Chapter 16 (1/2)

Draco walked into the atelier and immediately bumped into Florence, Angus and James. All three looked a little tired, but cheered up as soon as they saw him. They immediately started greeting each other with enthusiasm. It seemed that they had been working since the morning to repair the shop and he had already managed to see the results of their efforts. The areas where the display window and the front of the shop had previously been had been completely cleared. Gone were the overturned armour racks, scattered armour parts, wooden debris and broken glass. Now it looked like the only thing to be done before rebuilding was to tear up the damaged floor. Draco was really impressed that they had done so much in such a short time.

-Draco, my dear, have a drink.- The dragon jumped slightly when Fiora spoke up right behind him. He had not noticed her before.

-And you won't ask me.- Gizel pretended to be offended and looked with tearful eyes at the dwarf.

-Red wine with hemlock, isn't it?- The small woman said it in such a sweet tone that the dragon might have reflexively agreed to the proposed drink. Fortunately, he bit his tongue in time and looked at both women with surprise. It seemed that, despite some tension between them, they were on good terms.

-Oh, do you always spice it up like this?- The elven woman sighed theatrically.- That's why it seemed so... sulphurous.- She made a surprised face.

Draco listened to this slowly escalating exchange of words not quite sure what to think of it. He looked at Matheo, who only made a pained face.

-They have it that way.- It was strange to hear the blacksmith whispering, but it seemed to be the best possible behaviour at the moment.- It is better not to disturb them in their pinches.- He added with some fear.- We can leave them alone for now and take care of ourselves.- Matheo closed the door to the workshop and moved the bolt.

The male part of the company slowly moved away from the scampering women and gathered at the back of the workshop. Next to the hearth and the huge furnace was a large open space surrounded by smoky walls. The floor here consisted of segments made of thick steel and, to the dragon's surprise, it was cold. He was standing in such a place that on the one hand he could feel the heat from the hearth, and on the other an unnatural chill caused by something under the steel plates.

-Wondering what's in there?- James smiled guessing Draco's questioning gaze well.-It's a cooling well. It's two metres deep and filled with a solution of ice giant blood water, plus all the walls are covered with ice runes. When hardening with dragon fire or magic, we use cooling in the well to get better results. Today we will also use it.

-Only it has to be opened first.- Florence sighed looking at the heavy plates.

-Well, but at least we'll only need two.- Angus nodded to his brother and rolled up his sleeves.

-Maybe I'll help.- Draco stopped the brothers with a gesture and stretched his arms. He swept past the smith and changed into his dragon form. He straightened his wings, stretched and took another look at the steel plates. He noticed that they had notches on the side of the workshop to allow for levering. He carefully slid his claws into the gap between the plate and the workshop floor and lifted the heavy piece of metal. Even in dragon form, he had to admit that the protection weighed its own weight. He grabbed the slab in both paws and set it down against the wall. When he turned around to deal with the other protection he saw that everyone was staring at him and even the argument between the women had stopped.- Not this one? - He asked, pointing to the slab he had set down against the wall.

-This one, but...- James looked first at Draco, then at the slab, at the open well and back at the dragon.- You know, it weighs over five hundred kilograms.- He looked at the steel cover again.- The last dragon who worked with us had trouble lifting it, and you lifted it with one paw.- The elf shook his head.- Astonishing.

-Angus, if anything, you are to remind me not to arm-wrestle with him.- Florence held his brother's arm.

-And vice versa.-The other twin merely nodded.- Well, why don't we stop staring?- He added as he watched Draco rub his paws together uncertainly.

-But it wasn't that heavy,- the dragon mourned. He suspected that if he turned human now, he would burn a blush, so he was grateful that the scales hid such reactions.- So... the other one as well?- He asked hesitantly.

-The other one too, if you could.- Matheo grunted pulling his gaze away from Draco and walked over to a table at the side of the workshop. He began to prepare something.

