***
“So what can I do, Kharus? What would you like done?”
“Ye have demonstrated a remarkable knack for shaping the metal. Here,” the dwarf plopped a long piece of unfinished steel on an anvil in front of him. “This will need to be heated, in the furnace there. Heat it as hot as ye can get it without melting it. Ye will need to fold the metal in half, much like ye would fold a piece of parchment.”
“Okay, I can do that. You just need to fold this thing, that’s it?”
“The more times ye do that, the stronger it becomes. I typically will fold the steel around a hundred times for a standard sword.”
“A hundred times? Wow. Okay, I think I have it. Heat, fold, and then whack it flat. And then keep repeating.”
The dwarf nodded.
Steve hefted the hammer. “I can handle this. Saw this on the Discovery Channel once.”
“Eh? What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“I will be over here if ye need anything.” The master blacksmith watched as the ungainly human picked up the piece of steel, eyed the roaring furnace, and then looked back at the length of metal. What was this? The metal was heating in his hand! It’s already glowing red! And he is not using any protection! Wizards be damned!
Seeing Kharus’ amazed expression, Steve grinned. “I thought this was part of the reason why you wanted my help. Fire and heat don’t really faze me too much.”
In mere seconds the metal was hot enough to bend in half. Steve picked up a heavy hammer and pounded the bent blade flat. He smiled at the amazed dwarf, only now he noticed that his instructor was indicating the metal should be dropped into a large trough of water. Hissing angrily, the metal rapidly cooled. Understanding that he was tempering the metal as he went, Steve retrieved the steel and repeated the process.
He had lost count how many times he had heated the blade, folded it over, whacked it flat, cooled it, and started over. All he knew was that his arms were killing him. Seriously. When he made it back home he was joining a gym.
Kharus was smiling profusely as he kept an eye on his pupil. He had already managed to layer the metal well over sixty times. Ordinarily, that many layers would have taken him close to a week. This human would make a formidable blacksmith!
Time for the midday meal was approaching. Noting that the layer count was now well over a hundred, and his pupil was wheezing, the sympathetic teacher finally indicated it was time to wrap things up.
“Where do you want me to leave this?” Steve asked.
“Jus’ drop it in the water there, lad.”
Steam hissed as he dropped the hot blade back into the water for the umpteenth time. His arms, back, legs, hands, hell, every part of him protested angrily. He probably shouldn’t have pushed himself so hard, but he was surprised to discover that he was actually enjoying his time as a blacksmith. He had actually crafted a very serviceable blade for a sword. It just needed a little shaping and sharpening. But other than that, it looked pretty good!
As Steve washed his hands and face in a basin near the back of the cottage, Kharus inspected his work.
“Impressive! Most impressive, indeed! Ye would make an admirable apprentice! I thank ye for yer help.”
Steve shook the proffered arm. “You’re welcome. Boss.”
Kharus snorted, peeling off his smock. “Come, lad, I promised I would have ye back in time for the midday meal.”
Together they walked to the center of town, angling for a large plaza near the Council chamber they first met Maelnar.
“Ah, there is yer lady, Steve. This is where we depart. I will see ye again, lad.” And with that cryptic statement, the dwarf returned the way they had come.
“Welcome back!” Sarah stood up and gave her husband a hug. “Did you have a good time?” She took a closer look at him. Dark smudges of soot stained parts of his clothes. His hair was all matted, and he looked bone tired. “Are you okay? What did he have you do?”
“I’m a lot better than I look, I’m sure,” Steve assured her. “There’s a reason why we’ve never seen an overweight blacksmith.” Standing a little straighter, he grinned at his wife. “I made a sword blade.”
“Really? He showed you how to make a sword blade?”
Steve nodded. “It ain’t easy. Gotta keep folding over the metal into layers. Over and over and over.”
Sarah was nodding. “That’s the same technique they use for making those Japanese katanas you’re so fond of. The really nice, expensive ones.”
“That’s right. How’d you know that?”
“You’re always filling my head with useless trivia. Since you’ve always been interested in swords, I get to hear all about it.”
Steve laughed and gave his wife a kiss.
The Prophecy Page 36
