on a piece of parchment that was splayed out on his workbench.
“These guys are good,” Rio said, whispering in my ear. I could not help it as it flinched at the close contact, brushing against his face. “Professionals – real artists.”
The blacksmith finished his sketch and lifted the parchment up for us to see. He had drawn several designs for what I assumed was a dagger. The blade was straight, with a hole in it close to the guard. The tang was simple with elegant angles. I just nodded at it.
“Carry on, good sir,” Rio said.
The blacksmith took the drawing and disappeared further into the smithy. Rio pulled me back outside, where Levent was still standing.
“Wait – don’t we have to pay? How much-“ I asked.
“Already done,” Rio said. “He, too, owes me many favors.”
“Rio…” I said, my voice a warning.
“What? It’s not a big deal. I just assist him in obtaining rarer materials. It’s a win-win situation, really.”
We then made our way toward the Aenlilea residence. Rio had his arms wrapped around my shoulders the whole time, leaning into me and chuckling when I could not hold up his wait and stumbled to the side.
“So what’s the hole for?” I asked.
“What?” Rio said.
“In the blade. I mean, it’s pretty but there must be a reason,” I said.
“Partially for weight,” Rio said. “Partially also because it helps it not stick when you stab someone all the way to the hilt.” He mimed a demonstration of the action.
My face contorted in disgust.
“Or, you know. Because it’s pretty,” he said.
We turned the corner and trudged toward Aenlilea’s workshop.
“What’s up?” Rio said as we went inside. Kewyn turned from where she was slumped over a desk and glared. “Wait. Mad already? What did I do?”
“Nothing,” Kewyn said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. “I wanted to thank you for helping find those kidnappers, even if it was by fool unluckiness alone. I can get you an actual port pass; you don’t have to keep pretending to be a child.”
Levent nodded.