Ewan jolted the moment the thought crossed his mind. His face flushed, and he quickly shook his head to banish the shameful notion. He tossed his blanket over the drying rack, rolled up his sleeves, and hurried down to the courtyard: "You're up so early. Why didn't you wake me?"
"You should have slept a little longer, the morning dew is still biting cold." Asher Ryder looked up, a gentle smile blooming on his face despite the un-wiped streaks of blood.
"Let me help you sort this out."
Ewan deftly selected the finest slabs of lean meat, setting them aside in a basket to sell. He chopped the large ribs into chunks, tossing them into a separate basin. The flawlessly peeled hide was stretched over a bamboo frame to dry. After setting aside the choice offal, an entire large tub remained, filled to the brim with pristine, wobbly white fat.
"Today, we are going to render lard!"
