Back inside about an hour later the boys (who are surprisingly good at numbers) have tallied the take from Cin'aed's little concert. Cin'aed is leaning back in a chair tuning a guitar but not singing, Hel is talking to the Major Domo who is trying to extract a fee for the impromptu concert as it Ended at the guild hall, he is asking way more than what anyone suspects they made. Hel explains that Cin'aed is not a member of the guild and as such does not owe the guild any such fee's. Cin'aed offers to set fire to the Domo's pants as a payment, Brani thinks that's a good idea the boys don't comment at first. Once they have the numbers though Twin 2 states that the last impromptu concert by a well-known and liked bard only cost 10sp, not the hundreds of gold that the little dwarf is trying to squeeze out of them.
Hearing that Cin'aed pulls out an electrum coin (worth 10sp) and flicks to him, "There paid in full, want more pay for a ticket next time." He stares at the coin, clutches it and ask in a sardonic tone, "How do you Pay for a Free Concert?" Smiling to herself, "For you I would charge." Da'Rune actually laughs at that and the Major Domo glares murderously then stomps off to complain to the Master.
As he is gone Twin 1 reports, "Ok we got the tally finished. You pulled in, in a combination of copper pennies and silver crowns, 350 crowns, 2 pennies."
Without looking up from her guitar, "so equivalent of 17 gold, 10 silver, and 2 coppers. Not bad given I was just practicing." Hel grins and shakes her head, "Those songs were very different and that helped to."
Cin'aed shrugs, "Just popular tunes from home." She sighs a little, feeling a little home sick. She puts the guitar down and sings 'Some Where Over the Rainbow, where blue birds fly, there is a land that I dreamed of once in a lullaby 'she quietly sings the whole of it. The room goes to near silence as she sings, caught in the beauty of her voice and the imagery of the song.
There is some scattered applause and a few teary eyes at a song that most know is about chasing your dreams.
The Master is one with both. The Major on the other hand is adding that display to his total charge.
The Master looks at the tone deaf little dwarf, "Drop it Smudge. We are not charging her because you don't like music. She has one hell of a talent to." He comes over to the table they are at, "Beautiful song there. You write it ?"
Cin'aed shakes her head, "Was written long before I was born actually. The original songstress was called Judy Garland, she was also an actress of some renown in her day, some 30 years before my time. But the song itself is popular as I am sure you can imagine. I sang it cause I am feeling a little homesick actually. So much good music at home and so easy to find and listen to. The music here is ok, but just not to my taste, well what little I have heard. As for my singing, I do it cause I enjoy it, not to make money. Though it's nice to know people enjoy it to."
Hel comes up behind her and rubs her shoulders, "Honey you keep surprising us with your talents. Keep this up and you will have worshippers. Well other than the boys out there who followed us all around the market." The twins nod and push the coin over to Cin'aed. She counts out about 4 golds worth of silver and splits it between the boys, "You earned this between your quick wit and doing the counting of the coin. Accountants can earn good money to, especially those that know the tax code."
The boys consider that and nod, always good to have talents to fall back on in old age.
The Master nods, "So Demetrious, Lazarus you boys been helping the ladies today have you ?" The twins nod, "Well Miss Cin'aed agreed to teach us some of her combat techniques to start with, then paid us for our guard services when we got to the market today to, in advance at that. Which is always nice." Cin'aed nods, "I took one look at that crowd and decided that we needed some kind of defense just to walk around down there."
Everyone smiles or chuckles at that. The boys just look proud of themselves. Twin 1 (Demetrious) Looks around, "Oh yeah we need a new armorer. The Baron appropriated our last one, under guard to."
Rubbing his nose and sighing, "When did this happen ?" Twin 2 (Lazarus) Speaks up, "While you were asleep. The Madam said we would have to outsource for our armor and weapons till a new one could be found, but she never sent anyone to look or told anyone we were in need of the service."
