What is it about some people that makes them refuse to take a hint? Or even a direct statement?

 

"Why do you always wear this thing?" Demming asked me, flipping the hood of my robe.

 

I scowled at him. "You know why. I have a big, ugly scar."

 

"So you say. Prove it. Show me yours and I'll show you mine." He grinned and pushed his hips forward. Jesus.

 

"Go away, Demming. I'm trying to work."

 

Three months of this shit. I had to remind myself that it was better than the year of enslavement, but sometimes I wasn't so sure. There's nothing like sweltering in a heavy robe in front of multiple forges shoveling toxic ash while being sexually harassed by a grandstanding dunce to make one long for the peace and serenity of the road, with fresh air on your naked body, surrounded by trees and sunlight and golden silence.

 

I ignored him as best I could and watched Adrianne out of the corner of my eye. She was using an unfamiliar technique this time, hammering at an upward angle. The effect seemed to be a lengthening of the blade without widening the base as much as usual, but then...

 

"Hey, Shan, watch this!" Demming flipped an iron rod, one end glowing orange, in the air. It burned an orange circle, which I grudgingly admit looked pretty cool. Then he caught the wrong end in his hand and screamed, dropping the bar on the ground.

 

"Divines, Demming. Really?" Adrianne glowered at him. Tears poured down his cheeks as his hand started to blister. "Where are your gloves? Get your ass to the doctor, fool!"

 

Demming ran for the door. "Just what we needed. Jordy, you'll have to take over for him."

 

"But I've got to finish the rest of these braces! You said..."

 

"I know, but we also need stuff to sell in the shop." Adrianne turned back to her work, but then stopped. She turned toward me. "Shannon. You seem interested in what we're doing."

 

Oops. Caught looking. "I'm sorry, ma'am, I was just..."

 

"No, it's not a problem. Would you like to learn?"

 

Well, yes, actually. That's sort of the plan. "Yes ma'am."

 

"Good. Jordy, never mind. We'll make this work."

 

"Yes ma'am." He gave me a bemused smile and turned back to his forge. If I didn't have this damn collar...

 

Adrianne set the sword she had been working on down and walked over to Demming's forge, motioning me to follow. "So, show me what you've learned."

 

"Learned? I...I haven't..."

 

"Oh, don't take me for a fool, girl. Do you really think I haven't noticed you watching my every move since you started here?"

 

I ducked my head, embarrassed.

 

"Show me what you've learned."

 

I grabbed a pair of leather gloves from the stack by the door, picked up Demming's hammer and the iron rod he had burned himself on, and did my best to make a dagger. Seeing someone use a technique is very different from making the same motion yourself, so my strikes were not as precise as I had hoped, but when it was done, I thought it looked reasonably presentable.

 

"That's...actually not too bad for a first attempt," Adrianne said as she turned it in her hands. "Let me show you what you missed."

 

By the end of the day I had made two daggers and a hide helmet. None of them were showroom worthy, but Adrianne seemed pleased. "We'll continue this tomorrow. You show promise."

 

I smiled and thanked her. Phase two of my still-hazy plan was complete - I had access to the forge. Time for phase three - whatever that would entail.

 

Don't feed the bastards - they'll just want more

 

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