Hatot gave a slow nod, looking over Kavala for a moment. He himself thought her appearance fine in the long run, but he sensed it was one of those moments he should just nod.
“Of course, make whatever preparations you desire Kavala.” Hatot said giving her a soft smile.
Hatot waited patiently then, his gaze staring over the beach not far off. His mind was in constant thought, wondering what he would manage as far as Kavala’s bracelet was concerned. His hand slowly moved up as he began to give soft tugs to facial hair along his chin as he often did when he was in a deep form of thought. The only thing that broke his concentration was Kavala’s voice. He soon turned around and found his breath stolen a little.
“No apology necessary.” Hatot said, taking a deep breath.
“You look beautiful.”As they began to walk towards town, Hatot slowly slid his thumb along Kavala’s hand. His arm eventually slinked around her waist, resting his hand along her hip as he pulled her a little closer to him. As she posed her question, Hatot gave a slow tilt of his head.
“Many of them are scattered around Riverfall. We’ll be visiting my Grandfather’s home though. He has a small place in the second tier of the city, not far off from the Karma Bliss Spa.” Hatot explained as he turned his head for a moment smelling Kavala’s hair.
“Chances are he will want something extravagant. Hopefully he hasn’t had time to prepare something large.”There first trip was too the Oathmaster’s tower, however. As Hatot walked in with Kavala he was soon greeted by Tuvos. The two of them began speaking in Tukant as Hatot did much of the listen for the better part, taking in everything that was explained to him by the older Akalak. With Kavala’s knowledge so far in the language, she was able to pick up bits and pieces, but she was able to tell that they were speaking of the contract. Eventually some papers were laid out in front of him and a quill handed over. Hatot carefully read over the documents, asking any questions he may have come across before he dipped the quill into the inkwell and signed where was needed.
Soon, Hatot reached out to Kavala’s hand, grasping it gently as Tuvos eventually lead them upwards as several stairs were climbed before stepping out onto the gazebo style roof. Hatot took a slow look around before Tuvos stepped forward, now speaking in common.
“Everything you will need, young Hatot, is up here. Have you any experience with metalworking?” Tuvos then asked.
“Apart from forging my Lakan, no.” Hatot confessed as he began looking over the tools, seeing a very different set than what he had seen at the smithy.
“While a part of you shall go into this young Hatot, metalworking is not the same as forging a weapon.” Tuvos then said.
“I have gathered as much.” Hatot replied, stepping forward, looking over the tools and supplies.
“Well then, look over the supplies we have and then and we‘ll begin soon enough. I will be there to guide you through it.” Tuvos then said.
“Have you a design in mind?”“Thank you, and I have a fair idea.” Hatot said as he slowly began looking over the whole of the supplies. Some of them had some designs and molds already preset.
“Then take your time, and when you are ready. We shall begin.” Tuvos then said, stepping back and falling silent.
Hatot stood there then, for a long moment, looking over the molds, the gold ignots, the various crystals that were laid out, many of them of different colors and sizes. He looked over them for almost five chimes, and his thought soon crossed his mind that he could do so all day and not come up with much. Eventually, Hatot’s gaze fell upon Kavala. For a very long moment, he gazed over her frame. The way she was dressed, the way her hair was braided, the color of her eyes. The curves of her frame and the subtle way her lips seemed to flow like water. Eventually, a smile formed over his mouth.
“Thank you.” Hatot simply said as he then looked to Tuvos.
“I am ready.”“Then let us begin.” Tuvos said as he stepped forward, soon sitting Hatot at the starting bench. He soon laid a set of cutters, files and a ring of solid wax in front of Hatot. The inner hole of the ring already looked as though it was the right size for Kavala’s wrist itself. This likely held no surprise for Kavala herself, considering Tuvos fitted Kavala’s first bracelet.