He nods and sighs, "Probably was going to work a deal with allies of the dragon queen. Well that's another thing I have to look for. So many good people are gone, either on those stupid dangerous quest for magic items for the Queen or taken by that greedy SOB of a baron."
Demetrious, "Well Cin'aed says she has training in Armor and weapon smithing. We can let her in to the smithy and see what she can do." Cin'aed nods, "I would like that actually."
The Masters grins, "What about your singing career ?" She grins at him, "I can do both, Work the smithy in the morning and sing in the evening or on weekends." The Master laughs, "Ok, show her where the armor smithy is and get her set up. I will give you 2 weeks to see what you can do. Sound fair ?"
She looks hard at him, stands up (in her new clothes) and thinks, "1 month. That would match with the time frame you gave me to stay on the guild coin and really it makes me feel better to have something to do in that time. I hate just sitting around all the time. Besides I suspect your smithy will need work just to get up to my level."
The boys talk to the head Smith who handles horse shoeing, making and repairing iron items and similar jobs as well as keeping the shops in tip top repair and function. Demetrius introduces them, "John, this is Cin'aed she is on trial for the Armorer position. Managed to talk herself in to a 30 day test period."
Cin'aed smiles at him and the gruff old man about has a heart attack from the sheer shock of her smile, he pushes through and does his best to show no emotion, "A month, From him. I am impressed, he usually ask 2 weeks and it took me a year of trying to talk about what it takes to get that much time, as you probably know it takes longer than that just to get a proper job done." She nods, "Oh yes. But I am already going to be here for a month at the least, so I argued that I should be allowed to work if I chose to in that time. The down side is I am not being paid in this period, except with room and board and anything I can pull in from the side as it were."
The smith nods, "Actually you did better than the last fellow, he asked for room but forgot the board part and only a few coppers a week. I don't think he understood how expensive It is to live in a city this size." Cin'aed looks around, "this is a city ? I thought it was a small town."
The smith, thinking she is joking, smiles, "Ha! that is a good one. Nice attitude. Now I keep up with the supplies, if you need something special you come see me first. If I can't get it I have contacts in town who may be able to. If they can't get it, well you can always contract some of these lazy boys and girls to go find some." he says with a twinkle in his eye and a grin. Cin'aed smiles and nods, "Got to make use of the talent right ?" He nods, "Exactly." He opens the Armory doors, massive double wide and tall, showing her the furnace and bellows and all the gear. He points out features and even tells her tales of how they have had to make barding for war elephants and even armor for a giant once.
She looks around, the place is clean and everything is in order. There is actually very little she can think of to improve upon. John nods, "Anything you need, I can loan you a couple boys to help with the heavy lifting or working the bellows. Oh and any other skills I should know about ?"
Cin'aed looking over the tools, "Well I am trained in all smithing skills, so if you need help in your section I will help if you want it and I am not busy with orders. I am also trained in Leather working specializing in armors of course. Like to keep things well rounded in that area. Oh and I often sing while I am working. I hope that is not a bother."
He shakes his head, "Naw singing while working is a tradition really. Helps keep time on things and often no one can hear you over the hammer and anvils anyway. Oh what style of armor and weapons do you usually do ?"
She considers, "Mix of human and elven really. Learned from both." He nods, "Ah, I have heard good things about elven armors. Dwarves hate them of course and expect the Major Domo to be a pest. He thinks he knows more than he really does about pretty much everything." She nods, "Yeah and I learned he does not like music and tries to charge people for singing in or near the guild, which the Master has told him not to do."
Lazarus, "Repeatedly actually. Does not stop him. Oh and those fee's go straight in to his pocket, never the guilds."
Cin'aed looks at them, "Really. Hm maybe I should chain him to a wall and weld his mouth shut, then make him listen to people sing to him for a few weeks." The boys smirk at that and John shakes his head, "I doubt the Master would like that."
