After leaving the mill Amondo and his squire headed over to the village smithy to see the village blacksmith Rudi Paulding. Rudi was built like most smiths are and he can swing his hammer all day long and still have time to teach his son and apprentice Alvin the finer points of his craft. At thirty-seven Rudi had, in turn, learnt his craft from his uncle Stevin who had never married and had died two summers ago after an accident at the forge. It was said that the accident had been caused by his failing eyesight which he had been unwilling to even acknowledge.
Amondo had only really seen Rudi in passing on a number of occasions over the years before he had left home. Since he mainly dealt with Stevin the only time he had ever talked to him was during a visit to the castle forge when he was nine looking to have his horses left front leg reshoed. Rudi had been sent to the castle forge for a few weeks by his uncle to broaden his knowledge of the smithy's art.
The conversation was little more than Amondo being directed by the castles master weaponsmith Ervin Ollero to Rudi for him to do it because he was busy doing something more important. Amondo had then indicated to Rudi which shoe needed replacing and told him what had happened to the old one. Rudi had then informed Amondo how long it would take and he, in turn, asked him to leave the horse at the castle stables when he was done.
The village forge was located against the village wall a hundred or so yards to the left of the eastern gate. How long it had stood in that spot Amondo did not know but to him, it looked at if it might have done so for quite a long time. The structure itself was mainly made of wood ash if he wasn't mistaken which looked positively ancient to his eyes. It had many patches where over the years rotting timbers had been replaced using whatever wood was lying about at the time. The roof of the smithy was covered in slate and there was a stone chimney with smoke currently rising from it, indicating that the smith must be hard at work inside.
Not seeing signs that anyone else was about or wanting to startle him while he was hard at work with hot metal Amondo had his squire knock gently upon the door of the smithy and then they both awaited a response. It wasn't long in coming when a young boy who was clearly Rudi's son cum apprentice opened the door and approached Amondo's squire to enquire as to what help they required.
"Please tell your master that Sir Amondo Malla wishes to have a word with him at his earliest convenience."
Upon hearing this the apprentice re-entered the smithy and after a minute or so the Smith himself appeared in his place.
"Good morrow milord how may I be of service do you need another horseshoe replaced or is it something else you're after this time."
"Nothing of the sort at the moment although I am surprised you remembered."
"Well it was the first time I had ever talked to a member of your family and I must say I haven't had many other chances to do so since then."
"If you don't mind me asking when was the last time you talked to a member of my family?"
"Your brother Dako paid me a visit last year to have his new horse shoed."
"Odd I wonder what he was up to."
"I didn't want to pry but I imagine it had something to do with a girl or what have you."
"I suppose you're correct in that assumption, anyway that is not what I came here to discuss with you."
"I didn't think it would be."
"They say that you're the best blacksmith in the barony if not the neighbouring ones as well."
This statement from Amondo generated the slightest hint of a smile on the blacksmith's face that might have been easy to miss if you weren't on the lookout for something of the sort but this soon faded to be replaced by a feeling of contentment."
"You don't say so what can this ever so humble master of the blacksmith's art do for you today?"
"I have a commission for you if you're not too busy that is."
"I am busy right now, as a matter of fact, it being harvest season and all, but I'm sure I should be able to find time for whatever you need doing unless you're in a hurry that is."
Once the Smith finished speaking Amando signalled to his squire to again open the satchel around his left arm but this time it was him and not his squire who remove something from it. The object in question was a large piece of white pulped paper that was folded into four with writing and diagrams on it.
"This is the design for a new type of plough that I picked up earlier this year from someone who owed me money. He claimed that it would be more efficient and easier to use than normal ones. I have no idea where he got it from and of course, I cannot say whether or not he was telling the truth or simply selling me an old goat.
I kind of hope that it is the latter and not the former but to tell you the truth he didn't owe me all that much money. If it does work as advertised then it could prove useful and if not well live and let learn."
Upon finishing telling Rudi about the new plough he handed the document over to the blacksmith who unfolded it and had a good look at the design contained within.
"Interesting design I'm no expert when it comes to using the things but I think that replacing the runner with a wheel allows for the heavier nature of the plough which should make using it a lot easier especially with the type of soil we have in this part of the barony."
"Yes the man I got it from did mention something to that effect when he handed the plans over to me, now for the important question do you think you can you make me one?"
"Well it might take me a few attempts but from what I can see it seems doable. I'll need to work with the carpenter Alvin Maas for the wooden parts but I don't imagine he'll have any problem at all holding up his end of it. At for the other two questions, I'm sure you want to ask I can have an answer for you tomorrow but until I actually build one it will only be an estimate. Any additional ones after the first one will, of course, cost a little less and not take as long to build."
"Alright, how much would a regular plough set me back?"
"The last plough I made two years ago cost about 10 silver so yours should be somewhere around less than twice that."
"Well, all I ask is that you try your best and I would appreciate it if you got it done as soon as humanly possible."
"That I will now beg pardon milord but unless you need anything else I've work to be getting on with."
"Good day master smith, come Vete let us pay a visit to the inn before heading back to the castle."