The Smithy

Chapter 15 

Gawker's Alley. A notoriously expensive street within the capital city. Few could pay for a pair of shoes here let alone the more expensive toys and jewelry. The name Gawker's Alley was ratified as a bit of a joke by a former Emperor to mock the poorer individuals who stand and gawk at the merchandise within the stores. 

It's an alley that Zarracen herself would normally not come to. It's also the alley where she bought her Ethrite blade. Most merchandise here would have most commoners begging if they decided to buy something. They would not come here unless they saved for months or years in advance. 

Silver Fabrications was not out of place in the alley. In fact, of the few shops she'd visited before it was more opulent than the others. However, the place didn't scream blacksmith shop to her. Even the weapon shop she visited before held a more...well there were actually weapons on the shelf to be viewed and not dresses. 

Zarracen is confused at the sight of the ball gowns and the dress suits that were being displayed. There were women on couches looking at catalogues of dresses and jewelry because there was also a jewelry display up front. Paintings of scenery lined sea green colored walls. 

This couldn't be the shop. She had to have heard wrong. Right? 

Whelp she might as well asks. 

Zarracen walks up towards the counter where the jewelry was on display. The man behind the counter's face transforms into a smile as a greeting. 

"Good afternoon madam how can I be of service?" He questions. Manners. 

"Good afternoon, I have a standing appointment for some work to be done," Zarracen responds. 

"Ah yes can I have a name please?" 

"Zarracen Ahktan." The man looks through what she can only assume is an appointment book. 

"Apologies madam but it appears like there isn't one under this name." He responds with practiced ease. Tone slightly apologetic. Zarracen is now confused because this was the place of business to her knowledge even if she didn't know from the looks of it. 

"It's no trouble at all. I thought I was in the wrong place just wanted to make sure." 

Zarracen sighs trying to figure out if she should walk around Gawker's alley some more to look. 

"Did you say Zarracen Ahktan?" A woman speaks up approaching them. Zarracen looks at her. 

She was wearing a stylish pants suit. Spectacles frame her serious face. She looks towards the man behind the counter who was stiff. 

"Garrett the appointment book." The man hands over the book and she flips through it. Her hands glow with man and an extra page appears. Garrett's eyes widen in shock. 

"Madame Everson I didn't know to check the-" she holds up her hand to halt the words that came out of his mouth. 

"Apologies for the mistake Galt Ahktan. We have a private room in the back to discuss your needs. Garrett we'll be discussing this for your weekly review." 

Garrett visibly deflates as Madame Everson hands the appointment book back to him before walking off with just a gesture for Zarracen to follow. The knight does so casting a pitying glance back at Garrett who was now putting a brave smile on for a few customers coming to the counter. 

The woman takes her through the store. Zarracen spots a few doors that highlight storage. A few times she can hear a bit of a muffled discussion going on in a few private rooms. 

"Here we are." Madame Everson opens the door to one of the private rooms. 

Zarracen enters inside the room. It was relatively large with a couple of catalogues placed on a table in front of a long couch. There were a few doors that likely led to a few storage places. 

"I will advise Lady Berretta Fabron will be here shortly." 

Fabron? The name sounds familiar but Zarracen couldn't place it. 

"Ah thanks." 

"Feel free to browse a few catalogues." 

Madame Everson departs with a bow. The door shuts lightly leaving Zarracen in the room alone. She sits down on the couch and starts looking at the catalogues. To her surprise there were a lot of different types of items. 

The jewelry catalogue was the most interesting. The place sold amulets with protective runes cast on them. Alchemically enhanced metals as well. She found an item that enhances the mind's eye entrancement. The description seems like it'll assist in concentrating it. She'll likely be able to figure out how to focus mana better utilizing it. 

The price tag though has her sighing. Why is everything here always so expensive? She wonders to herself if she'll even have to figure out how to pay for the dragon leather working and weapon creation from the flesh and bones of the creature. 

She places the jewelry catalogue down and looks to the weapon one. It seems like the blacksmiths here have a history in working cognifiend material into weapons and armor. Her thoughts of it being a run of the mill jewelry and clothing shop was disservice to it. 

Zarracen knows better than to base things on appearance because some of the best and worse things can hide beneath beauty and filth. She feels someone approach with a nice tempered videle. 

She closes the catalogue and sits straight in her chair. The door opens and she stands in greeting. 

The woman who enters was wearing a flowing dress. It was likely not meant for parties, but it was nonetheless a beautiful summer dress. The yellow of it highlighted the orange of her eyes. The wings slightly folded on her back show her heritage as an Aven. 

