Sweat itched at Phen's hairline and tickled down her back. The workshop was alive. A fire crackled in the hearth, the kiln was heated, and the sharp tang of metalwork graced the air. While the other workshops, those for the students, were equipped with a variety of modern tools, Phen still preferred the brick and mortar, charcoal and wood, and the heat blooming about her. This was how she had learned in her youth, in the trade from theft of precious jewelry to its creation.
As the noon hour crept closer, the weariness and strain stung in her back and shoulders. It was an empowering and uplifting ache. Achievement in every sore muscle and smudged stain on her skin.
A final check to the mold, Phen took up tongs for the heated metal and poured it into the sprue. A whisper and blush of steam from the riser, she watched the liquid metal rise a shimmering gold. Her fingers and shoulders tense with the slow care taken.
A soft giggle and a quick hush from the doorway made Phen smile. She did not have the gifts of her husband, but she knew her children —biological and not. Azure was very good in keeping Olivia in hand, especially when Phen was working.
As the riser revealed enough metal, Phen stopped the steady pour and returned the metal to the heat. The fire no longer fed, she would tend to it and the metal when it was safe to do so. For now, she turned and smiled a welcome to her daughters. Little Olivia, less toddling and more confident in her step as she neared three years, ran forward with arms extended to be grabbed up into a hug. Phen set kisses to the chubby cheeks that brought out giggles and wiggles.
Azure, however, still lingered by the door. Tucking Olivia to her hip, Phen approached her older daughter with hand outstretched. Azure immediately took it as if clinging to a last hope. It was hard to ask what was wrong with both hands claimed, so Phen leaned over until she could capture Azure's attention. Blue to blue, their eyes met, and the question was asked without words or sign.
There was something there. The way Azure looked up and away and then back. She was struggling to admit to something. Something she thought she shouldn't. It was going to take gentle investigation. Azure was Phen's sweet, shy one. She could open up well enough with some of the other children at the manor, but when uncertain or around in the world away from the grounds, she tended to withdraw. Phen saw some of her own childhood mirrored in her daughter. Thankfully not the thieving part or the brutality of living on the streets with the thieves guild as a family. But she saw the preference for being alone, for feeling different and not knowing if that was okay or not.
She walked with Azure to a bench beneath one of the grand trees of the manor grounds. It was a favorite place to sit and watch. Olivia was wild to be free of her mother's arms, and, soon as she could, wiggled out to go play in the dirt, grass, and find all manner of interesting bugs come up from the earlier rain.
Phen set an arm around Azure, and so her signs formed in front of her daughter. "The rain was nice this morning."
Azure nodded.
"I think everyone slept in a little."
"Except you," Azure looked up at her mother.
"Well, me and the staff who have to prepare for the day."
"And Papa." Azure's soft voice was pitched in a whisper.
Phen felt her daughter's shoulders tense a little. "Yes, and Papa."
"Papa is very busy."
"Yes."
The silence stretched for awhile. "I miss him." The little girl admitted at last. "And he is going to be governor again."
"Yes, we hope so."
Azure leaned back to look up wide eyed at Phen. "You do?"
Phen set a kiss to Azure's brow, then caressed the long black ringlets before signing to her. "Yes, I do. Your father is the best man I know."
"Well, you love him."
The whispering sound of Phen's voiceless laugh was coupled with, "Yes, I do. But besides that. Your father wants this. He wants to, and can, do more. I want this for him." Setting her fingers beneath Azure's chin to lift her eyes to hers, before signing. "I know it is hard on you, Azure. Your father's love for you does not vanish no matter how long he is not home. It surrounds you always. We will do better, though, to make sure you and he have time together."
Azure smiled and hugged Phen tight, a hug that was shared. Phen set a kiss to the top of Azure's head, then moved so she could sign. "Maybe you could stitch some badges for our family to wear in support of your father's bid for governor?"
The girl's eyes lit up. Even at her tender age, Azure had a knack with a needle and thread. "Or ribbons! I could make Olivia a little hat and vest."
