All of a sudden, that excitability vanished. The directional anger was changed into something more uncertain. The hearts that had been ready to burn everything in their path were left on the back foot. They might have thought Oliver was merely faking his calmness, after his anger had been so real, but from the expression on his face, they could see no evidence of that.
Indeed, what had replaced the anger was a fierce pride. Purple flecks swam where there had once been gold.
"The High King has issued an order for me to quell a rebellion," Oliver told them, speaking honestly, so that he might reveal more of his heart. "I am to be left with fewer men than I would have liked. Seeing fierce men of your calibre – good ferocious Stormfront men, I find myself wanting even more…"
