Another day in the forge

[Aliana Hilt Terras]

56th of Spring 517 A.V.

Aliana walked into the forge rubbing her eyes still tired. She had not slept well since coming to Riverfall. The stress of the move and trying to get set up in a new city was taking its toll on her. Not to mention that the Isur was expecting a little one within the next season or two. Sighing she allowed the door to close behind her; putting her keys on the counter the woman used a long match to light the front two scones. Waving it out, she moved into the forge opening the windows and shutters so that the smoke could billow out.

The woman wanted to just get a few display items made while waiting on customers to enter the building. Since there was only one other smith in the city, she hoped setting up to where there was one on each side would help get business. Taking a deep breath, the girl walked over to the double doors leading into the waiting area and grabbed her things. Opening the office door, she put her bag down under the desk and made sure to slip the key to the room into the back pocket of her pants.

“Better keep this room locked until I get some way to know when people enter,” Aliana said to herself.

Walking out of the room, she closed the door and took the key out long enough to lock up before slipping it back in her pocket. The day would prove to be long and rather taxing on her nerves though that was not apparent yet. Popping her neck, she went back into the forge area looking around her taking a deep breath. To the woman there was nothing like the smell of ashes and metal in the mornings. Many may argue that there was plenty of things that smelled better, but to the Isurian weaponsmith nothing in the world could match that scent.

After making sure that the door was securely fastened, the woman walked to the front door. She made sure that the front door was not locked. Aliana walked back into the forge and took the time to stretch out her muscles. She got the fire started and moved over the side to where the woman could watch the fire. Getting down on her stomach, the girl raised up in a push up position and began. The time while she was pregnant, the woman had lost the muscle that she had gained over the years. Wincing, the burn came on early as her biceps and triceps felt her weight against them. The girl did five reps before moving into a kneeling position. Rubbing her arms, she winced feeling the familiar burn that came with the exercise.

Standing up, Aliana shook out her arms and checked on the fire. She put her arm into the open area of the forge and felt the heat. Nodding, the woman was content with what she could feel. Her boots crunched walking to the room with the stored metal in. The woman grabbed a few extra pieces and decided to try and work with them. She wanted to do small daggers and possibly work with her mark from Izurdan.

[Aliana Hilt Terras]

Moving over to the table, the woman laid out the varying sizes of metal. She walked over to grab her sketch book and worked on a small dagger that had a kukri bow in it. The girl had seen the type of weapon in other shops back in Sultros. Moving the different pieces around, the crafter tapped the metals in different spots. She listened for any strange and unusual clinking from her nails. One piece sounded much higher in pitch than the other parts. Making a face, she moved it over to the side and went on with the next one. It did not take long for the inspection to be finished.

There were several smaller pieces that the woman took back over to the other table. She had to get moving or there would nothing done before a customer finally arrived. Taking the larger piece, the woman put it in the flames. Putting the tongs down, she watched very closely while popping her neck. The muscles in her arms had a dull ache to them from earlier. The sound of a door opening caught her attention, the woman turned her head towards the large double doors. The woman took the tongs and moved the metal piece up higher on a rack in the top part of the forge. She used her foot to pump the bellows some. The flames flared up for a moment as the woman went to the front of her business and saw a young squire standing there.

“Is there something I can do for you?” Aliana asked.

“Ye-yes ma'am. My patron needs his blade tended to if you would not mind,” the young boy said quickly handing her the still sheathed blade.

The girl raised an eyebrow and took the scabbard before pulling the blade free. A snarl appeared on her face for a moment before taking a deep breath. She could not get angry with the little one before her; it was not his fault that the weapon had fallen into such disrepair. Turning the blade over in her hands with a soft touch, Aliana looked up at the young boy.

“I will see what I can do. But do tell your patron that the crack in the middle of the blade will cause it to break. Even the most masterful weaponsmith would have difficulty keeping it from breaking. There is no amount of metal that can be used to repair a blade this badly damaged. There is a high possibly of it breaking in my forge while the metal heats,” Aliana stated then sent the young one away.

The Isur did not care if the knight would be angry. She simply spoke the truth; even the best would have a difficult if not impossible task ahead of them. There was a crack in the very tip that nearly touched the flat black of the blade. One more swing would have broken it off and broke the center with the length there nearly reaching the other side as well.