"The finest warrioress ever seen, she gleamed in shades of copper and green", Lea thought while preening herself in front of a polished bronze mirror.

Then her new shield nearly slipped off her left arm and she had to hurriedly readjust her whole new ensemble. Blast. Getting used to all this new stuff and particularly that unfamiliar weight dragging on her left arm, would take some time yet.

But at least and at long last - after seemingly endless delays - Lea had a proper shield and proper armor, having finally saved enough money and having got leave to go on a shopping trip to Rome, where some of the world's best armorers and weapon smiths practiced their trade.