It seemed that Aldous was so caught up forging his blade that he hadn't even noticed the new, portly stranger who had made his appearance into Tao's abode. "No doubt smelling the food..." Aldous mumbled, quirking his brow at this new person. Aldous was already surprised once that day by a person he thought little of and he seemed intent not to make it happen a second time, certainly not in a row. Judging by his appearance, Aldous believed he was not going to have a very difficult time with such a thing.

Not attempting to pay so much attention to the newcomer, Aldous began work on the sheathe for his blade, roughly measuring and cutting the pieces of peach wood. His ears paid attention, if reluctantly due to that they were all in the same area.

"I am unfamiliar with these Stormbearer Isles, or what have you, though if they are your people, I must say that they've been spoiling you..." Aldous scanned Nate as his voice dropped to a whisper... "and it doesn't appear that you've been traversing anything as of late at least." Aldous wiped the sweat off his face using his shoulder. Like the others, Aldous had gotten a smell of the cooked pork, though only then took the opportunity to take in the whole aroma. "Well Solomon, Nate, or whatever you wish to call yourself;" Aldous returned to a normal speaking voice; "I am Aldous van Rees. Call me van Rees, and this-" Before Aldous could speak another word, a wild animal skittered past. It was not an unusual sight- Aldous felt he had already become acquainted with two wild beasts.

Then, another, larger creature came running straight for Tao's foundry. Aldous immediately moved out of the way, more out of instinct than anything else. He nearly screamed, and his face was sure proof of it, before he heard the whimpering of the canine and the sizzling of its flesh followed by the smell of singed fur. Regaining his composure, or at least attempting to, Aldous curled his face into a look of disgust at the wolf, then up at the girl.

"Oh. Well look at me. Attracting all kinds of attention" he mumbled.

In a more audible tone, Aldous introduced himself. "I'm Aldous van Rees, these are my associates Tao and Solomon Nate Doveheart. It's a pleasure to meet you." he rushed, before turning his attention to the two pieces of wood he had measured to the length of the blade. Like Tao, he was working on a scabbard. Unlike Tao's approach, Aldous made it so that the wood fit together like a puzzle, connected also with bands and screws which he had fashioned out of the little remaining steel. Then, he scolded himself internally. Aldous had not picked up any decorative materials. It was not as if any person would simply carry jewels with them wherever they had gone, and thus Aldous could not show off one of his other many specialties in sword smithing.

Quickly, Aldous set aside little bits and pieces of steel and iron he had remaining and began measuring out the hilt, the guard, and the pommel as well as imagining their design, all with haste, keeping in mind he was timed.

[hr]

1. Measured out and put together sheathe
2. Began design of handguard