Chapter 44

"You're the Shield Hero, aren't you?"

I hesitated for a moment, not because I was trying to think up a lie, but because that was pretty close to the last thing I expected to hear.

"Yes, I am." I replied quietly, "But please, don't advertise that fact."

There was a tiny motion under the blanket, and a small frail hand peeked out. Even her hand was covered in carefully wrapped bandages. "May I..."

Fohl, silent until now, recovered from his shock, "Wait... how... but..." I could feel his stare as I took the Book Shield off my hip. "I heard the Shield Hero was a man..."

"So has most of the rest of the world." I replied, putting Atla's hand on the big sturdy cover of the book, then changing it to the nice Hagane Red 'small shield'. "If you've heard anything about the Shield Hero, he's not very popular back in Melromarc. So..."

"But..."

"Hush, silly brother." Atla said quietly, her faint voice making Fohl flinch. "Yes... You are the Shield Hero." A gap in the bandages revealed a small smile as her thin fingers trailed over the Shield, "Brother? Please go bring dinner?"

He looked like he might protest, but I added, "Don't worry about it. You know that nice house behind the big tents? Go there and take my place at the table. They won't mind."

"What about-"

"If I'm going to help her, I need to look at her. I have food for her as well, so don't worry." I said, patting his shoulder as he stood up.

"Do as she says." Atla added, lifting her hand up off the Shield, just long enough for Fohl to capture it for a moment, then let it go again. "I will be fine."

"Try not to keep her awake too long?" He almost pleaded with me, waiting until I nodded before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

"He worries..." Atla sighed, "Help me sit up please?"

"He's your brother." I replied, reverting the Shield to the Book Shield, then putting it back at my hip, the gem turned towards my leg to hide it. Once done, I carefully slid an arm under her back and eased her upright. "Now let's see..." I started to reach for her, but she shook her head.

"Could you... Could you just leave me here and take him with you?" She asked, the little stumble of her words the only clue she was afraid. "I know I can't be cured. And he will never truly live if I am all he cares about."

"Nope." I said simply, looking for an end of the various bandages around... wow, entire body as far as I could see. "I promised I would try. So, I will try."

"But-"

"No." I repeated firmly. "I will not lie and tell him I tried when I didn't. I will not lie and tell him you never wanted to see him again. I also will not shoulder the burden of his resentment for the rest of my stay in your world."

"There is no purpose to his suffering for me!" She gasped, raising her voice just a tiny bit, but the effort costing her.

"For you." I repeated. "Because it is for you. That is his purpose. I can tell with how easily you saw through my disguise, that your eyes see more than a normal person. But what you can't see, is the face your brother makes when he asks people to help you." I lifted her arm carefully, her lack of muscle making it feel like I was moving a wrapped stick. "Aha."

She kept silent as I started unwrapping the bandage. Her skin was cool to the touch, and was so pale it reminded me of Glass, almost see-through. But most of her skin was covered in angry looking sores as well. Carefully, I brushed them with a fingertip, noting that she winced slightly with the contact.

"Huh." I mused, "Lemme just..." I extended my leg over and dragged the simple crate over to me. "So, your eyes and this, from birth?"

She kept silent, her thin lips almost pouting. So, I just kept working. The sores were... bad. They didn't leak anything, but they seemed like a mix of a rash, and a full body sunburn. Of course, I didn't want to actually cut one open, and despite the nearly necrotic look, there was no odour past that of someone who stayed in bed all day. Sweat, a little musty, but nothing 'foul'. But, it was causing her pain, which ruled out my first guess of something like leprosy.

"You are being very selfish you know." I said, cataloguing everything I saw, then finding the next bandage end to start unwrapping. "If you don't let him see his efforts to the end, one way or another... it would be like telling him you aren't thankful for what he's done for you."

Her head turned towards me sharply, but her eyes scrunched up in pain.

"No no. Just relax." I urged, "I can help with everything but a cure... I think... But, while I unwrap you, think on it. It is one thing to try, and fail. But another to try, and be told it doesn't matter. Orphans?" I guessed.

She looked away, but then tilted her head just a little, letting me spot one end of a bandage just behind her shoulder. "Yes..."

"All the more reason to let him care for you." I said, "Now, are you going to let me help and answer my questions? If I knew more, well, maybe I could cure you? Or find someone who knows more than I do."

