Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 42 of 619

By midmorning the gnome came out of the trees on his prowler and waved them on. Ajax mounted up. Chalam rode beside him, quiet, the staff across his saddle. The oil business sat between them unspoken. They followed the gnome west through two shallow valleys, over a creek and up a wooded ridge, until smoke showed above the pines. The blacksmith's shop stood alone in a clearing. Stone chimney, low roof, a shed for the bellows. A woman worked at the door of the forge in a leather apron, sleeves rolled, forearms dark with soot. She was short and broad through the shoulders. She set down her hammer when she saw them and wiped her hands on a rag. The gnome climbed down and spoke to her in his own tongue. She listened, then looked past him at Ajax. "You're the mason's son," she said. "I am." "Come inside. Just you and the wizard. The rest wait at the trees." Grayson gave Ajax a short nod from his horse. Ajax swung down and followed her in. Chalam came behind him and set his staff by the door. The forge was hot. Iron stock leaned against the wall in bundles. "The gnome says you need blades that will cut spiral doors," she said. "Six of them." "Six," Ajax said. "One for each of my men." She looked him over. She took in the chain at his neck and the short sword on his hip. She held out her hand for the sword. Ajax drew it and gave it to her, pommel first. She turned it in the light and pressed her thumb to the wolf paw. "His work," she said. "I know the hand." She gave it back. "I can do six. It will take three days. Silver, not gold. Gold draws eyes I don't want." "Name the price." She named it. It was fair. Ajax agreed. "One more thing," she said. "No one watches me work. You camp down the slope by the creek. You come when I call. If I see a face at that window, the deal ends and you leave with what you brought." "Agreed." Chalam spoke for the first time. "The iron. Where is it from." "My own seam," she said. "Two ridges over. It takes the working." Chalam nodded once and said no more. Ajax counted silver onto her bench. She swept it into a leather pouch without counting back and turned to the fire. They made camp by the creek before dusk. Grayson set the watch. Elara washed her wrist in the cold water. Tucker sat apart and cleaned his boots and said nothing. Marco and Asher spread their blankets on the same side of the fire and did not pretend otherwise. Ajax sat with his back to a pine and listened to the hammer start up the slope. Three days. Then six blades that could open the door.