The brothers and James watched as Draco set about the second plate. Now that he had removed the first, he could look inside. The entire well was filled with a blue and slightly murky liquid, in which the snow-white runes carved on the walls and bottom glistened. Only now, too, did he realise why the defences were so solid. The chill in the well and probably the unpleasant cold beating off the inner surface of the slabs would instantly cause frostbite in humans. And most other races. Only dragons and a few ice creatures could easily approach something like this. Draco grabbed the other plate from the side and picked it up, being careful not to accidentally drop it into the tank. Even so, he had no intention of fishing it out, as even he was starting to get cold from holding the steel lid. Without further ado, he put the plate down next to the previous one and looked around the forge. Matheo with his sons and his apprentice were tinkering with something on a table at the side, so he approached them. He changed into his human form so as not to disturb them with his figure alone. He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but as a dragon he was not much smaller than the blacksmith in height, and with his broad shoulders he could easily compete with him.

-What is this?- Draco asked as he watched James put plates of various metals through the fastenings of the complicated structure.

-We call it scaffolding.- Angus began his explanation without breaking away from his work.

-Yes, we use them to control the hardening process.- Florence continued, as if he had started the conversation.

-Mainly if it is a process using the well.

-Otherwise it is very difficult to handle the samples efficiently.

-Selected feet are fixed in these rails.- Angus pointed to a plate he had just fitted to his scaffolding.-They are spaced so that when a fire is breathed they will all be washed with flame.

-As you can see, each scaffold can hold five different plates.- Florence pointed to his, already fitted, samples of the various alloys.- Today we will test these five.- He put his index finger on the first one on the edge.- Ferrite steel mainly used to make elven armours.

-This is steel enriched in titanium and the essence of the earth elemental.- Angus pointed to the second sample.- We make shields, medium armours and less often swords out of it.

-The middle one is a sample of steel from your armour.- James interjected.- This is the master's original composition used for the first time.

-Next is dwarven steel.- Florence tapped the penultimate sample a few times.- It can be used to make armour, chainmail, weapons of all kinds, machine parts, but lately it is most commonly used to make cannons.

-The last one is also interesting.- Angus rubbed his hands together.- And you probably won't believe it, but I brought it from Dagos. Recently, iron ore naturally enriched in fire mana started to appear there. I made these samples from it and brought them back to show my father.- He winked at the dragon.

-Well, so far we have five different samples.- Matheo picked up his scaffolding and moved towards the well.- We'll see how it goes with these, and then we'll think about it.-The blacksmith placed the scaffolding a few steps away from where the heavy lids were a moment ago.- We won't go any closer, so as not to hurt ourselves.- He threw looking over his shoulder at Draco.- Now we just need to fasten.- The big man muttered, but he didn't have time to move from his place, because his sons were already approaching him with thick chains hanging from the ceiling. Without a moment's delay, they fastened them to the brackets at the corners of the scaffolding. As soon as everything was fastened the structure soared upwards set in motion by the winch at which James was standing.- Well, now it's your turn.- Matheo patted Draco on the shoulder.- Remember you have to keep the fire going until I tell you enough is enough.- The boy only nodded.

-Breathe fire until the signal, sure.- Draco confirmed once more and faced the raised scaffolding. He took a breath and changed into his dragon form. He took a few deeper breaths again and, after glancing at the blacksmith, breathed fire. The workshop glowed red and the temperature rose considerably. Drops of sweat appeared on the faces of the twins and James, and Matheo squinted.

-Stop!- shouted the blacksmith. Draco paused his breathing and looked at the heated pieces. Each piece of metal was a different colour. Suddenly, the whole structure fell down into the well. Clouds of steam rose from above the surface of the water and quickly began to condense.- Up!- Matheo commanded, and James and Angus pushed against the winch. The chains tightened and after a moment the scaffolding emerged from the cooling liquid. The whole thing appeared to be covered in frost, which seemed to grow larger with each passing moment.- Once more.- Matheo commanded. Draco took a deep breath and again breathed a plume of fire. This time the breathing lasted longer and the dragon was already beginning to wonder if the smith was checking how long he would be able to keep the flame going.- Stop!- As soon as the fire died down the scaffold fell once more into the murky depths of the well.

