#nrolin

Berloin and Nrolin walked down the hill of Vrenda.

Nrolin, who had designed most of the city's public walkways, radiated pride as they walked. The walkway was paved with cement, pressed flat and painted white, while the outlines and rails were made of gold. They were walking down the stairway side, while on the other side, a Numen in a wheel chair rolled up the ramp. It was the perfect way for building roads over slopes, and not only was it practical, it maintained the beauty the rest of Blonciku's road boasted.

Most would have been tempted to chastise her for the open pride, but Berloin was a Lililnu. He understood.

They were heading towards Calkoras' forge for city orders. Calkoras was Blonicku's lead practical smith. While most of the other blacksmiths have dedicated themselves to artistry, Calkoras almost exclusively made nails and tools and such for Blonicku. His last artistic project had been when he'd made his forge, and since then he'd put his Skill to work.

His forge was his home. Or rather, at least 70% of his home was taken up by his forge. He had a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a forge larger than all of those combined. The building was wide, black in color, and all the fittings and fixtures were created by himself. Most of the forgework on display had markings, telling a story or a design about some experience in his life.

The brazier out front showed, on the bottom of it, a depiction of when he was held by Kuthribruth in his western dungeons, two figures standing above a smaller one, who had chains stretching from his limbs. Beneath this was simply the word "pain." They had never commented on it, and they never would, unless he did first.

Berloin knew not to knock. He didn't mind if they barged in, and even if they did knock, he wouldn't hear. He was almost certainly at the forge.

They walked into the house, and as expected, heard the repeated sound a hammer striking metal through the wall. They opened his forge's door and sat down at the fireside table just beyond it. He would notice the door was open and, once he could take a break, he would greet them.

It took a few minutes for them to hear the hammer stop, and a few minutes after that for him to actually walk over, sweat dripping down his face as he did.

"Majesties." He muttered, dropping himself full body to the chair.

Nrolin swiped at his arm. "You know you don't have to greet us like that."

Berloin nodded and added, deadpan, "Should just say Your Majesty. Nrolin's the only monarch here."

Nrolin shot her tongue out at him.

Calkoras chuckled tiredly. He'd clearly been at it for hours. It took him a second to start, but he caught his breath and said "business, or pleasure?"

Nrolin grinned, and answered, "Both!" and dropped onto the table a bag full of parchments, commissions attained both from the cities populace and from the Crowns, which was jingling with the sound of the coins at the bottom.

Calkoras took the bag and counted. Fourteen parchments were inside, though few of them were large. Mostly it was commissions for fixtures in a few of the new homes being built, and one message for a consultation.

After a moment, he put the bag next to him on the ground and turned back to his guests, asking "So, did little Liam like the jewelry?"

Berloin blinked. He turned to Nrolin, and saw that she had turned to him to ask the same question. They looked back and Calkoras and Berloin asked, "What?"

Now it was Berloin's turn to blink in confusion. He glanced between them a few times, before saying "...They didn't tell you, did they?"

Berloin shook his head. "Tell us what?"

Calkoras chuckled for a moment and leaned forward on the table, "Axel was taking Liam around the city a few days ago and they stopped here for Liam to see how I use my Skill. They told me about his interest in the process of forgework but not in anything you've shown him, so they tried my practical side. He was even more bored here, but he was looking at some of my jewelry the entire time." He gestured at the earrings he was wearing as he spoke. "Axel said they'd been planning on taking him to Blueya, but they didn't really know where she lived or how to contact her, when I said i knew her and offered to reach out for them. The way they said it, I thought it was Dowan's idea."

Silence, for a moment. Then Nrolin put her head in her hands. "We are fucking idiots."

Berloin nodded his agreement, though he was smiling instead. They'd been trying to get Liam interested in a Skill, but while he'd been interested in the process of forgework, he never cared for anything they made. Weapons, swords, fittings, tools, patterns, most of the engravings, he didn't seem excited for. They hadn't thought of jewelry, since no one in their family really wore any. Dowan and Nyra wore earrings, but that was it.

Calkoras nodded, grinning still. "I asked Blueya if she could meet with them, and she said she would today. Did they really just not mention it?" He got up and walked over to the

Berloin shook his head again. "Axel just said they were going to the city with Liam, nothing specific at all. I had no idea."

The front door opened, and Axel walked in, looking exhausted. They blinked at the group, probably expecting Calkoras to be alone at the forge.

Calkoras lifted a hand in greeting, and asked, "how was the jewelry?"

Axel glanced at all three of them and groaned.

They sat down next to Berloin and said "Liam is going to be so mad."

"What? Why?" Nrolin asked worriedly.

"He got a gift from her and he was so excited when I told him no one knew we were there. He wanted to surprise you and lie about where he got it from." While they said this, they reached down into their pocket and pulled out a letter, presumably from Blueya.

Berloin took it and read it, tuning out the conversation for a moment.

Liam clearly delights in my Skill and would like to see more of it. I have given him a necklace that I'm sure he has already shone you, made of silver with a ruby set at the bottom. I'd be able to meet him again any time next week, just message me first, and if he still wants to I'd be happy to apprentice him when he's old enough.

-Blueya

Finally, they'd found a Skill Liam might enjoy. It had only taken four months of trying.

Looking up from the letter, Berloin saw Axel facing Calkoras, a finger pointed at his face. "...You didn't tell me she can't talk sometimes!"

Berloin snorted as Nrolin almost spilled her cup holding in her laughter. Axel was only twenty two, and they had the gangly limbs and youthful face to match it, but they were tall for their age, putting them just an inch taller than Calkoras was. A tall, lanky child is putting their finger in a grown, strong smiths face and shouting at him, which is apparently more than Nrolin could handle.