Page 41 of Dragon Keeper
He nodded. “I can, I think.”
“I brought my cart. You don’t have to fly.”
Tyr honestly thought that Harden brought the cart so that he could get some honey. Because why trade for it when you had friends who would just give you some? It was a wonderful arrangement because whenever he needed an animal to help pull a wagon or something on that front, he could just ask, and Harden would provide.
“That sounds perfect. I’ll let Sloan know so that he can meet us there when he’s done, perhaps?”
Harden nodded. He and Sloan got on as well as anyone did. “Are they still worried about the dragons from the city?”
Tyr nodded. “I think so. Sloan fought the cursed ones in the world he’s from. I think he’s used to watching for trouble. I think they all three were.” He didn’t understand it, but it was important to Sloan, so it was important to him.
“Where did they go?” Harden asked. “The other two.”
“Riley went to play awak, and Brayden… last time I heard Brayden was back in the ocean.”
Harden frowned. “He doesn’t seem like the guardian type.”
Tyr shrugged. “Is there a type? Brayden is curious about everything. I told him he should come and ask to see your stables.” But Brayden had just blushed and shook his head, which was interesting, but none of his affair. He did not meddle in the romantic lives of other dragons.
“He’s welcome, so long as he doesn’t upset anyone.”
“Why would he?” Sloan’s brothers were fun, joyful, loving dragons. They were a little wild, perhaps very focused on things that interest them for sure. But fun.
“Well, he is an outsider. Poe is the first outsider who really understood the animals. Poe and Samuel.”
Tyr laughed, and they headed for the house. “You just like Samuel because he gave you a larparca.”
Harden’s eyes lit up. “No. He gave me two! A breeding pair and, I believe in the spring, there will be baby larparcas!”
“Baby larparcas…” They were so pretty with their long necks and their great big long eyelashes. “Every so often, I think I would like to raise larparcas.”
“You are a beekeeper. To stay with your bees.”
“Yes, I suppose I should, but. They’re so cute.”
“They would eat all your flowers, and then you would be angry with them, because they would take from your bees.” Harden snorted. “Come along. I am starving.”
“I can see that,” Tyr teased. “Wasting away to nothing.”
“Come on, you.” Harden slapped his back, all but knocking him down. Tyr snorted but grabbed a few big jugs of honey. “One for you. One for Nyra at the tavern.”
“Perfect.” Harden drove a bocapal cart today, the big, slow grazing animal pulling it was chewing placidly, staring at them as they came out of the house.
Love? I am going to the tavern with Harden if you wish to join us.
We’re on our way back, so I’ll join you in a bit,Sloan told him.
I’ll see you there.Sloan usually answered right away if he could, and Tyr loved that. His mate treated him as if he was precious, and that was a lovely thing. Even his twin had always been more… rough and tumble with him. But Sloan acted as though he was the most delicate omega while still his own dragon capable of anything.
He climbed into the cart, and he and Harden sang together on the way down to the tavern, giving the bocapal something to walk to. The creak of the harness and shush of the cart wheels made a fine percussion section.
They arrived at the tavern, and Tyr felt surprised when his stomach growled.
“See? You need to stop now and again and eat.”
He scoffed. “I eat.” His belly rumbled once more, and he sighed. “Though perhaps I haven’t today.”
“Mmm.” Harden hopped down and stretched, then lifted one jug of the honey. “Let’s go. It smells so good.”
