The hammer hit the steel, sending sparks throughout the dimly lit workshop. Yula's hair pulled back into a single braid so as to not get in the way or catch fire.
Not that it would, Yula was a pure blooded dwarf afterall. She had loved crafting and forging ever since she was able to hold a hammer.
That was even after she had been forced into slavery to do so. There was just nothing like it. There was nothing else for her. The only way she could contribute, the only way she could help her family was to knock the hammer against the steel.
The sound calmed her and when she was in this world of steel and hammer she could think of nothing- but the face of the man who saved her invaded it again. A concerned gentle smile. Crystalline blue eyes that looked at her worriedly for her safety. Even in the heat of what some survivors called a war he listened to her babble about making weapons.
Her hammer missed the steel, her body flung slightly forward as her forehead hit the anvil.
"O-o-ooooowwwww…" she groaned, rubbing the spot.
A giggle came from the counter and Yula yelped in surprise, nearly falling back on the dirty sooted floor.
A relieved breath came out as she pressed her gloved hand to her chest. "T-Tanya! It's just y-you. How long have y-you been there?"
Tanya leaned over the counter and smiled at her friend. "I've been watching for a while. You are so focused when you smith it's incredible to watch! At least until a certain someone enters your head," she snickered as she almost hummed the words.
Yula's face went red, even bleeding through her soot covered face. She scrambled to grab the steel she was working on, throwing it back into the furnace to heat.
"H-how do you know..?"
"I'm very perceptive at these sorts of things," Tanya sighed, shaking her head. "That and my sister acts quite the same. She does her duty, but every so often she stops and sighs, or slips and falls from distraction as she looks towards where he is."
"H-he..?" Yula muttered slightly embarrassed,"Who do you-"
Tanya had moved closer, whispering into Yula's ears, "Lord Drake Wallen, The Tyrant Asuran, our savior…"
Yula jerked back covering her one ear as her face went even more beat red.
"N-n-no! I would never d-dare!"
Tanya pursed her lips. "And why not? You're a very beautiful and talented woman. He would be lucky to have you."
"He already has three wives, Tanya, that's why! H-he doesn't need someone as useless as me…"
Tanya sighed but left it at that for now, she had things to do and stopped in to make sure her friend had something to eat. Yula regularly forgot to eat when she was engrossed in smithing. Even more so now that she was doing it to prove she was useful to the city.
The Lady Natto had an especially good eye for talent. And it hadn't taken her long to notice that Yula was a talented smith. Lady Natto quickly hired Yula to make arms for everyone under Lord Wallen's care to make sure they had the highest quality equipment possible.
Speaking of, the door creaked open as a familiar face walked in.
Tanya bowed her head. "Lady Mclain, how are you this evening?"
Charlotte dipped her head slightly in greeting, but did not smile as usual. Her face emotionless and cold.
"Hello Tanya, I've told you to stop calling me Lady, I'm sure I'm younger than you…"
"Yes, Lady Mclain. However, while in the public eye it is only right to address on of the Lord's students with proper respect."
Charlotte sighed, and turned to Yula instead. "How have you been, Yula? Is my order coming along?"
Yula stood up straight at being addressed, trying to wipe the soot from her face and clothes before she bowed her head slightly.
"Yes! It should only b-be a few more days. The process is taking longer than I expected," Yula explained, becoming passionate, "The material you and the others are bringing are of very high quality. So I am able to experiment with more methods than before which allows for such a stark difference in quality of weaponry…"
Yula began to trail off as she saw Charlotte was not responding quite as passionately.
"Y-yes, it will be done within a few d-days, Lady Mclain…"
Charlotte nodded, pulling a large bag from her inventory and placing it on the floor.
"Good. I was able to go back to what remains of Sandal and secured what I could from the mines. Unfortunately, I do not have a mining profession so I was only able to grab what was left behind. But I do hope it will be of use to you, Yula. If you need anything please let me know, I will go and obtain it if I am able. I will do anything to help the city," Charlotte said firmly.
Tanya watched the exchange silently until it seemed that Yula was not sure what to say, or more accurately wasn't sure how to say it.
"I believe she wishes to see how the young Lord is doing," Tanya said in Yula's stead, "We have all heard of the rumors of what happened when he attacked Avalon."
Charlotte turned and looked more cold than usual but instead asked her own question.
"You know what happened, why don't you tell her yourself?"
"I am not at liberty to say, I serve the Lord as a simple maid. Perhaps allowing Yula to see for herself would allow her some peace of mind on this matter?" Tanya proposed.
Yula looked expectantly, despite trying to hide it as she moved the large bag back into the smithing area.