Cin'aed has a thought, "I don't know why I have not asked this before, but what is the Masters real name ?"
John has to think about it for a minute, "Jones. I think that's it. I have called him Master for so long I tend to forget he has a normal name." Cin'aed nods, "I Started to think it was Guild Master for a while there." they nod and smile, "Seems that way sometimes." Demetrious says with a grin.
Cin'aed looks about, "Well the first order of business is to get the furnace up and running. Can't work in a cold furnace. That will take a couple days with little else to do. Well I will need to get some work clothes really. Got a little distracted this morning in the market. So many interesting things to see and well." The twins grin, "Her first time in our market, had a terrible time keeping track of her as she kept wandering off to look at this or that interesting thing when she was supposed to be clothes shopping primarily." Cin'aed nods, "And I did not get anything practical. At this point I don't even have an apron for use here, walking around naked, while nice and airy is not good around hot metal." John laughs, "Well I am sure the boys would like the show to, but your right."
They set about getting the fires stoked and furnace heating up. Cin'aed looks around the shop and notes they are lacking small anvils, "No small anvils ?" the smith looks about then heads to other forge areas. They find one stuffed in a corner, where someone was using it to hold open a door, but can't find the 3 others that are supposed to be around.
Cin'aed levitates it and takes it back to her area. Explaining to the giants that such anvils are good for detail work, daggers, and small items like arm guards and such. A forge area in an armory should have at least 2 of them to be considered a proper armory. John nods, "Had 4 at one time but people seem to walk off with them. Apprentices." he sighs.
They corner one of those apprentices and learn that 2 are out in the rear area being used as seats. Cin'aed is shown the area. It's a common area between all the smithies open to the sky and used as a place to meet or store extra supplies that are resistant to weather.
"Why not just have chairs ?" The Apprentice slumps, she states, "The Major Domo comes and takes away any tables or chairs or any 'non smithing' items we put out here. Even stuff we bring from home. So we improvise allot." Cin'aed nods and levitates the two anvils, "Well I am going to be working in the Armory forge and I will need these. Any idea where the 4th one is ?" The girl shakes her head, "It was not around when I signed on." she states. John sighs, "I will keep an eye out for it." Cin'aed nods, "I will see about getting some from the market, they do sell such in the market ?" John nods, "Oh yes, but they can cost upwards of 30 to 50 gold. " Cin'aed nods, "Good to know. If I get the job here I would be willing to put some of my own money in to the shop, just to keep it up to snuff and all." The head smith nods, "That is good of you." Lazarus grins, "She can afford it actually. She came back from an adventure with a coffer full of gems. Hel was handling the selling of them." John nods, but looks confused, "Hel ?"
Demetrius, "Zena, tall, red hair, likes to wear white hoods." Johns face lights up, "OH Zena, I remember her. She is a sweet kid. well I guess she is all grown up now isn't she. I remember when she came here. Little girl, very bright, loved to play with daggers. Became quite a shot with them as I understand." The boys nod, "Her professional name is Hel, like the Viking goddess of Death. She is a professional assassin now. Pure Contract killer, none of that death worshipping stuff." The smith nods, looks a little sad about that but accepts it. "Yes, well she was orphaned and grew up in the guild because of that." he tells Cin'aed.
Looking surprised, "They have orphans here ?"
Demetrious nods, "Yep, parents were members who died on a mission, their kids end up guild responsibility, The Master decided it was only right. They are housed, taught to read write and speak several languages. Taught skills they need for a normal life. A few join the guild when they come of age and others get apprenticed to those around the area. Problem is many of them are treated poorly by those in the guild. Brani, Hel, and Melisanda are all guild orphans. They got stuck with with Da'Rune cause no one else wanted her and Aysun, like you, they found while on a job." Cin'aed nods, "So because they had the unfortunate circumstance of their parents dying they are treated poorly. I never understood that kind of stupidity." John smiles, "Me either. Several of my apprentices here come from such things, one or both die while working. It's the price many pay for such dangerous work. But every one of them work hard and I have had few complaints over the years." Cin'aed nods, sighs, then walks back in to the armory. She places the anvils and then bolts them to the floor. "Ok boys time to go back to the market, your still on the clock yes ?"
