Ah, Lecton. Rosen still remembers when she moved her all those years ago. She was just a low level nun spreading the word of Eros wherever she went. Something about this town made her feel comfortable and she decided to stay. The Church was much smaller back then and it took some time for people to trust her. The Eros Religion is a minor one, even today. Her youth was one of great work and effort building trust with the community.
All these years later and that hard work has more than paid off. The Church has grown 5 fold and is now an accepted and beloved part of Lecton life. We were her before the first trading post was erected, and hope to stay and grow with them.
They enter through the Eastern Gate. With Hierton to the North and Zaytrus to the South, this side gets little traffic. Moo pulls the cart in with little effort. First stop is Rathre's. Best to deliver this fresh milk as quickly as possible. They park their cart in front of his shop before things got busy.
Rathre is a cheese maker, the best for many miles. His shop is full of many types and he is always experimenting with something new. His storefront alone has a dozen varieties from simple Quark to well aged Gouda. Some are smoked, others mixed with herbs or mushrooms, most just left to speak for themselves. And these are just the ones he has to sell for the public. The real magic is in the back.
"Ah, if it isn't my best supplier and customer. Church life still treating you well I see."
Rathre came out to greet them. His graying dwarven beard hangs a bit lower than usual. He's stout and short as all dwarves, his apron is stained with cheese curds and whey. His hands are rough, but not as rough as dwarves are famous for.
"We've brought another batch of milk today." Rosen greets him. "Sorry it's a bit smaller. Winter is nearing after all."
"Think nothing of it. I've got more than enough stored to last the frost. Speaking of, got a big load for you lot today."
He disappeared into the back and came back out, pushing a small hand cart full of different dairy. Some in blocks wrapped in cloth, others in wheels coated with wax.
"Here's your share. Quite the haul if I do say so myself. Got your usuals. Butter, Munster, Mozzarella, the works."
"Wonderful work as always. Have you taken the green cheese to the poor kitchen?"
"You kiddin? I sold all that ages ago. Even that sells for triple as much as anything else. I've got people making orders months in advance."
"Can't say I approve."
"You approve of me donating 5 times that amount? Can barely get rid of my regular green cheese when Moo's is so much better. Which reminds me."
Rathre pushed his small cart up to our much larger one. Moo had unhooked herself from the front and began loading the cheese.
"Well if it ain't the best thing to happen to me since my grandson. Ever think about joining the cheese industry full time? We could use a strong pair of everything like you."
"Oh stop." Moo smiled. "I'm sure you say that to all the Minotaur women."
"If there were any, I might. Course even they would be nothing next to you. Flavorful like a well aged Parmesan yet soft and subtle like Brea. If I were just a few decades younger."
"Please, an old heifer like me can't compare."
Moo closed her eyes and fawned like a teenager talking to their crush. Rathre was always quick to praise her. She did turn his little shop into one of the most successful businesses in all of Lecton after all. Besides, when she's distracted with praise, Moo never noticed him looking up her skirt. Dwarves are quite short after all.
"Speaking of well aged, you are going to want to go to the Auction House this Friday. That special order has just finished."
"Oh my, has it been two years already?"
Rosen had all but forgotten. Two years ago, not long after Moo joined the coven, the first 6 Churns of milk they had ever brought here. Rathre was so excited he swore that the first batch will be turned into the finest cheese he could. And here we are, how time flies. Rathre darts into the back and returns with a very large triangular piece of cheese covered in fine wax.
"This has been my finest work. A two year Extra Sharp Cheddar infused with your special herbs and lightly smoked. A powerful and complex flavor beyond compare. This is your portion. I've already taken mine and sent the rest to the auction house. Should fetch a fine bounty."
"Magnificent. You've truly outdone yourself. It will be difficult to find an event worthy of such a banquet. What plans do you have for your own portion? A little auction all your own?"
"Would never dream of such a thing. After a small taste to ensure its quality, I fell in love. May just keep it enshrined on my mantle like a prize Yale bagged by a master hunter. Least until the next one is ready in another 2 or 3 years."
Rosen couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Dwarves have a reputation for being passionate blacksmiths and ale brewers. In truth they were passionate about many things and took to each with the same zeal. Their long lives make pursuits that require great amounts of time to master and produce in quality best suited for them. She was lucky to have such a loyal friend.
"Also, I've got your last request. Week's worth of whey water. Not sure what you have planned for this. Want to fill me in?"
"I'll let you know when I do."
Rosen sighed. This was a request from Joizz. She refuses to tell anyone what she wanted it for, only that we would all be thankful when her project was done.
"Well no skin off my back. Usually just end up watering the grass with the stuff."
They bid Rathre farewell, and left for their next stop. Just in time as the mid day shopping rush began. Street vendors and restaurants crowded with customers having a hearty dinner before returning to their day's labor. One of the most popular was their next stop. The Prancing Mule was a tavern and brewery owned by the Centaur Eskam. It was rare to find his kind so well settled. But with a thriving apple orchard and the most popular tavern in town, there is little reason to leave.
"Praise be to the Gods above and below. Everyone, my wife has returned. Round of drinks for all!"
There is a cheer across the rooms as the patrons toasted and drank over their simple lunches.
"Now Eskam, we've been through this. I am not and cannot be married to you. My body and soul belong to Eros."
