Banquet

Chapter Seven: Banquet

The fragrant wheat bread fresh from the grocery store's oven had a light golden crust baked crisp by the fire, giving off the distinctive aroma of wheat.

A pot of bubbling thick soup contained diced wild boar ribs, freshly gathered wild mushrooms, and sliced potatoes. This was Savory Stew, hugely popular in the Kingdom of Stormwind, and everyone who had tasted it sang its praises.

The bonfire in the yard had already been lit. All kinds of roasted meat—such as the roast venison, bear ribs, lion chops, and lean wolf ribs commonly found in Southshore—would surely let the meat lovers feast to their hearts' content.

There were also small crisp pastries made with almonds, pine nuts, and honey, roasted hazelnuts, and fresh apple pie served with wedges of melted cheese. These were better suited for the girls.

Lastly came the indispensable drinks for the banquet. Southshore Spirits, famous throughout Northrend, were said to have earned even the Dwarves of Ironforge's highest praise. The girls could also liven things up with lower-proof cider and cherry wine, while those unwilling to drink had honey tea and fruit juice to choose from. After bustling about all afternoon, Roderick felt as if he had nearly raised his cooking skill to intermediate level.

"Brother, I'm back." Remilia ran lightly into the yard with a small cardboard box in her arms.

"Uncle Heni said he wouldn't come disturb us young people's gathering." Mimicking Mayor Heni's manner of speaking, Remi casually popped a small pastry into her mouth, then poured herself a glass of apple juice without ceremony and gulped it down.

"Uncle Heni isn't coming? Maybe he's worried we won't have fun. Also, what's in that box you're holding? You're being awfully mysterious."

"Hehe, you'll find out tonight, Brother."

As the sky gradually darkened, Roderick came out after changing clothes and found that quite a few people had already arrived. Nearby neighbors, close friends from town, Darezzo, Alwyn Jerman, and Arnold Kuhlman were all there.

Adrian Vele had also brought his pet, that imposing Dire Wolf. It was currently lying obediently beside its master. Though everyone knew it would not suddenly go berserk and bite someone, no one dared approach Adrian.

He had no choice but to feed it a large slab of bear meat. After he let out a sharp whistle, the Dire Wolf obediently lay down in a corner on the other side of the yard, lazily finishing its food before narrowing its eyes and dozing off.

As usual, Antoine stood in a corner, eating slowly and deliberately. He elegantly raised his wineglass toward Roderick in greeting, with no intention of coming over to talk.

"Roderick, not only are you a powerful knight, you'll also become a great gourmet." The fellow currently holding a wineglass was Albert Stonall.

Though descended from knightly nobility, he looked quite frail, with a delicate face and dark eyes that shone with a mage's distinctive brilliance. In an unusual accent, he loudly declared, "To our great gourmet—may he have delicious dinners every day. Cheers!"

"To Savory Stew, cheers!"

"To a wonderful day, cheers!"

"Long live Southshore! For the Kingdom, cheers!"

"Albert, damn it! Why are you drinking cider? Everyone, come teach him what the true way of a knight is..."

The banquet atmosphere gradually reached its peak amid the horseplay. Those who remained were almost all young members of the guard. Stimulated by alcohol, everyone set aside their usual worries and thoroughly enjoyed the rare cheerful atmosphere.

Albert had been forcibly made to drink an entire glass of Southshore Spirits and was now flushed bright red. He slyly winked at Roderick, then dodged Alwyn's pestering and slurred, "Today is also the day Roderick becomes captain of the Southshore Guard. Roderick, you can't forget about us. I'm still waiting for you to arrange some cushy job for me, haha."

"Yeah, Roderick, say something. We've all been waiting."

The others immediately joined in the clamor. Roderick remained utterly unmoved by the scene. "Tonight's banquet is specially meant to thank everyone. I hope each and every one of you enjoys this evening."

"I once thought I would die beneath the Murlocs' blades. It was everyone working together that finally defeated the Murlocs and saved my life as well. Northumberland always repays its debts of gratitude. I, Roderick, will remember this in my heart."

"Please do not regard my new post with that mindset, either. This is an honor, and that honor belongs not only to me, but to every member of the Southshore Guard. As a knight..."

"Justice is my body, glory is my life." A unified chant immediately rang out. Arnold roared with a flushed face, and when Roderick looked around, everyone beside him wore solemn expressions.

"It seems none of you have forgotten the teachings of those days. I have already discussed reorganizing the Southshore Militia Guard with Mayor Heni. Everyone present is the Guard's core strength. From this day forward, the safety of Southshore's thousands will rest entirely upon you. Please remember: compared to glory, this is an even heavier responsibility."

The sudden bombshell plunged everyone into silence for a moment, but Roderick had not finished speaking. "Someone just shouted, 'For the Kingdom,' but Lordaeron has already been destroyed. Stratholme and the royal capital have become haunted lands, and the Scourge ravages the entire northern region. Many are filled with confusion about the future, and some do not even have confidence that we can withstand the Scourge's attacks."

"But what about the Southshore where we live? Back when the Orcs destroyed Stormwind City, many people fled here after a long journey. At the time, this place was merely a remote fishing village by the sea. Now, that little fishing village has become Hillsbrad's most prosperous town!"

"The Orcs emerged from the Dark Portal and destroyed countless human villages and towns. After all these years, those evil Orcs have established their own nation on another continent. And deep within the freezing Alterac Mountains, Orc clans are still locked in fierce battle with our allies."

"Our forefathers' glory shines beneath Blackrock Mountain, and the Kingdom still tells the legend of His Majesty Lothar. Beyond the threat of the Orcs, the Scourge has already occupied nearby Tarren Mill. After the Order of the Silver Hand was annihilated, Garithos's army was also buried in Northrend. We have lost our last protectors! Lordaeron may be vast, but we have nowhere left to retreat! Under the threat of the Undead, there is no longer room here for a peaceful dining table. Southshore needs our shared protection!"

"I, Roderick Northumberland, will uphold the way of the knight, destroy the Undead, drive out the Orcs, and protect the Kingdom! I swear that I will fight shoulder to shoulder with you and never betray you! We shall be born in honor and die in glory!"

"I, Arnold Kuhlman... will uphold the way of the knight, fight shoulder to shoulder, and never betray!" the flushed young man was the first to swear.

"I, Alwyn Jerman... will drive out the Orcs!"

"I, Adrian Vele... will destroy the Undead!"

"I, Red Cohen... will protect the Kingdom!"

"I, Chris..."

Everyone present had been fired up by Roderick's speech, as though joining even a second late would be a betrayal of their own ideals.

"I, Albert Stonall, the way of the knight... Um, but I'm a mage." Albert's words drew laughter from everyone, and the somewhat impassioned atmosphere relaxed once more.

"It is only the spirit of knighthood. It does not mean everyone has to become a knight. What we need are warriors who share our ideals." Roderick smiled as he explained.

"Then all right, I'm willing to join. We will fight shoulder to shoulder and never betray!"

"Antoine, what about you?" Roderick had no intention of letting the silent man off this time.

After pondering for a moment, Antoine calmly said, "Fight shoulder to shoulder, never betray."

"Now, let us drink to our shared ideals. Long live the Kingdom! Long live the Alliance!"

"Cheers! Cheers!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Several loud explosions suddenly rang out in the darkness. Golden fireworks burst in the night sky, scattering into countless silver fragments, like stars falling from the heavens. A young girl's sweet laughter, the deep howl of a black Dire Wolf, and the clamor of other children in town accompanied bloom after bloom of fireworks opening against the dark night curtain. This wonderful night would be etched into many people's minds, unforgettable for the rest of their lives.