"Important to you?"
"Yes, all the places where people live in my forest are protected.This place first was used by a human many, many years ago.He built the first cabin, cleared out the rubble and more in the waterfall cave and made it usable.Since then, other humans have come and gone.The first cabin was destroyed by a storm, and the second by fire, but this third one has lingered long.I knew you would like it.That is why I led you to it."
Dipak's mouth quirked."You did lead me, didn't you?I thought you were following me, but you were helping the whole time.I don't know I ever traded for that help."
"I do not require payment for making certain people don't die," Euclid said with one of his imperious scoffs."Anyway, having an actual hunter in the forest makes a good deal of difference.Dragons are foragers rather than hunters, though of course, most so-called experts would tell you otherwise.And while a few of the others can manage somewhat with traps and such, nobody is capable of bringing down deer, pig, the larger prey that are so much more useful for everyone.So you are welcome to this home for as long as you need and want it."
"Thank you.Solstice is just five days away.I'll catch everything you need the day before."
"I appreciate it."
Euclid had long since delivered blankets and the boots, which were fine stuff, better than any pair he'd ever owned, good leather, treated for harsh weather and lined in the softest rabbit fur.They would keep him well for a long time.
"Do you miss the city?Well, stupid question.What do you miss most?"
"I miss having more time to read, practice magic, things like that.Sweet things.You aren't going to find candy and cakes out here, though I can make my own once I have more baking supplies and ingredients.No, I am not giving you a list right now, get that gleam out of your eyes, dragon."
Euclid pouted slightly in that infuriatingly adorable way of his, but let the matter drop.For the moment.He'd bring it up again in another day or two.He really did love his trading and bargaining and countless moving pieces.If he'd been a general, he'd have won every war he fought.Thankfully, he'd never have to waste his life on such a miserable calling.
"Moonlight.Kingslayer.Wonder what title you'll acquire next."
Dipak groaned."Hopefully none.Two is already too much.Drink your tea.I'll get us some dinner made, and then maybe we can work out what we'll do in case other mercenaries start showing up despite our efforts."
Euclid brightened like a child who knew they were about to receive sweets or a new toy, except there was nothing truly childish about Euclid at all."Rabbit?"
"Of course, that's why I caught four of them.I'll start the roasting."
"I'll get the fire going."
"Thanks."
It was all so normal and domestic, fireflies and tea and working together, that he ached for a home long in the past, a home he'd left for a chance at a better life but always sort of missed despite himself.If his parents could see this, they'd be proud of him, despite all he'd lost.
He supposed there was a lot to be said in that.
Chapter Seven
Dipak didn't know what sort of clothes were appropriate for a small solstice fair in the middle of a deadly forest hosted by a dragon, but thanks to said dragon he had his entire wardrobe to pick from.In the end, though, he kept it fairly simple, mostly keeping to the fur and leather he'd taken to wearing nearly all the time now he'd gone back to the life he'd started with.All his ornate clothes, fit only for city life, he packed up to see if anybody wanted them in trade to use as scrap for other things.Silk, velvet, and more could all be put to other uses by people who knew their way around needle and thread.
He included some of his jewelry in that pile as well.May as well clear out things that he no longer had use for, trade for things thatwereuseful.Precious metals always had uses, and where magic was involved, so did jewels and pearls.
His large satchel of goods to trade, his smaller satchel of necessities should he get caught out in the woods, though that was unlikely as he could just sleep at the fairgrounds after dark, and his bow—ready as he would ever be.
Heading out, he followed Euclid's directions through the woods, hiking about two hours before pausing for a brief break for water and late breakfast, though he didn't eat too much because apparently there would be quite the feast waiting for him at the fairgrounds.
Another hour after that brought him to the enormous braided great oak, trunk bands of brown, green, and red woven together in a way that looked as though they'd been manufactured by people but was wholly natural to the tree, which could grow significantly taller than any house and was about the size of a carriage in width.Beautiful trees, actually illegal to cut down, but when they were felled by natural causes, the wood went for a fortune.Lochan had gifted him a jewelry box made from it, but he'd shoved it in the drawer of a bureau he no longer needed and had put in the cave behind the waterfall for now.Should have thought to look through that for things to trade, but it was too late now.
Though he'd kept calling the area for the gathering fairgrounds, Euclid had assured him it wasn't anything so formal, just a clearing in the woods made safe by dragon magic.
Euclid was a damned liar, because it was far more than a simple cleared space in the woods.It was an almost perfect oval, framed by trees in a way far from natural.Posts were driven into the ground every twenty or so paces, and affixed with ornate green glass lanterns.Across the middle were a series of stone pits meant for fires, which was smart, since it was easier for people to gather around multiple small fires than one enormous fire.Less wasteful too.Close, but not too close, on either side of the fires were various small tables, each set with pitchers and cups.At each end of the fires were large tables covered in identical offerings of food.
A handful of people milled about, drinking whatever was in the pitchers and nibbling at some of the food.One of them was Abrar, the blacksmith.They paused as they saw him, until a woman stepped forward."You must be our mysterious new hunter!Dipak, right?"
"That's me," Dipak said."I brought some old clothes and things should anyone have an interest.Where should I put it all until we do such things?"
"Over here," said Abrar, motioning him to follow."Nobody will mess with your things.They'll be safe here until we trade.How have you been?Euclid mentioned you've been helping him clear out the riffraff that keeps wandering in causing trouble."
"Yes, mercenaries are never anything but trouble, so we dealt with them."