It was obvious she could see something when her eyes looked in my direction. She sighed, "Very well."

Her and her brother had quite the story. Her 'race' was Hakuko, and legends say they are descendants of a sacred beast, a white tiger. I found this interesting, considering it matched up with a couple of legends from Earth. Next, and I didn't know this, but supposed it made sense, her race was an actual race. Most demi-humans were a mixed breed of some kind. Some more than others. But apparently, Atla and her brother were as close to 'pure bred' as possible in this world.

One of her many symptoms, past the obvious blindness, was the inability to walk. Her mother was also blind, but could walk. This indeed pointed towards a real genetic flaw. But, when I asked if her mother was also a Hakuko, she shook her head, no, and said she was human.

Okay, so some kind of conflict in genetics, that Fohl dodged. Maybe? Only passed on to the daughters?

But I didn't pry further, since Fohl's luck might also have been because of a little... extra-marital activity.

But, Atla's medicine was expensive, and it quickly drained the coffers of their family. Some other family took advantage of that, and... Well, when Fohl became head of his house, he sold everything he could, divided what money he could to the few loyal servants who were left... Then took his sister and ran.

The Ringmaster later accepted him and his sister as slaves, and he entered the arena to pay for medicine and a place to stay.

"You know." I said as I dipped fresh bandages from my Shield's supply in a pot of warm mixed medicine (also from the Shield's supply), "I like your brother."

"Then-"

"Not that much." I cut her off, "I've got a wife and seven children back home." I smiled as she blinked her clouded eyes in confusion. "He dropped everything, and only took what was important with him. Instead of leading a hollow life of comfort without you."

"Now you are rubbing it in..." She turned away slowly, her naked body shivering slightly in the slowly cooling room now that the sun was down.

"Not yet I'm not." I said, taking her hand, and holding one end of the bandage under my thumb against her wrist. "I have a couple alchemy books I can look through, but for now, all I can do is comfort you a little."

She hissed a little as I wrapped up her arm, "This..."

"It's a mix of... how well do you know medicine?" I asked.

"I listen quite well, when my dear brother finds someone to look at me. He's even taught me other languages that he's learned on our travels." She smiled, her blindness in no way reducing the effect when it reached her eyes.

"The bandages are treated with a mix of antiseptic, since you do have a few sores that are open. Some healing agent, for things less serious than cuts, but more serious than minor burns. And most importantly, numbing cream. Raphtalia, you'd like her I think, and I used it while we 'grew up'. For all those growing pains we had. Of all the unique things I've experienced in this world, hearing my own bones growing was far more disturbing than almost everything else."

She giggled, actually laughed! Of course, suffering shared was much like a burden divided.

"Also, since I said I would also feed you..."

"Hmm, this tastes... interesting." Atla commented after finishing a cup of nourishing beverage (fox-berry (ripe) flavour). "Very sweet, but nothing like what mother used to use in her cooking..."

"Well, I'm glad you like it, since you'll be having one with your breakfast and dinner tomorrow at the very least. Also, I am going to prescribe a different position for sleeping, so the sores on your back heal over again. AND!"

I pointed at her nose, but it was less fun to do it to someone who was blind. I'd actually forgotten! "And?" She even had a good 'five degree head tilt'.

"And, I have a mixture of what I used on these bandages, the next time your brother changes them. Just pour into a pot of water, bring to a low boil, about the temperature you would drink tea at, and dip clean bandages into it." I explained.

"They do feel... I..." She sighed, "I don't feel any pain. Almost nothing at all."

"Hopefully, when you do start feeling it again, you'll be able to tune it out a bit more. I know what chronic pain feels like..."

"But... then why did you need to grow... and children?"

It seemed, that now that I wasn't distracting her with conversation and mummifying her again, she was trying to put things together.

"How about this." I took her hand, then started to arrange her body so she was laying on her side, bottom leg straight, upper leg bent. "When I'm not running about like a headless filolial, and I get a chance, maybe when I come back with a better treatment, I'll tell you some stories." I finished by rolling up some of the blankets to prop up her knee. "When your brother gets back, get him to roll you over just like this."

"I do like hearing stories... Would you have time to tell me one? My brother is likely still eating... he doesn't eat enough... Or sleep enough..." She sighed, "Just until I fall asleep?"

