Back at the workshop I continue hammering my thoughts away until silent hour. As the workshop goes quiet, the apprentices disappear home. The blacksmith is finishing off the last few tempering jobs. He calls me over. "Let me show you how to temper a steel sword to make it more than a toy." He shows me the finer details on how to temper the steel to make it tough rather than brittle. I notice he is using some oily looking substance for the quenching. Knowing a bit about alloys from my old life, I ask the blacksmith about it. He responds with a surprising amount of knowledge about different rocks that can be added to get a good alloy. Turns out the steel bars I have been working with were all made by him when business was slow. He stocks them up between orders. He might not have the tools or understanding to measure the carbon content of the steel, but he seems to have the experience to get good result regardless.

After the evening chat with the blacksmith I head home to the girls. At home I tell them all about my little adventure catching kidnappers. Their very positive response washes away any negative thoughts that are left. My desire to become a good father turns into a long night of baby making. I guess I am a bit selfish for wanting my own kids, rather than buying someone else's.

The next several days I continue to work for the blacksmith. The large sword order comes to completion, and I am shown some new jobs, that have stacked up during the large order. After hammering the same shape for days, I am loving the variation. I am picking up a number of related skills from my co-workers, the blacksmith in particular. The second day doing odd jobs, the blacksmith calls me over in the morning.

He brings me to a table with what looks like the framework of a crossbow. "A friend of mine asked me to build him a crossbow. I figured I had the technical skills to do it, but I am not sure I have the woodworking skills. Do you know anything about crossbows?" I explain my related experience, and happily agree to work with him on this project. Half way through the process I acquire an interesting skill, mechanic.

With the backlog of work done, the blacksmith sends his apprentices home early on a late afternoon. People work long hours in this world, the blacksmith's generosity is greatly appreciated by his staff. The apprentices earn a steady pay with bonuses for big jobs. The blacksmith indicates for me to sit down with him and offers me a drink.

"I am very happy with your work. For someone who has never worked with metal, you are a natural. Though I am currently not in need of an apprentice, I would gladly take you on at the first opportunity." I decline his offer, I am predominantly a hunter. "I figured you would say that." The smith is clearly not surprised. "If you are in need of help, and I am free, I will happily come and work for you again." My offer is accepted, though I know with me being a contractor my wages will be higher and he will only request my help through the guild when the work allows him to.

"I could pay you the previously agreed wage here, but considering your skill I would rather consult with the guild about your actual worth and pay you a wage that reflects your work." So I am getting paid more, if I let him go to the guild. I see no problem with that and agree.

Back at the farmhouse I finally see the small fields around the house in daylight. The girls are busy working the fields. Only Lynne is missing. She is probably still doing dismantling work. Mari seems to be the one in charge. Why did I ever worry about finding jobs for her to make her feel useful. She is already the perfect proverb 31 wife. I am pretty sure she wants kids as well. I ask if I can help, and get directed back to working on the house.

With the main building roof and ground floor in good shape I turn my attention to the roof of the northern building. If I am going to get started with my new project, I will need to get my workshop up and running. To get the roof done I need more tiles. Good thing I got experience making tiles. I still got good quality clay from my forest home in my storage. It is really useful to have a seemingly unlimited storage that freeze time for the items stored. No need for a fridge or anything, though my storage level seems quite uncommon.

After I finish making the kiln, Lawra joins me looking for something to do. I show her how to make clay tiles. With two the job goes quicker, and I soon leave Lawra to oversee the making and baking of the clay tiles, while I start working on the wooden framework of the workshop roof. By the time I finish there are a number of tiles for me to lay out, and by dusk the roof is finished.

I am reluctant to finish because of the dark, now that I got a plan in mind. Using a combination of oil lamps and luminescent flora I light up my workshop. The combination of the two provide a well light working environment. Using the borrowed tools I put together some working tables. Next I start working on a simple crossbow.