Arrogance? No, Just Honesty.

The Elders looked at one another and the annoyance was clear in their visage while the Elder who had read out the charges and was clearly the spokesman for the Congregated Elders said,

"How dare you? Do you even know who you are talking to?" he asked.

Hal rolled his eyes,

"You said that as though I should be intimidated... Well, I am not!" he said.

"Hal, be careful with your words. Don't go too far" Tanya said in a bit of a placating tone. Enough to try to appeal to Hal's common sense but not too much that she seemed to be on his side.

She was in a bit of an uncomfortable situation...

Whatever Hal did and however he was treated from this point on was going to have an effect on her standing among the Elders.

She looked sideways at her mother who just eyed Hal with a neutral expression.

Hal made a 'calm down' gesture towards Tanya before he said in a loud voice,