Paul stepped aside and introduced Barin. "This is my wife, Catherine."
Barin's gaze fell on Catherine, and he instinctively appraised her according to dwarven standards of beauty.
In the human world, Catherine was undoubtedly a dazzling beauty. She was tall, with delicate features and a heroic air between her brows. Back in Crystal Radiance, he did not know how many nobles had fallen for her.
But in Barin's eyes, she could hardly be called attractive. Her cheeks were too pointed, lacking the roundness and fullness they ought to have. At a glance, she did not look like someone who could withstand the cold or manage a household. Although she was tall, she was too slender, lacking the thick arms and sturdy waist and abdomen of a dwarven woman. She was completely impractical.
He muttered inwardly, It's hard to imagine how a great lord like Marquis Greiman could have married a woman like this. In the Iron Hammer Clan, only women whose arms could carry ore and whose waists could withstand the burdens of housework were worthy of the clan's warriors.
When Barin noticed Catherine's gaze falling on him again, he hurriedly looked away and stiffly nodded at her. "Greetings, Greiman-madam." That counted as a greeting.
Catherine did not mind his strange gaze. "Welcome, Mr. Envoy. I hope you enjoy your time in Arda." With that, she returned to the carriage first.
Paul gestured for Barin to get in, then followed him inside. The carriage started moving again, heading toward Lakeheart Town.
Barin sat to one side, appearing to listen attentively on the surface, but his mind was rapidly calculating the details of his mission. He was indeed an envoy of the Iron Hammer Clan; that was his public identity. His task was to represent the clan in discussing with Arda