Unable to resist the request of comfort from a hurting child, I gave in. I had a world to save, and all kinds of other work to do, and even food of my own to eat... But that could wait. "Then let me tell you of my world, and its first story."

To my surprise, Fohl was waiting just outside of the little dorm, his clear blue eyes staring off into the distance until I took a step past him. Those eyes fixed onto me, "How is she?"

"Sleeping." I said, "She'll have some instructions to tell you when she wakes up, and I left some extra food for the both of you." I waved a hand, "It's medicinal, but will spoil on its own. So both of you should have some."

He settled, nodded, "Can you..."

"Dunno yet. But I know people, and have skill of my own with alchemy and medicine." I gave the Book Shield a pat, "I said I would try. And I'm not one for half measures."

"How much then?" He asked.

"I can't accept payment for no results. But if you wanted maybe learn how to make the medicine I used, I can teach you. I can even give you some plants you can grow on your windowsill." I held up a finger. "Later. I need to sleep. Make sure to brush her hair properly too."

He nodded, bowed, then slowly made his way back inside. It was obvious he had more questions, but he also understood my dismissal.

I suspected Raphtalia had been told about all the missed opportunities to 'big sister' me, because as soon as I'd gotten back, she gave me all of the angry pouts, had her tail all bristly, glared at me, and then eventually just got behind me and pushed me towards the dinner table. So, while I ate, they told me what they thought about Fohl.

And for the most part, it was exactly what I thought of him. Very focused, driven, but polite and disciplined. He even had good table manners.

Once they'd finished telling me, and I'd finished my meal, I told them about my day, and what I planned to do tomorrow. Then Melty hit us all with 'the good news', and I suspected I'd have to change my plans.

"The special sword you made sold. And the one who bought it was," And she put on a fake accent, putting the fingertips of a hand over her heart, "Such eh zow price for a blade as MAGNUFIQUE as this seems ezen more criminahl than ze Vaves zemselves!" Now 'in character' she stood, putting one of her little feet on the edge of the chair for a dramatic pose, "And you zay zis is a lesser work?!"

"And you told him where I was?"

"I did." She nodded, taking her foot off the chair and dutifully dusting it off. "If he didn't visit today, then I suspect tomorrow. Now... I am unsure how, or if, 'high society' exists here. But if he does not come to your workshop tomorrow, it is only because he is showing off the weapon at some kind of event. If that is the case... Well you may have more work than you can handle."

Considering she was forbidden from lying, that little act was likely exactly how she remembered the conversation. "I'll have you know, I can handle a lot of work." I smiled, "But this was what I was aiming for. Influence. Oh, sure, I can make all kinds of shiny things for money. But when a sword like that sells, and he complains about it being 'cheap'... What we want is the influence his coin brings, not what coin he gives us." I felt a little tingle of excitement run along my tails, "What about all the enchanted knickknacks?"

"Those were sold too. All but um..." She took a pendant from under her blouse, a raindrop set with an aquamarine, "I... I'm not as strong as you all yet. So until I replace this..."

Of all things, the others at the table looked at me with a bit of worry. Technically, she had just gone against an order. "Smart. Lemme know what you want your next one to be made from, and I'll get the metal ready for you." I smiled, just to make sure she really understood I wasn't upset, "Clive? Want to join me in the workshop tomorrow? Out of everyone here except me, you're the only one who can make defence based enchantments. And with Tetsu's help, we've gotten enough bits of metal together to make heaps of arrows."

Tetsu leaned into a well deserved headpat, but pouted at Raphtalia, "I wanna try the arena..."

Raphtalia looked over Tetsu's head at me. "Sure. You and her warm up once in the rookie arena, then move to second or third brackets. Just remember Tetsu, you must be gentle. And try not to transform." I looked to Usa, "You'll join me in the shop too. Kunshu? You'll keep watch over Melty."

"bzz." She replied, dance/walking over to Melty and exchanging antenna waves/gentle hand brushes with the princess.

"Get some rest then." I said.

As expected, Kunshu 'watching over Melty' started as soon as I issued the order. This let me stay up late, reading over the alchemy books I'd gotten from that nice old alchemist in Melromarc. It had already come up with a couple of things almost no one else had heard about. One of them being 'soul healing water'. As far as I knew, I was the only one with an SP bar, though I suspected the old lady Ragnarok did as well.