They look confused, "What's a clock ?" She thinks, "know what an hour glass is ?"
They nod, "Ok a clock serves much the same purpose just can be set up for longer periods." They nod, "Ok then yes. You got us paid up for 2 days yet." Cin'aed nods and heads out, bag over her shoulder and giants in tow.
She finds both the smithing area where she can buy the items she wants including the heavy aprons and gloves used in the craft. Some stupid fellow tried to sell her stuff that 'looked pretty' but was completely useless and highly flammable. She set fire to one and proved that really quick. He raised hell and she offered to send him there for trying to sell her stuff that could have gotten her Killed if she had actually used them in a forge. Her little display scared off several apprentice types that were actually considering his wares. One boy ask her how she knew, she looks around, "It's all thin and flimsy and has this sheen of a resin that burns Really easy. This stuff was for looks but you did not want it around open flames, like candles, torches, forges and the like. She moved on and found a very skilled leather worker who had exactly what she was looking for, very good quality and fair prices. She even helped some of the apprentices get items that would work for what they needed. Making the merchant quite pleased to serve her. She pointed out his prices are fair and his quality is good. Two things to look for when getting anything.
By the time she leaves the market this time she is very popular with the honest merchants (a few of the dishonest ones just want to lynch her cause she exposed them). She even went so far as to buy lunch for herself the boys and a few of the smithing apprentices that were following her around. Mostly she talked shop with them and asked about what they were learning and hoped to do when they made it out of their apprenticeships. Some want to travel, others hope to get jobs in some of the kingdoms shops, others hope to find a place and set up their own shops. A few want to be adventurers and know the danger of it. Of herself she says she is going to be working in the armory at the guild, mostly doing repairs for the time being. There are a few who want to know more about that and she tells them the best armorers are trained in smithing and smelting first. That is the basics you need in order to be able to do specialty work like armor or weapons making.
Among the things she got was a large heavy table and benches for the courtyard and some specialty items for use there. Including an open sided tent to put over the table.
She got some diagrams and such to, partly for 'art' and partly cause she has a plan to screw up the Major Butt Ache.
The very next day she has everything set up and sure enough by that afternoon the little punk comes and tries to have the stuff taken away, "You touch my work tables you little fool and I will nail you to a wall. I need those out here for my work." she informs him. He snorts, "Drinking and diddling are not working Slut." she lost it with that insult and chased him back in to the guild, trying to brain him with an iron bar.
It takes 4 skilled people and the Master to keep her from doing the smug little man in. Finally calmed down she explains she bought a large table, benches and other items to use in the smithing courtyard as a planning area and work station for designs and this little goblin shit tried to have it removed and then insinuated she was a drunk and called her a slut. She feels justified in beating the insulting little thief in to a bloody pulp.
The Master turns on the Domo and learns from John, who is one of the people keeping Cin'aed from braining the dwarf, that he has stolen many things from the smithies and every time they have tried to set up such work area's he comes along and has it all removed.
The Master has had it with the Domo and fires him on the spot, "You pushed me to far Smudge. I put up with allot of your foolishness but making things hard on folk who work for us, then I find out you not only lay fee's on people doing things you don't like but are also Pocketing all those fee's. I just can't have that here. I employ thieves to steal for the guild, not from it. Pack your things and get out." He sputters and begs and then threatens them all. The Master though won't hear any more, though he does forbid anyone from hurting the dwarf, provided he is out of their before sunset.
