It was as hot as a dragon's breath inside the forge. The safe-haven smelled of burnt pine, iron, and old stone. It crackled with dying embers, adding to the sounds of three pairs of feet.
Despite the shielding spells, the two children were able to burst into the workshop.
"Lucio! Luci!"
Despite the warnings, the children proceeded to ignore her as she chased them around the forge tables and weapon stands. And regardless of her efforts, the twins had long forgotten how to fear her. She sighed, paused mid-step, in a single bound, grabbed and swung them off their feet.
"Lucio. Luci. That's enough," Zara scolded in an attempt to sound harsh. They only looked up at her, with their grey eyes and olive faces. The twins blinked, like the cats that frequently visited her. Cat eyes, as she called them. Their worst weapon. Worse than puppy eyes.
Won over, she set them back down instead of dragging them into their room for a scolding. Instead, she gave them a pat...and a gentle push out the door. And handed them a few trinkets to keep them busy.
That ought to do it. Back to work. Zara proceeded to lift a screwdriver towards a screw between her fingers-
"Durza!"
-And gouged her pinkie instead.
For a moment, Zara remembered that shades had a delayed reaction to pain. However, they did not have delayed reactions to being startled, angered, and remembering much-hated people.
As such, only three words of the first words that came out of her mouth could describe the person just outside the door.
Three words not appropriate for children's ears.
Like clockwork, Zara dropped the screw, raced across the room, and ripped open the door.
And right out the door, was Durza, bribing the now-startled children with candy.