I followed Socks through the small forest surrounding the Guild. The path was just wide enough for a cart and a horse to pass. I enjoyed breathing in the spicy air, scented with pine and resin. The birds chirped happily, and now and then there was a crackle in the undergrowth. Perhaps a mouse or a hare we had startled.
Even if it had been a mouse, Socks kept going and didn’t get distracted. He was clearly on a mission – his mission as my guide. I have to admit, I was impressed and proud of my little furry friend for taking his task so seriously.
But I’d be careful not to tell him that, or his ego would surely grow many times his size. Tonight, he would definitely get a little extra treat.
After a while, we heard hammering. It had to be coming from the forge.
Somehow, I had imagined it smaller, tucked between the trees, but it was quite tall and large. The door was blackened with soot, and I pulled it open. Knocking wouldn’t have made sense with all the noise.
I stepped into the room and was hit by a wave of heat. My eyes began to water as the smoke irritated them.
The blacksmith stood by the forge, where a fire was burning, hammering away at a long, narrow piece of metal. Blanks, tools, and finished swords, daggers, and rapiers were lined up to the side. After a few strikes, he looked up and grinned at me.
“Welcome to my fiery hell. I’m Hephon, the Guild’s blacksmith. You must be Bobbie. Leonora told me you were coming. I expected you earlier, but well, now you’re here. You’re supposed to pick your sword, but have you ever held a sword before?”
“I had fencing lessons back home,” I answered proudly, and Hephon laughed loudly.
“Well, you’re just the right one for me. You’ve only ever waved a rapier about, and now you’re getting a sword. Where do you come from anyway? The other pages got their swords weeks ago and have already started training. You’re quite the latecomer. I’m surprised Leonora took you in.”
“I’ve only just arrived in Tarcania; I come from the outside world,” I replied uncertainly, still remembering Cal’s reaction and his mockery. Hephon grew serious. “Outside world, hmm, I see. Well then, it’s an honour to give you your sword. I would forge one for you if we had enough time, but Leonora made it clear we don’t. So you’ll have to choose one. Do you know what to look for?”
I shook my head embarrassedly. Of course, I had no idea what made a good sword; I’d never used one before. Back home in Falkenstein, there were some swords hanging on the walls, but those were more relics of the past and decoration.
“The sword shouldn’t be too light because you need to focus on your movements rather than wildly swinging it about. This way, you concentrate better. It saves energy in the end and allows you to use it more precisely. I’d recommend a one-handed sword or better yet, a short sword, because with that you’re quicker—it’s lighter than a two-hander.
Try out some of my swords. It should feel like an extension of your arm. If you hold it vertically, it shouldn’t be too heavy. A traditional one-hander is between 90 and 130 centimetres long. That’s quite substantial.”
I swallowed nervously, and Hephon noticed my discomfort.
“A short sword is obviously smaller—40 to 80 centimetres. It’s lighter and will be easier for you to handle. The gladius from your world was 50–60 centimetres long, and if what we’ve heard here is true, then the Romans conquered an empire with it.”
“What was good enough for the Romans should be good enough for me,” I smiled confidently. Me, an Amazon with a Roman sword— I liked that idea.
Hephon nodded and showed me his short swords. I tried out a few, swinging them through the air and trying not to make too much of a fool of myself. One of the swords especially caught my eye. It wasn’t too light or too heavy and felt just right. It had a subtle engraving and seemed to call out to me.
“This is the one,” I said. Hephon nodded. “A good choice. The sword is called Valanur, and I’ll also give you a dagger, the scabbard, a belt, and gloves.”
I have to admit, I felt really good as I fastened the belt around my waist and sheathed my short sword and dagger. The gloves were made of soft leather, almost like a second skin.
I thanked Hephon and set off for the pottery. I would deal with the staff later, as I suspected the cup would take more time.
Of course, Socks knew the way as well and marched ahead of me with his tail held high. Somehow, he seemed a bit prouder and bolder in his stride after I had received the weapons. I felt like an Amazon, but I knew my fencing experience wouldn’t fully prepare me for sword training.
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