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“I have credit with most places. I build it up in the summer when the shearing happens and people take their wool. You’ll experience that soon.”
Brayden’s eyes went wide. “Oh, cool, all right. Is it hard work?”
“Yes, but it is how we buy bread and meat.” Harden didn’t like killing his animals for food. He understood their place in the food chain, but his animals were for working, for wool and milk and cream. He preferred to buy meat from other farmers.
“Do you raise birds for eggs here? Does someone else do that?”
He nodded. “Yes, Bran. He raises wyiar for eggs.”
“Do you like eggs? I usually get mine from the Rocky Mountain Clutch, so I’ve never asked, but I enjoy them. If you like them we could get some, and I could cook.”
“I would like that.” He would love to see what Brayden came up with for food. He had to admit he tended to slice meat and cheese and fruit and simply put it on a plate and eat that.
Their stew came, the dragon who served it to them putting a hand on Harden’s shoulder. “Blessings Harden. It’s good to see you in. Hello, Brayden.”
“Miriyana.” He nodded his head at her. She always looked so regal with her beads and feathers and the way the scales lifted along her cheek to create this ridge of cheekbone. “How did they rope you into serving in the tavern today?”
“I came in to trade some of my herbs, and they asked me to stay and help. I worked here once when I was younger, you remember.”
He remembered but that was before she had been mated and had started an herb farm that could grow herbs even in the wintertime. Harden frowned at her. “Is someone ill? Do I need to come and bring food?”
“No no. Nyla at the tavern just learned that her daughter had her baby. She lives down at the seaside, where Tyr’s sister does. They’re a bit short-handed.”
“Well call upon me if you need help.” That was his way. He offered to help. Even if no one wanted him to deal with the customers at the tavern. He would scare them off scowling.
“Actually, who you should call on is my brother, Riley. He has experience serving in a place like this.” Brayden volunteered his brother like it was nothing, which made Harden laugh. He stifled it with his hand, though, because he did not wish for Miriyana to think he was laughing at her.
“Do you think he would help? I would welcome it.”
“Riley would, sure. He needs things to do. I’ll tell him.” Brayden closed his eyes, and it was so adorable. It was still hard for the dragons who’d crossed the veil to communicate easily, but they tried so hard.
“He says he’ll come down today and see what you need and make a schedule.” Brayden beamed, clearly so pleased to have helped.
“That would be lovely.” Her scales rattled, making her feathers and beads dance. “I appreciate you both so much.”
“Let me know if you need even more. I know Poe and Caderyn’s Tanya is looking to start learning a trade.”
Her eyes lit up. “Please send her down. You know all of the babies of this house have gone off to other villages.”
“I will tell Cade. I know he will be excited but of course it is up to Tanya.” Harden never wanted to make promises because everyone involved had to be of the same opinion to make something like this work.
Also, Tanya often worked for Cade’s father, sorting books and maps and papers. Ganderyn was a good mrain. He loved his granddaughter.
One way or the other, they would find someone who wished to be at the tavern when Nyla wanted to see her grandchild…
His belly grumbled, and Miriyana smiled. “I’ll let you eat. Thank you both.” She sailed off, rustling and chiming.
“Yum.” Brayden broke off a piece of bread before handing the rest to Harden. “Take what you want, love. I just want this with some honey.”
“You are very good to me, lethean.” That meant much the same as Brayden’s “love”. He wanted to return the mating words.
Brayden reached out and squeezed his thigh, and his spent cock tried to jerk and lift. It almost hurt, but at the same time, it made him smile.
“You are impossible,” he told Brayden.
“To resist?” Brayden sat back to slather butter and honey on his bread.
Harden just snorted before dipping his bread in the stew and taking a huge bite. He really was so hungry he could hardly bear it.
