereotypes.

"Holy Christ on a cross Aethelstan! Calm down." Landry rolled his eyes. "If I wanted to fight you, your face would be in your horses shit right now but I don't. And I can't speak for the Welshmen but if you claim a bunch of sheep shaggers are more worthwhile opponents," he sighed dramatically, the snickers from his men and some passers by watching the exchange aiding his performance, "well who am I to argue with you?"

"Why do you pride yourself on the death of a bunch of dirty peasants?" Landry returned the Earl's question. "We all love the wild hunt; whether it's a bunch of nobodies you murder in cold blood or a tasty sow I kill brutally so I can feast happy tonight. Don't tell me you've become so pious Aethelstan that you live on alms." Landry smirked.

The jab at last summers event was an unexpected low blow. Landry's gaze sharped but the smile did not budge from his lips. So the Earl was far more well informed than his simple, unkempt appearance would have one believe. That had been a grave miscalculation on the Earl's part. He gave away his cards far too easily.

"We're similar creatures, you and I Aethelstan. Far too similar than you'd like to believe." Landry philosophized, mincing the thought for a moment, this was getting far too serious for his liking. The Earl's problem was his shortsightedness. He was like a child who did not get his way or a child another child had insulted so he'd push the other child into a puddle, just so he'd feel better. Such trivial drabness. The Earl's short temper and fits of rage would be the man's own downfall but that was neither here or there for Landry. He felt slighted little by the Earl and even if it was grievous, he had bigger plans a foot and unlike the Earl, a view minor insults would not insight the Baron to foolishness.

"Now that you mention it Aethelstan!" Landry returned to more animated terms. "Challenges are rather time consuming and well . . . effort. Maybe I'll never be quite man enough like you to take on the likes of such. I think I'll continue whiling away my days hunting and sowing . . . my wild oats. How is your Lady Aethelstan? I believe we met once in Lichfield. She was very . . . welcoming." Landry commented with an air of amusement.