Chapter 18: Forging a sword

The snow began the moment we stepped out of the mountain and came down so thick we could barely see. Before the sun set several feet of snow had fallen and it was still coming down. We made camp under the drooping branches of a pine. A huge fallen tree was close and we took time to break off as much as we could.

The area under the tree was clear of snow but I dug a pit and we lined it with stones for a fire. With the falling snow the branches over us were like a thick blanket with a wall just outside. The tiny fire quickly warmed the space and we relaxed. By morning the snow had risen to almost seal us in.

One look out was enough to know we would not be going far. I tied a rope to my waist and struggled back to the dead tree for more wood. We ate dried and smoked rabbit and drank melted snow for water. Three days later the snow stopped and we were able to leave. We had spent the time making snow shoes and once we left we needed them.

At least it made pulling our sled easier. I strung the new bow with the braided star silver string and tried to look for game. Of course Aveline was quicker with her sling and killed several birds before noon. We spent the night under another tree with a fire to warm us while we roasted the birds.

When we reached Dawn’s Step the next afternoon we were greeted by a dozen elves returning from a hunt. They looked at us strangely as we struggled through the snow. Once in the city we were greeted by even more that were here for a pilgrimage and tents filled the main street. I pulled the sled to the smithy and Aveline helped me set up camp inside.

I put coal in the forge before I began pulling the raw ore out of my pack. Several elves walked in and watched as I broke the dross and rock off the ore while the forge heated up. I turned Aveline and measured from her index fingertip to the center of her chest as well as the size of her hand.

I stripped out of my shirt and weapons before washing the ore and then putting some into the forge. Something seemed to whisper to me as I added a couple more pieces and closed the doors. It was awhile before I pulled out a glowing red piece and used tongs to move it to the anvil. I used a heavy hammer as I began hitting it to flatten it.

I began pushing the magic inside me into the glowing metal ore. After a little while I put it back and took out another piece. It was slow work but several hours later I was putting all the pieces together and hammering and folding them. Aveline pushed me towards our bed after I put the pieces back in the forge and added more coal.

It was a long night but strangely I did not feel tired. The next day the elves returned and brought food while I worked and Aveline watched. Almost every hour I was pulling the glowing bar of metal out and hammering it flat before bending it and putting it back. I do not know where the coal came from but the bin was full whenever I looked.

The four doors to the forge glowed a red color as the forge slowly got hotter. The bar of metal stretched and grew longer and thinner and it almost seemed like something was missing. It was three days before the gate opened. I was taking a break and walking when I heard the yells. I ran towards the columns with everyone else.

I slowed when I saw the troll by the white stone and then grinned and started walking, “Trock!”

He spun from facing the group of elves with the giant sword in his hand. His eyes narrowed before he straightened, “I came to find you.”

I gestured the elves back as I looked up into his face, “The gate is not back is it?”

He shook his head and pulled a small sack off his shoulder. He held it out, “I ... something told me to come here and bring this.”

I looked at the sack before reaching for it. I looked inside at the chunks of white ore. I looked at him and he grinned, “This place is cold.”

I nodded and glanced at the swirling gate as it appeared, “Thank you Trock. Good hunting.”

He glanced back before nodding and turning to walk into the gate. It closed after him and I turned with a frown as I began walking back towards the forge. The elves fell in and one cleared his throat, “Who was that?”

I smiled as I looked at him, “Did you think the gods would allow your world to remain empty? That was Trock the hunter. His people are farmers but he hunts the orcs that have invaded your world.”

He looked back, “But...”

He looked at me, “It was a troll.”

I grinned, “Perhaps long ago but not now.”

I left them to talk as I entered the smithy. I dumped the sack onto a bench and began to look at what Trock had brought. I looked at the forge as I heard a woman’s whisper and gathered the ore. I used tongs to put it into the forge and took out the sword and used a hammer and chisel to fold it once more.

When I was done I checked the other ore before I brought it out. Like the star silver I flattened each piece and put them together. I waited until the sword and those pieces were once more glowing red and started pounding them together while pushing my magic into them. Aveline returned from the practice steps and glanced over my shoulder.

She grinned, “Now you might have enough for a proper sword.”

I smiled as I kept working, “Get one of the other hammers.”

She returned and stood on the other side, “What do I do?”

I glanced at her before returning to the rhythm, “Hit where I hit in a counter rhythm and push the magic you feel inside into each blow.”