Morning came and passed, and the two young men soon found themselves back at the Mouth of Flame after a meal at the Ram. Rycher was once again at his post, steam pouring from the machine he labored at. They called out in greeting but the pounding drowned out the sounds of their voices, so they went around and stood side by side until he noticed them. He bore a great grin and stepped away from the apparatus as it ground to a halt, spreading his arms wide as they approached. “My friends! Good morning! Sorry about the noise of the steam hammer.” Makatai gave a bemused smirk. He had warmed to them quickly, it seemed. And a good thing too. Even as they had made their way there, the ten minute walk had felt like hours as people stared and muttered, ranging from aggressive to afraid. Having even one ally within those titanic walls made a world of difference to them, didn’t make them feel quite as alien as they did prior.

“Good morning. We’ve-” Makatai started, but was cut off almost immediately. “Hold that thought” Rycher said in a quick tone, quickly turning his head from side to side and scanning his surroundings. Early as it was there were a few people coming and going in the square where the Avalonian lived, and so he beckoned for them to follow him inside. They obliged and once again followed him through the door and took seats at the table in the shopfront.

“Pisses me off, you know.” Rycher grunted, squinting through the light that penetrated the tall windows and out into the courtyard. “Sorry?” Makatai and Ahanu exchanged quizzical looks, momentarily confused. The rhythmic thudding of the steam hammers pierced the midday air, the heartbeat of the city within the walls “Those stares. You got them all the way here, I suppose?” He pointed out and through the glass, across the cobbles. An older woman was washing clothes on the other side, her greying hair wrapped in a bandanna. She sat at a stool washing clothes in a large wooden bucket, and yet all the while stared into Rycher’s forge at them through the window. When she spotted Rycher staring back at her, eyes burning, she quickly snapped her head back down and pretended not to notice, engrossing herself in her washing.

“I should probably have made it a little more clear yesterday, so let me do so now. People are desperate to blame their discomfort on the Navahoans. They believe that because the queen has such a high reward out for shamans, they’re likely the cause of our skyrocketing tax and our lack of leviathan bone. She feeds them propaganda, and they lap it up like dogs when if they stopped to look for half a second they’d realise it’s all talk and no substance. Why would Navahoans be taking leviathan bone? They don’t even MAKE THEIR OWN FUCKING WEAPONS, FOR SPIRITS’ SAKE!” Rycher’s fists were clenched in tight rage, but his grip loosened when he felt Ahanu’s hand on his shoulder. They looked at Rycher in obvious concern and he took a great breath before placing his palms flat on the table and closing his eyes, inhaling and exhaling through his nose.

“Forgive me. But I have watched my people blindly accept her words as truth, just because they want to. Security tightens, guards abuse power, people disappear without a trace. It’s just… I know this nation could be so much more. I just know it.” He relaxed his shoulders again, opening his eyes and sitting up straight in his chair. “But never mind that now. Just something to be careful of. What can I do for you today, gentlemen?”

“Well, I actually have a special request for you.” Ahanu leant forward, bearing a wide grin as he did so. “How much do you know about Navahoan marriage customs?” Rycher gave a dry laugh in response. “She’s a lucky girl, my friend. But I’m not sure how much help a blacksmith could be with your wedding preparations.” “All I need from you is a pair of bracelets! Think you can do that, forge master? Oh, and they need a spirit glass bead each.”

“Hmph. All my talk about our lack of leviathan bone, and you want spirit glass? How presumptuous of you.” Ahanu’s smile faltered. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry, I didn't mean-” Rycher held a hand up, his eyes smiling gently. “Quite alright. For you two, I have enough.” All of a sudden his tone changed and his gaze darkened, and he gave Makatai a look that made his blood chill slightly. “But I don’t want money. You’re gonna do me a favour instead.”