Several people help him pack, a few actually liked him but he did go too far messing with the smiths and trying to alienate people needed to run the guild smoothly. Most though won't miss him. He was just that much of a self-important pest.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Two days later the forge is ready, Cin'aed comes in, the place is ready and she freezes, mind going blank for a few minutes as she can't think what to do. John looks at her, "You alright ?"
She looks around, "Never ran my own shop before and it just hit me I don't know where to start." John laughs and nods and gives her a little push to get her started. "I understand. A lot of first time smiths have that problem when they first get their own place. Just need something to get your mind off all the options and to focus on. So just make something simple to start. An item you can work on between other jobs is my suggestion. Heck I tend to make cookware, which sells, so make a sword, or shield or shirt. Pick something and work on it between customers." She nods, considers, then sets down to make a sword. She knows How to do it but never really had the opportunity to make one. A Samurai sword, one all her own with the little extra's she has always wanted.
Pretty soon she is humming away, working hard and just having fun. It's not till late afternoon before someone comes in to see about a repair. John sends them around where they find the busty red head working hot iron with her bare hands and happily working away on a sword. (she has 3 going and is bouncing between them as she works, telekinesis is a great help in this).
She looks over his armor, offers no comment other than if he is a guild member or not and quotes the standard rate to him. He agrees and stays to watch her work. He tried once to interfere with How she was working (she was taking the chest piece apart to get at the damaged section) and she pointed to him and asked if he was a smith or armorer. He said no, but he had never seen anyone do the repair the way she was doing it. She pointed out she was not the last person he had do it and she had her own methods, if he was unsatisfied with her work he could go to someone in town.
He let her work, but planned to take it to someone in town to find out how poorly the job is. He really does not believe she knows what she is doing. She informs him the work will likely take a couple days to do properly and to come back the day after tomorrow. He eventually does.
The next morning the Boys show up with 4 dented or broken chest plates and other armor pieces for her to work on. She tells them she has someone ahead of them and that she works in a first come first served way, no exceptions. Don't care if you’re a friend, a royal, or a god. They understand and really are happy to be second in line. (She is only charging them cost, not labor to. Which adds to their happy feelings). She gets the first one done in less time than she estimated and is very pleased with the work. The fellow agrees it 'looks' alright. But he still took it to a dwarven smith he knew to have the work rated. The smith asked him where he got it done and he admits through the guilds new armor girl. But he doubts a woman could do the job right.
The dwarf looks over the armor and ask where the patch was done. The fellow tells him even points to the area. The dwarf shakes his head, "That girl is a better armorer than me then. I can't even tell it was ever damaged. That is exceptional work."
The fellow nods, pays for the examination and leaves. Does not tell Anyone who did the work as he still thinks women should not be smiths.
The Twins on the other hand Love her work, rave about how well she did and even show off the pieces she repaired or improved in a couple cases. After that she only gets maybe a dozen more jobs, mostly from the women in the guild and 1 from a non-guild knight in serious need of a repair to his prize chainmail. She happily fixes them all.
Over the month and on the side she has made several mail shirts (generic sizes), swords, axes, daggers, and other more exotic weapons, even the specialty one Aysun was wanting. Aysun is very happy with it and practices with it every day.
(Something missed by most, is she is making exceptional items in days if not weeks, that normally take weeks to months, or in the case of the samuri type weapons, years to do. This is because of the nature of her powers really.)
