Having looked around and made sure that there was no one else nearby, I began to approach the door that led into the house, I could hear hammer blows and some other sounds coming from the house.
As I started knocking on the door, I heard Blafe shouting irritably that the ordering time was over and that we needed to come back tomorrow.
After a while, steps were heard towards the door, you could hear the dwarf unlocking the door, saying something under his breath.
- I told you the time for accepting orders is over! - Blafe shouted irritably; when he saw us, he fell silent and, squinting because of the darkness, began to look at us. - Are my eyes deceiving me or are you Trey a half-elf?
Because of the light that was inside the house, it was easier for the gnome to see us, but the light did not fully illuminate us and because of this the gnome had to peer into our faces.
Extending his hand to me for a handshake, I readily squeezed it, releasing my hands. Blafe stepped aside allowing us to go inside.
The guards who were with us remained on the street, standing near the door, blocking any possible desire to try to approach the door.
Walking into the house, I felt the air become even hotter and it became harder for me to breathe, looking around my eyes, various and strange mechanisms appeared that were hanging on the walls or lying on a large table.
In addition to the table, there were also small chairs made of wood that were located next to it. The dwarf, having closed the door, examined me with interest, especially my face, turning his gaze to Keirin, who was trying to cover her face with her hand because of the smoke, which was not familiar to her.
- Apparently the forest left its mark on you, huh Trey? - Blafe addressed me in a thoughtful voice as he walked to the table. - Why did you, pointy-eared one, allow your master to admire the fire close to his face?
The girl wanted to answer something to the dwarf's question, but restrained herself, covering her face with her hands, she moved closer to the window, which Keirin hoped would help her escape from the smoke.
- You're right, the forest left a mark on my face, but Keirin couldn't have influenced the fire I encountered. - Answering both questions, I went to the table and put Acheln steel on it. -Can you make a sword from this steel?
The dwarf looked thoughtfully at the steel that was covered with earth, picking up the steel and starting to examine it from different sides, running his fingers along the ground, trying to remove it from the steel.
- You brought me an unusual steel, Trey, I can make a sword from it, but the work will be expensive. - The dwarf said in a leisurely voice, putting the steel back on the table. - And I don't need to know where you got it from, payment in advance if you are still ready to make yourself a weapon from it that will serve you for your life.
I understood that the dwarf was not trying to raise the cost of his work, and his words were that the weapon would serve me all my life.
Taking out parts of monsters and animals and herbs from the storage that the half-elf did not take, I saw the thoughtful look of the dwarf who examined what appeared on the table.
Having laid out almost everything that was in the storage room, Blafe raised his hand calling me to stop.
- Apparently, in addition to your close acquaintance with fire, you had good hunting, Trey. - Speaking, the dwarf picked up one of the parts of the monster, examining it carefully. - Everything you got will be good for creating a sword and paying for my work. Now go show off your weapon skills.
Looking at the pile that lay on the table and at the steel, it seemed to me that I had misheard when the dwarf said that some of this would help in creating a sword.
Coming out of our reverie and following the gnome to the other side of the house, we went out into the courtyard where there were racks with different weapons.
Luring me to one of the racks where there were different swords, running his fingers along the hilts of the swords, the dwarf glanced at me then at the hilts and said something to himself.
- You are not a blacksmith and you don't know that the basis of any weapon is not the blade itself, but the hilt. - The dwarf said while continuing to examine the handles and blades. - If the hilt is not suitable for the swordsman, then it will cause inconvenience in battle, which can lead to death when the hilt does not respond as the swordsman needs.
Stopping in front of one of the swords and taking it out of the rack, examining it and handing it to me, the dwarf pointed with his hand to a free space far from the racks where the other weapons were located.
- Use your sword style and feel whether you are comfortable with such a sword hilt or not. - Blafe said in a demanding voice, turning his gaze to the light elf. - The steel that your master brought is enough for me to create a weapon for you too, let's go show you what you like to use.
Left alone, I trusted the sword and it was well balanced, starting to move the sword forward, I had the feeling that the hilt was digging into my hand too much.
Making a circular movement with the sword, there was a fear that the sword might leave my hand. After making a few more movements, I did not notice that the wind had risen around me and some of the stands began to fall.
Using my sword style for the first time, I was engrossed and continued to enjoy it even through the inconvenience of holding the sword.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but I heard a loud shout from Blafe, who was holding one of the stands that was about to fall.
Having stopped, I looked around under my feet, the ground was all cut up, although I remembered that I had never touched the ground with the tip of the sword.
