Aaron knew he had to prepare thoroughly before going to Baldur's Gate to face Be'lakor.
Of the three companions he planned to bring, Miss Cleric was naturally a given. As long as he asked, Eleanor would certainly be willing to go to Baldur's Gate with him. In fact, she would only be upset if he failed to invite her.
Barrel Moonflower was much more troublesome. The moment the Arcane High Priest heard that Aaron wanted to take him along, his plump face fell. "Your Excellency, can I sit this one out?"
"No." Aaron handed Barrel a Gold Note worth two thousand gold coins. "This is compensation for your trouble. Besides this payment, I'll cover all your travel expenses."
Barrel reluctantly accepted the Gold Note from Aaron. The Sun Elf Arcane High Priest gestured. "Only two thousand? You're really stingy, Your Excellency. Do you know my grandfather gave me a Gold Note worth twenty-five thousand when I came to the Realms?"
Aaron was amused. The Sun Elf's remark combined arrogance with complaining, leaving most people at a loss for how to respond.
But as Slaanesh's Chosen, Aaron immediately replied, "So I'm your grandfather too? Are you planning to abandon the Moonflower surname and join our Salian family?"
Barrel froze for a moment, then the plump Sun Elf laughed. "How could a fake grandfather like you compare to my real grandfather? He's my actual grandfather. You're just my employer!"
Family affection among Elves was rather peculiar. Their family bonds were usually very close when first established, such as at the birth of a child or a marriage. But as time passed, the long-lived Elves' enthusiasm for their relatives waned. It was not that they placed no value on family; rather, they saw no need to devote their entire lengthy lives to it.