Open [Sultros Blades] Ghosts in the Night

[Hadyn Skellig]

33rd of Spring, 509
21st Bell

It was raining something fierce. The other smiths had left two bells ago but the lanterns burned on in the smithy. The darkness was pitch and absolute in the far corners of the shoppe, shadows playing merrily across the stone. Though it was well past closing, the sconce beside the entrance held a lively candle, inviting the curious in. Aside from that light, a lantern above the counter burned solemnly. Time wandered on, inching by as the lone blacksmith continued her work.

The sound of a scribbling pen was barely audible over the din of the storm beyond, scratching more akin to a mouse than a furiously writing quill. The woman's head was bent, the unreliable light glinting unabashed against the rich brown of her hair. A hand held her chin, poised on the elbow resting on the white marble counter top. Her eyes were focused on the parchment before her, each passing moment seeing another line of ink drying in the cool air. One foot rested on the rung of the stool beside her, the other planted firmly on the ground as she bent slightly over her work.

She couldn't recall the bell she'd arrived at work that morning, as the days seemed to blend together lately. Commissions were coming in with astonishing speed this season, keeping herself and the other smiths consistently busy. They'd taken turns working late to make sure all ledgers and documents were up to date. As much as Hadyn loved her craft these late nights were to be the death of her.

Pausing for a chime to stretch her aching fingers the woman closed her eyes, straining her ears to hear the rain. The flickering overhead illuminated her, bathing the cream tunic in wavering light and softening the planes of her angular face. Picking the quill up once more, Hadyn set her jaw in grim determination to finish her task. So engaged in the process she scarce heard the door on its muffled hinges creak open

[Alanzeo Shepart]

Alanzeo floated in and immediately all the lanterns went out. He stood behind her, yet didn't show himself. He began looking at all her work. It would be a shame if it went up in flames. He noticed one candle at the door that hadn't went out. He extended his soulmist to it and brought it over before hurling it towards the blacksmith.