"You will have to ask his wives yourself. I can't give you permission myself," Charlotte explained, "I am going there myself, so you are free to join me."
Tanya gave a small bow and smiled, looking over to Yula who was for lack of a better word excited.
Charlotte left the room first, followed next by Tanya then a scrambling Yula, the door to the smithy slamming behind them.
"Yula? Yula!" Horrib shouted, "What is that blasted girl do- AH!!!"
Horrib ran to the furnace, pulling out the hot metal and sinking it deep into the water to cool.
"Is she trying to ruin our damned furnace!? Bah! I'm going to the tavern damn it! That girl has left her old man alone again!"
But Horrib sighed, a slight smile tugging at his lips, "This old fools just happy she's able to do what she wants freely now…" he sniffled, his arm wiping his face, "Time to get drunk! Bet those dumb quadruplets will be there, I'll drink 'em under the table a few more times! Hahaha!"
—--------------------------------------
"Claire! Are you listening sweety?"
Claire snapped back to reality, looking at her concerned mother-in-law.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry I was just…" she sighed.
A sopping wet hand hit her shoulder playfully, "Don't you be worrying about my son too often. He will be fine. Now, if you want to learn how to make his favorite foods you have to pay attention!" Mrs. Wallen laughed.
Currently Claire and Mrs. Wallen were in the kitchen. Prepping and cooking several dishes, pork sinigang, beef caldereta, and a sticky rice desert they were using the last of some purple juice to make.
The smell filled the room with all types of smells Claire had never experienced, but they were mouthwatering. Even more so now that she suspected she had to eat for two.
Claire wasn't sure. But she was sure.
Regardless, since the day Drake had left, Claire was forced to stand up as the first wife of their "Oh so great leader".
If only everyone knew how he acted all the time… she thought to herself sighing.
Bringing her attention back she followed along with her mother-in-law as she went through the prepping steps for the food. Sadly her mind continued to wander back to him.
She followed Mrs. Wallen with her eyes but her mind remembered how Drake left abruptly yet again. How everyone had looked when he froze himself and his friends in ice and asked them all to protect the city until they returned.
Sarah was devastated when they returned and told of what happened, but thanks to the support of all the kids Drake had taught along with her own efforts at calming her down. Sarah reluctantly came to terms with what was happening with Drake at the moment. As did they all.
The kids came to visit very often. Checking up on both her and Sara. Aralleen's sister, Tanya was a great help around the massive house Drake and Natto provided for them. Was it a bit difficult to get used to being called Miss and Lady by her all the time?
Of course it was. But that was just her life now. Thankfully despite a rocky introduction to Aralleen, the elf princess was more than willing to help Claire with proper etiquette of a, well. Claire supposed she was technically royalty now? WIth how Drake was considered the leader of the city, but also the last Asuran, and also the Patriarch of the Rahk Tribe.
To be honest, Claire was getting a headache just thinking about the long list of titles Drake was called by at this point.
But even after everything, Claire was happy to have the people she did around her. It had been quite a long time since she had lost and come to terms with family being taken from her. But now she had a loving one in Drake's.
Claire smiled as she tried her best to refocus once again, watching her mother-in-law joke and tell her of when Drake was a child how he would do this or that. All the while cutting beef, pork, and vegetables.
And just like every morning the people in the house began to swarm and awaken.
"Moooommmmm, when is it going to be ready?" a voice came from the hallway.
Mrs. Wallen's hand moved like lightning, a chancla appearing in her hand as she threw it into the doorway a loud smack sounding as the slipper curved the corner, hitting something.
"It will be ready when it is ready! How dare you rush your mother?! That is not how I raised my son!" she shouted in a huff.
Dillion walked into the kitchen a moment later, tears in his eyes and a red lump between his brows, "Mooomm…. I was just asking!" he whined rubbing his forehead.
Another voice laughed from the same doorway before another chancla flew, quieting it. A moment later a frowning Travis waddled into view, a much larger red lump on his forehead.
"What did I do?" Tavis grumbled.
"I told you not to laugh at your brother!" Mrs. Wallen yelled.
Travis hit Dillian in the back of the head lightly, "Look what happened because of you again…"
Another flying object, this time a wooden spoon found its way to the side of Travis's head.
"Don't hit your brother!"
Dillion pointed and laughed, forgetting his pain for a moment, until another flying object hit him in the back of the head.
Claire just giggled to herself, watching the near daily occurrence of the Wallen family.
Then a final voice came from the hallway.
"Claireeeee!!" the voice said in a muffled whine.
