Completed [Sultros Blades] Gilded {Eanos}

[Hadyn Skellig]

Dark eyebrows rose in mild surprise when his question reached her. The Isur never said anything for the sake of saying it or to make others feel good. If he said it he meant it. Shifting in her seat to face him while he held the hilt to the flame the woman studied him. Personal matters were the last thing Eanos concerned himself with, much less inquired about. It was by his example that the brunette functioned in the smithy, uninterested in indulging in gossip or other useless banter with customers and coworkers alike. She aspired to have the dedication and precision of Sultros Blades' master and molded her behavior in his image. To hear him stray from protocol was unexpected. And appreciated. His concern into her life beyond the shop warmed her more than she would've guessed.

"I'll manage well enough, thank you," Hadyn replied with a small smile. It wasn't entirely untrue. Financially she wasn't in dire straits and as they'd so recently come to a decision about her work, she was alright in that regard. In all other respects she was flailing though she'd never admit it. "You are very kind to ask."

Her tone and smile imparted the candor of her words. While they shared an excellent working relationship neither broached anything beyond what was acceptable in the smithy. Unlike her other coworkers she'd never gone out to the tavern with the Isur or gotten to know him in a non-professional manner. It was pleasing to know he was concerned with her well being outside of what she could do for his shop. In a time of emotional turmoil she was heartened to know Eanos was supportive both in and out of Sultros Blades.

"I'm indebted to your consideration," she stated at length, resting a hand on her belly as she watched him. "I don't think I need much of anythin' right now. But... I'm told I'll be holed up immediately before and directly following the birth. I've no doubt I'll be wantin' of a friendly face. If you aren't so busy, I'd be happy for a visit."

Hadyn was careful in the way she phrased the offer. If he were so inclined she would welcome him, especially if she was to be as isolated as other women warned her after the birth. The thought of being on bed-rest and inactive was met with annoyance and apprehension. Hadyn didn't do well with idle time. Of course she would have a child to tend to. But being unable to go to the smithy and unable to work would put her in a depressed mood. The more she thought on it the more she hoped her friends would call in on her.

"I'll surely miss workin' all bells of the day," she mused with a smile.

[Eanos]

Eanos kept an eye on the heating metal as it was now just reaching the critical point and so he turned it carefully, the heat of the forge warm upon his face as he bent to see closer. It also allowed him to hid the small smile which matched that upon Hadyns face. It was a rare thing indeed for him to enquire about the private lives of his staff, indeed it almost never happened; though for her he would make some small concessions especially since at the moment it seemed likely that her private and working lives would become much more closely entwined.

If others showed the same dedication then they too might achieve the respect of their Master, though he regarded that particular title not especially earned, either in skill or in management, as the previous discussion had highlighted rather well. There were advantages to being Isur in this city of the other races and to an extent he traded off the reputation off that of the Master of the Ironworks with people assuming that both carried a similar degree of skill.

Her offer of a visit was unexpected, but he nodded abstractly as he pulled the hilt from the flames and regarded the work critically, though it was reserved only for his own very minor part. "There, that seems to be that, and it seems to work very well." He carried the hilt back and laid it upon the worktop, knowing better than to simply hand over hot metal into a human hand.

"I'm sure that I can find the time to visit, if you would like that." He gave a small reserve in his answer in case she was merely being polite, "you had better let me know nearer the time if you still feel like company then. He avoided the question as to where the father might be as that would come if she willed it, and it did indeed fall well into the arena of gossip that he had little interest in.

He grinned, the expression unlike him except when he was talking about work, "but if you really miss the work I'm sure I can find something for you to be doing when you are bored at home."

[Hadyn Skellig]

Craning her head to look over her shoulder at him the woman smiled as Eanos regarded the hilt, checking it for imperfections. When he joined her, laying the hot weapon on the worktable the brunette nodded appreciatively, eyes finding his face as he spoke.

"I 'magine I'll be payin' folks to come see me," she replied wryly, sharing his grin. It was good to see him in a pleasant mood, their lives often only crossing when they were both too busy to bother with more than a polite smile. Readjusting her figure against the chair she linked her hands below her growing belly, regarding him as he offered to give her work while she was on bed rest.

