The old village chief came up to the soldiers and pulled the staring man back, just as he realised the situation was getting worse.
He held the staring man tight as he forced him to lower his head, along with his own, and apologised furiously to the captain as if it was his own head at stake,
"His wife just passed away a couple nights ago, my lord. He is a bit down on his luck. Please forgive him for his folly."
He couldn't be blamed however, he had heard too many incidents of chiefs taking the wrath of lords and squires because of villagers.
"How did she die?"
The captain crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked the village chief in his eyes, commanding his authority, not allowing any consolation to the chief.
In response the chief shifted in his position, trying to stay away from his line of sight, refusing to make eye to eye contact.
"She… died of natural causes my lord."
The captain's eyes went cold as he kept glaring in the village chief's eyes.