Then 'exciting' things happen. John comes in one day to get her order for coal, metal and such and finds her literally hip deep in a forge digging something out of the white hot coals. He freaked at first thinking she had fallen in and while he tried to figure out how to get her out she pulled back with a strange metal bar in her hand, "Oh hi John. I just found this strange bar inside my furnace. I was digging around as I noticed this furnace has trouble staying lit lately. The problem seems to be coming from this bar. Any idea what it is ?" she held it out to him but he was standing next to the wall, mouth open and kind of flapping in the breeze. It takes her a minute to figure it out. "Oh me in the fire ? Yeah I am completely fire proof. Don't burn at all. I know weird, but then I am weird. Cold does not affect me either. Side effect of my powers I guess. " she holds up one hand and forms a fire ball, the other forms an Ice ball. The rod starts to glow a light blue when the ice ball comes near it. That actually snapped the Master Smith out of his fear trance. "ok on the fire and ice, I can see where that is a real asset here. Just wish you had told me about it earlier, nearly scared me to death there girl." She winces, "I am sorry John, it's just the way I am and I don't normally even think about it." He nods, "Apology accepted. Good thing I already knew about your ability to move objects without touching them, rumor mill you know" she nods, "Just no one thought to mention the other 2 things. Now then, I think I know what that rod is, have to get a mage to check it to be sure. But it's not supposed to be in a furnace. Well not one you want to work. Thing puts out fire. Handy to have if you want fires out fast though. But as you found it there it means someone put it there, likely to sabotage your work. I was afraid of this actually. Not everyone likes a female smith. Gotten a few complaints about you Only because you’re a woman. I tell them to sod off. I got several good female apprentices." she nods and frowns, "Well as you say, good for putting out fires, so I may keep it. Never know when it could be needed. But I wonder if anyone has the spells to locate who did put it in there." He scratches his beard, "No idea, but I know who to ask."
He takes her and the rod to the guilds High Mage. Neat old man, half elf with a spry step, and ready smile. Loves to talk on pretty much any topic and reputedly one of the best generalized mages in 3 kingdoms. Sanderson the Stupendous, is what he goes by, but Sandy to his friends of which John is.
John tells him what they found and Where and if there is a way to find out who put it there.
Takes Sandy about 2 minutes to tell them He made it as just what John said. To help put out fires. Just toss it in to a room on fire and it would cool everything down and make it easier to put the fires out. He hoped they would save lives.
As to who got that one, that takes a little more time but no magic, he keeps records of everything he sells, from spells to items to advice. It comes back to the fellow whose armor she fixed the first time. Tom Timber, swordsman and according to John one of the people coming around and trying to get him to fire Cin'aed cause she is doing 'mans work'.
As they are walking back to the forge area they are intercepted by the Guild Master, "Cin'aed a moment please." She stops, John went on a little but stays close enough to listen in, "What's up sir ?" She ask politely, "I have been getting complaints about your work actually. I got over 3 dozen complaints that you do shoddy work or refuse service to non-human races." She looks confused, "What ? I have never refused any work from anyone and I have only Had like 8 customers, counting the Twins, who by the way loved my work so much they brought me All their damaged armor to repair. They own allot of armor." John comes back over, "I can vouch for that. My boys have been helping in her forge and they keep me informed of who has what done. Only ones to show up have been Tom Timber, Jess the fence, Lucy Lockjaw, Princess Prowler, The Great Grater (1/2 orc), Hilda Hammer, and Tim who as I understand it came in to get his daggers sharpened. She has had no others which is very odd and adding this to something else that happened I am seeing a pattern. Someone or ones are working to get her tossed out of work. Someone sabotaged her forge recently. Put one of Sandy's fire suppressors in it. She dug it out this morning and showed it to me. Sandy just told us he sold this one to Tom Timber, who by the way was her first customer and all I have heard from him is that I need to let her go cause women have no place working in a smith, other than in a servant capacity. He seems to think all the girls working for me are around to serve the men and not actually work as smiths."
The Master nods and looks at the paper, "He was the first to file a complaint said he had to take the armor to one Master Dwemerlund to get it Properly fixed."
Cin'aed, "Have you talked to this Master Dwemerlund to check out his story ?" The Master shakes his head, "Never thought to. Never had any reason to before. Tom has always been a good member. I will look in to this deeper though. I hate conspiracies." He nods and leaves. Cin'aed and John head back to the smithy.
