Missus Rend lets him bring her some honey, which he offers to put in her kitchen. With Petrin refusing to leave his grandmother out-of-sight, it provides perfect privacy for hiding his things, and neither notice that the packages that were left outside the kitchen are now gone. He doesn't think these two would ask even if they saw him directly use the pouch.
Just for potential troubles, he also leaves a few containers of herbs, all labelled for them.
With that handled, he hurries to the well, finding Len already waiting for him. The other has several large sacks on his back and shoulders, and Lyan worries for all of two seconds before he realizes the other doesn't seem the slightest bit bothered by the weight.
For all he knows, this guy carries such weight daily.
"Thank you, thank you! Len, let's hurry back. I have the bits and pieces I needed, let's not worry your uncle!"
Lyan moves to grab one of the sacks and is immediately nudged aside. Len leads the way, pace steady but very much not slow.
Well. Rude, but okay. Clearly the guy is as stubborn as the villagers.
The walk is uneventful, mostly just the two hurrying along and moving out of the way of others or others moving out of their way. Len is just as quiet as the first walk. That's fine by Lyan; some people just don't like talking.
When they arrive, Lyan stops and holds out his arms for the sacks, and Len's relatively empty look turns into something closer to a glare.
"Absolutely not."
"I refuse to let you into my house if the only thing you're doing is carrying things I'm perfectly capable of carrying myself."
"I'll stay for dinner."
Lyan considers that. It would technically be a good way to thank him without being something he's giving. It's Len suggesting it, and they can both claim it was the only way Lyan would let the other in, and the other is clearly going to refuse to put things down outside.
"Very well. Please, come in for dinner, Len."
He lets the other handle the things, hurrying over to the kitchen. He's got some things to add to the rice he makes, besides the vegetables. He guesses that Len prefers slightly sweet savory food, so he adds a bit of honey, two eggs, and some of his pork.
He's honestly surprised Barek never insisted he try soft-boiled eggs. Sure, it's not usually something people think of, but Lyan - or rather Cade - remembers how he'd hear the phrase and think about what it even meant.
And now here he is. Making soft-boiled eggs for rice.
He's not a curious person, not how others seem to be. The urge to discover new foods, new places, new people, it doesn't call to him. He doesn't have any motivation to move.
But he's rather curious about the things he's never looked at before. He's curious about how he hasn't tested different boiling times for eggs before. He's curious what foods he's never tried that Lyan has. He is Lyan now.
He might not want to be someone else, but he's okay learning habits that fit this new life.
"Alright, here we are."
He sets out food for Len, and the other blinks at what is put in front of him.
"Either you don't like spending money or you're treating me, and I can't tell which."
Ah, honesty, his love.
"I added a few things. I'm very boring."
Len laughs, reaching for his portion and starting in without pause. Good. Most seem to wait for Lyan to start, as if worried he's not eating. As if.
How is he to get up feeding his chickens and tending his garden and caring for his bees when he's not eating? Honestly, the key to a comforting life is taking care of the body first, then the mind, then handling the emotions as they come. Least, he's found it to be like that.
They eat in relative silence. Len finishes first and hurries to be the one to start on the dishes, which Lyan allows. When those are done, the other takes his leave, smiling and waving as he walks out.
Lyan smiles and waves back.
He thinks he's made a new friend. Not bad for a shut-in of two worlds.