"I should like that," Hadyn agreed with another smile. "I was never one for needle point or knitting so I'd appreciate somethin' to wile the bells away with. Thank you."

She knew he'd be good on his word. Eanos had a lot on his plate presently and she was more than happy to do what she could to help - especially if it served to keep her occupied during her days of confinement. It was no small feat that Sultros Blades churned out some of the best weapons in the region, owing almost entirely to the Isur before her. For his sake Hadyn hoped he would journey to his homeland- if only because he deserved it. There was no need to remind him she'd keep things running in his stead but now that it was on her mind she did cast him a sidelong curious glance.

"I hope y'don't put your trip to Sultros off too long."

[Eanos]

Ah Sultros! Now there it was once more and still his thoughts ran both ways on the subject. He nodded in answer to her and yet did not reply at first, returning to the forge and idly rearranged the coals with his fingers, patting them softly into place.

"I have given it much thought, to go back and see how the place is faring, but it is a long journey to go there and back, with some inhospitable mountains to cross. Yet, the more I consider the notion, attractive as it is there is something that holds me back."

He wasn't usually this frank with anyone and certainly he'd revealed more in the last moments about the truth of his thoughts than he had to anyone since he had arrived in the city. He took up a red hot coal in his left hand and slowly crushed it in his fingers, the sparks flashing white and then went dark as they cascaded down to the forge below them. He brushed his hands together and turned back to her.

"To tell truth, I didn't come to Syrilas to bring Isurian steel here. I came here to learn what wasn't being taught in Sultros, to seek out the knowledge that Eyris has left scattered here." It was rare indeed for the name of another deity to cross his lips. One day he'd like to see that library of hers that they kept in Kalea if they would allow him in, but he didn't like what he'd heard of the entry requirements for his purposes were what came first to him. "I still have some curiosity about things here to satisfy before I make the trip back, and in particular I wish to work with Ros and the alloys in his mine. I see no point in spending most of a year travelling if we have something interesting right under our noses."

He spoke the truth, though it wasn't entirely the whole truth for he reserved some thoughts of his own about why he might delay returning to Sultros, and those matters were almost entirely Isurian in nature and not for idle gossip with other races no matter how much he might favour them.

[Hadyn Skellig]

Hadyn nodded as he spoke, ignoring the overwhelming desire to rest her head on the table. It irritated her how quickly she fatigued and struggled to maintain some semblance of control over her body. He was divulging something seemed quite personal and the woman listened attentively. It didn't shock her his motive for setting up in Syliras wasn't entirely based on bringing the steel. Brushing a loose strand behind her ear the weaponsmith smiled carefully when he mentioned Ros.

"Indeed," she replied when he fell silent. "Well I for one am pleased you're stayin' a bit longer."

Hadyn flashed white teeth before yawning, covering her mouth with the back of one hand. Grinning sheepishly at the Isur the brunette ran a hand over her growing belly with a glance to the forge behind him. It was a rare thing for them to converse this long and rarer still the topics should vary so much. But it was a welcome reprieve from the solitude of her work.

"Forgive me," she murmured, hiding a smaller yawn with the crook of her arm. "Can't carry on like I used to."

There was a note of regret in her voice but she smiled at Eanos all the same.

[Eanos]

It seemed to him that she was tired and that brought back a vague memory from when he was younger that this was normal with pregnancy so he took no offence at it and instead added it to the stock of information about it and about what was likely to be expected in the future.

He smiled at her. ”A wise smith knows how to pace himself, herself,” he corrected himself with a shrug. ”As I’ve said, you are an excellent smith and there will always be a place for you here. If there is a short time when you need to take things more easily then we simply need to make sure that your workload is appropriate.”

He watched her for a moment longer, wondering what might be going on in her mind, a question doubly difficult given that she was both human and female, neither of which did he understand. Realising that there was little chance of understanding he decided instead to allow her to make her own decisions.

”If you need to rest then do so and don’t worry about what I might be thinking of it. I trust your judgement on this and that is all that there is to it.” He moved back to his workbench and took a seat, prepared to go back to his notes if she now wished to rest, or to continue to talk if that was her wish.

[Hadyn Skellig]

"You are correct," she conceded with a slow nod. "I suppose I ought to take a leave and rest for a spell."