And to my surprise, it actually was in the book!

Kinda...

Sorta...

Really just an 'honourable mention' in a foot note after the last entry (soul healing water). Something about distilling all things made for the body, mind and soul, with the base of sap from a Sacred Tree. There were no instructions on how, just a small list of 'maybes', and a mention of 'filtering out the toxins'.

I had no idea if they wanted a specific sacred tree. But I just happened to know of two, both made from an amalgamation of all the medicinal plants, roots, vines and flowers I'd encountered in this world.

That was where my luck ended however, at least for today. As soon as I thought about my nice trees, the door of my room opened and Raphtalia stuck her head in. Her face already fixed in a squint eyed glare, the next thing of hers to enter the room was her arm, her finger pointing to the bed.

Just for show, and to get her to smile, I put on my best pouting face, jammed a bookmark into the Book Shield, closed it, changed it to the Hagane Red shield, and put it on my back. I then stomped to the bed (I didn't actually stomp, just exaggerated my footsteps, since I knew I'd wake Usa if I made too much noise) and flopped onto the bed with a grumble.

Raphtalia smiled, victorious, nodded as if to say 'so there', and dimmed the light with a wiggle of her fingertip and a hint of her 'light' magic.

The forth day, as before, right after breakfast, Clive, Usa and I made our way to the workshop. After getting a few small things set up, I got to heating up various things in the furnace. While Usa lacked a hand to steady his work, his affinity with 'air' and 'lightning' magic meant I would gladly hold the metal and chisel still while he worked. Clive however did have both hands, and pretty much the instant the metal bits he was going to use for arrowheads was warmed up enough, he started working.

A half hour later, with Usa hitting the end of a nice conductive chisel to enforce order on otherwise chaotic magic, he stopped, lifted his hand up to tilt his helmet up a little (since his ears were under it to protect him from the noise), "Someone. Six guards."

I was not prepared.

The door to the workshop was unlatched, and a nanosecond later it was thrown open to admit four armed soldiers (breastplate, chain shirt, helmet, sword, shield) and a flamboyantly dressed man who practically sparkled. So clean, so picture perfect were his clothes (nice frills, royal red short pants, matching coat, pure pure white undershirt) hair (smooth almost glistening blond), and 'accessories' (like the super fancy sword I made), that I almost couldn't believe it.

Then he spoke, his tone not quite condescending, even as he made a rose appear in his left hand. "AH! Zis cannot be! Such a dark and gloomy place, could not pozzibly be where my newest blade was made!"

I was prepared for the 'Frenchman', but not for the 'Spanish Inquisition' he had guarding him. It took a moment, real effort, and several deep breaths (that I tried to hide behind false surprise). But I managed to master myself and reply with a serious, "But it is, good Sir." I stood, and as usual, was taller than this man.

I had no idea if it was an act, part of his 'personality' or genuine surprise, but he looked at me, his gaze following me as I spoke and stood, "Zounds! A horned woman, monstrous yet beautiful!"

I'd had worse backhanded compliments, and since he was still sparkling at me, and now offering his rose to me, I smiled, "My name is Kodori Haruhime. This is Usa, and Clive. Welcome to my workshop while I stay in this city." I accepted the rose, wondered if I could get it to seed and maybe plant it on the Wagon, and tucked the stem into the hair on the side of my head, the thorns tangling with my hair and staying in place.

"AH! How abhorrently rude of me! Za! I forget myzelf in ze face of your obvious ztrength!" Somehow, he produced another rose (I didn't know where this one came from either), sniffed that one as well, and bowed with perfect grace. "I am ze Marquis Montage de Fer." And yes, he put a little accent over that last E in 'montage'. "Owner of ze largest prozpecting and mining empire in ze known world!"

Now, despite his flourishing flamboyance, he was perfectly respectful of the sword at his hip. With exceptional ease and poise, he unhooked the scabbard from his belt and held it just under the crosspiece "Zis... I have never zeen its equal! Ze lines, ze curves, ze edge!" He gushed, "And not made of metal!"