Some racks lay on the ground and from under them you could see the weapons that were lying underneath them.
- Either you didn't fight at full strength in the caravan, or the forest gave you something else besides fire and what you showed me. - The gnome turned to me, grinning, and began to approach, inspecting the cuts on the ground. - Tell me how you liked the handle, were you comfortable with it?
Having returned the sword to the dwarf, I thought about the sensations that the hilt caused me, it was not comfortable for me and with every blow I felt it slipping out of my hands or, on the contrary, digging into my hand.
Telling my feelings to the dwarf who examined the hilt and thoughtfully returned to the stand and, returning the sword, took out another one, returning to me, he again handed it to me.
- Try doing the same with this handle and if you feel any discomfort, tell me right away. - The gnome turned to me, moving away to a distance and looking at me expectantly.
Sighing and grabbing the hilt of the sword more comfortably, I began to strike again the same blows as with that hilt.
It was also uncomfortable, but there was no longer the feeling that it might fall out of my hand. After making a few more blows, I again heard the voice of the dwarf calling me to stop.
- I think I understand what the problem is, Trey. - Blafe said in a quiet voice, taking the sword and returning to the counter, taking out another sword and returning to me. - Try this, if any inconvenience occurs, tell me right away; you don't need to repeat everything you did.
Squeezing the hilt with my hand for the first time in my life as a prince and the chosen one, I did not have the feeling that I had a hilt in my hands.
Having made a movement with the sword from the bottom up, if before there was a feeling that the hilt was leaving my hand, this was not the case with this sword.
- Stop! Trey stop, you're going to destroy everything here! - Unexpectedly for me, Blafe, who was pressing himself to the ground, shouted. - You don't have to answer whether this handle is comfortable for you or not, I see everything.
Freezing, I saw the destruction that was caused by one of my blows, a large strip in which Blafe would have fit went from my place to the fence, the branches of the trees that stood nearby were cut off and lay on the ground.
After making sure that I had stopped using my sword style, the dwarf carefully stood up and looked around, from his behavior it was clear that he was dissatisfied with what appeared before him.
Approaching him and handing him the sword, you could see how nervous he was, but having calmed down, he took it and returned it to the stand.
- You know, you are the first to cause such damage to my yard. - Blafe said irritably, trying not to look at the destruction in the yard. - Let's go get the light elf.
Following the dwarf who continued to lament displeasedly about what had happened, we went out to another part of the yard where Keirin showed her style, unlike mine, she was calmer and less destructive.
Watching how she applied her style, it seemed to me that she was dancing and not fighting, but the dwarf clapped his hands loudly, attracting the attention of the girl, who immediately stopped.
Looking at what was in the girl's hands, I was surprised to find two daggers that Keirin was holding in her hands.
Approaching the girl, the dwarf took the daggers and examined the hilts, saying something quietly, he beckoned us to return back to the house.
During all the time we were in the yard or in the house, I never saw the blacksmith where Blafe was working, was she in another place?
Returning back to the house, the gnome immediately sat down on a chair near the table and thoughtfully massaged his neck.
- We have selected the handles for your weapon; it remains to discuss the time. - The dwarf said thoughtfully, looking from me to Keirin. - Your steel is unusually complex and I will have to cancel other orders. It cannot be rushed or rushed, so you will need to come here in two weeks.
Two weeks? I doubted that Professor Ni'Lim would allow us to stay here for a long time. But as the dwarf said, steel was complex and creating weapons for us was more important than possible problems at the academy.
- We will try to come for them on the agreed date of Blafe. - I answered thoughtfully, looking around the room again expecting to see the place where the gnome worked. - But where is your blacksmith?
Hearing my question, the dwarf burst into laughter, hitting his legs with his hand, which made him, along with laughter, cry out in pain.
- Half-elf, we dwarves guard our blacksmithing secrets more zealously than other races. - Blafe said in a serious voice, looking from me to Keirin. - The light elf understands what I'm talking about.
I turned my gaze to the girl who winced but nodded in agreement to the gnome's words. Having agreed on the day and time, we left the house of the irritated gnome, who was apparently in a hurry to restore order in the yard.
The guards stood next to us again and escorted us to the hotel where Professor Ni'Lim was waiting for us.
Along the way, I tried to come up with a reason for the dark elf that would allow us to stay in this city.
Approaching the hotel, we saw that the guards had not yet left, thinking about when to tell Father Auel about the girl, it seemed to me a good opportunity to do now.