as each voiced thoughts, curious and admiring, with more than a little trepidation. Elena had told them this morning that they would learn to ride on them, as a soldier would be assigned to them each as a bodyguard. Kassie flushed at the thought of riding one.
Oh God, that'll be embarrassing. It seems indecent.
The others agreed.
I can't ask them to wear reins, how the heck will I stay on?
Loi choked back a giggle when Kassie thought that, and all the heads of those there turned to stare at them.
Oops.
Let's focus on the blacksmith shall we? Sian suggested.
Ugh. Thanks Kass, I thought to myself. Now I can't get that image out my head. We turned our attention to the two men standing in the center of the crowd. One wore a heavy leather apron that bore many burns, and the other had simple court clothes. Lieutenant Rashid introduced them.
'Your Highness, this is Therban, the blacksmith and Ormbel, the metal fabricer.'
Both men bowed, then Ormbel invited us to a room out the back. Our men and the Lieutenants joined us, and it wasn't until then that I realized Gredel was there.
'Gredel!' I beamed at him. 'How are your girls?'
The burly man's face instantly switched from focused and stern to an expression of puppy love.
'They're good. Rirae has lost all the blue fur, and is crawling so fast now! Nothing seems out of—'
'Shall we get to your fitting, Your Highness?'
Ormbel interrupted Gredel with a bored expression. The uncomfortable silence as everyone stared at Ormbel caused the man to falter.
'Oh, my apologies for interrupting, but I have many pieces that need to be made.'
In a curt tone I said, 'Certainly. Do continue.'
The awkwardness in the air faded quickly enough, and the others had a seat while Ormbel brought out a large length of chain-mail. I reached out and caught the end of it.
'That's so fine. Is it normally this fine?'
Ormbel gave a surprisingly modest smile.
'No, Your Highness. I created this with the aid of the Toural goblins in Xahrea.'
It was beautiful. An odd description for armor, but the section of finely wrought links I studied could have been jewelry. The metal shimmered charcoal, with hints of iridescent blue and purple.
'It's just so fine.'
I really couldn't believe it was armor.
'What can it withstand?'
Ormbel ignored my question for a moment as he focused on the chain-mail. The murmur of his energy sounded, as a slit appeared in the mail and he lifted it, about to drape it over my head when Ignatius made a harsh sound from behind me. Ormbel froze with wide eyes.
'Oh, uh, I beg your pardon. If you'll permit me?'
Ormbel offered the chain-mail, and I bit my lip to hold back a smile as Alek flashed a look of amusement at me.
Just the other night he'd explained that Ignatius's grandfather had been the adviser to my grandfather, and it looked like Alek wasn't wrong in suspecting Iggy might like the role.
Well if I can't have Yakov as my adviser, I guess Ignatius will do, I thought. I gave Ormbel the officially acceptable nod then ducked my head, allowing him to slip the cool metal fabric over my shoulders.
Sian watched as Ormbel shaped the fabric around Cat. Excess pieces of the chain-mail dropped to the ground as he created the arms of the armor. Daron's hand stroked idly against the small of her back and she leaned back to smile up at him.
'Impressed?' he nodded at Cat, who now stood clothed in gorgeous chain-mail. Sian nodded.
'I want my turn.'
The door opened and everyone turned as Ada entered, her arms piled high with dark crimson, heavily textured leather. About to give her a hug, Sian paused at the sensation of another being's energy swelling.
'Who's that?'
Ormbel wasn't using his energy now, and neither were the girls or Ada.
'Who's what?' Daron asked. 'You know Ada.'
Sian laughed and shook her head.
'No, I meant the energy. Someone's doing something.'
Ormbel, who'd walked to Ada and now examined the sections of leather, distractedly said, 'It's Therban, he's working on the armor for the centaurs.'
'Therban's gifted as well?' Kassie asked in surprise.
Ormbel looked their way and shrugged, his lips pursed.
'Of course. Not particularly, like myself, but he's capable of working metal.'
Standing behind Ormbel patiently waiting for him to get back to her, Ada rolled her eyes at the girls and stared, unimpressed at the man's back. When he turned back, she'd assumed a disinterested expression and Sian twisted, burrowing her face in Daron's tunic to conceal her giggles.