“Begin by the shaping. Cut and file the wax down. This will be the most time consuming part of the process of itself. When you are done, we will set the mold then. If you mess up along the way, another wax ring can be provided, but take your time. Put as much of you into this as you did your lakan.”Hatot gave a nod and slowly began by picking up the cutting tool first. His frame soon hunched over the bench, his gaze and face brought close to the wax ring. He began cutting through the wax slowly as he fell completely silent. It would likely occur to Kavala at that point, as she observed, that Hatot and Radris held lengthy conversations in their mind as he worked. It soon enough within the first half of a bell took it’s basic shape as small curves moved nearly around the entire ring itself. Eventually, Hatot set down the cutting tools and picked up the small files. Tuvos soon leaned over his shoulder, explaining the necessities of the strokes he took with the files. In this process, it wasn’t a back and forth motion, but either one stroke forward, or one stroke back. It wasn’t about shaving off layers of the wax, but rather shaping. Hatot’s head tilted up for each of the instructions as he took soft, slow strokes with the file, trying to add as little pressure as possible. This was the long part of the process, Hatot discovered, as each stroke seemed to shave of little bit of wax as flakes fell off along the table. Occasionally, Tuvos swept these flakes and the chunks cut away into small pale to be melted down and formed into a new wax ring later on.
More and more, the ring of wax took shape, as further designs were formed within the bracelet itself. Hatot soon found himself actually enjoying the process itself. It was vastly different than forging weapons. Less physical, almost relaxing in the practice. The only discomfort Hatot found was simple aches in his wrist from the repetitive motions made with both the cutting tools and files. In the end though, it was hardly noticed, and before Hatot realized, close to another two bells had passed out before he set the wax ring done, giving a slow exhale. Another long last look was given, as his hands rested along the surface of the workbench. After another moment passed, Hatot gave a slow nod.
“Okay.” Hatot finally said with a soft exhale.
“Finished shaping it then?” Tuvos then asked.
Hatot gave a slow nod in reply before his head slowly backed his frame up for a moment as Tuvos set a small brass bowl which had a large flame dancing within it.
“Then we shall smooth it out. Simply take your work and pass it through the flame.” Tuvos then instructed.
“Don’t do so quickly, but at the same time, do not hold it in there to the point where it will begins to drip of become malleable. You simply want to smooth it out. If you damage it at this point, you will have to start over at square one.”Hatot gave a slow nod, picking up the shaped wax as he took a deep breath. Finally, after another moment, he began moving it back and forth through the flames of the fire. Every couple of passes he looked it over, checking for grooves or nicks still left behind by the filing or cutting process. When he was finally satisfied, he looked over to Tuvos, giving a nod.
“It’s ready.” Hatot then said.
Tuvos then gave a nod as he guided Hatot over to the molds at that point. Opening up one of them, he had Hatot place the wax form inside of the mold before it was closed. Tuvos then slowly poured a white pasty substance into the mold. It was soon carried over to the forge as a pair of tongs was used to place the mold inside.
“About a quarter of a bell should be all that should be needed for it to set. The plaster itself will harden, and while the wax you formed inside will burn away, its shape will remain in the mold itself, ready for the gold to be poured in.” Tuvos explained as he soon stepped away to prepare the next part.
Hatot slowly walked over to Kavala at that point, slowly reaching out with his hands, holding her own.
“The difficult part now done.” Hatot then said, his thumb slowly reaching up and lightly stroking the silver bracelet.
“I am hoping you’ll like what I am able to create. You were the inspiration which guided my hand in such.”“Just a little while longer then.” Hatot then said, slowly wrapping his arms around Kavala then. The time seemed to pass as quickly in Kavala’s arms as it did while working along the bench. Before long, Tuvos soon cleared his throat.
Hatot backed away from his embrace, raising Kavala’s hands as he gave a kiss to them both. Hatot then walked back over the forge as Tuvos pulled out the mold from the forge. He eventually placed a gold ignot into a cast iron pot, slipping it into the forge in the molds place. Tuvos walked back over to the mold, opening the two metal castings after it had cooled for a moment. A simple square white block stood in the place of the what was once the wax ring Hatot had shaped. A small opening stood at the top as Hatot leaned over the table looking down into it. Eventually, at Tuvos’ instructions, Hatot pulled the pot from the forge using the tongs.