"Oh come now love. Your gonna make me have to take those drinks back." The cheers turned to jeers at the thought of having to pay. "I know, I know, but I have no choice. Not unless I can prove she be my wife. Perhaps Eros does not own your lips?"
The patrons began to chant "Kiss Him" with raised mugs. Rosen just rolled her eyes. Eskam always had to make such a show of this when all he needed was to ask. She spread her arms apart as an invitation, and he swept her up for a kiss.
Rosen hovered near a foot in the air, held up by one arm around her back and another with a firm grip on her rear. She wrapped her arms around Eskam's neck and pulled him in. Her plum red lips meet his unshaven face. She could smell alcohol and tobacco on his breath. Feel the dirt and sweat on his unwashed back. His thick horse-like tongue reached deeply into her mouth in a public display of indecent desire. The sloppy sounds only covered by another round of boisterous cheers by the inebriated customers. Rosen pulled away just as his hands started to reach up her skirt.
"Save some for Mass. You wouldn't want to intimidate your customers with a hard rod between your legs now would you?"
"Let them run in fear. This is no business for limp wristed cowards."
He laughed loud and deep while gently releasing Rosen to the ground. Eskam may be rough around the edges but she couldn't help but find him charming. He had much the same manly, hard working charm Nash had, only even more so. And he truly adored Rosen. If not for her vow she really would have married him long ago.
"Just make sure you do not go limp at your next confessional. Now may we please return to business? We have a fresh shipment for you."
Moo carried in a carefully tied box, made to protect its fragile contents. Inside were dozens of Cockatrice eggs. Each one large enough to make two sizable omelets and rich enough to create a thick custard with plain water.
"Yah hear that everyone? Eggs are back on the menu!"
Another round of cheers fill the room. It takes over a week for a Cockatrice hen to produce a single egg. Luckily they keep a very long time so they can be stored up. This is a full month's produce, minus the half dozen they keep for themselves of course. But here they will be lucky to last 3 days.
"I've got your Cider order all ready. Made sure you got the choicest crop. And here's the barrel of pulp your little Goblin friend wanted. Can you tell me what she wants this for? I usually just hand it off to the farm hands for compost."
"I will tell you when I know myself. Hope to see you at the Friday Mass. I'll make sure you get the husband treatment."
Rosen blew a kiss goodbye and they began to leave for their next destination.
"OH!" Eskam shouted out his tavern door. "And if you see that Snobby Knob Gobbler tell him he is free to watch as it's all he's good for!"
Rosen laughed to herself. Eskam and Casimir never stop their little rivalry. Be it in business or her hand. Neither of whom would ever truly win either.
They passed through the shops, making small purchases as they went. Mostly daily essentials like soaps and salt. While man kin was still the norm, the peoples of Lecton had many new faces. Especially immigrants from Zaytrus wanting to bridge the two nations. Though they did not always mingle peacefully.
"I should cut those thieving claws off!"
The man kin shopkeeper clenched tightly around the wrist of a Lizard kin woman's wrist. Her light green body being pulled about by the angry store owner.
"Please! I steal no such thing!" She pleaded.
"Liar!' The shopkeeper drowned out her voice. "You scaled freaks always lie."
"Release her now!"
Another Lizard Kin pushed through the gathering crowd. This was a much larger male who came to face the Shopkeeper eye you eye.
"This creature stole from me. She will pay or be sent to the guards."
"Please! I stole nothing!"
"She say she steal nothing. So she steal nothing."
"Liar! You scaled beasts are all the same."
Rosen looked at the Lizard Kin woman. She was thin for her race and wearing a tattered cloak. Rosen believes she had seen her before staying at the Church on cold nights. It's very likely she did steal. Though to steal or starve may be a sin to the law, it is not to Rosen. She came forward to intervene, only for another to rush past.
"Leave her be! Can you not see she is starving?"
Blush had become the center of attention, forcing herself between the Shopkeeper and the Lizard Folk.
"Have you no compassion for those in need?"
"I have no compassion for scaled freaks!" The Shopkeeper spat.
"Is that the truth?" Blush switched from anger to a coy tone. "You never miss my turn for confessional. The things I could tell these people."
The Man Kin Shopkeeper turned red from anger to red from embarrassment.
"Well, that… I mean to say…"
"Tell you what" Blush silenced him and pulled out her coin purse. "Take these coppers. That should be more than enough for whatever you think she took. And I won't bring up how cute you find my horns. Oh wait, did I say that out loud? I can keep going."
The Shopkeeper snatched away the coins and rushed back to his business. As the crowd dispersed, Blush came to the aid of the Lizard woman and helped her to her feet.
"Are you well? Do you need more help?"
The male lizard pushed forward and forced Blush away.
"We need no help from a disgraced off color such as you."
The male picked up the female and led her out of the shopping district. The Female looked back at the dejected Blush. Her eyes seemed to say "Sorry" but also "This has to be" all at the same time. Blush just stood there and hid herself in plain sight behind the layers of black cloth. Rosen stepped up and placed her hand upon Blush's shoulder.
"You did the right thing. No matter what anyone says."
"I told you," Blush said with a quiver. "I needed to bring my jacket."
Blush walked past, her head held low. There were some problems that only heal with time. Besides, they had more stops to make and more people who relied upon them.