It was an annoyance to admit but he was right - it was foolish to carry on when her body was requiring a break. Downcast eyes stared at the fruits of her labor, inspecting each item for any imperfections she might use as an excuse to stay. Raising her gaze to Eanos the woman smiled warmly.

"You have always been good to me," she murmured more to herself than him as she carefully removed herself from the stool. Gripping the edge of the table she maneuvered her belly around the furniture before standing. Releasing a sigh as she ran a hand over her pregnancy the woman ignored the embarrassed red that ran up her neck. She didn't like appearing so fragile before anyone - let alone her employer.

"I'm thankful for your understandin'," Hadyn added with a cant of her head. She began tidying her station as she spoke. "It'll make all this," she indicated with a wave of her hand to her belly "far more bearable."

Once her space was appropriately organized and the pieces she'd been working on stowed for later Hadyn pushed her stool under the chair. Moving her way through the forge the brunette paused as she collected her bag and jacket, glancing over her shoulder at Eanos.

"I'll be half a bell. Just need to take a short walk. Y'need anythin' while I'm out?"

[Eanos]

He watched her as she appeared to consider the options and apparently come to some form of conclusion regarding it. He had no idea if he had said the right thing or not, the mysteries of the female were ones which he had never attempted to plumb. Of course to be factored into this was the point that they were not friends but employer and employed, though those terms didn’t really properly fit the situation and would she even tell him if he annoyed her or misspoke? Or would she merely accept an insult regardless of how unintended that it might be on the basis that she needed the money and he was a grumpy Isur with no understanding of humans?

It was no wonder really that Eanos preferred on the whole to concentrate on the rather more predictable realities of steel and similar metals. He was fairly sure that he had made no misjudged comments but how to tell?

”Rest if you wish indeed,” he responded and shook his head to her comment that he had always done well by her. They both knew that it was not the case, for such would have required that he had been an active mentor and with an interest in her welfare. Only now, when she drew his attention to a condition that he ought to have considered long before had he made concessions and those long overdue. Still he accepted the comment in what he hoped was the spirit that it had been intended.

”There is nothing that I need, but thank you.” This did cause him to smile, that she would still think of him enough to ask when he likely would have wandered out the door his mind on something and likely as not having already forgotten that she was still in the room. ”As I say, take the time you need. Steel cools at its own pace, it does it no good to try and force it, so I expect you to do the same. I will not have my best smith warped because she would not take as good care of herself as she takes care of the work that you make.”

[Hadyn Skellig]

"Your wisdom does me well," Hadyn replied with a slight grin, her head bowing respectfully. "Thank you for your patience, your trust an' your ear. I'll be back in a bit."

With that the woman flashed him another smile before shrugging into the jacket. It'd been an interesting discussion and one she would not soon forget. Though they tended to spend seasons passing each other by and barely speaking, when they did - he certainly made up for lost time. She was renewed with confidence and his advice was far more useful than the useless drivel she received from the midwives. Eanos had the wonderful habit of putting all things in the context of smithing, which Hadyn could easily grasp and respond positively to.

Despite his unconventional method the Isur was a far better teacher and comfort than most folk in the walled city.

[Taylani]

XP Award!

Hayden Skellig:

XP Award:

• +5 socialization
• +3 weapon smithing

Lore:

• Eanos: renowned for his blade smithing
• Extra responsibility at the Smithy
• Eanos: Trip to Sultros means even more duties at the Smithy
• Isur: Less to fear from blades then other races.
• Smithing: Only as good as the customers who wield the blades.

Notes: These are comments.




Eanos:

XP Award:

• +5 socialization
• +1 planning
• +3 teaching

Lore:

• Hadyn Skellig: Trusted smith
• Hadyn Skellig: Pregnant
• Plans for a trip to Sultros

Notes: These are comments.

Comments :

I gave quite a few weapon smithing points to Hadyn and teaching points to Eanos because of the indepth conversation about smithing. It was so filled with information that even a competent smith like Hadyn would have learned something from the Master Eanos. Nice little thread. As always feel free to pm me any concerns with the grade. Don’t forget to edit/delete your grade request.

TAYLANI