Im sorry, Miss? How may I help you? Are you lost? He shuffled his feet adding to his look of abject misery.
You are Luigi? Her voice was deeper than expected but in a sultry, smoky way. A slight accent was evident but her question too short for Luigi to assess further.
Yes, thats me how may I help you? Finally he lifted his face and his eyes widened as he took in her beauty from less than a metre away. He frowned slightly, how do you know my name?
She reached out a gloved hand, a dainty lace glove trimmed in gold edging which highlighted her slender long fingers. Chovani you may call me, and for me you shall be Armandino!
She spoke the two different names with a much heavier accent than the rest of her sentence and Luigi recognised an Eastern European clip but couldnt possibly determine the source of the accent. It was not unusual at all for the middlemen or customer to have a foreign accent, in fact, it was the norm but what wasnt normal was for that person to be a woman, an extremely beautiful woman at that. In her face Luigi could see an almost Central-Asian countenance tinged with some Slovak and something else almost middle-eastern in her dark eyes. She wore short, patent leather boots and the glint of sunlight on metal showed a small stainless cap backing the rear of the stumpy heels and probably the source of the tinkling sound as she walked. He legs were sheathed in patterned soft-pink stockings until the fine lace hem of her below the knee dress interrupted his view. The dress was multi-coloured but the tones were subdued and the pattern itself random, set off with lace edging on the half-length sleeves, bodice and neckline to match the hem. A soft pink mantilla draped across the top of her head and slinked around her shoulders, with her dark eyes making her almost appear Spanish. She held a patent leather clutch in her left hand. He studied her amused gaze.
So, Armandino, are you ready to do business? Do you approve of what you see? She smiled showing her even white teeth and making him drop his gaze again. Look at me Armandino, there is no need of shyness, I do not bite!
Luigi complied and tried a smile himself but even with his head up, his eyes kept casting to the floor. Why do you call me that, Armarn Armen?
Armandino! Do you not know your own name? Her smile tightened a little as if addressing a little boy. She watched patiently as he composed himself, his bushy eyebrows raising as she added, we are ready to do business, yes?
Signora, he began.
Chovani, if you cannot remember your own name then perhaps you can remember mine? She raised a single eyebrow.
Luigi swallowed, then continued, Showvarrni, he enunciated slowly and carefully and seeing her nod and smile, he relaxed somewhat. You are aware of my expertise?
She smiled widely now, of course, do you think I would go anywhere else other than here, to the best?
Luigi wasnt sure if she was actually flirting or being patronising but he was certain that she was the most beautiful woman hed ever seen. She looked like an exotic Sophia Loren and he was willing to let his mind believe she was flirting nothing wrong with a little fantasizing! He hurried around his little desk and made a show of dusting off a padded armchair and offered her a seat. She primly sat down, crossing her legs and arms and raised both eyebrows at him this time. Yes, so, Showvarrni, he waited again for her smiling acknowledgement, how may I help you?
She opened her clutch purse and drew out a slip of paper which she placed on the desk in front of him without a word. She watched as he looked at the elaborate patterns on the paper and could see the obvious question developing across his face, then as he opened his mouth to speak, she quickly interjected one single word. Trishul.
What, Signora, sorry, Chovarni? I, I didnt catch that
You dont know what a Trishul is? I thought you were the best? Perhaps I was mistaken.. " she made to stand up, reaching toward the paper on the desk as she rose.
Trishul is a cross, he look her squarely in the eye as he spoke and she nodded and resumed her seat. What I dont know is what this is, his eyes glanced to the pattern on the note before him. You were not mistaken, I am still the best but perhaps you could help me with this and what it means in relation to a Trishul? He was looking directly at her eyes, his master craftsman brain was working hard now and effectively masking his previous shyness.
What else could Trishul represent, besides a cross which you correctly identified. You surprised me a little Armandino. I like your surprises. Give me more!
Ah, it was originally a trident, and I wish I could pronounce the name, and yours, as eloquently as you do, but Trishul in more modern times is in the form of a cross, like a religious artifact. And this pattern ? He didnt glance at the paper again, instead maintaining their steady mutual gaze. Beautiful woman or not, he was still the only professional craftsman present.
He had his finger on the slip of paper and she reached out and put her hand near his, tracing the elaborate pattern neatly with a finger without even looking. It is indeed the cross that I seek and this is the adornment I want on the haft and the quillion.
His bushy eyebrows rise together again, that is a knife or a dagger then rather than a traditional cross, he nods at her, and the blade?
As you would normally create Armandino, the sharpest of sharpest edges available, she smiled.
They spoke of length, weight, balance, material, the necessity of a camouflaging scabbard and Luigi became absorbed in this new project, this new very interesting project. It was a relatively easy task for him but the very interesting part was the customer. Finally, they arrived at money, as all business transactions are wont.
This wont be wildly expensive but you will have to leave a deposit to cover the cost of the raw materials. For that, I can give no discount, he shrugged.
How much, the deposit? And how much in total?
The materials are exotic but easily obtainable, around three thousand Euros. Three will be enough, he watched her eyes as he mentioned the amount, she did nothing but nod so he went on. My charge for moulding, machining, tempering and finishing will be considerably higher than that, but, he added quickly, it is a little quiet at the moment so I could spare a small discount, say, a total of twelve thousand Euros.
She didnt blink, instead reaching into her clutch again and withdrawing a small billfold. Three now and another nine thousand on completion, yes? This time it was he nodding. And how long until completion?
About two weeks, but Ill have to wait nearly a week for the special alloy. If it comes sooner I can finish sooner. Maybe I can call you ?
She smiled and stood up, proffering a bundle of cash toward him. No need Armandino, I will be back in two weeks. He took the cash and was opening a desk drawer to retrieve a receipt book when he heard her tinkling footsteps. Surprised, he looked up. She was almost at the door when she whirled back to face him. She waved, a dismissal. No need for that either. Goodbye for now Armandino, I will see you again soon. She blew him a kiss.