Page 22 of Dragon Keeper
“A phone box?” he asked. He could imagine what that was, he supposed. It must have been very small indeed because the Cuelebre brothers had shown him a phone from their home, and it was very tiny, and it looked like a mirror on the front.
“They were something in the old Earth world in England where you could step inside and make a phone call. So it really wasn’t a box. It was more like a tiny building. They really don’t have them much anymore, and if they do, it’s for the tourists.”
Tyr nodded as if I made sense. It was a lie. It didn’t make sense. The only words that Sloan had just said that made sense were tourists. Which he could have understood because they had people who did that in the city. Or at least that was the rumor. Usually, it was people with more time and fewer interesting things to do, or conversely, people with children who are going to check out the universities there.
They would go and wander around the city and look at things.
“So what do you do for fun around here?” Riley asked.
“There’s a tavern,” Tyr said. “And there are games. Festivals. Oftentimes, we gather to visit with one another. I would say that the tavern is the most frequented place in town for that.”
“Hey, that sounds pretty cool, actually.”
“Yes, I think so. Sometimes, I’ll go over just to have a meal that I didn’t cook or to visit with a friend. Have a drink.”
“That does sound fun,” Brayden agreed.
Oh, good. He had been just about at the point where he worried that his mate’s family would not find their idea of entertainment appealing.
“Can we go?” Riley asked. “Tonight? That way you don’t have to cook.”
“Do you like to cook?” Sloan put in.
Tyr shrugged. “I know how.”Like towas a very strong phrase, but he knew how and everyone had to eat so he did it. But, did he like it? Not particularly.
“Well, we should go.” Riley sounded very sure.
“Uh, surely?”
“Oh what do you do for money?” Brayden asked.
“Uh…” He had discussed this at length with Poe. “Much of our economy is trade. Honey or mead for food and so on. But honestly? There are also coins that you can trade for. And you can offer a paper, as well, saying for six eggs I will give you a loaf of bread, but I need the bread. Make the bread.”
“Ah-ha, so an IOU.”
Tyr nodded. “I’ve heard Poe say this. So yes, just like. And you will come to understand that perhaps some people are less reliable about…” Tyr shrugged. “About actually paying their debts.”
Sloan chuckled at him. “Are you saying you have slackers?”
“I do not know that term, but I can say that there are some older dragons, those who have needs they can’t supply, that weall allow to borrow with the knowledge that perhaps the debt will not be repaid. It is important to have pride, yes?”
Sloan nodded. “Yes, and I can imagine you deal with that a lot because honey is necessary to life.”
“Often,” Tyr agreed. So many of their foods and drinks relied upon his bees. And it was not fair to keep that from someone just because they did not have the means.
You’re a good dragon.” Sloan put a hand on his arm.
Tyr shrugged at his mate’s words. He was a dragon. They all had their place. And this was his. “My life is good. I have no reason to complain.” And even if he had, what good would that do? It would be like railing at the wind. It was an entertainment sometimes, of course. But honestly? It wasn’t something he did.
“I think we’re going to have to barter for some clothes.” Sloan grinned at Riley and then bumped shoulders with Tyr. “He’s a clothes horse. He likes to be the most beautiful dragon around.”
Privately, Tyr thought that they were all very beautiful. But Sloan was obviously the most beautiful.
“We can barter for some. You three are big, so we will go to Caderyn’s and ask him to borrow some while the tailor makes yours.” Cade was a bit vain and would have more than enough to share with Sloan and his brothers. “I will call him and see if we can fly over before supper. Perhaps they would join us, if the children are asleep.” He couldn’t help his smile. “I am their ewyrml, their uncle of the heart.”
“Like a godfather?” Sloan chuckled softly. “How many children do they have?”
“Four. Tanya and the triplets.”
