[Shorty]

Titus listened gravely to Viskyia as she talked. He felt that threre was much more beneath this new apprentice. Something painful, but he politely decided not to pry.

"It seems that you know your basics, and for that I am glad- if only because it saves both of us time! And if you're going to polish, so much the better!" Titus laughed again and patted Furloin in the back. Furloin glared and sat to the side glowering. "Remember that part of your apprenticeship is not only in cutting and polishing, but running a business. That is also something that you need to keep in mind. After all, we may have the most magnificent piece in our shop- but we need a buyer for that piece. And to make enough of a profit to eat and pay annoying brownies way too much money..." Titus looked at Furloin.

"What?" The brownie asked innocently. "You'd have nothing if I wasn't out here selling them!"

"You want things to look good above all else, but you need to keep in mind markets, margins, all those silly things that get in the way of what we enjoy." Titus smiled again. "To start your apprenticeship, let us begin with a test. I want you to design and produce a piece of Jewelry, from paper to workshop. But here's the rub, it will not be any masterpiece, but a moderately priced one. No more than a 100 crowns for purchase. These are the things that sell, little trinkets that people buy after getting over the sticker shock of seeing a tiara or necklace of diamonds. But it will be the tasteful Onyx brooch that will sell better...Does that make sense? First," He grabbed a piece of parchment and quill, "Let's sketch this out before we see to getting it made."