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James pushed against the winch. He was really tired by now, but he consoled himself that he would only have to do it one more time. Sweat was running profusely down his back and chest, and it didn't help at all even that he could feel a pleasant chill coming from the open well. He had rarely worked with dragons before, and the one time he had observed the hardening process this way it seemed to him that it was not that warm at all. He wiped his forehead in an effort to shake off, or at least move, the wet hair from his face and wipe away the sweat flooding his eyes. The elf had long since given up any semblance of culture in the company of ladies and had thrown his sweaty shirt somewhere in the corner of the workshop. Besides, he was not the first, as the brothers had given up much earlier. Only Matheo seemed not to have fully tired of the heat in the forge. However, given the amount of time the smith had spent at the furnace and anvil in his life, one could guess that he was used to such heat.

-One last time.- Matheo was slightly hoarse which made his voice sound a little strange. James looked at the dragon again. He was fascinated by how Draco breathed fire. The boy just glanced at the smith, took a breath and spat flame at the scaffolding. As fire gushed from between his sharp teeth, the dragon looked truly terrifying. Slightly squinted eyes fixed on the flames, slightly spread wings, a gently leaning forward massive figure and a brilliantly visible tension in all his muscles. James now understood why it was said that meeting a dragon on the battlefield was frightening even if one already knew some great reptile.- Stop!- Matheo waved his hand and the elf had no more time to think further. As soon as the bright flames were extinguished, he kicked the winch lock and the chains violently uncoiled with a deafening clatter. The water hissed, steam rose from the well, and immediately it was time to get to work. He pushed on the rod and began to turn the intricate structure. The chains whined as they strained and he had to work harder. Gasping and breathing deeply, he finally lifted the structure above the surface of the coolant. As soon as the scaffolding was at the right height he adjusted the lock and sat down heavily leaning against the winch. Everyone seemed exhausted, not by the work itself, but by the temperature in the forge. Draco seemed to be the only one who hadn't noticed the difference between how the workshop had been in the beginning and how it was now.- Good work boys,- the blacksmith praised everyone.- We still need to remove the fittings and you will be able to rest.

James lifted himself off the floor heavily and leaned against the rod. Now the worst task awaited him. He had to slowly lower the structure so that the twins could drag it deep into the workshop using the long poles. He pushed against the winch and when it budged he pulled back the locking mechanism and slowly began to move backwards. He didn't take his eyes off the coils of chain so as not to be distracted, but he knew that the brothers had hooked the poles to the wheels on the underside of the scaffolding and were pulling them towards the open part of the workshop. Step by step, he slowly unwound the heavy chains until he finally heard the steel hitting the stone and could finally lock the mechanism with a sigh of relief. Finally, it's over. He thought.

-Which one next?- Draco's voice in dragon form was deeper and sharper than normal, but it didn't lose at all of its usual tone and sound. -Will we temper them in the same way?- James looked at the dragon, who was crouching beside the icy cold steel structure and poking his claw curiously at the finished samples.

-What?- asked the twins, Matheo, Fiora and Gizel, in chorus. James no longer had the strength so he just looked at the dragon with surprise, he hoped, written on his face.

-So in another way?- Golden eyes swept the room. It seemed Draco was so engrossed in his work that he didn't interpret the others' reactions very well.- Will we keep the flame or the cooling longer?- He turned his head and poked one of the tiles curiously. It was evident that he enjoyed the work and did not tire at all. James groaned wondering how much energy the young dragon had.

-Didn't you get tired?- Master Vittoro seemed as surprised as everyone else.

-No, why?- Draco didn't even look up, looking at the twisted parts of the structure with fascination. The steel of which the scaffolding was made had not withstood the process.- Frequently, I was unable to practice my abilities if I didn't sneak into the classroom after class, so I had to make up the amount with intensity, or practice breathing fire on the fly.- He shrugged his powerful shoulders.- It wasn't even a warm-up.- He carefully grasped the central plate in the two claws of one paw and bent the twisted fastenings with the other. He took out a piece of blue steel and looked at it under the light.

-Draco, umm...- The blacksmith really seemed to have forgotten his tongue.- Draco?- He repeated when the dragon took no notice of him.

-Sorry, yes?- The boy turned towards Matheo.

-The boys have been winding this whole contraption up, so let's take a break.- Master Vittoro smiled at the dragon and pointed at his sons, who were slick with sweat, and the elf sitting on the floor.- Well, we don't have to rush through all this anyway.- He added and immediately laughed.