The next morning out in front of the armory they find a hugely muscular, barrel chested dwarf. Cin'aed approaches, "Good day sir, may I help you ?" she ask. He nods, "May hap, I am looking for the Armorer here." She nods, "You found her, what can I do you for ?" She ask as she unlocks the door. As the door opens there is a loud 'FOOM' and a cloud of smoke billows out. Cin'aed reacts instantly, using her powers to Freeze ALL movement inside the Armory.
She allows the smoke to clear but everything else, from a group of people in dark (and now soot stained) clothes to the fires are frozen in place. The fires look strange, the people, who were attempting to flee, look panicked. She is Barely letting them breath.
John sent an apprentice to get the Guild Master. The Dwarf looks surprised but having been around mages a good bit is not to taken aback at the 'freeze' spell.
The Master comes running, with the Twins and the Guild guard in tow. When he gets there the dwarf tells him what he has observed. Then introduces himself as Master Armorer Dwemerlund.
The saboteurs are rounded up, their hoods removed. Not surprisingly Tom Timber is in their number but the others are something of a surprise. The Great Grater is there as well as a few others Cin'aed has never met.
Turns out that Grater is only against her cause she is a stinky elf girl. Grater hates elves. Does not care about the rest. The others are misogynistic ass wipes.
"So let me get this straight" Cin'aed states, "You are willing to destroy the armor shop and burn down the guild hall all to get me fired ?"
Grater states, "We would not burn down the Guild, only get rid of you from our hall."
Cin'aed shakes her head, "The two buildings are connected honey. Any fire hot enough to burn down the Stone Smithies would sure enough burn down the guild hall to, as most of it is Wood. Trust me I know fire, I walk through it every day." John adds in a side whisper, "swims In it to."
The Guild master looks ready to start collecting Heads at this point. "You do know this is an act against the guild and worse arson is a criminal offense, as in time in the city dungeon." He not only cancels their guild member ship, he has them stripped of their belongings (to cover the cost of repairs, which thanks to Cin'aed's quick thinking are minimal), then has them handed over to the city guard for arson and attempted murder of a dozen young people who were in the building at the time.
Never occurred to any of these people that the smiths in the section next door could have been killed. They tried to blame Cin'aed for all this but even Master Dwemerlund states the fault is entirely theirs.
{When the rest of the guild learn that all the bad rumors they have heard about Cin'aed were made up by a group that just did not want a woman smith, most of them come around. Still a few hard cases who won't work with a woman smith, but that is there loss.}
After the guards have left with the prisoners Dwemerlund comes back and looks over the items Cin'aed has on display as examples of her work or for sale. He is very impressed with them. "You made all of these yourself, in so short a time to ?" She shrugs, "Well I have a few advantages over most smiths." she puts her hand in the unlit forge and wills it back to life after the explosive powders have been removed, "John was not kidding when he said I sometimes swim in fire. I can control heat make things hotter or colder as I want. I can melt steel or freeze the air solid if I choose. Took me Years to learn to control it and I did so by studying smithing in all its many and varied forms." The dwarf nods, "There is a legendary dwarven smith with such a power over fire. He could not do cold so well, but according to legend he made some of the best weapons and armors of his age. Nice to know there may be some truth to legends like that. Even if it did end up in an elf this time." he says with a grin.
Cin'aed smiles, "Half Elf if you please. Not sure what the other half is though, part of me would love to know just to know, you know." The dwarf nods, "Well I am impressed with your work and if you are of a mind I would not mind working with you sometimes. Or maybe I can send over people if I have too much work. I do get allot." She nods, "I would be happy to help. I love this work, it makes me happy." DEEP voice behind the dwarf, "And when she is happy she sings and when she sings people come around to listen and we sell tickets and vendors come and sell snacks."
The master Armorer slowly nods, "Ah that explains the crowds I see up this way now." Cin'aed puts her hands on her hips, "And you did not think to tell me this ? Or cut me in on the profits ?" The boys quickly pull out a large purse, "We came to give this to you. Please don't beat us." the ask very quickly.