“Now slowly pour the smelted gold into the mold Hatot,” Tuvos instructed as he stood beside Hatot,
“not to fast that you waste the gold, but not to slow that the gold will harden before you’ve finished pouring.”Hatot slowly began tipping the small pot, the melted golden metal pouring over the top of the mold, small drops of gold poured off to the side, rolling along the side of the old. For the most part, however, Hatot managed to pour the metal within, spilling only a small amount of gold. When he had finally finished, Tulos then waited for a long moment before he began to slowly chip away at the mold, breaking it away from the cooling gold inside. Both of them then leaned forward, looking over what was inside. Soon both of them hunched over the bench, obscuring Kavala’s view. While Tuvos did no work himself, he was constantly hovering over Hatot, observing his work and uttering suggestions to him. Hatot was constantly reaching over, grabbing various tools. Some fine files, rubbing compounds and polish. Every now and then Kavala caught Hatot then reaching for some of the crystals that were provided, as well as small gold plating as Hatot cautiously worked to smooth and polish the gold. As well, several crystals were fixed to the bracelet’s surface.
Eventually, after another full bell, all motion stopped as Hatot finally leaned forward, lowering his head. Small whispers were echoed from his lips, the words only able to reach Kavala’s ears in incoherent murmurs. Tuvos finally stood up strait, his hands cupping behind his back. He soon turned, stepping over to Kavala as his face remained emotionless. He looked into her eyes for a long moment in silence before his hand slowly reached out, remaining held open before Kavala.
“Your wrist, if you please Kavala?” Tuvos requested.
When Kavala complied, Tuvos then reached over the silver bracelet then with his other hand, covering it up.
“Our works here today are concluded.” Tuvos then said before his hands were then removed from her wrist, the silver bracelet now removed and bare.
“You will receive a bill for the materials used before your departure Hatot.”Tuvos then stepped around Kavala, stepping down the stairs and leaving the two of them alone. Hatot then slowly stood up as he began stepping over to Kavala. A small amount of sweat had formed over his brow as he kept his hands closed over the bracelet itself.
“I am almost nervous to show it to you, considering it is my first works.” Hatot then said, stopping just before Kavala.
“Had Tuvos not been here, it likely would have just turned out to be a misshapen hunk of gold metal around your wrist with my blind attempts alone.”“Kavala, would you please offer me your wrist?” Hatot then requested, allowing her as much time as she wished to do so, knowing that the feeling of not having a bracelet along her wrist may have been something she wanted to hold on to a little longer.
When she finally did offer her wrist to Hatot, Hatot’s hands slipped around the narrow wrist and she could feel the gold beginning to brush along her flesh.
“Whether this is a reflection on me or not, I do hope it is to your liking. I am just sorry I could not give it to you sooner.” Hatot then said as he finally removed his hands, revealing the final work.
Radris then slowly stepped forward towards the gates of the house, gates that were tall and thick with bars of iron, yet elegantly decorated at its center with an insignia bearing many different types of metal and paints. Before Radris could come within fifteen yards of the gates, however, the large shadow of a male figure appeared along the ledge of the wall just off to the right before leaping through the air, a large sledge hammer held in both hands and drawn back. He yelled ferociously as he fell through the air, swinging it downward at Radris himself. Radris quickly stepped to the right at the hammer slammed along the ground, crusshing one of the paved stones it impacted with. The Akalak was large, taller than Radris was, and more heavily muscled, his bare arms littered with scars from years of battle. A thick beard covered his face and long black hair reached down to the mid of his back with streaks of grey. The large Akalak, Kavala could only surmise, was Hatot and Radris’ grandfather. And his usual greeting, was odd to say the least. Just as quickly as it had began, it had ended however as the old Akalak known as Johnyat picked up the cumbersome weapon for another swing and found Radris already inside his defenses, extended fingers aimed at his throat. 
As they stepped forward, Radris slowly fell silent, an almost somber look crossing his features as the first of the Akalak stepped forward. A tall Akalak, his face almost resembling a Radris’ a little as eyes looked dead into Radris’ own, a emotionless expression on his face. He stopped in front of Radris then, still peering into his eyes as the two of them remained silent. Finally, after close to chime, the Akalak extended his hand, grasping Radris’ own after Radris offered it in return.