Nix waited a minute or two to walk out into the store proper, and she was unsurprised to find it just the way it had been yesterday. There were a total of twelve shelves each about 20 feet long or so and each holding a multitude of wares.

They seemed to be organized not by style or type of item but rather by date and location, leading to an ordered chaos that sprawled through the shop. It would seem as though there were two customers in here at the moment, and nix stalked forward to get a better idea of what it was that Dan actually did here.

The two customers he was talking to was a centaur, which stood tall towering a good head and a half over Dan and right next to him was a small petite woman, who seemed to be no more than a person.

“So, you used to be human? Like me?” She asked confirming for Nix that she was indeed a normal human being.

“Well yeah,” Dan said laughing “Though I tell you I still feel human.” he laughed.

“But you decidedly are not,” the gruff voice of the centaur as he took stock of Dan. “You are a Demigod.”

“This is what I keep getting told.”

“How? Don't you have to be born a demigod? Like in the old greek legends you know father was zeus mother was a human...” the girl asked, looking at Dan curiously.

“Apparently it has to do with the mixing of divine blood and human blood, so yes that would work the whole zeus is your father thing but in my case I got injured and my wife Abyzou gave me some of her blood, and it seemed like it worked as it mixed with my own and here I am.”

“I see,” the centaur nodded, “I have heard of a few rituals like that, but the blood needs to be freely given and received, so not just anyone can get the blood of a deity and become a sub deity.”

“Sounds like you know more about it than me.” Dan shrugged. “So when is the big day?” he asked, glancing at the woman’s stomach, and for the first time Nix noticed it was extended, protruding and heavy with child.

“We are getting married after they are born.” the centaur said.

“Oh,” Dan said, and was about to move on not wanting to pry when the woman explained.

“I thought it was weird at first to, but then Hersau explained the culture behind it.”

“Ah, so it is a cultural thing?” Dan asked, seemingly interested in the answer.

“Yes, apparently there was a time in there past that they were hunted down for sport and as such the population was in a sharp decline, and centaurs have a naturally high rate of stillborn and other complications. So if a woman could not carry the child the centaur had to move on.”

“Thankfully modern medicine has fixed most of those issues.” Amani said as she walked around the corner carrying a soft looking piece of cloth that shimmered in the dull light of the shop.

“Ah, you must be Abyzou.” the girl said looking at Amani with a smile.

“No, I am Amani, his first wife,” she said with a friendly smile. “Abyzou is his second wife.” it was the woman’s turn to look awkward.

“You have two wives? How do you manage that? LIttle Christene here is much work as is, I cannot imagine more than one.” the centaur know as Hersau said looking between Amani and Dan with a look of surprise on his face. His question prompted a sharp slap from his over pregnant soon to be wife on his flank.

“Oh I'm a lot of work huh?” she asked menacingly.

“I don't have two,” he laughed, drawing their attention back to himself. “I have four.”

“Four!” Christene’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

“How in the hell do you manage them all?” he asked looking at dan with a stoic look of disbelief.

“Me? Manage them?” Dan laughed, nearly doubling over at the question. “I don't manage them, I am pretty damn sure they manage me.”

“Trust me, ” Amani added in with a laugh. “All four of us are needed for that tall of a task.” and soon the shop echoed with the four people’s laughter. Amani wiped away a small tear from her emerald eye and held up the cloth, getting them all back on track. “You wanted Abythien silk correct? We only had this one sheet but it seems to be in great condition, it is from the abyssal sea area in the first century, back when they were known for their work in such cloth.” she said holding the cloth up and allowed the two of them to touch it. The cloth shimmered and moved like a rippling waterfall casting its silver light around the shop.

“If you don't mind me asking what are centaurian marriage ceremonies like?” Dan asked making more idle conversations.

“Well there is a small ceremony, where we eat and drink of the same plate and cup, and after vows are exchanged there is an example made.” he said standing up tall and straight, even as Christene shrunk back a little, her cheeks dying bright red.

“An example?” he asked, slightly curious after that reaction from Christene.

“Yes, we prove to the guests that our love is true,” he said.

“Oh, oh...” Dan’s eyes were wide when he put two and two together. “In front of everyone?” he asked softly.

“Indeed there is no need to be ashamed, but should you really feel the need for it you can cover yourself with a sheet of Abythien silk.” he grumbled at that ”Do we really need this?”

“If you think I will be having sex there in front of your parents and everyone else watching while I am completely uncovered and bare for them to see then you are fucking out of your mind.” she growled, snatching the cloth out of Amani’s hands and clutching it to herself almost like it was a lifeline. “You are buying this, or so help me I will keep these babies inside of me until you do.”

“You know that is not physically possible right?” he countered.

“Buy.It.Now.” she said, still not letting go of the cloth.

He sighed, “Fine we'll take that please.” he grumbled something afterwards that Nix couldn't make out but it seemed his small bride understood it because she slapped him on the flank, hard.

“Thank you!” Christene said with a bright smile, “I would invite you out to the wedding, but...”

“Yeah...” Dan nodded in understanding, “We wouldn't mind coming out after the ceremony to congratulate you however.” he said with a smile.

“That sounds good!” she said with a nod, and still clutching the cloth like it was the only thing she owned the two of them made their way out of the shop, as she did so the centaur returned to his human form,his horse body melting away leaving his still standing near seven feet tall, but no less human than anyone else on the street.

“Have a good rest of the day!” he called out to them waving them goodbye, and without turning around he spoke to Nix, “Done spying there?” he asked, and realizing she had been caught she stepped out and walked over to him. “Good morning, or should I say afternoon?” he asked looking at her with a smile.

She was once again conflicted, she knew what he did, but the man she had observed seemed to be someone completely different than the one she had constructed in her mind. Not that it mattered,she had to work with him now.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

“Nothing.” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Nothing?” she asked, confused.

“Nothing,” he nodded.”You don't want to be here,” she was about to say something, but he held up a hand to her. “There is no need to lie to me or yourself, I know you don't want to be here and that is understandable, I'm not going to force you to do anything, you are not a slave, you can do what you want.” he said.

She mulled that over, and sighing she closed her eyes and forced her pride down, it wouldn't help her now, and if she was going to get anywhere she would need to let go of her prejudices. “I would like to help, can you show me how? Please?” she said, it was hard, probably one of the hardest things she had ever done, but there was a strange sense of relief she felt, like a weight had been resting on her chest and had been removed.

“Sure.” he said with a knowing smile...