There was a bountiful spread of meat on the table, alongside bread made from the wheat grown by my devoted minions. The meat looked expertly cooked, and the smell alone was enough to stimulate my appetite. I eagerly started to eat, as did Raymond, who sat across from me in silence. He tried to initiate conversation, but when he saw that I was not interested in engaging, he fell silent.
The food was quite nice, especially since I'd been pretty hungry.
Once we had finished our meal, I summoned the minion manager and his assistants to clear the table. As I wiped my hands with a cloth, I turned to Raymond and asked, "Why have you come to see me now? Tell me what it is you want so that I can decide whether or not to assist you."
"My king, Gandalf, wishes to form an alliance," Raymond began. "He has a formidable army, but he desires the support of more humans. He wants to create a powerful alliance and defeat all the other human kingdoms in the world."