"Dragon-steel." I corrected, "My party and I went through great danger, and effort, to put the beast down." I smiled, letting a little of my aggression show. A widening of my eyes, a smile that showed my teeth, a subtle stiffening of my shoulders and abdominal muscles. "And now, I make weapons from its bones and teeth, and armour from its scale and hide."

He pretended(?) to swoon in admiration (I hoped), "Tell me, madam Kodori," He paused for effect, "I haf zeen ozer works of magick from your shop! Are you capable of enzanting zis, as you haf with thez trinkets?!"

And again, to my surprise, he did a little flourish and produced one of the nice silver pendants with a little ruby in it. The ruby was small, but Raphtalia had spent AGES on the etching, and made it very fine. It seemed rather appropriate, since the ruby was the centre of a flower.

I tried to match his energy, putting a little enthusiasm into my tone, but not so much that I was competing with him. Just 'more pleased than a second ago'.

"Ah, that one was made by a companion of mine. Any good leader, be it warrior, merchant, or craftswoman, gathers not just people, but skill to their side. Look to your right, and you will see the expert workings of not just a bowyer and fletcher, but an accomplished earth enchanter. By my side, a journeyman enchanter of air and lightning. That, which you hold in your hand, a lass who works light and darkness into her craft."

He seemed astonished, almost speechless, as he looked to Clive, then Usa, then back to Clive, then myself, "Zat... zat is incredible!" He started to sparkle again, "With zuch talent, it iz a vonder I have never heard of you until now!"

"No wonder." I shook my head, "I am a visitor from a far off land, and my companions simply had the good fortune of catching my eye when I was in need." I smiled, thinking it was time to throw 'the pitch'. "But, as a lady who is gathering talent and power, I have found myself at an impasse. As you know, Melromarc is not exactly kind to ones such as us."

"A shame, but yes."

"So, I have travelled here, where my party and our talents would be better appreciated. But to continue to do great things, and create wonders such as that you carry now, and to protect ourselves during the troubled times we face during the waves..."

"And ze selfish whims of ze king of Melromarc!" Flamboyant, yes. Stupid, no. He caught on to my angle. "I zee... You seek to gain power through ze hourglass."

I looked back to the furnace, noted that the metal was ready, and set it on the anvil. "Ma'am? Third circle please?" Usa said, catching on to the 'act' I was putting on and raising his little hammer as I positioned the chisel.

"I do." I said, deftly angling and turning the chisel with every little strike as Usa worked. "But I hear that it is not 'given'. But..."

The accented man nodded, "Everyzing has its price." He gave me a flat stare, "But can you pay the cost I vonder..."

"I created that sword to get someone's attention." I smiled, still able to hold the metal and angle the chisel without flaw, while returning to my aggressive posture. "Imagine the wonders I could make, if I were serious?" I glanced to Clive, who set his work down, stood slowly (since the guards, through all this, were watching us carefully), and went to get his bow. "Do not touch the string to the grip. But please, examine that."

Unsurprisingly, he waved off Clive's offer of an 'appraisal lens', and took out one of his own (braided gold and silver with an exotic wood handle, like rose vines), and took a look at the offered bow.

And fainted.

The two closest guards caught him and the fancy appraisal lens, while Clive snatched his bow out of the air. For a moment, there was silence, broken by me as I put the metal Usa was inscribing back into the forge.

I honestly didn't know if it was for show, but a moment later, with the two 'Spaniards' helping him upright, he said, "I must haf your zervices!" And yes, his 'sparkles' turned up to maximum again.

"You know what I am looking for. Can you promise that?" I asked as he stood apart from his guards again.

His expression fell, "I... cannot. No."

"Then I will continue working." I said, hoping my 'dismissal' would maybe encourage him to try a little harder, "My party, even now, works in the arena, and I expect by tomorrow, will be in the open bracket, with all of our creative skill on display."

"I..." He paused, trying to disguise his 'thinking' face with his rose, "I will attempt to sway ze others! I alone cannot pave ze way. But!"

"No." I said, "For my purposes, I must be allowed to use the hourglass. However, I seem to have..." I paused for effect, just as he had, "less to do than expected. I am a woman who enjoys unique projects, and if someone were to suggest something that interested me... I might work on it in my idle time."

Again proving he wasn't as silly as he acted, he smiled, "You are no doubt an artizan! But haf you zeen the likes of zis?!" With another flourish, the rose in his hand vanished and was replaced by a simple flintlock pistol.

