Given what the records already got wrong, Huaisang's not about to trust any of the information that he's learned from them. And things are going well enough so far doing things his own way.

"I guessed it was probably something along those lines, what with the whole scary burning dog thing you've got going on." Huaisang flattens his lips together. He's not at all sure how scary burning dog will help him achieve any of his goals, but it's the sort of ally that he doesn't think should be dismissed lightly. "And what is it that you want in return for the use of your skills?" He'd tried to ask that earlier but hadn't made any progress in getting an answer, which just means he needs to figure out the right way to ask it.

His attendant returns with a couple other servants carrying trays. The servants bow as they enter, coming to place the food on the table. Both servants give Dieke a wary glance, but they only hesitate for a moment before continuing their task. There are two bowls of rice, then several plates of marinated grilled meats, pickled vegetables, dumplings, and little bite-sized cakes. Huaisang gestures to encourage Dieke to help himself, then picks up his own chopsticks. He selects a couple of bites of meat and puts them atop the bowl of rice near Dieke, then takes a morsel for himself. "Here, try these. They're very good."