Chapter 20 - Jeweler

"We can talk in your workshop instead of out here in front of all the windows, Arfved," Yarrow responded, using the surly man's actual name instead of shortening it as was clearly a common practice that had lended itself well toward the friend system implemented for the Godsborn.

He grumbled but obliged, leading the way past the counter and into a neat workspace that took up the majority of the actual size of the building they were in. He had quite a number of tools laid out though Ash really only recognized the silversmithing ones. He'd clearly been working on some rather gaudy silver rings that Ash highly doubted were for Earthborn, as they called their own people. Some of them would have to make dexterity a challenge and she'd seen nothing to indicate that kind of fashion was popular.

The room had a gentle feel of magic to it, a subtle presence that told her that it was well-protected against any sort of eavesdropping whether it was magical in nature or not. It didn't seem odd, considering most skilled crafters protected their methods from theft. It also didn't seem odd as she could smell the presence of some of the harder to obtain magical minerals that she doubted were extremely easy to acquire given she'd not smelled them at any other point in the day.

"Ash is a friend," Yarrow began in a tone that allowed no argument, "She is one of the Godsborn, yes, but Lord Sidus himself approves of her being here. I doubt she will bring you the kind of trouble they have."

His grumble changed slightly as he launched into a tirade about work, "They're impossible to read. Some of them want normal things just with stronger enchantments than you'd usually find on them. Others want the most ostentatious stupid things but somehow want to not be impeded by them. Had to tell more than a few that you cannot, in fact, wear three enchanted rings on each finger and be able to punch a hole in a wall as you wouldn't even be able to close your fist due to the complexity of strength enchantments. They don't like being told no, grumble about other people or things being able to do it."

Yarrow let him complain a bit, waiting for him to sigh and shift his gaze once more to Ash, curiosity in it rather than outright animosity. That was good, considering Yarrow doubted Ash had much in the way of coin to pay with. Most Godsborn didn't seem to have much money when they started out and immediately headed for the adventurer's guild to make some coin. While Ash didn't seem keen on making money swiftly he doubted it was because she had plenty and was more prone to attributing it to the pain that had her expression drawn and her all but silent for nearly an hour.

"Ash needs a magical focus made," he began.

Arfved interrupted immediately, "Needs an enchanter then. Wandmaker. I can make them, I can even make them well, but you know as well as I do that I need infused materials to do it and I doubt she's been carrying around a hunk of starsilver in her pocket since she appeared here," he glanced at her plain clothes and scowled, "What, maybe a day ago? Not even time for a proper infusion, really."

Ash glanced at Yarrow, catching the slight nod he gave her immediately. He trusted Arfved with what she was or else he wouldn't have brought her to him. She mulled it over first, though, wondering how much it would cost or if she could find some other way to pay the artisan for his work. She wasn't exactly unskilled in enchanting but doubted she'd manage to be a help to what appeared to be a master of the craft given what she'd glimpsed in the display cases.

It wasn't as if she had another choice, though, as any magic user would be able to notice that she wore no focuses when casting in her human form. If the magic didn't channel through anything, that made her magic and there were very few beings that could use magic without a focus. All of them were supremely valuable in pieces and parts sold for profit as well as alive as captives. She didn't want a repeat of the chase that had happened after the conversation she'd never known would be her last with the god that called her his daughter.

She glanced around her, gauging the space to make sure she wouldn't knock anything over, "I suppose proper introductions are in order," she said with a sigh as she repositioned herself further from his silversmithing equipment. While she wouldn't knock it over on purpose, sometimes her tail liked to show her emotion whether or not she was trying to still it and she didn't like being stared at as a source of ingredients, which is what she would be for the focus in question.

Yarrow spoke even as magic wove its way around her, changing her once more into the unicorn that had leaned against a god's side earlier in the day, "This is Ashterra, Godsborn daughter of Sidus. She needs a skilled crafter to make her a focus and, apparently, unicorns use their horns for that purpose."

Ash folded her long legs under her, unable to keep her tail from making a few frustrated lashes at the idea of being an ingredient for anything even if she was willing. With a bit of magic, she was able to speak, "The main horn channels the most of my magic and I can stand to lose a rather large part of it with no repercussions. It's likely getting to the point it needs a trim anyways and you'll spare Luri having to do it. The smaller horns are also useful in channeling though I'm not so sure what you can make with the material given it doesn't lend itself to much other than carving and shaping or powdering, which isn't generally considered good for focuses."