"Good afternoon, Galt Ahktan. It's an honor to be hostess to Princess Isabella's knight." Already Zarracen was known by that. But it didn't sound that bad. 

"Good afternoon, Lady Fabron thank you for seeing me on such a short notice." The woman smiles sharply. Her gaze as sharp as the angles of her face. 

"It's no trouble at all." 

The two of them sit. 

"I'm sure Princess Isabella has already advised but I'm here to request a job done on the dragon carcass that I have stored." 

"I see and what would you like done? What's the timeframe of when you would like these orders to be completed?" 

The woman takes out a notepad. Zarracen advises her on her request of armor utilizing the dragon's skill. The two discuss metal additions to the armor so it won't simply be leather scales though protective could be doubled. 

"My preference is flexible movements. The heavier metal armor isn't as flexible as leather armor. Would you be able to make those additions but keep it as flexible." Lady Fabron looks thoughtful. 

"There are some good metals that are rather flexible when worked with leather." She murmurs while writing some things in a notebook. "Would it be too much trouble for you to try on a few of our readymade mixes?" 

"No, I have the time." Zarracen advises. 

 It takes approximately thirty minutes to try on a few that she has in the back room. She eventually chooses leather with an Alumite metal ore base. Due to its extremely high melting point and flexibility. 

With the armor established the woman continues. "Would like us to create clothing with the other items?" 

"Clothing?" Zarracen questions this. "Why?" 

"We'll have a lot of material of the dragon left over even if we create you three sets of armor. Not to mention some parts of the dragon aren't conducive for armor." 

"I'm not too sure about this." 

"As Princess Isabella's knight you can't just go about in armor all the time. You'll be attending functions where dress codes need to be met. Dragon clothing is sturdier than most basic armor but not as good as the premium kind. You being a dragon slayer though the clothing will be mostly for show." 

Zarracen is reminded of what Isabella had said regarding her personal reputation. Did she set up this meeting for this purpose as well. She sighs but nods agreeing to it. 

Lady Fabron begins to take her measurements. Once she finishes the two continue to discuss the logistics of swords. Zarracen advises her of the preference of short swords and daggers. The two of them speak on what to do with the rest of the claws, teeth and bones. She thinks about it before she advises she wants to sell half the material and have the rest be converted into weapons that she can use from spears to axes. 

"Good choice. Would you like me to be your liaison on the sell?" 

"You'd want a percentage huh?" The woman simply smiles. "Will it lower the price of my creations." 

"Hmm I could use some of the proceeds into this because of the expense. But with so many dragons being killed at once there will likely be an uptick in the market." 

"Meaning it won't go as high if it was a couple or a solo kill." 

"Exactly." 

"Do as you wish on the sell but keep me apprised on it?" 

Lady Fabron smiles brightly. "It was lovely working with you though I do advise to preserve certain parts of the dragon you don't utilize. Some magicians may want to buy it." 

"Thank you for your advice. I'll have the items delivered." 

Zarracen departs the shop with a smile on her face as she makes her way back to the palace. She arrives at the Crystal Mist Mansion and finds Princess Isabella within an office with Fiella. The two of them looking over a few documents. 

When Zarracen enters both of them cease conversation. Princess Isabella places a few papers inside a deck drawer. She ignores this in favor of greeting the princess. 

"Where is the dragon stored?" Zarracen asks this after she greets her. 

"It's placed in one of the storage rooms on the grounds. It's the dark brown one that you likely passed when went to dispose of those bodies." Zarracen nods her head remembering a building large enough to store it around the garden. 

"Thank you for introducing me to Lady Fabron." 

"It's no problem at all. Barne Fabron is a close associate of mine. She's created a good few creations for me and her work is grand." 

"Yes, I took a look at her catalogue and I'll be going to her for other items as well." Princess Isabella simply smiles. 

Zarracen looks away. 

"I have penned a letter to a few people to arrive tomorrow in the morning. I'd hope to use the training grounds for the palace." 

"That's fine." 

"Thank you. I'll be nearby if I'm needed. I can tell you are busy." 

Zarracen leaves the room and the two start talking again but only muffled sounds can be heard. She makes her way to the building that the princess had told her about. She finds it but the building was much smaller than the dragon she had killed. It must have some sort of spatial spell to it. 

Her assumption is made correct when she enters to find the white dragon's carcass inside. She walks around the area and sighs wondering how long it's been since she's butchered a kill herself. She looks around for some wires and got to work.