“Actually, they might.” Jildarin grunted, grabbed a largestockpot, picked up his gnome tool, and headed for the door. “Come. Tonight, we will seek to acquire aquatic yeast in the wild.”
Rylana plucked cheesecloth out of a drawer and followed him out of the kitchen.
“If this doesn’t work,” Jildarin said, “we will tomorrow scour the markets—and the zoo.”
“Oh, that’ll be fun,” Rylana said as they walked past Gniknik, who was entering from the street, probably done helping the dwarf. “Not enough quests take me past terrariums, aviaries, and giraffe feeding stations.”
Gniknik arched his eyebrows. “Do bookkeepers typically go on quests?”
“Bookkeepers who partner with dragons do,” Rylana said.
Jildarin nodded as he led her out the door.
19
With night blanketing the lake,and stars and a three-quarters moon visible in the sky above, Jildarin rowed a small borrowed boat away from the docks. Rylana sat on a bench in the bow, a stockpot and cheesecloth between her feet and the gnomish Whiskmaster in her lap.
She was prepared to do her duty even if she was skeptical that using eggbeaters to disturb the water would be enough to prompt aquatic yeast to start glowing. But, as Jildarin had pointed out, it wasn’t as if they could go to the market or the zoo so late in the day, so they might as well try to gather the organisms on their own. Mya had gone home for the night, so they hadn’t been able to consult her before leaving. Something told Rylana that the dwarven baker might have snickered at this notion.
“Dragon scientists believe,” Jildarin said as he rowed methodically, each strong stroke sending the boat noticeably farther, “that bioluminescent organisms, whether mundane or magical, often glow as a defense mechanism. We’ve observed that they also glow for other reasons, but when threatened, they can brighten the areaaround them, and large fish are drawn by the light and come eat their predators.”
“I thought dragon scientists didn’t study microscopic organisms.”
“They have run some experiments. Like your kind, we seek to understand the world around us better. Did you learn about science in your formative days?”
“Only for a short time. Per my father’s instructions, my tutors focused more on business and mathematics.”
“Yes. That is why you know the precise cost of creating an eel soufflé or plate of smoked ensorcelled boar ribs.”
“Five copper and a pricy one silver and four copper per serving respectively.” Rylana winked. “Though those ribs can vary depending on availability. As you know, acquiring eels is easier. The ensorcelled boars don’t hang out by the docks on a regular basis.”
“Correct. Your calculations are useful in the business of running a diner.”
“I’m touched that you value them.” Rylana smiled and resisted the urge to comment that his recognition made her want to hug him. She doubted dragons found moonlit nights on the lake as romantic as humans did. Besides, he would soon give her a pompous order, and it would diminish the warmth she felt toward him. Though… probably not as much as it should.
“Yes. You will agitate the water as I continue to row.”
There was that order, though not overly pompous.
“When I’m not crunching numbers, agitation is my job.” Rylana lifted the Whiskmaster, but she had to turn it around and run her hands over it a few times to find a lever to activate it. The beaters came to life, twirling with a softwhir.
After letting the rowboat glide for a moment, Jildarin splashed the oars against the surface and eyed the water. Thus far, neitherhis rowing nor the movements of any ships within view on the lake had caused the aquatic life to produce light.
“A co-owner in a business must be adaptable and willing to domanyjobs,” Jildarin said.
“I agree with that.” Rylana leaned over the boat to dip the whirring beaters into the water. “A fellow co-owner, however, could perhaps saypleasewhen he wants something done. Or he could make it a suggestion or request instead of an order.”
Jildarin gazed at her through slitted eyes, and she had a feeling dragons didn’t exchange niceties even among their own kind.
“This would please you?” he surprised her by asking.
“Immensely.”
“I will consider it. Already, you have been a valuable partner.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve not once tried to kill me, as I suspected you would when you first arrived.”
