Got it

He worked on that piece of wood quite some time, immersed in his work he didn't notice how the time flew by.

Peeling away bits of wood, smoothing out the surface with sand paper, wrapping it up tightly with the leather.

'Fortunately father could at least show me how to do this.'

After the work was done and he checked it every now and then with the measure sticks given by Roàn, he was satisfied with the result.

He left enough room for the pummel and the guard, ready for the fine engraved pieces of their work.

"Boss, I got the handle done!" he said, holding it proudly in his clutch, walking outside and showing it to get a evaluation. Roàn took it with a sceptic eye, turning it left and right and took a ruler from the wall, with which he took measures.

"Well, considering ya only had sticks to work with, that handle turned out good."

He swung it around a bit, fiddling around with the leather. "But wrap it up tighter, or it might get loose to easily."

He gave it back, so Mikael could redo his leather work. "Aye Boss, will do." he mimicked his expression, getting out a quick smirk of Roàn.

"Cheeky lad. If ya are done, take the apron and come to hell pit, the guard is next on the list."

So Mikael fixed his sloppy leather binding, took a quick bite of jerky he snatched from a box that stood by the open oven, the saltiness soon washed away by mouthfuls of water.

When going out, heavy apron and shoes on, he got a chunk of metal, as well the outline for the Form of the handle.

"Just the rough first steps need to be done by you, we can do the finer work together. Here," he gave Mikael the ruler, pointing at two numbers on it. "that is the length, the height for the middle part and the endings. Not so hard, get used to it."

"Aye Boss, am about to learn numbers and how to use them from a guard here, his name's Beron."

"Does ring a bell, but have no face for it. Should be a good guy tho, not everyone teaches random children. Now get to work."

And so the hours past, once again progressing like a flash and by the end of the work day, they got also the delicate handle done, due to Mikaels pre-work making the detailed part much more easy for Roàn.

"Only 'bout two, maybe three more days, and we are done. Keep it up, lad, I expect ya at peak tomorrow as well."

He said for a farewell, giving him again 5 big copper as pay.

"isn't this too much? Not wanting to complain, but compared to yesterday..."

He couldn't finish his sentence, as Roàn cut him off.

"Take it. I said before lad, I pay you for the work ya did, not what ya think the work was worth it. Not even my assistant can do much better. Heck, he's already working here for over two years and still can't precisely hit the spot I point him out."

He said no more, taking out his pipe, stuffing some tobacco into it and taking a deep breath after lighting it, sinking into his stool, cracking his neck and wriggling his feet out the shoes.

With his pay now, he could afford the backpack he had reserved, far earlier than expected.

"I'll get going then." Mikael said, leaving the smithy and quickly walking towards Laurence his stall.

On his way he noticed even more guards then this morning, patrolling around the main road and even inspecting some stalls and shops, angering not few merchants.

"Seems the big shot is coming tonight."

It wasn't unusual for envoys or nobles to come during the night, then proceed their reason for visit the next morning.

"They call it some kind of stupid courtesy, as if one night could make anything better" his father had said with disdain.

He moved along the gentle curve, just about to arrive at his destination.

When he got there, he was surprised at the person inspecting that stall.

"Hello Beron. So today no guard duty at the gate?"

Beron turned around, immediately connecting the voice of Mikael.

"Hi Mikael, told you so. The envoy visiting ran into trouble, supposingly a group of Orcs tried to ambush them, the messenger said.

So due to that our lesson tonight is even more canceled."

"Orcs? Aren't they super strong monster able to take on many armed man?"

Mikael only heard vague stories about them, but these already installed fear of them.

"Yes, but only super against common, untrained civilians. Even with their superior power, against human tactics, ingeniosity and technique they barely stand a chance. Still, encounter them alone, you can barely outrun them, much less fight equally."

"All clear here."

Said the other guard that accompanied Beron, standing next to a pile of overturned fur.

"Told you so!" Horo said, tapping her arm, interwined with each other.

"Can't you guys at least try to keep everything in order?"

Laurence came to the poor guards rescue that only did his duty.

"Keep calm, they did not damage anything. And they at least made it quick."