Well, simple in that it was a flintlock. But it was a work of art. Gold and copper inlay, detailed scroll work along the sides, marvellously crafted grip...

"I have." I nodded, "Would you happen to have..."

He flashed an empty palm at me, then with a little twist of his wrist produced a neat little pouch, funnel and silver sphere. The ammunition and powder.

"A challenge." I nodded, smiling, not caring I was just about to advance this world from 'single shot' fire arms to revolvers. "I think I will try my hand at making one for myself. Unless of course, I am given reason to sell it to a worthy supporter to my efforts."

Both the pistol and its accessories vanished again, "Ah, you wound me with your teasing! But I will try!"

"In the mean time, I will keep my prospects open. I hope you understand."

"Alas, if you were not a married to your craft, you might make a delightful wife!" He gave me an obvious eyebrow waggle, "Or if you were to settle here! Ah, a competitor in the House of Gold!" He put a hand to his heart, half swooning again, "For now, with rezpect, I must admit defeat."

"It is only defeat, if you do not succeed. By tomorrow, my little shop will have a new set of wonders placed on display."

"And I will endeavour to look at them!" He bowed, then with a swirl of cape and a few rose petals, he left the shop, his guards vanishing with him.

There was relative silence in the workshop, then Usa said, "Ma'am... Was that wise? He might have..."

"He will now either give up, or try harder, to get us what we want. In the mean time, we have another project to work on. If he does not come through for us, well, we have many ways to the same goal, and maybe you can learn to shoot one of those." I smiled, "Shall we continue?"

Clive clicked his beaked mouth in amusement, then sat back down at his worktable. Usa nodded, took a deep breath to clear his head, then said, "Any time Ma'am."

I hadn't noticed it before, but Frost had indeed been wearing something unique. It was so simple and innocuous, that until I saw it on three other people I wouldn't have expected it to be the emblem of his mercenary band. For Frost, it was a little sideways flame, like a candle hit by a tiny puff of wind. Placed on his gorget on either side, it just looked like a stylized choice.

But a little after the Frenchman and the Spaniards had left, a dangerous looking fellow came in. Respectfully, he waited until I'd finished hammering (or rather, Usa finished), before we talked business, placing a pair of shin guards, with that same little candle flame embossed on the kneecaps. Well worn, I was asked to repair them, clean them up if I could, and half my fee was left behind.

Half hour later, a titanic beast man came in, looking like a gladiator, his furry body missing patches of fur from years of scarring in the fighting pits. This one left behind a many plated arm guard, that went from shoulder to wrist. Like the shin guards, it seemed the owner had done his best, but entropy was starting to take its due on the leather and straps holding it all together. And again, a little candle flame icon scratched into the largest plate with (I think) a claw tip.

The third was a bald woman with serpentine eyes and an easy smile. Body hidden under stereotypical 'wizard robes' she placed an open faced helmet on my anvil. Scuffed, nicked and dented, it too was beyond 'simple' repair. And once again, half my fee was left behind with the equipment, the centre crest of the helm sporting the little emblem.

And after lunch, they came back in the same order, smiling brightly, bowing politely, and leaving a generous tip for the little bits of 'extra' work I had done. Mostly polishing and more intuitive placements of straps and the like. Stuff you'd have done if the work was made just for you the first time around, and not 'bought off the shelf'. Oh, and extra special care in making their apparent emblem just a little better looking.

As for the sparkly man with the roses... I had already known that gunpowder was 'a thing'. Not just that, but it had been around long enough for it to be in the same alchemy book as 'soul healing water'. But now that I had a reason to make one...

"Honest question you two." I said as I put Usa's work in the coals again. "That man was pretty hard to read. He seemed cheerful, reasonably honest, and might actually try to get us to the hourglass. But how hard should we try to make something for him?"

Usa and Clive thought about that for a moment. "He had quite the entourage. The Ringmaster had only one guard, but he had six." Usa pointed out. "He may be nervous, or less popular."

Clive's opinion on the matter, was to stand up, puff his chest out, and strut for a couple paces.

"Or he's just showing off his wealth." Usa translated.

Clive nodded and I replied with a slow, "That's... Hmm."

"We could ask the Ringmaster?" Usa offered, "Ah, it's ready." He turned back to the fire.

