William hit his usual errands.

First the grocer for some meat. He purchased a basket of eggs, still warm from the chicken. After that was the creamery, paying an extra silver for the coldest butter. If he could make pastries he would multiply that tenfold. The Mill for a bag of flour. Several wood workshops for Aimuzjon. Sawdust wasn’t good for her diet. William could reliably turn it into charcoal which was bland but sustaining. She compared it favorably to porridge. It wasn’t amazing, but she’d eat it.

William got home and was sagging with is purchases.

“Where were you! It was wild today.” The dragon shook a coin container with her tail, almost spilling the contents. Her tail wasn’t dexterous enough to handle delicate tasks but could grip large objects.

“Sorry. I got cold butter for your Dragon Pastries. Bacon and....” William walked to the back of their hovel, preparing the storage for the butter. He placed the wad of butter in a cooling jar. The poured water around the outside of the jar and pushed it into sand. He finished by pouring water onto the sand and sealing the butter jar to keep out flies.

“Yes, butter, food and?”

“I got a book about Domestic Dragons” William brandished the tome, removing a scrap of fabric he used as a dust cover.

Aimuzjon spiraled up a support beam to reach eye level with William, her tongue unconsciously escaped her mouth tasting the air with a flick of flame and heat. “Well read it!”

“After chores.”

“but you didn’t do anything!”

“I got the book!”

Aimuzjon shook the jar with the tip of her tail. “Look how much I-” She emphasized, “made.”

William stared at the jar, then gulped.

He had to clean everything while the dragon lounged eating bacon. Scoring the meat, carefully severing the fat and eating it. The heat released the scent of cooked meat. She cooked the bacon on her paws and place it asid for William. He worked through the afternoon, pausing only to handle the dinner rush.

The dinner rush was usually quiet and more mundane. Some people missing bread for dinner rushing out to get something. Will usually sold his remaining items. After that rush, he dropped his prices as the bread staled and he sold the last couple to the poor, destitute, and Mrs. Nathew.

Aimuzjon finished the bacon fat. Belly full she sat. Her tail swishing ever stronger in boredom. Eventually she relented. With a tail swish she helped William clean. While he snacked on the meaty part of the bacon and sat in his simple chair. Licking his fingers clean. He stopped and washed them properly, then grabbed the book and asked. “Can you provide light?”

Aimuzjon extended her serpentine tongue. It carried a tiny bright flame illuminating the book. William opened and scanned the table of contents with his finger. “Draco-Domesticous – Campe Fyre Skink. I found you in a campfire.” he flipped through the pages, “Well I guess that looks like you?” Aimuzjon nodded, light flickering through the room, “The Common Campfire skink. Natively found in-” William scanned the list of locations, “Ah here we are, that’s the old name of the country. The Common Campfire Skink, differentiated from a salamander by the pointed nose and rounded tongue, and scaled rather then moist surface.” Will recited

“I am not common!”

“It means there are a lot of you?” William offered, “Like I am a common baker.”

The dragon pouted, “Continue.”

“Found in wooded and rocky areas where it feeds on dead trees. They bury their eggs within firepits and fire sites waiting for the heat of the flames to incubate their young. The parents commonly leave their young in the wild to fend for themselves. Oh I’m sorry Aimu.”

Aimuzjon puffed, “Please, I don’t miss what I never head. And I am taking care of my young. That’s final.”

“I assumed as much.” William nodded and continued reading, “The skink will adjust its coloration every moult, depending on the seasons and the forest it resides in. They commonly live for one to five years and reach a length of one to two cubits…”

“What’s a Cubit?”

“’Bout from here,” William pointed at his elbow, “to here.” then pointed to his finger tips.

The pair paused and looked at Aimuzjon considerable length, “Well I’ve lived to what? Ten?”

“Dunno”

The dragon’s tongue twirled, a habit it had when it was confused, “so if they grow to 2 cubits and I am what?”

William guessed, “Ten-ish cubits long. Hard to say, kinda depends on the length of the person’s arm.” William pointed, “oh here it is! This species can live and grow longer while in captivity. An upper age has not been determined provided the skink is fed and provided a good home.”

“That’s a relief… get to the good stuff!”

William skimmed the book, “Feed on burnable materials. Coal can cause the skink to go fat. If their legs splay, it is advised to increase their fibre intake." Will paused thinking,  "So you are fat!”

“Not fat!”

“Fine,” Will wanted to spend less on coal, “Mating habits in the wild have not been observed, as their dens are usually made inside tree trunks where it is impossible to observe. In furnaces and fireplaces usually mating is initiated by an eager male who seeks a willing partner. On occasion mating is initiated by an older female, whom has not encountered a suitable mate”

William skipped the male courting behaviors and jumped to female, “Wait you are a female right? How do I check.”

“You don’t! I am!”

Will knew what was good for him, and dropped the topic. “usually the female demands their human caretakers find a mate for them.” William paused glancing at his irritated roommate.

“Ya I’m as common as dirt. Continue!” The tip of her tail thrashed about in annoyance.

“The methods for determining a valid mate are too diverse to list here. Human caretakers are advised to widen the selection as much as possible and keep an eye out for abusive or destructive behaviors.” William paused, “so just like dating.” William sighed, “this wasn’t much help.”

He turned the page which displayed intricate drawings of dragons interwoven, “Copulation occurs when the male stimulates the female at the base of the tail. Then depending on size-” William started to feel funny. Like the warm sensation of a fever, “Ahh! Aimuzjon you are hot! Ahh! Get off please” William begged. The dragon had wound several coils of her body around William and heating to unbearable temperatures. The dragon ignored his pleas, intently inspecting the book.

William shook free before Aimuzjon apologized, “sorry I got distracted by – ugh-- the book.” she puffed up, then exhaled a long hot breath of air which filled the bakery with unusual heat.

“I gotta check the cold butter, hang on.” William went outside to cool off. The butter was cold and no animals had found a way into it. The seals were good and William poured a bit more water into the damp sand keeping the butter as cold as he could make it.

He returned and saw a flash of movement as Aimuzjon scampered back into the furnace firebox. She usually moved pretty slowly. If she chose to, and used her whole body, she could move very fast. Not as fast as a real snake, or a cat, but faster then a human eye. “Oh sorry I scared you, you okey?”

“I’m fine!” she announced.

William blinked slowly, “Well, my momma always told me when a woman say’s she’s fine. She either is. Or isn’t.” Will never understood piece wisdom from his mom.

“Just embarrassed.”

William smiled, “No need to be embarrassed, lots of people hire matchmakers and you haven’t asked for a lot. The only reason you and I have a roof over our heads is because you keep this house warm. Least I can do.”

“Oh I- Never mind” the dragon’s voice reverberated through the metal and brick of the furnace, “Thank you.”

“Well I’m going to bed, don’t stay up too late!” William picked up the book, placing a small scrap on the anatomy section Aimuzjon was reading. He yawned, “Night” he climbed the ladder and just before fallling asleep. He heard the subtle squeeking of the dragon opening the door of the oven.