The guards fast glance of gratitude was followed by Berons goodbye:" Then we should also go, we still have to inspect some more stalls along the way."

When they left, Horo shook her head, tidying up the wares that got inspected, grumbling under her breath occasionally.

Mikael also made it quick, requesting the backpack and paying Laurence the 8 1/2 Copper.

His purse now lighter, he still was not missing it, as he viewed this as an investment.

'I'll need it in the future, that much is certain.'

He quickly left, wanting to get back and enjoy a warm meal.

His wandering thoughts about food, equipment and the work that still awaits were interrupted by the sound of hooves meeting the dirt road.

Mikael turned around, seeing how a fairly elegant dark brown and red decorated carriage got drawn down the street.

The thing pulling it tho was no ordinary horse, like most people would use, but a bulky, with muscles bulging animal. It was even a bit large than a horse, every step showing of the defined shapes of his strong build, and each breath forming small clouds around its nostrils.

Instead of a mouth it had a beak, strong looking and connected to a enormous jaw, it's neck longer and narrower, but more flexible, and tight fitting hairs covering the dark blue body.

Mikael hastily made way to this incoming carriage, standing on the sidewalk and waiting for it to pass.

When it came across him, he noticed the shimmering polished iron fittings and reinforced walls, making this more into a armored vehicle.

'Should be awfully heavy. Look alone at these wheels.'

It passed, showing the cargo carrying on the back, riding along the street in a moderate tempo.

"Impressive that a single animal can pull that. What even was that?" he asked loud, not expecting anyone to answer.

Due to the strict controls and arriving envoy, many shops or stalls had shit down, not wanting to deal with possible anomalys this night.

Sure, sometimes wealthy travelers would visit and spent a lot of money, but could also wrack havoc. Stories of pissed off nobles or some venting their boredom were plenty, scaring most away.

When Mikael found himself after some minutes in front of the Inn, he was shocked, wondering if he turned wrong somewhere, on a straight street.

"Well, that certainly invites trouble..."

The grand carriage that passed him stood beside the building, the bird-like creature munching on a big piece of meat, just getting lead to the stables that were located at the back.

'Poor horses. With something like that they won't be able to sleep.'

The entrance was open the whe time, making it easier for the people unloading the luggage.

When he also wanted to enter, he was held up before even taking a step inside.

"Stop there. You can't come in here smelling like that." the high voice of Berons child said, holding him back from entering.

Tonight he wore not the same pants and tunic like before, but a dress in a lighter green color together with tights that held back the cold. In the hair he had some accessories, bringing out his blond colors more vividly.

"Why are you wearing girls clothes? Aren't you a guy?" he wondered, processing the obviously slower than normal.

He looked at the attire, the style of his hair and his facial features.

"Or are you in fact..."

"So the leaf fell to earth? Yes, I'm a girl."

She answered in an unhappy tone, holding the hem of her dress.

"So we are clear, I don't like this getup, nor the stuff in my hair, but mother said I have to dress like one, or we show these guys a unnatural image."

She sighed, clearly unhappy.

"For the record, call me Emily."

"So you made that delicious bread I had for breakfast." he remembered, still longing sometimes for that soft texture and crisp crust.

"That you can connect so fast, but not my sex? You got a loose sheath. Anyway, no coming in to unless you have the bare minimum of hygiene."

She crossed her arms, her eyes conveying her iron defense o that matter.

Mikael knew he reeked a bit, but before hardly anyone bothered.

But in the presence of people in power he could only oblige.

" Where can I..."

"Go around the house, we put up a basin with water and provided soap and cloth to dry, so no excuses and clean up!"

Cut short, he followed her directions, walking around the house and to the stable area, hearing the distressed sound of horses neighing.

When the basin got in view, he already saw some other people there.

Some dunking their heads into the water, others top less and rubbing their chest and hair with soap, some grumbling unhappy, some happy to get a free bar of soap to work with.

When he came, he got greeted without words, all understanding each other in silence. All got sent here, denied entrance because of their body odor.

Mikael only undressed wordlessly, keeping his things in close proximity and took from another man that began drying up the soap, also dunking his brown head into the basing.