The forge was lit up, and Nehaalista, who lately had been feeling the need for a little extra quiet, was smelting. There were requests to make, figures to shape and carve, and a whole heaping helping of metals to be melted into bars for her later use.

As per her usual, Nehaalista worked quietly, nothing but the roar of the forge accompanying the jeweler as she smelted down the next batch of blue-green metal. Since Dustin's departure, it had been enjoyably quiet, and Nehaalista had been quick to capitalize on his absence. It might not have made her heart grow fonder of the pushy genius, but it did make her work go faster.