I took the little metal plate from the coals, and got my chisel ready for him. Once again, he took a deep breath to clear his mind, then started tapping. Only when the metal had cooled too much to continue and I'd placed it back on the coals to heat up, did we continue.

"I'm still going to make one." I said, getting a surprised look from the two of them. "I said I would, and I will. But we will ask the Ringmaster about him, and if he isn't a raving lunatic who will use it every time he gets someone into a room alone... Of course, to get it, he must succeed, or at least, be part of our success."

They nodded. Clive then answered the original question, putting the end of his bow stave on the ground, putting his palm on the upper end, then lowering his other hand to about three quarters.

"Yes. Good, but not my attempt to remake a legendary weapon." I nodded.

Just before dinner, while Clive worked at the anvil and Usa kept watch over the glass furnace, I got a call from Melty. Of course, since it wasn't lunch (usual check in time), and couldn't wait until we got back to the Ringmaster's guest home for dinner, that meant it was important.

"Ma'am." She greeted as I looked into my half of the Occulus. "It's arrived."

It took a moment for me to realize exactly what she meant, considering the constant motion of goods from the workshop to the store front. "Aha! Have you talked to her?"

She shook her head, "Only long enough to see her face. She is likely being watched, and pretended as if she were looking into a mirror to powder her nose."

I nodded, "Good. We know she's alive, and just as sharp as ever then. Did she at least smile for you?"

Melty looked a little sad, "No. But when she was done, she simply said, 'Excellent'."

"Keep an eye on your end then. If she's being watched, there will be few places she can get privacy, and choose your words carefully! As if she were talking to herself." I smiled, "Intelligent people often talk to themselves, since it is the smartest conversation in the room."

She nodded, looking a little relieved, "I hope..." She halted, but smiled, "No. We will succeed."

"That's the spirit."

My last project before we left the shop, was some special glass for the alchemy set. Even if all I had were some scribbled notes, I knew that 'basic' wasn't enough. And I certainly wasn't going to trust the Shield's auto creation to something that might be some kind of miracle medicine.

If this were 'modern day' I could have just bought a multi-channel distilling flask. But alas, it was not. Thankfully, I had three extra hands and the right tools, and could make one.

On the way back to the guest house, I saw Usa's ears twitch just a little more than usual. He was a nervous man, and his ears and eyes constantly moved about. It was worse in a town like this were you might get a couple hours of near silence at about four in the morning.

This time though, his ears twitched, and stayed focused. "Ma'am... side street, half dozen, one of them sharpening something..."

Three steps later, just as we passed that alleyway, "Four more ahead..."

And we suddenly had a ten man ambush. "You... You're the owner of these two, and the two who moved up to the third bracket, aren't you?"

The speaker, as well most of the others, had the dangerous look of a fighting man. Big muscles, reasonable armour, steel weapons. This wasn't an 'enforcer' with a club like last night with Fohl.

But, it was just a bunch of thugs. "I am. There a problem?"

He, and a few others, took a look at me and grinned. Yes, I was still dressed like our Crazy Rabbit back home, with a breast binding and pants, open shirt and small cape. And aside from my smith hammer, I had no 'weapons'. Even the Shield was pretending to be my 'sacred book'. He was even taller than I was.

"Our boss has been reasonable, see. Trying to get them to lighten up a little. Take a loss, let the crowd warm up again, turn a little extra-"

"My party does not throw fights." I said flatly.

He sighed, as if trying to figure out how to explain to a child. "Now now, we all have to-"

"I have told them to do their best. And if your best isn't up to it, then you don't deserve to win." I growled, putting a hand to the top of the hammer, as if about to draw it from my belt. Not that I would, or could, use it as a weapon. "I have places to be."

"Be reasonable woman." He growled back. "We don't want to get rough, but if your fighters are caught fighting outside of the pits, well..."

I glanced side to side, and Usa and Clive stepped over to the nearest wall, out of the way, "I don't need them to fight for me." I pointed at the man in front.

There was a low chuckle, and some wider smiles. The one in front stepped forward, until my finger was almost poking him in his bare chest.

I saw the strike coming, his hand sweeping in as if to slap me. But instead of hitting me across the face, his hand wrapped around my wrist.

Notes

And then, I killed him your honour...

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

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