Walden laughed at Gareth's frustration, patting the young man on the back, before taking a long drink of ale. "Yes, Sir Thomas is self-righteous. He's 34 years old, and as been a knight since he was about your age. How did you think he'd react to a foreigner's accusations?" Walden replied, his laughter calming down, "Not every man had the leadership abilities of Sir Redwyne, and everyone in the Order of the Thistle knows it, but don't worry, lad. Tomorrow, the culling will begin. For the next three days, every member of the Order of the Thistle will meet for 4 hours, twice a day, to debate on whom the next Commander should be. If Thomas is still selected to be Commander, then he shall remain as such." Walden added, taking a long drink of his ale. "All I know about Thomas is that he's the most excellent swordsman the Order has right now, after Sir Redwyne's passing, and is the most likely leader. Thomas has gone through things, and experienced things, that few men have ever experienced." Walden capped off, his laughter and booming voice now dying down, "'No action taken for the safety of the King is a crime'" Walden said, reciting the age old maxim of the Order of the Thistle.