I was awoken to a screeching sound, the old man had propped me up against the wall while he ground the side of the blade into a keen edge, my focus drawn to the dancing, fleeting sparks that flew from the blade held steadily against the spinning stone.

The old man stopped, moving the sword away from the still spinning stone and placing it onto the anvil. The weary look on his face turned to a bemused one with a small chuckle when he saw me. "Don't get up, you hit yourself pretty hard." He said, then he left the room before momentarily returning with two metal mugs, "Here, it's water. " He said passing me one. "It's hard to trust a person, especially those who try to change the world on a whim. You have a look of a magician about ya, but you act like a warrior. Surpose you ran away from home and joined a group." He looked at me the same way he looked at the metal as it came from the fire. "You know why boar comes here everytime one of his breaks their sword?" Old man retreives a stool from the courner of the room and sits down.

"Because he trusts you?" I reply with uncertainty.

"Partly, partly. There are other forgers of blades around here, but they always use magic to melt the iron before pouring it into a mould, it's faster and cheaper." He drinks deeply from his cup. "But the blade is weak, so they melt rarer, stronger metals for the sword to be made of. You see the problem don't you?"

"No." I say.

"The best weapons will be made by the richest people." He sighs. " What if a sword of iron could be made into a sword just as good, what if it can be made better? A mage uses magic to change the world to suit them, but a warrior uses their own hands to reveal how the world should be." He looks down at his cup. "Those with spirit seek to improve how something is. Those with will seek to change it for something else." He looks up at my blank face.

"Take juniper for example, she was born blind, but instead of spending her time searching for a cure, she spent it listening and singing, now she can sing even the most dull days into bright ones."

"Who is juniper?"

"Did nobody tell you? I suppose it wasn't their place. Juniper is wolf's fiance, don't ask for details you can get it from them. oh that reminds me." He picked up the sword and moved to start sharpening it again. "There is another peice of metal in the forge if you want to try again." The grinding sound started again as i stood up.

The metal glowed brightly in the fire. Unlike before when only the end glosed, this peice glowed uniformly. "Use the tongs." Instructions called out from behind me. I pick up a thick set, and use it to almost drag the mis-shapen block of iron to the anvil and hold it in place. I pick up the hammer and swing it over my head letting it fall, sounding the strike upon the metal, i raise the hammer again and again despite the strain on my arm and strike, with each strike the metal became flatter, and the metal became cooler, i turn it over and strike it again and again, making this side to match the other, until i drop the hammer in exhaustion. I breath deeply, my right arm ignores my attempts to move it. "You did well." The old main praises, "But you should have reheated it sooner, if it gets too cool you risk cracking the metal." He takes the tongs from me and places the metal, back into the flames. "The longer the metal stays in the flames the harder it gets, but too hard and it becomes brittle, you have to watch out for that." He sighs picks up the cups and fetches more to drink. Passing me the cup. "Its important to drink water while your in here or you'll dry out."

I drink the water in large gulps, refreshing me.

"Hello? A quiet voice came through the door slightly ajar.

The old man turned to face the door, folding his arms. "What have i told you about hesitating outside."

"Ah, sorry, i thought you were with someone." The voice's owner entered as timidly as she had spoke. She was a very plain woman, who appeared to be in her mid twenties. Her face was plain, in a way that she could not be called pretty but nor could it be said that she was ugly, her eyes were covered with a strip of linen.

"Did you get lost again juniper?" The old man said emphasising on her name as if to clear any doubt of her identity.

"No. Not this time, i i wanted to tell you that you were right about wolf. He kept his promise like you said he would, we're getting married." Although remaining quiet the timidness in her voice gave way to excitement.

"Really? congratulations. I suppose that bracelet was a gift from him too." His voice perfectly imitated surprise his face however did not.

She raise her wrist, showing off silver bracelet made of flowing interweaving bands of silver. "Lovely isn't it." She smilled.

"Yeah it looks so well made, he must have asked a great silversmith to make it." The seriousness in his voice was only betrayed by the grin on his face. "By the way, this boy here is my apprentice for the day his name is..." His voice trailed off signifying either he forgot my name or wanted me to speak.

"Lore." I say.

"Nice to meet you. Oh i am interupting aren't I. Sorry, i'm probably boring you with my life story, i'll be going now." She turned and fled.

"Don't worry about her, she's just shy." He removed the barely sword shaped metal from the flames. "Worry about getting the edges strait."