---
Fizz gasped. "I do not."
Orna looked at Fizz. "You absolutely do."
Edda folded her arms. "He talks while awake too. It is consistent."
Fizz looked betrayed by the entire concept of witnesses. "Fine. I will be quiet."
John raised an eyebrow. "For how long."
Fizz thought, serious. "Four seconds."
Gael cleared his throat, dragging them back to work. "John. We need to know what you can craft and what you are willing to craft. We need rules."
John nodded. "Tools. Blades. Repairs. Basic ward plates. The table can help create parts for special items, but those special items do not leave this shop unless I say so."
Orna's brows lifted. "You mean weapons."
John did not deny it. He simply said, "Things that can cause trouble."
Edda's eyes slid toward the door. "Trouble comes anyway. Better to have teeth."
Gael's voice was firm. "We build slowly. We build clean. We do not invite the city's attention until we can handle the city's attention."
