After Oriana explained about the radishes, Horo raised an eyebrow and turned one of them around in her hand. She looked at it and gave it a sniff. "When I was a little girl my mother told me legends about moon vegetables, but I never really believed them..." A mischievous sparkle glinted in her eye and her lips curled in a knowing smile. "I know just what to do with these. Go on and enjoy yourself now!"<br/><br/><hr/><br/>There wasn't much time for privacy afterwards; Horo finished working her cookin'-mama-magic and the feast was underway. The fire roared with welcome warmth in the cool evening air, the stew tasted even better than last time, aromatic and spicy, and the beer was ice cold. "What sorcery is this?" One of the men boomed jokingly, to which Marisa winked and uttered, "Secret!"<br/><br/>Kesten sat beside Adelise and conversed with her during the meal. He shared with her his life story, short as it was. His family lines were distant cousins to the ruling Garess house, just close enough to command a small amount of power and respect and the right to use the name, not enough to have any serious political clout. Barely come of age, he was bethrothed to one Tania, a kind and pretty girl, when her body was found raped and murdered just before their wedding. False evidence had been planted on the scene to frame him and he had been forced to flee for his life.<br/><br/>"I tracked the criminal until I had a name and a place," the young man said, his hand clenched into a fist, his voice artificially calm and quiet. "Falgrim Sneeg. Hiding in the northern reaches of the Narlmarches, the jungle in the Greenbelt. I took this job out in the middle of nowhere so I could hunt down this... scum and clear my name. If you happen to find him, capture him alive and I will reward you greatly. He is only useful if his tongue can give up the truth."<br/><br/>On the other side of the fire Jhod introduced himself to Oriana as a humble priest of Erastil. He had heard news of this latest attempt to tame the Stolen Lands and came to volunteer his help in what ways he could, be it for his divine magic or an extra pair of hardworking hands. His resolve was further strengthened by a vision he received in his sleep, too vivid and reappearing too many nights to be merely a passing dream. It was a temple of Erastil, from ancient times, long fallen into ruin, and he had been called to restore it to its former glory. He recited a verse that had been given to him in his vision:<br/><br/><em>"Across the Greenbelt's river<br/>Long lost among the trees,<br/>Beneath the stone elk's antlers <br/>The bear has paid his fee;<br/><br/>He counts his days in sorrow,<br/>The guardian makes amends<br/>Till sword, spell, lance and arrow<br/>Come forth to bring his end.</em><br/><br/>Now, it seems to me that<em>sword, spell, lance and arrow</em>would fit you four perfectly. This cannot be coincidence, no, Erastil means for you to find his temple and slay the bear within."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>As the meal drew to a close, Mayor Bingley stepped up onto a stool and clanged his spoon against his mug. "Attention, attention, if pleases you, ladies and gents!" The gnome's voice was slurred from drink. "I have - hic - an important announcement to make! By the authority granted unto them by gods and men, the swordlords of Restov have seen fit to create the noble station of Knight of the Greenbelt! To - hic - what was it again - protect the weak and hills, patrol the forests and innocent, and bring justice to bandits and monsters! And now, I am pleased to present the proof of your titles!"<br/><br/>Said proof of their titles were finely crafted leather belts dyed green. Bingley insisted on presenting them to Silas, Oriana, Adelise and Lydia one by one, complete with shaking their hands and burping "Congratulations!" to them.<br/><br/>"Tooohhhhh!"<br/><br/>It was then that the uncharacteristic shout came from Lawrence's direction. All eyes were fixed upon him - and the very large tent in his trousers. He jumped to his feet like a man possessed and swooped up a suspiciously less-than-surprised giggling Horo in his arms. An emptied wooden bowl of soup clattered at his feet, forgotten. He carried her into the main building of the trading post, and moments later his yells and her screams of pleasure echoed out from within its walls.<br/><br/>"Dessert, anyone? It's sweet," Marisa spoke up nonchalantly as she ladled some soup, cubes of radish visible in the liquid, from a small pot into another bowl.