Chapter 22. General store

"I thought I could hear you coming through my door." A gruff voice of another Centaur came from inside the general store as we made out way inside.

"Of course. Unless you're going deaf as well as blind in your old age." Daxel called out to the voice.

I tried to force the blush down with a few breaths so I didn't embarrass myself too much with the store owner.

"You'd think so with how much I'm giving you these days. My bloody wives are demanding you let Gally into your herd this instant by that alone." The voice was accompanied by a graying Centaur man who still looked able to bench press me on a bad day and like Daxel was shirtless. So it's a stallion thing, makes sense now as to why Helayt never bothered with a shirt for me.

Daxel however froze and let out a quiet curse. The reason for that followed the old Centaur as a beautiful Centaur mare with white hair and clean skin came into view that looked to be around her mid thirties.

"Hello Daxel. It's good to see you again." She said shyly as I noticed she had heterochromia with one eye being yellow while the other was green.

The nervous fidgeting on her part was all I needed to know that he was seeing her in the shadows but my thoughts of cheating were diminished when she continued to speak.

"I have done all that you have asked of me in preparation, I have made myself presentable to the best of my ability and am wearing my best dress while garnering a decent dowry that may benefit my future sister wives. I hope that your head mare accepts me tonight."

So not cheating then. Is this some sort of courting for multiple partners?

There was definitely some interest on my part for how this all worked.... For reasons.

"I... Ah..." Daxel stuttered and I realized in all that had happened with Zeldi returning he had forgotten his potentially fourth wife.

"He's looking forward to it." I interrupted bringing the attention to me. "There's just a slight problem, his daughter has returned briefly so his mind is a bit scattered."

"Zeldi?" The old stallion asked. "Didn't she get kidnapped?"

An elbow from his daughter silenced him. "Father! I have told you before to not mention that!"

"It's fine." Daxel said having found his words and gave me a nod as thanks. "But unfortunately my daughters mate is right with Zeldi's return so I don't think tonight is the best time for us to ask Helayt if you would be a good fit for my herd."

The words daughters mate caught the other twos attention.

"But." Daxel continued. "I don't want to put the work you have done today to waste so why don't you still come to lunch?"

"I wouldn't want to interrupt." Gally tried to back out but her father slapped her on the back.

"Don't let the opportunity go! If he invited you say yes your mother's know how much work you put into it today."

Gally nodded shyly as she backed away from her father.

"So then. Since you ain't here to walk my daughter back to your home why are you in my shop?" The graying Centaur turned back to Daxel.

"Supplies." Daxel answered blushing at Gally before turning to her father. "My daughter lives on a farm with nothing so I need supplies in bulk that I hope they can bring back with them if that's possible Sollum."

"You want a cart as well?" Sollum asked with a raised eyebrow at me. "Doubt he can carry much so I presume Zeldi will be doing the heavy lifting."

Daxel turned to me in question.

I mean I have no idea what my system will bring back with us. It did bring our clothes there so I can only assume that's all it will allow. Oh and my inventory!

Void inventory

So glad I emptied it before coming here.

"No to the cart and I think I can only take ten things home with us." I responded with.

Sollum scoffed. "What your arms ain't big enough laddy? You seem to be fit enough that you could carry as much as I could."

"If that were my only limitation then I'm sure I could do more but Zeldi and my situation is a little unique." I tried to explain. Telling my whole story again was a great way to waste time.

Gally elbowed her father again. "Father just help them. Please? For me?"

Oh he definitely had a weak spot for his daughter if the way he melted said anything.

"Fine. Whatchu need?"

"Food then supplies." Daxel answered. "Bulk if you can, the bigger the better. If you have enough for a moon cycle that would be great and we can work out some payments later if I don't have enough now."

Sollum rubbed his chin in thought. "Foods no problem. I have about three barrels of high fiber granola that should do a cycle easy even with Zeldi's condition as if my memory servers she eats a lot more than other mares. The problem is they're big enough that I can only carry one at a time let alone all three. As for other supplies check my shelves what you see is what I got."

"Can you show them to me?" I asked hoping my inventory would work as I thought it would.

"Sure." Sollum shrugged taking us into to back of the store.

Just as he said there were three large barrels sealed with wax that were easily up to my shoulders in height and just as round. He was definitely trying to brag because here was no way he was lifting one of them without help.

Daxel let out a whistle when he saw them. "That would definitely be enough food but I can see the problem."

Sollum shrugged again as I got closer. I was really hoping this would work.

With my inventory in my minds eye I placed a hand on the barrel and willed it and it's contents to go into my inventory.

Void inventory

That worked?

I mean yay it worked.

"What the hell did you do?" Sollum demanded as the barrel vanished making Gally jump.

"Put it in a place that will allow me to take it back to the farm. Can I do it to the other two of would you like it back?" I asked resummoning the barrel to prove I could.

Daxel just looked impressed but the smile that took over as he realized his daughter could be fed won over. "How much will all three cost?"

"I'd be asking five gold a barrel as the Market price and that's what I will ask from you now but if my daughter does join your herd then it'll be five for all three." Sollum got out after he finished admiring my ability.

"Deal. Clovek can you fit them all?" Daxel asked winking at Gally.

I answered him by putting all three in my inventory without breaking a sweat.

"Dam where can I get a magical item like that?" Gally piped in from the main area of the store as she watched.

"Find a deed to land and a producer that likes you." I said back getting a wince from both father and daughter.

"Zeldi's story has spread around the village." Daxel said in response to their reactions. "Deed owners are not looked at fondly here."

Noted. Keep quiet about it.

"What else did we need from here?" I needed to change the subject quickly.

"Nothing we can't just get from home so we'll head back. Would you like to join us Gally?" Daxel asked holding out a hand to the white mare.

"It would be my pleasure." Gally bowed before accepting his hand like they were about to dance.

Behind them Sollum mimed putting his fingers in his mouth then gagging. I almost laughed but managed to hold it in.

"Good now don't come back unless it's to tell your mothers you finally earned a place in a herd." Sollum barked at his daughter with a smile that spoke of how proud he was.

Gally giggled and ended up pulling Daxel out the door while I finally laughed along with Sollum.

"Well I better chase after them before I loose my guide but it was nice meeting you Sollum." I offered my hand to shake

"Likewise. And if you are Zeldi's mate, take care of that girl it sounds like she's been through a lot." He said taking my hand and giving it one strong shake.

Oh he had no idea.

"Definitely. It's part of our jobs as husbands right?" I said trying to hide how much his grip hurt.

Sollum half chuckled half scoffed. "Until you make them the perfect environment to live in. Then they seem to want to do nothing but get pregnant all day. Not that I mind helping out of course."

"Of course." I repeated with a laugh before chasing Daxel and Gally. They hadn't gone far with Gally already leaning heavily on Daxel's shoulder.

I really hope this is all part of Centaur courting because I don't really want to make it worse by letting it be known Zeldi's father is cheating on his three wives. But then again with how much Zeldi herself keeps bringing up other producers in the bedroom as if it's the most normal thing maybe I'm letting my past life guide me too much.

Either way. Our return is going to be very interesting.