Author's Note: Here's the next chapter in Tula's tale. I enjoyed writing this one and setting up some character development. Hopefully the characters are interesting, the sex is hot and the hints of a developing story keep you readers hooked. Let me know how I'm doing - kind feedback and ratings keep me writing and constructive criticism is helpful!
*****
Chapter 02 - The Rhythm of a New Life
The smithy that served Bal's Post's harbour was a small, open air affair. Set off to one side of a small, wooden house, the forge area was surrounded by a low stone wall, against which sat a few sturdy tables and the hearth and chimney. A shirtless dwarf, dressed in leather trousers and a scuffed and battered leather apron was shovelling coal from a small handcart into the hearth. The sides of the young woman's head were shaved. Running from her fringe to the back of her neck was a short, dirty blonde mohawk that that she wore in a tight braid. Her arms and shoulders were heavily muscled and her shirtless state displayed them and her tanned skin to good effect. Tula was impressed. The corners of the smith's blue eyes crinkled and her ruddy cheeks creased as she smiled cheerfully at the orc.
"G'day ma'am," she said, giving Tula a nod. "Name's Fiona. What can I do for you?"
"Greetings. I am Tula. I would like to purchase a dagger."
"That can be arranged," said Fiona, leaning her shovel against the cart and walking over to a table beside the forge. There were a few canvas wrapped bundles lying on the various tables and the dwarf unfurled one of them to reveal a selection of short blades. "I've mostly got longknives - the fishermen like those - but there's a couple of other options."
Tula approached the displayed implements and looked them over while Fiona moved on to the next counter and unwrapped the bundle seated upon it. Despite her apparent youth (it was generally difficult to guess the age of a dwarf, blessed with long lives as they were, similar to elvenkind) the blades she had displayed for Tula were of excellent craftsmanship. However, they were predominantly of the long, fine, razor sharp type favored by the local fishermen; there were only a few stouter dirks and daggers among the selection.
Once she had finished unfurling the rest of her wares, the smith returned to Tula's side. "So, what d'you think?"
"These are of good workmanship," said the orc, "but I am looking for something a bit more robust and it need not be so long." She picked up a dirk with a simple, spear-point blade, three quarters the length of her forearm with a leather wrapped handle, capped by an iron ball pommel.
"That's a decent piece right there, if I do say so myself," said Fiona. "Mandun style. Bit of a fighting blade, to be honest. Not what I usually sell."
"I like it."
"You've got a good eye, then. Point's tapered enough to get through a thick hide," said the dwarf, before giving the orc a shrewd look, "or leather and gambeson, if that's your fancy. Good shroud-steel blade and a full-length gutter - nice and light but proper strong. I'll let it go for four pence."
"Two pence and we have a deal."
The smith chuckled. "We both know I'm going to sell it for three."
"Agreed," said Tula, handing over the coins. "Do you have a sheath and a belt for it?"
"I'm no leather-worker, but I can whip one up for you," said Fiona. "What say we skip the haggling and agree that two coin will cover the work and materials?"
"That is a fair price," said Tula, "but I can not pay it right now. I should be able to pay by tomorrow, if that is acceptable."
"I dunno, lady," shrugged the dwarf. "No offence, but I've never seen you around town before. I don't want to spend my arvo cuttin' a belt and scabbard for you only to find you can't scrape up the coin."
"I will be able to pay," insisted Tula. "I am new here, it is true, but I have employment."
"Yeah? Where're you workin'?"
"I am a 'wench' at the inn," announced the orc proudly. Fiona struggled to hide the grin the orc's dignified pronouncement elicited.
"Huh, workin' for Dan, eh?"
"Yes," said Tula. "He hired me today."
"Well," said Fiona, scratching her chin and peering speculatively at the orc, "Alright then. I hope you're not goin' to scarper on me."
"So we have a deal?"
"We do," nodded the smith. "Leave the dagger with me, I'll need it for fitting. I'm by the inn most nights for a drink - I'll come by this evenin' and drop it off with the belt and sheath."
After exchanging thanks, Tula left the smithy. She spent the remainder of the morning walking the streets of the harbour, getting the lay of the land. Two main roads met at a T-junction outside the city's southern gates. One ran north along the shore of the Darksea, from the capital, Tennegen, in the south, around the city walls and up into the Shrouded Mountains. The other led westwards towards Sandrest and the Kingdom of Dirne.
Unwilling to pay the fee for a pass into the city, Tula turned away from the guards at the gate and returned to the waterfront. She took a seat on the end of one of the piers and ate her lunch before returning to the inn, pausing to have a drink from the well in the rear courtyard of the tavern.