Eyeroll. Not that anyone can see it. She's dealing with enough stupid evil humans on the committees. And she has to in order to get things done! But what possible benefit could talking to That Bitch outside the committee have?

Strix are not cannibals. And everyone eats persons, whatever the human language thinks about it. 

Also, one big advantage of Forest society (and the subject of this committee) is that when you encounter a horrible woman, there generally is someone less horrible you can find who would eat her.

Feather does not say this, because she wants Soler not to be upset with her, even though she's downgraded him to 'nice, for a city human' for being so both-sides about it.

"If the crown can't find anybody who'd make the trip and who can speak for the crown, then that's a pity, all we can do is recommend they look."

She honestly only heard that strix were cannibals from a bard who was definitely making up at least half of what he was saying about them so she's delighted that Delegate Windwhip didn't really deny it.

"Of course. I'll support a recommendation to look."

"So there's three forests and three ideas - get Ravounel an ambassador, see if Barrowood could use one, and close the hell portal."

"Ideally not just the portal but the dragon Athervox. The Whisperwood is even larger, and, the portal being closed, will present the same issues as the Barrowwood, being even larger. Delegate Ascathel's description matches my experience, but communication between segments would likely improve were all the problems the natural kind which druids have a gift for keeping under control."

"Close the portal and be rid of the dragon. Are you quite caught up, Paula, do you need a moment?"

"You can't beat Aethervox unless the archmages do it," Tuimfane says. "Because she's an elder dragon." 

"Fortunately one of them takes a keen interest in the convention and perhaps can be asked to do - errands."

Liushna hisses sharply in sympathy at the "elder dragon" remark. 

"Don't worry about me, Sower," Paula says, then ducks her head back to looking as small as possible. It's not worth explaining how shorthand works to a perfectly pleasant and probably wise, but entirely uneducated, farmer.

"Okay. Let's vote on our three ideas. I think I've an idea where everyone stands but just as a formality, you see. Should the Queen and/or her archmage friends be prevailed on to go close the portal to Hell and slay the dragon, I say aye."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"Yes! Uh, aye." She's weirded out by the thought of killing a dragon who's probably doing more than anyone to protect the forest but she can hardly argue with Tuimfane about it in front of everyone else.

"Aye."

"Well, at least close the portal."

"With the portal being the higher priority of the two, all right."

"The Queen can take a dragon, she fought the Tarrasque. Aye."

The Queen did WHAT?????

"Aye."

"Unanimous in favor. Next, that the Crown appoint some sort of diplomat or something to Ravounel Forest to work out, uh, border control and trade. I say aye."

"Aye." It probably won't work but it's the civilized thing to try.

"Aye."

"Aye!"