“He is not wild,” I said. “He is a bonded companion. Do you not have Hunter or Beastmaster class travelers here?” I was hoping to find an angle.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Your companion? My, well, I suppose that is different. Usually companions are not so…” He struggled for the right word awkwardly.
“Big. Yes, he is big, but has agreed not to eat anything. Not even men he finds annoying.” I finished with a grin.
“Well, okay, that should be fine, then. I’ll need to ask you to register him as your pet companion, though. The fee is 5 silver. The hall of registry is not far away. The big brick building across from the arena.” Even as he finished, the color still refused to return to his face.
“Is there an inn that we can both rest at? Some place more than a hovel but won’t make him sleep in a barn?”
The man nodded excitedly. “Yes, sir, ma’am. Sorry. Yes, ma’am, there is. Called the Rooster’s Head. A bit rowdy, especially on fight nights, but all types are allowed there. They even have special rooms large enough to accommodate companions like yours.”
I pulled 3 gold dragons from my purse and placed them in the man’s hand. “Thank you for your time. Please deliver the proper registration papers there as soon as you can. My name is Madi and this here is Tejón. We are going to the butcher’s stand first, so my friend doesn’t get desperate and eat anyone in town.” I winked.
The man rubbed the gold together and stammered for a response, but instead of waiting, I just patted him on the shoulder and left. No doubt I’d given him a week’s wages or more. Money always had the last word.
As we left the gates behind, a scrawny page ran past us at full speed, his legs a bit too long for his frame. If I had my guess, that was the boy who’d be delivering the paperwork to our room at the Rooster’s Head.
The main street split into Noble Street and Common Street. The elaborate architecture towards Noble Street made it clear that the names carried some truth. I turned down Common Street, hoping we would not stand out quite so aggressively in the eyes of those less fortunate. Besides, I wasn’t here to shop for dresses or baubles.
We passed armor and weapon shops, then a few street carts selling sweets or roasted pies. Soon enough we came to an alley that had the distinct coppery smell of blood. A crimson rivulet ran down its middle.
I rubbed Tejón on the shoulder. I believe we’ve found the right spot. Smell that, buddy?
Tejón licked his chops noisily and turned into the alley without encouragement.
The butcher’s shop was open air and, for a place displaying huge portions of animal carcasses, clean and respectful. Lernon’s Meats was hand-painted on a wooden sign that hung above the canopied entrance. I gestured for Tejón to wait a few feet away so as to avoid any undue concern.
A man smiled at me, his teeth flashing with true mirth. He seemed kind, but it was obvious he knew that he was about to make a great deal of coin. “How may I help you, then? You and your friend need some venison? Or is beef your preference?”
I came up and offered my hand. “My name is Madi, and this is Tejón.” I gestured to the bear, whose eyes were trying to show how polite and friendly he could be.
“I’m Lernon. Nice to meet you both. We don’t usually have such robust clientele, but I have the feeling that Tejón and I will become friends soon enough.”
I looked around at the various animals that hung around the shop. Some had been reduced to racks of ribs or quarters. A smile crossed my face and I asked the question Tejón had been nudging me with in my mind over and over. “Can we sample a few before we decide?”
Lernon was more than obliging. He brought over “samples” of different meat: a rack of lamb, a two-pound steak of beef, and an entire pork belly. Tejón sniffed each diligently then ate them in turn.
So, buddy, which do you prefer? I asked him, grinning at his bewildered expression. He looked like a boy who’d tried candy for the first time and was being asked to choose between chocolate and caramel.
He looked up at me sheepishly and answered, I would prefer them all. How much can we afford to buy?
I laughed out loud, startling an older couple who had come to buy a bit of chicken. Lernon gave me a questioning look. I told him what Tejón had asked me.
“You can have anything you like, but I can’t give all of my wares away. Everything has a price, though I will gladly consider what I fed you so far as mere samples. No charge for those.” He walked bravely toward Tejón and lifted a hand to pet the huge bear. His hand hovered above his head as if asking for permission.
Tejón shoved his head into the man’s palm in answer.
Gold was not an issue, not in the slightest, and if I ran out, it wasn’t like I couldn’t transfer a few thousand YD for as much gold as I needed in-game.
I grinned at the man and made my order.
“I’d like a side of beef delivered to our room at the Rooster’s Head. I don’t know what room we’ll be in, but just ask for Madi and Tejón. I’ll tell the owner to expect you. We’d also like a whole lamb and a few chickens brought over tonight as well. Then, in the morning, if you could bring two pigs over, that would be great. I’ll come by tomorrow midday for another order. Is that fine, or will you run out of stock?” Each item made the man’s eyes widen further.
Lernon shook his head and
