Harald met the fierce woman's gaze with scornful amusement as she launched into her attack. He stayed silent as Hallerna raged against him, accusing him, quite truthfully, of lying about the child and then naming him as such. His lips curled up in a cruel smile; he had no concern what the people of Trelleborg thought of him. He had the men and the ruthlessness to gain power without the support of the weaker factions and he knew it.

[b]"And who are you to name me, woman?"[/b] He growled, laughing at the idea of a mere woman daring to diminish his authority and power. [b]"Where are your symbols of status, whom do you lead and what authority do you have in accusing me?"[/b] He paused for a moment before leaning in towards her. [b][i]"None."[/i][/b] He whispered then turned away, laughing.

[b]"Who of you would risk one of those monsters getting among our people? Who of you would not throw the suspect back into the flames?"[/b] He demanded, calling out to those around them. No matter how repugnant his actions had been he knew fear of the Draugr, especially to those who had barely escaped them inside the Healing House. [b]"All it takes is one of those creatures to destroy us here. One Draugr bites one of you."[/b] Here he jabbed his finger at the nearest person. [b]"And then you're one of them. Then there are [i]two[/i] Draugr. They would spread faster than a disease and kill every one of us. Who of you would risk that fate for a just an orphaned child?!"[/b] Silence met his words and he turned around, grinning at Hallerna; fear was the purest of emotions and he knew full well how to use it.

However Vigi not began an assault. Harald scowled; the seidrmadr had more authority and respect than the woman even though he had all but destroyed it.

[b]"I ask you again, who would risk the lives of every single man, woman and child in this fort for the sake of one orphaned child? No one!"[/b] Harald glared as Vigi attacked him, accusing him of cowardice. [b]"Hah, this spindly man who chose to honour the gods like the Christian women rather than fight like any other man accuses [i]me[/i] of cowardice!"[/b]

Then he realised the mistake he had made; he cursed his getting carried away with the burning of the Healing House as Vigi spoke of sacrifices to the gods. Harald stayed silent, his mind racing as he saw he was losing the crowd. Fear of the Draugr was one thing; fear of the gods another.

[b]"You speak of madness as if you are familiar with it, seidrmadr. Has the whispering of the gods driven your mind insane, your feeble mind unable to comprehend their words? Look around us and tell me that you are worth of serving the gods, of sacrificing to them! You are charged with keeping their favour and no one here would agree that you have achieved that!"[/b] He swung his arms around, gesturing the the fort and then to his men.

[b]"Almost all of my men have survived the Draugr, more have died from the murderous Christians and their Ragnar allies than have fallen to those beasts. Is it not clear who the gods favour most in this fort? They protect my men because they see I am able to defend the people of this fort from the Draugr and have abandoned your inane pleas and cries for help - the gods have abandoned you, seidrmadr! Who else should sacrifice to the gods other than the one they have clearly shown their favour to? Hel will rejoice at the return of those souls who escaped her domain and further shower us with gifts and aid - why should we listen to a madman talk about the gods? You have no power any longer, seidrmadr."[/b] Harald grinned, staring Vigi down with his eyes, black as night. He was bordering on dangerous ground with declaring himself as the gods' favourite but who could doubt the evidence so far? He turned, beginning to walk away.

[b]"Come, let us leave the mad woman and her false seidrmadr to their crowing."[/b]