"That would be grand." Phen claimed her daughter's hands for a supportive squeeze before letting the girl's new found enthusiasm carry her off. Phen looked to Olivia and blinked to see her youngest serving as a perch for one mouse, two butterflies, and a bluebird. "Well then," Phen thought and went to gather her for clean up before lunch.
As the noon hour crept closer, the weariness and strain stung in her back and shoulders. It was an empowering and uplifting ache. Achievement in every sore muscle and smudged stain on her skin.
A final check to the mold, Phen took up tongs for the heated metal and poured it into the sprue. A whisper and blush of steam from the riser, she watched the liquid metal rise a shimmering gold. Her fingers and shoulders tense with the slow care taken.
A soft giggle and a quick hush from the doorway made Phen smile. She did not have the gifts of her husband, but she knew her children —biological and not. Azure was very good in keeping Olivia in hand, especially when Phen was working.
As the riser revealed enough metal, Phen stopped the steady pour and returned the metal to the heat. The fire no longer fed, she would tend to it and the metal when it was safe to do so. For now, she turned and smiled a welcome to her daughters. Little Olivia, less toddling and more confident in her step as she neared three years, ran forward with arms extended to be grabbed up into a hug. Phen set kisses to the chubby cheeks that brought out giggles and wiggles.
Azure, however, still lingered by the door. Tucking Olivia to her hip, Phen approached her older daughter with hand outstretched. Azure immediately took it as if clinging to a last hope. It was hard to ask what was wrong with both hands claimed, so Phen leaned over until she could capture Azure's attention. Blue to blue, their eyes met, and the question was asked without words or sign.
There was something there. The way Azure looked up and away and then back. She was struggling to admit to something. Something she thought she shouldn't. It was going to take gentle investigation. Azure was Phen's sweet, shy one. She could open up well enough with some of the other children at the manor, but when uncertain or around in the world away from the grounds, she tended to withdraw. Phen saw some of her own childhood mirrored in her daughter. Thankfully not the thieving part or the brutality of living on the streets with the thieves guild as a family. But she saw the preference for being alone, for feeling different and not knowing if that was okay or not.
She walked with Azure to a bench beneath one of the grand trees of the manor grounds. It was a favorite place to sit and watch. Olivia was wild to be free of her mother's arms, and, soon as she could, wiggled out to go play in the dirt, grass, and find all manner of interesting bugs come up from the earlier rain.
Phen set an arm around Azure, and so her signs formed in front of her daughter. "The rain was nice this morning."
Azure nodded.
"I think everyone slept in a little."
"Except you," Azure looked up at her mother.
"Well, me and the staff who have to prepare for the day."
"And Papa." Azure's soft voice was pitched in a whisper.
Phen felt her daughter's shoulders tense a little. "Yes, and Papa."
"Papa is very busy."
"Yes."
The silence stretched for awhile. "I miss him." The little girl admitted at last. "And he is going to be governor again."
"Yes, we hope so."
Azure leaned back to look up wide eyed at Phen. "You do?"
Phen set a kiss to Azure's brow, then caressed the long black ringlets before signing to her. "Yes, I do. Your father is the best man I know."
"Well, you love him."
The whispering sound of Phen's voiceless laugh was coupled with, "Yes, I do. But besides that. Your father wants this. He wants to, and can, do more. I want this for him." Setting her fingers beneath Azure's chin to lift her eyes to hers, before signing. "I know it is hard on you, Azure. Your father's love for you does not vanish no matter how long he is not home. It surrounds you always. We will do better, though, to make sure you and he have time together."
Azure smiled and hugged Phen tight, a hug that was shared. Phen set a kiss to the top of Azure's head, then moved so she could sign. "Maybe you could stitch some badges for our family to wear in support of your father's bid for governor?"
The girl's eyes lit up. Even at her tender age, Azure had a knack with a needle and thread. "Or ribbons! I could make Olivia a little hat and vest."
"That would be grand." Phen claimed her daughter's hands for a supportive squeeze before letting the girl's new found enthusiasm carry her off. Phen looked to Olivia and blinked to see her youngest serving as a perch for one mouse, two butterflies, and a bluebird. "Well then," Phen thought and went to gather her for clean up before lunch.