-I'm sorry, I hadn't noticed.- Draco apologetically, or at least that's what James assumed, bared his sharp teeth.- I got caught up because I haven't had a chance to practice lately.

-Well, my dears.- Fiora clapped her hands.- In that case, let's go upstairs and let it cool down here. Even under Gizel's protective shield, it's starting to get stuffy.- James looked at the elven woman and noticed a few runes glinting faintly at her feet. She must have cast a spell to keep out the heat. James was beginning to think whether it would be useful to try and enquire her about such useful magic. Given his small mana reserve he had no chance of becoming a combat mage or scholar, but he could always use one or another simple trick.- Draco, my dear, could you help James?- The dwarf smiled as the dragon nodded vigorously.

The elf rose from the floor and leaned against the winch, and the next moment felt a strong arm supporting him. He glanced at Draco and nodded gratefully. It seemed that the mage, even in his human form, did not feel the heat of the forge at that moment. The bolt on the door squeaked and a breath of brisk, fresh air rushed into the workshop. Everyone scrambled towards the floor exit.

It wasn't until James sank into the soft upholstery that he realised they were upstairs in the guest lounge. Beside him stood Draco with a worried expression looking at the elf. It looked like the dragon had carried his friend upstairs.

-Thanks,- James muttered. A look of relief appeared on the dragon's face and Draco plopped down on the couch next to the apprentice blacksmith.- I hope I wasn't too heavy.-Added the elf in a tired voice.

-I didn't even feel it.- Laughed the dragon.

-I'm not surprised.- Angus replied, sitting down on the other side of the table.- It looked like he picked you up like a rag doll. No offence James.- He quickly added. The elf just waved his hand, perfectly aware of how it must have looked. They both smiled.

-If you took me out like that I wouldn't be offended either.- Florence plopped down next to his brother with a pained expression on his face.

-Only without being so exploitative.- The elven woman gracefully sat down on the armchair on the right.- You managed to walk out on your own, so don't complain.

-As for once I have to agree.- Fiora raked her sons with her eyes and placed a large jug with evidently cold water on the table.- Now drink up, because you are about to fall over on me.- The brothers only muttered something with little satisfaction and stretched out on the sofa without energy.

Draco was the first to reach for the jug, which probably surprised both the dwarf and the elven lady, but it was immediately clear that he had not poured for himself. He handed the cup to James, and the elf gratefully sipped the contents. The cool water with some juice worked wonders. After just a few sips, James felt the fatigue slowly drain away and he was no longer so heated.

-This was what I needed.- He said with a sigh and mutely asked the dragon for another cup.- I thought I was going to be cooked.- He took the cup in his hand and emptied it with a few sips.- I really envy you not feeling the temperature changes.- He said glancing at Draco. The dragon just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

-It's pretty much a necessary skill if you can breathe fire.- Draco grinned wider and stretched out on the couch.

-Yes, that really makes sense with fire dragons.- Gizel joined in.- But all great reptiles have a very high temperature tolerance.

-A racial trait.- Matheo pulled himself a chair from the dining room and sat down with a gasp.- They're just all extremely resilient.

-Looking at you, darling, you're not much inferior to a dragon's endurance.- Fiora placed another jug on the table and this time her sons immediately reached for a cold drink.

-Years of practice.- The blacksmith waved his hand.- Just years of practice.

-I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever want to say that it's simply years of practice.- Angus muttered, covering his eyes with his hand. He did not look enthused by the vision of acquiring endurance to extreme temperatures through countless hours spent at the smelting furnace or hearth and anvil.

-We have little choice,- Florence cast a weary glance at his brother.- Somehow, we will have to get used to it.- He sighed draughtily and rubbed his forehead.

-Well, if you have the strength to complain then please clean yourselves up.- Ordered the dwarf in an unobjectionable tone.- You are to show Draco the town, and I won't let you go anywhere in this state.- She threatened her sons with her finger.

-I have to do that too.- James slowly picked himself up.- No, no, I can do it.- He smiled at Draco, who was already willing to help him.- I've got enough strength to walk a bit and somehow pull myself together.

-If something happens, the two of us will somehow get him over.- Angus laughed and he and his brother grabbed the elf under his arms.

-Come on...- James didn't feel like resisting in the slightest and just let himself be dragged along by the twins.