The way they are acting has Dwemerlund looking surprised, "She can beat you ?"
"She is teaching us to fight better. But yeah, first time we went against her she took us down so fast we don't remember hitting the floor. Just waking up there. And that is without using her powers, just her fist and kicking. She is tough." they nod. They have nothing but the highest respect for her, tempered with a healthy amount of fear. The fact that she calls them her friends also adds to it and makes them feel special as she is picky about whom she calls friend. She hefts the purse and smiles at them. "Good, ok no beating today, but you do get an extra rounds with the barrels. Now Move." They 'aw' but jog to the back. She turns to Dwemerlund, "Endurance training. Have to hold two barrels full of water straight out from their sides till I tell them to put them down. Usually an hour or two. It also builds strength in the shoulders." He nods and then shakes his head. Impressed despite himself. Master Armorers are rare, warriors who do armory not so much, but ones that can take out 2 giants, even small ones, then turn around and not only befriend them but teach them to be better warriors, rarer still. He may have to send his sons over to study under her for a time, if they can come to an agreement on it. Always good to have other techniques to call on.
He follows her to a side yard where the twins are getting their barrels and finds a dozen other students practicing various things. From sparring to just sitting with their eyes closed.
"Meditation, helps center the mind and works on concentration." she explains to his questioning look. "I have gotten more people interested in my combat training than with my armor repair service. That may change now that people will learn about the lies that were being circulated. Oh well, less time to make new toys." He watches as a slender girl child, wielding 2 strange single edged swords, slice a 2ft thick tree trunk in to pieces then those pieces in to pieces, all while blind folded. She pulls up the blind fold, "I made you more fire wood mistress Cin'aed." the girl happily informs her. Cin'aed, smiling, "I see that Gen, now about the swords, how many times have I told you not to barrow from the shop ?" She makes a face and puts the blades back in their sheaths, "5 last count mam. But I was just testing them for you." Cin'aed shakes her head, "I test them, and they are not made to cut wood with and you know it." The girl looks at her hairy toes and nods, "yes miss."
Cin'aed collects the swords and takes them back in to the shop, commenting to Dwemerlund, "The girl is a natural with swords, has some issues with following orders though." he nods, "That is a rare talent in a halfling to." Cin'aed shrugs, "I have seen more than a few rare talents lately. Her parents work here though. Nice folk from what I have seen. Don't know what to do with her though. So she comes here to play and I try to teach her a few things. Like self-control. I think I am failing at that."
He grins, "I have several children and there are times I feel the same way. They eventually get it just takes patents and well patents, lots of it."
"I have to get another log now to. That was there for a completely different reason, but I can't seem to get her to understand that all wood is not destined to become fire wood. It's really hard to find a piece like that to. Perfectly straight and with the right kind of bark. It is for practicing punching. Builds up the resistance in the hands and fist. Punch repeatedly long enough and." she brings her fist around and puts a dent in a granite wall. Dwemerlund looks at that and pales slightly. She is not massively muscular, strong sure, but not 'barbarian' looking. But that punch had a scary amount of force behind it and apparently something she is teaching these people. He ask how much she charges, she tells him Guild Member amount and non-guild cost. He nods and works out what it would run to send his two children who are interested in becoming warriors to her school. He thinks he can swing it.
She looks at him, "I am willing to work with you on finance if it's for your kin. I also have a few who help around the forge to help pay the fees." he nods, "My kin would hate that I am sure, but probably better to have them work for some of it than just picking a weapon and running off and getting killed."
She nods.
Professionally this is her life for the next few years. Armorer, sometimes entertainer (her concerts make her more famous than anything else locally and bring in a healthy sum of money to) and martial arts trainer with Aysun acting as a co-teacher as she is very skilled in Karate and Ninjitsu (she refuses to admit it's called that though).