”I’ll be fine.”She signed. At Aodh’s words she nodded angrily. “I’m not supposed to hate the Galdor but I do. My Master was a kind one so I suppose there are others...but they all think they’re better, think they own us...” at that she stopped. And it occurred to her, the way many bad thoughts occurred to her, that she really didn’t know these people and spies were most certainly a real thing. If they were spies she certainly had a good reason for lashing out. The red handprint already growing flush on her face. She pushed the thoughts that these kind strangers might be out to get her far away and sighed trying to smile. “Give me a moment.”
She took the bag of rolls from Ava and disappeared inside the workshop. She carefully locked the jewels and the coin in her small floor safe, covering it with a rug. She then took stock of her workshop, like anyone who had unexpected guests and kicked a dirty dress under her cot, laid the blankets over the cot as though she made her bed every morning. The cot was among the benches, not even enough room for a proper bed space and the foot of the cot went under one of the benches.
The forge itself, along with an anvil, a grindstone, and a couple of tables were all outdoors covered only by an awning to block out the sun. “This is...for all intents and purposes...my forge.”She signed to Ava and Aodh.
“I make weapons, horseshoes, signage, and all sorts of things but what people love most, at least the Galdor, is my jewelry. All of it is made of the finest golds and silvers as well as some more unique metals for those who can pay.” She blushed and grinned, realizing she was pitching.
“Sorry I know it’s all a bit boring. Please come in.” The workshop was big enough for the tables the surrounded the walls and in the middle for one person to move between them but lengthwise there was enough room for Cat to put out the two wooden folding chairs and to sit in the cot across from them. And she started laughing. It wasn’t a silent laugh either and sounded a bit as though someone were choking her while she laughed. No doubt getting some strange looks from her company.
“I’m sorry,” she signed as she wiped tears away, “It’s just I haven’t had this much excitement in one day in a very long time. Not even the day that woman threatened to kill me with the sword I made her. How often do you haggle for a ten carat diamond, destroy the merchant in the process, make a friend, get slapped in the clocking face in front of those new friends and get left to be watched by the Seventen!? Not often that’s what. At least that jewel merchant probably won’t try anything.”
She got up and worked her way around Ava’s chair to pull a sword off the table. She placed it in Ava’s hands so that she could sign.
The blade was a fine long sword with an edge sharp enough that if you sliced your arm off you wouldn’t know until you saw the blood.
The hilt was gold plated and had indents for where the rubies would line the top on each side and the pommel had a large indent where she would put the diamond.
It was well weighted and one could fight with it if one wished but it was meant as a ceremonial sword and would likely only be used as such.
“This is what I’m making for that woman. And it’s the finest thing I’ve probably ever made and she’ll likely kill me with it because it suits her. So if you don’t get your shears...” she laughed again, as though it were all a big joke.
“But if all goes well, and I’m paid what I’m owed, I’ll definitely be coming by your shop for some finer fabrics.” At that she grinned and turned to Aodh, making eye contact with him before signing slowly, “Thank you both, for staying silent. I wager none of us could afford the trouble.”