"Bardel, would you mind taking me for a tour of your lands?" Rynar asked with a smile, his gaze lingering on the centaurs behind Bardel, their eyes filled with vigilance.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Bardel replied reluctantly, bowing his head in resignation.
"Relax, no need to be so tense. There's no direct conflict between us. Swearing loyalty to my king isn't a bad option for you.
After all, the battered Tupet Centaur Tribe could surely use the protection of a stronger power, don't you agree?" Reynard chimed in, stepping between the two men to ease the tense atmosphere.
"...This way, please." Bardel took a deep breath, casting a wary glance at the endless army behind them, before stepping aside to make a path.
"Only the Paladins of the Holy Radiance Order will follow us. Everyone else, stay in position!" Rynar commanded, halting the army's advance.
If the centaurs harbored ill intentions, leading the army into the forest would be disastrous.
The dense canopy would prevent the Rapid Infantry from forming their usual formation, and the Battanian Archers' long-range volleys would be obstructed by the branches.
A smaller group would fare far better, and a single order of knights was enough.
"Let's go. I'm curious to see the centaur camp!" Rynar said with enthusiasm, eager for a glimpse of their exotic lifestyle.
Under the guidance of the centaurs, the group traversed barren woods, crossed frozen streams, and climbed over ancient fallen trees until a sizable camp emerged before them.
Towering wooden huts rose from the ground, each adorned with intricate carvings on their broad doorways.
These carvings depicted the centaurs' sacred totem—a celestial Pegasus with wings.
Legend had it that only one in ten thousand centaurs could awaken their wings under the mythical Pegasus Stone in their homeland.
However, with the decline of their kingdom and the disappearance of the Pegasus Stone, the centaurs had fallen into ruin, and their dreams of rebuilding their kingdom had long faded.
"The celestial Pegasus…" Rynar murmured as he studied the familiar totem, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Your Majesty, have you seen this totem before?" Bardel asked urgently.
Rynar forced a bitter smile. Seen it before?
He had seen more than just the totem—he had seen the actual creature!
Back in the game, celestial Pegasus mounts were all the rage. They were invaluable to knights because centaurs could form mount contracts with humans.
A knight bonded with a centaur was a force to be reckoned with, let alone one paired with a celestial Pegasus!
"Your Majesty, I beg you to tell me anything you know about them! Please!" Bardel suddenly dropped to his knees before Rynar, his voice trembling.
Years of wandering had taught Bardel the terror of solitude. In all his time across the northern wilderness, he had never encountered another centaur tribe.
For a moment, he had even believed his tribe was the last of its kind. The fact that Rynar recognized the totem filled him with desperate hope.
"Get up. I'll tell you what I know," Rynar sighed. While he appeared calm, his mind was racing. How on earth was he going to explain this?
He couldn't very well tell Bardel that he had encountered centaurs three thousand years ago in a video game!
"This totem was mentioned in an ancient family tome," Rynar said, feigning a thoughtful expression. "Seeing it just now jogged my memory."
"Ah, I see…" Bardel's muscles deflated, his once-upright posture sagging. His disappointment was impossible to conceal. He had hoped to learn something about his kin, but now…
"Your Majesty, have you eaten yet?" Bardel's sharp ears picked up the rumbling from Rynar and Reynard's stomachs.
"Uh… not yet…" Rynar admitted sheepishly. After the chaos earlier that morning, they had missed lunch entirely.
"I'll have food prepared!" Bardel said quickly.
Though not particularly fond of humans, he had sworn temporary loyalty to Rynar, and the presence of King Vanervi of the Prairie Elves warranted respect.
In no time, an array of hearty, if not refined, dishes was brought forth: roasted wild hare dripping with juices, cabbage and dried venison stew, coarse whole-grain bread, withered wild fruits, and even a perfectly roasted wild piglet with crisp, caramelized skin.
"Please, enjoy!" Bardel invited, kneeling on a thick fur rug in the spacious wooden hall.
"Haha, don't mind if I do!" Rynar couldn't resist the enticing aroma wafting through the air. Even in Riverguard, delicacies like this were rare.
The city's proximity to the river made fish the main source of meat, while the dangers of hunting in the forest limited the availability of fresh game.
Professional hunters were too valuable to risk foraging, leaving the city's supply of red meat perpetually scarce.
"Crunch!" The stone dining knife easily cut through the piglet's crispy skin, and juices oozed from the tender meat beneath. Rynar eagerly sliced off a piece and placed it on his plate.
"Mmm! Delicious!" he exclaimed, savoring the flavor. The nomadic centaurs clearly had exceptional culinary skills. The meat was rich but not greasy, crispy on the outside, and perfectly tender inside.
"Haha! I'm glad it suits your taste. This piglet was marinated with a special centaur seasoning…" Bardel said mysteriously.
"Hmm?" Rynar took another bite, chewing carefully. A subtle apple-like fragrance blossomed in his mouth, growing stronger with each chew.
"This apple aroma is incredible!" Rynar marveled.
"Haha, it's our Golden Apple Glaze! It's made from magical golden apples.
A single tree yields enough for just one jar, and only the thin golden layer on top is usable—barely enough to fill a small bottle!"
Bardel explained, forming a circle with his fingers to illustrate.
"Impressive! Who knew centaurs had such a knack for cooking?" Rynar praised, taking a sip of the rich, velvety stew.
The blend of cabbage and venison was divine, rivaling even the Hobbit chefs of lore.
"Delicious!"
"Outstanding!"
Even Caslow and Reynard couldn't stop praising the food. The stew's creamy, savory flavors mixed perfectly with the coarse bread, creating an explosion of taste.
"Bring out the wine!" Bardel called out, slapping the table in high spirits.
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