I get to have the tasty fresh bread with butter and jam I crave ever since Zofia passed by me with Elzbieta's breakfast and it tastes about as heavenly as I expected it would. Oh my, what a wonderful start for the day!

Now I really need to get back on track though. I slap my cheeks lightly and rube them for emphasis once I leave the inn, to help me focus as I walk back home.

The shiny pebbles and the ancient shields. That is the project I should focus on first. Not because it is my most urgent project, but because it is easily taken care off, at least for the time being. I only need to take one of the shields and some of my pebbles to the smithy to talk with Nawoja and Olgierd after all. Afterwards I can focus on something else until they get back to me.

Yes, all things considered, that is an easy decision. With a little extra spring to my steps I return home and grab the things I already had with me when events took an unexpected turn last night. With those I return down to the smithy at the village square.

I'm in luck too. Even before reaching the smithy I can already hear that our local blacksmith and general crafter couple is already back from their morning meal at the inn. Judging by the sound of hammers on hot steel, they are quite busy as well.

I step aside once I'm inside, only waving in greeting briefly, to wait until either of the two has time for me and my project. Thankfully I don't have to wait long. This time around it's Nawoja who addresses me. She is already eyeing the things I brought, curiosity clear in her eyes, well before she actually reaches me.

“What can we do for you today, Valeria?”

I hand her the polished up, ancient shield I brought.

“I couldn't help but notice that these have been fashioned in such a way that a gem could be socketed in the center at the front. I was wondering if you could possibly polish up one of these shiny pebbles I gathered the other day so it can be put in the socket.”

She raises an eyebrow and gets a better look at both the shield and the pebbles.

“In the end she nods, although she is a little reluctant. You realize that you'll need actual gems, properly cut and all, if you want to go for an additional effect. Something that is on the same level as your enchantments.”

I flash her a smile as I now nod in turn.

“Yes. I'm aware. That will be a project for another day though. These pebbles should be milky quartz, once you polish them. Nothing special, but they should go nicely with an enchantment I have in mind. They'll do for now.”

Understanding dawns upon her as I speak. She sounds a little excited, as she speaks up again.

“Will it be a light enchantment? Something like the staff you made for Danuta? A milky quartz will not make for a very good lens though.”

She is almost spot on, but not quite.

“A little like the staff, but yet not quite like it. I want the pebbles on the shield to emit a soft glow instead of tightly focused light when a command word is spoken. That way it should be able to substitute for a torch or lantern.”

Now she nods in understanding.

“I see. Very convenient for warriors who don't have a hand free. Well, yes. I think we should be able to do this. It might take a while though. Polishing these pebbles especially. That is slow tedious work. And we can't really judge their quality either until we are almost done with them either. But if that isn't too much of a problem with you, we'll get it done.”

She scrunches up her face briefly.

“Three or four days unless you are in a hurry. We are quite busy right now as you can see. One silver Crown to be paid when you come to get the finished product.”

Those are not questions. Those are statements that leave little room for any haggling. Not that I really want to haggle right now. Thus I just shake her extended hand to seal the deal. I'm not off right away though. Instead I gesture in the direction of the metal they steel she is currently working with her husband.

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“What are you busy with? If you don't mind me asking?”

She laughs, as she rejoins her husband at the anvil.

“It's no secret. Tamara commissioned new armor, solid breastplates, both for herself and Odolan.”

She flashes me a grin as she picks her hammer back up.

“Wouldn't be too surprised if they ask you to enchant it too. I would in her place anyway.”

She might just be right. The youngsters should be able to afford at least some basic enchantments for their new gear even after commissioning custom armor for two of them. A basic self repair enchantment maybe? Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough. With one last cheerful wave I'm off again.

Before returning home I drop by the inn once more to put up the mana mill quest again. I wonder if anyone will take it. If so, it probably won't be long. If not, well, I'm not hurting for enchanting dust right now anyway.

Humming to myself I eventually return home and open the shop. I prepare to do some alchemy too after updating my ledger. I better make sure some fresh healing potions are on the shelves. Some more mana and stamina potions probably won't hurt either, but those can still wait a little longer. One thing after the other. There is no need to rush. I just have to make sure not to miss my lunch break.

Some purple mountain flowers, fresh wild rose petals and a little Bitterleaf together with a few dried Juniper Berries make for a pretty potent healing potion. It turns out good. Strong but not too strong.

I'm stoppering a half dozen potion bottles filled with the brew when some knocks on the door leading to the shop out front. I barely glance over to see who it is, while I finish what I'm currently doing.

“Odolan! What a surprise. What can I do for you?”

He holds up the papers for the mana mill quest.

“I'm here about the quest. Oh! And I brought some potion bottles too! I have them out here on the counter. You still take those, right?”

Now that is a very welcome surprise.

“Oh! Good! I wish more people would return those potion bottles. I'm running a little low. Just let me finish up here real quick, then I'll be with you right away.”

He doesn't have to wait long, but thankfully he waits patiently.

I take care of the potion bottles he brought first. They are once again in good condition and nicely cleaned too, as I have already come to expect of this group. It's just a handful of bottles, but they'll go a long way to help me out restocking the shelves.

I hand him the five bronze Crowns he is due for the bottles and enter the transaction into the ledger as well while I'm at it. Once that is taken care off, I set him up with the mana mill on the bench out front, where he'll be able to catch a little sun while he is busy. There is one thought I just can't shake though. I just can't help it. I have to ask.

“Not that I don't appreciate you dropping by, Odolan, but I have to admit, that I expected Szmuel instead. Is something up with him?”

He laughs out loud as he begins to work the mill.

“You could say that. You know we found another magic item, a pair of bracers.”

My brows furrow. I can't remember seeing any bracers in the pile of things they left me to appraise. My confusion has to be pretty apparent, as he hurries to explain.

“We took those directly to Wislawa. They looked rather ominous. A black glow of sorts. Or rather, no, I wouldn't call it a glow at all. It's more like they seem to drink up all light. We suspected that they might be cursed, so we went straight to the priestess to have them checked out.”

I nod. That is the sensible course of action after all, since what little I have heard about those bracers now makes them sound ominous indeed.

“I take it that everything worked out in your favor. Or rather in Szmuel's?”

He flashes me a smile as he nods.

“Indeed! It turns out that the bracers improve his ability to hide in shadows. He can even jump from shadow to another nearby. He is still busy practicing these shadow jumps as far as I know.”

I nod once more and whistle.

“I already knew your last trip payed off, but it seems to go well beyond what I initially expected. You really found quite a few impressive things.”

It's the honest truth. It sounds like those bracers would be worth another fortune on top of what I appraised for them. And they are even more lucky to have found something that complements their groups abilities so well.