Claire pursed her lips and spread her arms, welcoming the last new comer to the kitchen as she buried her face in Claire's chest.
"I-I misshhh himmm!!"
Clare laughed patting down on the head covered by a one piece pajama. Two fluffy bunny ears in the form of a hood, pinkish fur with a white tail, and two big fluffy rabbit feet to complete it.
"I know, I miss him too Sarah," Claire reassured her, "You know him, he always goes at his own pace. How about we go visit him together?"
Sarah hugged Claire slightly tighter and nodded.
Claire's smile deepened. Sarah was a proud Rahk warrior, but over the course of her pregnancy she had become moody and entirely clingy. At first it was her dismayed about Drake, then she found comfort in talking to Claire. And now, she was almost like the little sister Claire had never known.
"My two daughters are so adorable," Mrs. Wallen beamed, then frowned as she looked at her sons, "Unlike my other unruly children! Why could I not have daughters from the beginning!"
Travis groaned, "Alright, I'm going out to hunt with the others. I'll be back when Mom stops telling us how disappointed in us she is."
"So… never..?" Dillion chuckled, crouching down as he dodged another spatula.
"Get out of here both of you! You will sour my food!" Mrs. Wallen sighed and walked over to Sarah, "My poor girl, would you like to give the soup a taste? Maybe it will make you feel better?"
Sarah nodded, the ears on her pajamas flopping up and down with the motion while never letting go of Claire.
Another rumbling came from out of the hall, Dillion quickly snagging a few snacks before bolting out of the kitchen at the sound.
Two voices of women went back and forth, forcing a sigh out of Claire.
"Have I not told you to both watch your mouth and how you dress?! It is obscene to walk around in the clothing you are not wearing!"
"Jealous, are we princess? There is nothing wrong with the natural form of one's body. You'd do well to take notes. Maybe the Lord Wallen would have a go at you then, haha!"
"Aralleen, Teresa, must you both argue this early in the morning?" Claire asked, both of them turning the corner.
"This unruly beast continues to prance around in nothing but her underware! It is unseemly!" Aralleen frowned, pointing at Teresa.
"These are my casual ware. I am a beastkin, you are lucky I am wearing anything at all!" Teresa laughed.
Rubbing her eyes, Claire tried to reason with them both again. "Aralleen, Teresa is an adult and is free to wear whatever she is comfortable in. Teresa, please remember there are other people in the world who don't wish to see you half naked for a majority of the day. I for one would prefer you at least put something to cover up."
"There is no need for a woman of our statures to allow for her to walk around like a harlot!" Aralleen pressed her finger into Teresa's chest, "I would rue the day I allowed for Lord Wallen to betroth someone like you who willingly shows themselves to others!"
Teresa raised a twitchy brow, "And who the fuck said I need your permission to do anything? I'm a woman who gets what she wants. And I'll be having the master of this place in my bed before long, just you wait little girl."
"Enough!" Claire roared. Both women recoiled, not because they were afraid of Claire harming them.
Teresa and Aralleen both could overwhelm Claire easily with their combat stats. No they recoiled because of the woman around her waist giving them the evil eye, as well as they knew should they even attempt to harm Claire, Natto would turn them to a smoldering pile of ash.
Not that either would. Their arguments were between them, but they always seemed to get more heated around one another, be that from their polar opposite personalities or that they in some weird twisted logic respected each other.
Aralleen was the prim and proper princess through and through. Naive to the world at large, but understood the inner workings of the political and royal landscape. But she also knew well enough to understand she was new to this multiverse like everyone else and must learn accordingly. Political maneuvering was relatively the same everywhere, there were just added chess moves now that the world had broadened its horizons.
And Teresa, the straightforward leader of her clan. She wouldn't know how to lie if the lie told her word for word what to say. There was no need in her mind, strength trumped words every time. And if you weren't strong enough it was simple. Get stronger. She was a person that said what she wanted and did what she wanted. There was no giving up and no giving in. However, here where she was outmatched by several stronger people. She was finding that there was another option. Compromise.
"Fine, I will go for a walk along the outskirts. I need to put my flail through something's head anyway…" Teresa grumbled.
"I have formal administrative duties to attend to regardless," Araleen humphed, turning around as well.
"Oh no you don't you two! Grab yourself some food before you leave, you are both so skinny!" Mrs. Wallen demanded, "I won't have such lovely women starve while in my son's house."
Both Teresa and Aralleen blushed, nodding and grabbing several things before leaving.
Claire could only shake her head, patting Sarah on hers for remaining so calm during the whole thing.
"Well, now that is finished. Shall we go see Drake before we eat? I'm sure Natto could use the company."