Athelstan giggles
Turning to watch the man excuse himself, Athelstan ponders over the mystery of the trees.
I'm beginning to grow curiouser and curiouser about these trees. Perhaps I'll take a little walk over to one of them and see what I can see. If nothing else, a few samples of the bark, branch, root, and leaf could be taken to an herbalist I know... see what she could make of them... perhaps help these people restore their groves. On the other hand, perhaps some kind of concotion could be made with the right additions. But what would it do? A spell which gives others the inability to reproduce? Hah... how useless that would be. Other than a contraceptive for the unfaithful locals, that is.
Probably due to the excess of wine he's consumed, Athelstan gives himself the giggles over this and covers his mouth discreetly and coughs into his palm... trying to remain cool and collected. Luckily the approaching thunder covers his stiffled laughing and he feels, at least, that no one has noticed.