Krusten tries to analyze the tone and truthfulness of what is being said to know if she is telling the truth or making up stuff.
Thorin's words appeal to the old woman as she remarks,
"I am not the head anymore. I believed in improving the way we did things around here but they would not have it. Besides, I am too old, I an no longer with vigor."
She sighs, "The sacrificed are decided by the demon each year."
When asked about the men in the village, "The men have their place and things that they do to assist in our work."
Krusten is looking at her body language and feels she is telling the truth."
The talk of sacrifice and demons does not sound good so she asks for some clarification, "Can you tell me more about this demon and how they go about choosing their sacrifice?"
Krusten gives Thorin the eye basically saying, you watch yourself and I'll watch myself. She continues to listen to the woman since sh feels she is telling the truth.
After sipping from her cup the old woman recants some history of the village and then gets to the point… eventually. She says the demon is not seen but silently manifested through the face and body of the one whom the demon possess. Everyone stands in a circle and the demon chooses a body. When the vessel is chosen that person sits on a throne and then chooses someone in the circle to be sacrificed to appease the demon. When this is done the demon releases the vessel, the village experiences calm for a lunar year and the demon returns to its own realm. She ends by saying,
"This has been our tradition for many decades."
Krusten say out loud what immediately comes to mind, "And how exactly is that person sacrificed?" She looks at Thorin insisting that he not try to sugar coat her question.
Thorin shakes his head at Krusten as he smiles. He focuses on the woman though because he too is also interested in this part of their tradition.