Yes, on this journey, the somewhat ill-tempered Druid "Tree Planter" Elldrad will be traveling with everyone, and the reason is simple: the Druid has been driven out of Kaltenhaven by Villarld and temporarily has no place to stay, so he agreed with Mr. Oliver to depart with the caravan.
"The whispers of nature need to be heard. She is wailing, a terrible storm is sweeping through..." Elldrad muttered to himself, and Mr. Laine immediately interrupted him: "Enough, enough, natural guide, can you please speak more plainly? Mr. Elderidge wouldn't be this difficult to communicate with."
"Elderidge? You know him?" The Druid was somewhat puzzled, then nodded, still in a bad tone: "It's Chaos Energy, the Chaos Energy is wafting through the sky, causing the current cloudy and snowy weather."
"Ancient Tree Walker" Elderidge is one of the Nature Church's several itinerant "Deputies," so it makes sense that Laine would know him.