William and Aimuzjon manned the bakery for a while. During which a curious behaviour developed on Aimuzjon tail. It start at the tip. It was swishing. As time wore on the swish of the tail started to move up the length, until she regularly swung her considerable tail. Causing it to lash across the ground behind the counter.

“Hey, got something on your mind?” William asked nicely.

“No.” Aimuzjon’s tail stilled, “But, if you don’t mind, can I get some space?” The moment she stopped focusing her tail started to wander as if it had a mind of it’s own.

William nodded, “I will return the book, then go to the bar. Do you have those large sweet rolls I asked you to make?”

Without taking her eyes off the door, her tail lashed out, gripped the basket and dragged it to William’s feet before resuming the sporadic irritated swishing.

“You should ask Urial if she wants to come, I bet she will.” she instructed, her face didn’t move from looking at the door, but her eyes switched to William giving him a side eye.

“Don’t be silly, I’m going to the library…” William chuckled at the silly comment.

“Just ask her. If she doesn’t want to come she won’t.”

He conceded. “That’s a good point. Okey”

William retrieved the book, the two large baskets, and marched to Urial’s. The door hit wooden chimes while opening which made a pleasant noise. Will looked up, “I have to get one of those.”

Urial noticed the chimes, “I will be right there!” he could hear Urial running, “Hi-Welcome to my- Oh Will! You are early, your clothes aren’t dry yet.”

“No I wanted to ask, I’m heading to the library and do you want to come-”

William barely finished his sentence, “yes!” She walked around her counter.

“Don’t you need to lock up?” William hesitated. He had a dragon longer then a man guarding his store.

She waved a hand, “Like yourself, I have an assistant. Sapo I’m heading out!”

William listened for an answer and it never came, but he could hear splashing in the back, like someone was stirring the vast cauldron.

“He’s quiet and a bit shy. And weird.” She turned and the two walked in the warm springtime sun.

As William suspected she was a bit more well off then himself. The sixth daughter, her family gave her very little. She wasn’t going to get the inheritance and she wasn’t in the mood of getting married off so she started working. Her father though was impressed by her hard work and covered her taxes. She suspiciously neglected talking of her mother.

Williams parents died young but he had learned how to bake from his mother, and continued to do it in the back streets. Eventually he apprenticed under a real baker, and took over his old shop when his master went on to newer and bigger things. Will explained how much he made.

She counted on her fingers, “Wow baker you make a lot of money?”

“Half that,” He corrected.

“What why?”

“Aimuzjon?”

Urial jaw dropped, “I am impressed baker. Most people don’t pay non-humans.”

“That’s stupid. I mean half the time she spends it on something we need anyways.” William counted on his fingers, he was okey with math, “but she does eat quite a bit of coal and charcoal, but I make my own from scraps.”

“Well I think that’s really decent how you treat her.”

They reached the library, the giant status stood watched over the entrance. All four limbs firmly planted on the ground. Urial shivered, “those statues give me the creeps.”

They entered and it felt the sound being taken out of the world. They felt like noisy interlopers, intruding in a sacred space.

“Excuse me! Mister! What do you want mister?” A different woman was manning the Front desk, “You can’t stay here!” William didn’t like her tone.

William held up the book, gently wrapped in a small cloth to protect it. “I want to return it.”

“And what is it? - oh a book.” William extracted the book and handed her the citizenship plaque. A small square of copper that marked him a citizen. “Um actually. We only allow book loans to silver citizens. Who gave you this book! Did you steal it?” She accused.

William tapped the small book emboss on the citzenship and waited for the woman to realize.

“Well I never! Copper citizen's being allowed to borrow books, what would the guardians think-” she added it to the return pile and shooed the two away.

They quickly left. Once the door closed, Urial turned to Will, “Do they always treat you that way?”

“bookers? I mean librarians.” He remembered correct word, “No.”

“People in general?” Urial clarified.

“I’m a common baker, I’m not a real man. It’s a woman’s profession.” Will shrugged his shoulders, “I bake bread. It’s good.”

“You are not a common baker! You have a dragon!” Urial grinned watching Will unwrap a massive sweet roll, “That is the biggest roll I have ever seen.”

“Biggest I ever made, but it only felt right.” William lifted it it and placed it in the stony upright paw of the statues. Each one sat, one paw outstretched as if welcoming guests to the building, their faces had appeared soft and almost smiling.

“hu-wait… I thought.” Urial mumbled a barely conceived thought.

William shook his head interrupting her line of thinking. “Best not to think about it too much. Lets head back.” William turned and looked at Urial who’s eyes remained locked on the statues. “I’m heading back to the bakery.” he reiterated.

Urial stared at the statue, “Why are you leaving the rolls here? Leaving it for the birds?” Will had placed one in each statues paw, “Also weren’t they-”

William walked up to her and gently grabbed her shoulders, leading her away. “Comeon I gotta check on Aimuzjon and no doubt you have something to do.”

The moment they turned their backs there was a sound. It was unlike any that they had heard heard before. There was a scratching which sent chills down their backs. The gnashing of teeth as if something was getting eaten. Finally the wet smacking of lips and a loud swallow.

“Will?”

There was a quiet burp and the space filled with the scent of sweet roll.

“Just keep walking and-” Will caught the motion of her turning her head, “Don’t look back.” he warned.