He inclined his head in acceptance of her compliment, his expression serene yet somehow holding a sense of quiet pleasure at the recognition. He could not know her own family history, but he appreciated the sincerity of her words nonetheless. Of course, then he had gone and gotten himself into politics and taken up cooking as a hobby, but he still maintained his skills at the forge when he could spare a moment, and the current season seemed to allow for a brief space to breathe.
At least, so far.
He tilted the tiara so Maea could see it more clearly, and in turn he took a peek at the papers she brandished. "Of course. Please post them," he rumbled, surprised but pleasantly so at the idea of a ball. "Will it be open to the Mer?"
Ah, but then she was peering at the metal and Hadama's emerald eyes twinkled as he nodded. "Yes. And yes." After a moment's thought he delved back into the forge for a thin bar of silver and a hammer suited for it, offering both to Maea. "Iron is a hogfish to work. Hardheaded. Stubborn. Requiring a great deal of muscle. Gold is a butterflyfish. Fragile and easily damaged, even alloyed. It takes skill to work without ruining it. But silver and copper are good to learn on. They are soft enough to coldforge and cut." He showed her how to hold the hammer and how to strike the bar on the anvil to begin flattening it, then handed the implement over while he steadied the silver with the tongs. "Is there something you want to make?"
At least, so far.
He tilted the tiara so Maea could see it more clearly, and in turn he took a peek at the papers she brandished. "Of course. Please post them," he rumbled, surprised but pleasantly so at the idea of a ball. "Will it be open to the Mer?"
Ah, but then she was peering at the metal and Hadama's emerald eyes twinkled as he nodded. "Yes. And yes." After a moment's thought he delved back into the forge for a thin bar of silver and a hammer suited for it, offering both to Maea. "Iron is a hogfish to work. Hardheaded. Stubborn. Requiring a great deal of muscle. Gold is a butterflyfish. Fragile and easily damaged, even alloyed. It takes skill to work without ruining it. But silver and copper are good to learn on. They are soft enough to coldforge and cut." He showed her how to hold the hammer and how to strike the bar on the anvil to begin flattening it, then handed the implement over while he steadied the silver with the tongs. "Is there something you want to make?"
