21. Xax

Chapter 21

Xax

I f Amanda was happy, so was I. It was my role as her mate to please her in any way possible, starting with her tea shop.

What could I do for her next? I'd watch and listen to what she said. That would guide me.

She showed Bork and Cresar where she'd prepare her tea, plus where her guests would sit to consume it.

"I don't have tea yet," she said, her smile holding true. Only a few shadows swirled in her pretty eyes. "Or baked goods to offer, but this is just the start of my new business."

"One drinks liquid steeped from herbs?" Bork asked with a frown.

"Yes. After straining out the leaves, you can drink the hot tea or wait for it to cool and drink it cold."

"What leaves in particular?" Bork looked around, skeptical.

"I'll have to figure that out. "

I left while she was explaining about the baked things she'd offer, though I couldn't imagine what they might be. Goods implied items for sale, but how could a tool or an item of clothing pair well with leaves soaked in water?

I was eager to find out.

Fortunately, I spied Gerain and Floosar leaving their home and rushed over to the mother and her grown daughter.

"Just the Zuldruxians I needed to see," I said. Both females held baskets hooked over their arms, and I assumed they were about to go foraging in the woods, something they did daily.

"Xax," Gerain said with a nod. "Good morning."

I dipped my head forward in a short bow. "Good morning to you both."

"Were you going hunting?" Floosar asked, frowning at my empty hands. "You usually hunt at about this time."

"I have a new mate." The words burst out of me. "Well, I'm convinced she's my mate." I told them about Tribon trying to take her from me and my mother traveling to speak with the island gods for guidance.

Gerain gave me an intrigued smile. "If the gods sent you a plant, you have nothing to fear. Of course they'll insist she's your mate." She peered around. "Where is she?"

"Come with me, and I'll introduce her to you."

"What Clan is she from?" Floosar asked as they paced beside me .

"She's not Zuldruxian."

They both came to an abrupt halt only partway across the big open area in the center of the circles of shroom homes.

Floosar gulped. "She's not Veerenad, is she?"

"No, she's from a place called Earth." I urged them to follow me, speaking over my shoulder. "Our gods brought her to me. You'll like her. She's beautiful and kind and she . . ."

I paused because they had. Matching smiles filled their faces.

"You're happy," Gerain said. "I'm glad for you, Xax. Show her to me." Her smile faded, but only a little. "What kind of being is she, then?"

"She's much like, us only her skin is much paler. And her hair . . . Let me show you."

Gerain nodded. "Alright."

I stopped outside the tea shop and waved to the structure. "She has a shop here, and that's why I asked you to follow. I need your help."

Inside, I could hear Amanda explaining something to Bork, though if he was like me, he didn't understand what a scone might be, let alone cake. Though, if Amanda enjoyed these things, I would smile as I gave them a try.

"Come in," I said, and they followed me into the building.

"Welcome," Amanda said. Her eyes widened as she took in Gerain and Floosar. "Women!" Rounding the counter I'd built in the back, she hurried over to join us, a big smile on her face. "Women!"

"Gerain and Floosar?" I said. "This is my mate, Amanda." I tugged her close to my side. "Amanda, Gerain is Floosar's mother. Gerain is mated to Kres and Floosar is unmated. Both females are experts when it comes to plant life."

"Ah." Amanda's eyes gleamed. "Please tell me you can point me to tasty, edible leaves. I want to start collecting them."

"We are well aware of which leaves in the forest are edible." Gerain frowned as she looked at me. " We forage for the plants, however. No one else."

Floosar drew herself up stiffly. "This is a skill we learned from my grandmother who learned it from her mother before her. We're not taking on an apprentice at this time."

"Oh," Amanda's palms covered her pinkening cheeks. "I didn't mean to intrude. Maybe I could buy the plants from you for my tea."

"What's tea?" Gerain's frown didn't waver.

Amanda explained how she would boil water and steep the collected herbs, how we would then drink the strained water.

I was willing to try this, but I was skeptical about how it could turn into a thriving business for anyone. However, all Zuldruxians enjoyed gathering together to talk and share stories. Surely some would welcome sitting here in Amanda's shop instead of always taking a place beside the fire.

"Why would anyone wish to drink something like that?" Floosar asked, though politely.

"It tastes good," Amanda said weakly. "I promise."

" Buy , you say?" Gerain wasn't backing down one bit. "What will you trade for these herbs we collect?"

"Well . . ." Amanda tried to smile.

My heart ached for her. Her enthusiasm was waning, and I was the cause. I thought Gerain and Floosar would be as eager as me to please her.

"I'll hunt for meat," I said. "This will pay for what you collect."

"Extra meat is always welcome." Gerain's mate enjoyed working with wood. He did not enjoy hunting. Her frown faded a bit. "What herbs do you need?"

"I'd love to try different ones first," Amanda said, some of her excitement returning. "Sweet ones would be wonderful, though savory would be welcome as well. We could start with, say five different varieties and expand from there?"

"A task such as this will require payment of a considerable amount of meat," Gerain said.

"All you could ask for," I said. Truly, I'd bring them a haunch each day as long as they agreed to collect whatever leaves Amanda needed.

"Very well." Gerain's posture loosened. "Show me your shop. Tell me about what it might be."

"Yes, sure." Amanda shot me a quick smile. "I'm happy to explain." Taking Gerain's arm, she led her farther into the building, pointing out the chairs, tables, and where she'd stand to craft her tea. She waved to the walls, explaining that she'd hang local artwork, whatever that might be, and how she was going to ask me about the goods that needed to be baked.

Another task that would give me an even greater challenge than obtaining the leaves she needed for her brew.