Wyvern's Trim and other stories Read Online Free

news, even if
it is disturbing. You may rest now or you might want to go with the
tinker to add to your arm. You can’t be sure when you will be
called back.”
    Faisal bowed his
head slightly. He leant down and picked up her bag. She jerked with
surprise and went to reach for it but was forced to follow the
dragon as he spun on his heels and left the hall.
    He asked, “Where
is your workshop?”
    He had really
long legs so her pace was a little awkward as she kept up with
him.
    A little
breathless she answered, “It is in the city. I take it you want a
consultation now. It will take a while to make the modifications to
your arm. Are you sure you want to start now. You can come whenever
it is convenient for you.”
    His voice was a
low rumble. “Now is convenient.”
    She realised she
wasn’t going to be able to put him off so she led the way when they
left the castle. By the time they reached her workshop in the city
she was a little puffed as she had almost had to run to keep up
with the dragon.
    After her uncle
had died she had come to this small city because of the signs of
prosperity. As well as the fact it didn’t have many soldiers. She
had rented a barn and had turned it into a comprehensive workshop.
She hadn’t realised she had made that much of an impact until the
Baron had summoned her.
    Callisto
motioned for him to put her bag down by the door but he came in and
studied the large room. He placed the bag in a clear space by the
door on the table. It was where she usually put it. She had to
remember that he was a dragon and appearances were
misleading.
    She motioned him
to a stool and asked, “Do you want something to drink? It will take
me awhile to set up the machines that I need to get accurate
measurements.”
    He shook his
head and continued to study the room. He moved around and poked
things. She hoped he didn’t break anything but the fastest way to
get him out of her workshop was to do the work.
    She pulled out
her light machine that could tell her measurements to pin point
accuracy. She would need that if she was to make the casing. It was
a little flexible but for best effect it would need to fit like a
glove.
    Callisto was
almost finished setting up when he disappeared behind some shelves
and she rushed after him. He had come to a standstill and was
looking at the glass boxes that held the spiders.
    He asked, “Are
they poisonous?”
    She shook her
head. “I harvest their webs for my work. Here.”
    She passed him a
sample of the woven web material.
    She explained in
a conversational tone. “It is stronger than it looks. I also mix it
with things like resin and laminate it for best effect.”
    She passed him
one of the finished ones and said, “This is what I’m going to use
as your new skin.”
    He tugged on it
and said, “It is light.”
    She smiled at
the comment. “Yes. Weight becomes important when you start to put
it onto a frame. For instance if I had to use a metal composite for
your arm it would weigh a few kilograms. This will be milligrams
instead.”
    He held it up to
the light to have a closer look. “Could you make something
bigger?”
    She shrugged.
Though she was already using everything she produced from the
spiders that she had now. “Sure. It would take time as it takes a
long time to harvest the spider silk.”
    He turned his
gaze to her and she was jolted by the intensity. “Start. I will
have a large commission for you if you do well with this
arm.”
    She wasn’t sure
she wanted to do more business with the dragon. It wasn’t so far in
human history that the dragons had been human’s main predator. She
shivered and turned to hide her reaction from him.
    She said, “Come
to the seat. I want to have a closer look at that arm of yours. Can
you tell me anything about it?”
    He sat down and
offered his arm. “A friend’s wife made it for me. She has made
others like it that are sentient.”
    She twisted it
slightly to have a better look. “Sentient? How