Resarite's wife attempted to interject on her husband's behalf, but Howard interrupted her, "Please, be still. I want to hear what Resarite himself has to say."
The fire in the hearth blazed more fiercely, the crackling and popping of the burning wood filling the room, punctuated by the snapping of twigs.
The atmosphere in the hall mirrored the intensity of Howard's interrogation of Resarite, growing increasingly heated and impassioned.
Seeking to change the subject, Resarite showed Howard the cover of the book he had been reading and said, "Before you arrived, I was engrossed in '300 Warriors of Onsen Pass.' Do you know how the ancient Bada City-State withstood the massive imperial army? The situation is quite akin to the current crisis facing our Oungria Kingdom, a topic worthy of exploration."
"Forgive my impudence, Howard, but remember, you and I rose from Yami Village together," Resarite began.
