Master Gunter rubbed his hairy chin, not expecting such a visit so early in the year. He was the sort of man that always looked displeased, even when in a fair mood. Perhaps it was the stone shape of his chin or his drab eyes that looked wrought of iron. He could have looked much like a judiciary official rather than a master engineer, though he wore the title well. Otto and he had done business at least a dozen times in the past, but something felt a bit off about this visit. Not that he was going to cause any trouble, this is what they paid him for after all. That and the training of gunnery crews. The air was a tad stuffy and thick from the constant work within its walls, but relatively warm thanks to the distant fires and clever system of rafters they had installed when the building was built. What was less comfortable was this question Otto had presented him. Weren't these mines closed by decree due to the greenskin infestation? He'd heard grumblings on it by the Dwarfs that worked over in their quarter. 

"Otto, I'm not sure if I'm the one who could-" He began, but the pudgy man was insistent. 

"I've already cleared everything, I just need to know if I have the Master's approval," Otto repeated, eyeing him. That took Gunter back for a moment, clearly unused to being interrupted by the man. His eyes moved back to the woman behind the fellow. Gunter had never been one to be enchanted by a nice pair of legs, but he knew a beautiful woman when he saw one. She looked noble enough, however. Maybe he wasn't giving Gunter enough credit. The man could handle himself. 

With a sigh, and he nodded. "Let me get my books and check for you." He said, turning around just as a younger man with a wiley look to his eye stepped out from the backroom. 

"Hey, Master Gunter do you have a 3/6 wrench I could borrow?" He began, before his eyes opened wide at Otto and his lovely companion so casually standing before the counter. Inevitable, his eyes focused on Emmaline despite the clear knowledge on who and what Otto Von Banstuf represented. It took the two older men to realize the sudden noise wasn't a steam engine going off, but an appreciative and rather suggestive whistle from Neil. As their less than pleased gazes fell on him, he seemed to not notice. His eyes glinted like agates in the firelight, and he gave pointed at the (to his knowledge) noblewoman without any proper ettiquete. "Is she a student here?" 

"No she's not a student here!" the master roared, about to give him a proper scolding before he calmed himself, present company stifling most of his anger. He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking very much like the 'thinking man' statues that lined Nuln's famous library near the palace. Neil had been there before... but not when it was open. He pushed that to the back of his mind so he could face the irate look of his betters. "While you're here, make yourself useful. Go in the back and grab the logs on the eastern mines. Should be on the top shelf to the left, do it before I take your apprenticeship and throw it in the fires." 

"Ok, I'm sorry!" Neil replied, holding his hands up and sliding back. One might think he would have bumped into the back wall, but either he had been here enough or had eyes in the back of his head, he backed away perfectly and gave a sweeping bow to the guests. If Emmaline had sharp eyes, she would see he gave a wink under his messy dark hair. Once he had slipped away, his head began to crank like the clock he'd been tinkering with. Somehow he could use what was happening to his advantage. If he could only get the cobwebs dusted off the right side of his brain. His left side had been dominate the past few months thanks to these assignments. Well, he would at least get the book while he plotted. In less than a minute, he grabbed two volumes, not knowing exactly which one was the correct list and brought it back obediently, slamming them on the counter. 

"Now about that wen-uh wrench..."