The banquet at the City Lord's Mansion had a clear division of labor.
As the host, Idelia kept the atmosphere lively.
Ingrid quietly took note of the Druids' preferences: Yolanta, leader of the Druid Avengers, ate nothing; Gema ate everything; Treebeard loved the cup of slightly sweet dew; Dade had several helpings of mushrooms; the Orc secretly stuffed vegetables with meat hidden inside into his mouth; and Serana ate nothing, though she took a little of everything.
Michael and the Orc Druid got into a fight. It started when Michael said a staff fitted with a battering ram would be perfect for cracking open a rat's skull. The Orc Druid said a tree root could easily smash a Ratfolk skull, and they began arguing over what weight would crack an enemy's skull fastest.
Annan... Annan was having a friendly conversation with Serana. He mentioned that he had never known such a beautiful race lived in the forest. Was the difference between deerfolk and Centaurs a matter of grace and agility?
"Why did you decide to plant trees? I've never met a human like you."
"Because the earth nurtured us, and I wanted to do something for this world." Annan was about to answer when Gema raised a half-eaten berry. "I know! I know!"
Gema's shout drew the attention of the guests around Annan and Serana.
"An old man planted a forest, but the Druids killed him just because he built a wooden house. His blood seeped into the soil, and the whole forest mourned him..."
Gema recounted the story as she remembered it. Annan had no choice but to go along with her. "That old man's story moved me..."
"That's truly regrettable... Yolanta, you were wrong." Treebeard believed every word.
Annan felt a little guilty, but then another thought occurred