After waiting for the elves to finish cleaning, Shade put them out the door and left for a few minutes - apparently to distribute instructions about the slaves.

He returned with a new chair in his hands, which he placed by the table, and in a gentlemanly manner, politely and carefully, seated me on it. I graciously allowed him to take care of me: fill my plate with food and pour some hot liquid, resembling tea in color, into a cup from a tall earthen vessel.

Carefully placing a snow-white cloth napkin on my knees, Shade, with a pensive look, sat down at the table opposite me.

Why is the...