Chapter 5
Gryr was drenched in sweat as he let his body fall into a heap on a stool by the forge. Othen’s balls, this sucks. Gryr stretched his hands and flexed his forearms to test how fatigued they were…the answer was not good. To the young apprentice he was serving a punishment that did not fit the crime. The damn axe.
“Get up. We finished the order, but we did not finish your task.” Taybus moved as if he wasn’t even affected by three days worth of work done in one day.
Gryr went to stand but was quickly reminded of the two meals he had missed. For a flash, the world around him spun and his body felt light. Maybe if I pass out, I’ll wake up with everything done. He knew that wouldn’t have been the case. It was more likely his master would have thrown him outside with the pigs until he woke up.
“You take any longer and we will be skipping tomorrow’s breakfast as well.” Taybus’s voice brought anger into Gryr’s mind.
The young man let the emotion go as he made his way to his master with heavy steps. He already missed lunch and dinner was just past them, he was not going to miss the feast after the long night he was about to start.
“You did well with Belrot’s order today, but now comes the fun part.”
Gryr hated that saying, fun part never meant fun when it came out of the large man’s mouth. Although maybe to Taybus it was actually fun, Gryr was too tired to care.
The mountainous man made his way toward a rack of billets and rods that were neatly organized against a far wall of the shop. With the smallest amount of effort, the master blacksmith moved the cart to the side and revealed a small door hidden within the floorboards beneath it.
“The forge will have to be hotter than you’ve ever gotten it. Better get some fresh air before we start.”
Gryr wanted to go and take a step out into the sunset filled sky, but his curiosity was far more powerful. “Won’t that ruin the metal?” Gryr noticed a small smirk flash on his master’s face.
“It would if we were using the standard stuff for Belrot.” Taybus had opened the compartment and removed a rather heavy sack
Gryr paused before he responded, he knew Taybus didn’t think highly of their Jarl, but he still was a Jarl and to just call him by his last name could be a means for punishment. Jarl Belrot is our main customer afterall. Gryr stuffed the thought and focused on what could be the contents of the sack.
“I use the cheapest shit for Belrot’s orders. By no means is the quality anything below what I would create, but the man won’t pay for premium materials, and I won’t waste them on him anyways.” Taybus stopped and stared at Gryr, though to Gryr it felt like it was at his soul. “It’s the same as crafting a priceless axe for a person to lose.”
Wow, I get it. Gryr took the jab in stride and pressed on. “So if it’s not iron, what is it, steel?” Gryr had never worked with steel himself. He watched Taybus work with the rare material but it was few and very far between.
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