Jigano caught the softening in the old smith's gaze, and he smiled as he offered a respectful bow to the old master. "I wanted you to know I hadn't forgotten our payment," he explained. "It was taking me a little while to gather enough for all of Long Night, though." And for, he hoped, most of the rest of Deepfrost leading up to it.
Jigano took the man's hand gently, but not so gingerly as to offend the man's pride. "I've more wood out front. If you let me know where you want it piled I'll start unloading it. I had also hoped to ask a favor of you, if you're willing?" He tilted his head hopefully, retrieving his hand and dipping into a pocket of his sleeve to find the jar of salve. "There's someone I'd like to introduce to you. An outlander, recently arrived, who says he has some experience as a smith. But of course, he no longer has his tools or a forge to work at. I had thought that perhaps, if the two of you get on alright, you might loan him a bit of time here in exchange for his help with the forge chores?"
He wasn't sure, but if the old man was anything like some of the other master craftsman he had known he was too proud for handouts or charity. So - a deal, then. An exchange, something both could benefit from.
He set the jar down on the counter with a lopsided smile. "If you don't get on, of course, that's between you and him. All I ask is a meeting. And I know your time is valuable, so I brought this to offer in exchange. It's a salve made from efas herb, gathered in the labyrinth. Will you meetCaiside, and see how it goes with him?"
Jigano took the man's hand gently, but not so gingerly as to offend the man's pride. "I've more wood out front. If you let me know where you want it piled I'll start unloading it. I had also hoped to ask a favor of you, if you're willing?" He tilted his head hopefully, retrieving his hand and dipping into a pocket of his sleeve to find the jar of salve. "There's someone I'd like to introduce to you. An outlander, recently arrived, who says he has some experience as a smith. But of course, he no longer has his tools or a forge to work at. I had thought that perhaps, if the two of you get on alright, you might loan him a bit of time here in exchange for his help with the forge chores?"
He wasn't sure, but if the old man was anything like some of the other master craftsman he had known he was too proud for handouts or charity. So - a deal, then. An exchange, something both could benefit from.
He set the jar down on the counter with a lopsided smile. "If you don't get on, of course, that's between you and him. All I ask is a meeting. And I know your time is valuable, so I brought this to offer in exchange. It's a salve made from efas herb, gathered in the labyrinth. Will you meet
