The man that came before him was… surprising and odd and handsome. Athelstan’s brows rose at the gold coins he offered him. He did not snatch them right away though, just in case.
More of a surprise came when the man began to speak Latin. Who was this man? And how did he seem to know he was not a Northman? “I will not attack,” Athelstan replied in Latin. “Who are you?”
He jangled the coins in his hand at the other man for a little while, but they were not being taken. He supposed he’d save them for the burlier of their group–Achilles’ eyes glanced behind the man to where he assumed their houses lay, past the thick woods.
‘My name is Achilles, I have travelled from very far away,’ he began to explain, slipping the coins into a deep pocket. He leaned his weight against a tree, only glancing over his shoulder to check his belongings were safe–this was no ambush. 'To learn. I have come to learn. My people need educated leaders.’
For a moment he was silent, looking over the man before him. 'You are not from here, your language is good. How did you come here?’