The reason was the second cause of murmurings among witnesses: one of the Lyseans had approached Lord Alfwin and, after a brief exchange, seemed to have made him agree to step to one side so they could have a little more privacy while they spoke more.
After they were done, the result left those who'd been paying attention, which included Hilde, to join the ranks of the shocked or the speechless.
After the two men had moved far enough that at least three feet separated them from the nearest other person, the Lysean began: "My Lord General…"
"Am I?" the person addressed cut in.
"Pardon?"
"Am I YOUR Lord General?"
The Lysean hesitated. "…You are not."
"Then I ask you not to call me as such," Lord Alfwin said tersely. "We do not even address our own monarchs as if they belonged to us.”
