“Very nice,” he said. “You’ve made a serviceable weapon out of this discarded piece of metal.”
“How much do you want for it?”
“Consider it a donation to the Church,” Torek said, “from a fellow smith.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“I saw the look in your eyes while you were at the forge,” he said. “You really enjoy this type of work, and you’re good at it. Why don’t you fix up that smithy of yours?”
“I’ll consider it,” she promised, “but my captain would have to approve it.”
“Well, if she does,” said Torek, “and you need some help getting it up and running, let me know. I couldn’t come myself, of course, but I could loan you my son for a couple of days.”
“That’s awfully considerate of you,” said Charlaine, “but why would you do such a thing?”
“I’m a busy smith,” he said, “far too bus
