Music and Stone (Closed)

[Yvonne]

The half breed giggled at the bard’s misfortune, copping a swipe upside the head. Poor Henry. A smith’s hand was no joke. She’d have to check for bruising afterward, apply some herbal ointment. That might make him feel better. He'd said nothing about this other business, Talion’s, but his body language spoke volumes. She made a mental note to stir it up again later, when they’d left the smithy.

“Truly pressing concerns? Nothing that won’t wait for a goblin routing,” Yvonne replied offhandedly. “Don’t let us distract ye from yer important work, good sir. There be many goblins and not enough blacksmiths ta compensate, I’d suspect.” The drow-dwarf calculated the risks of saying what she wanted to say, weighing the pros and cons. Could she trust this Tyvin? They didn’t have a lot of time and her window of opportunity was closing. She decided to take it while she could.

“A business proposal for ye ta consider, that be all. I see yer crafting in steel and damascus for tha most part,” Yvonne pointed out, inspecting the craftsmanship on the weapon racks before her. The smith’s pieces had been rushed to completion but would be serviceable, as best she could tell. They lacked the fierce passion and splendour of dwarf-craft armour and weaponry, of course. That said she understood these armaments could have been made in a fifth of the time and would accomplish similar, albeit lesser results on a battlefield. Dwarves preferred perfection, and taking the time to achieve perfection, with their blacksmithing. Nothing worse than a broken shield in tha heat of battle, they liked to say.

“I might be able ta get in touch with a dwarven associate of mine, source for ye a finer metal ta work with. Alerians greedily hoard their precious metals ta themselves, but would ye be interested if small quantities found a way ta ye? I handle tha transportation of trade goods worldwide and I seek buyers,” she explained, proposing her offer - taking a gamble on the knowledge and morality of this man. The fact that she smuggled the ore out of Kachuck was of need-to-know basis. Even if he did find out about that and wasn’t willing to smelt smuggled ore would he go dobbing about her more unscrupulous activities? Unlikely, considering their connections with Henry.

“Goblins turn tail and flee at the sight of dwarven weapons. Ye must yearn ta ply yer craft with better clay,” Yvonne coaxed, a dimpled smirk forming between her cheeks. “Tell ye what, there be no need ta decide tonight. Ye think on it and I’ll return in a few days. I could help ye about tha forge - an extra pair of hands ta take tha stress out of ye work - and we can talk more about it then when yer not so busy. I’ll let ye resume yer tasks. It be marvelous meeting ye Tyvin.” With the bob of another curtsy she saw herself out, leaving the two men in varying states of surprise.