17 years later...
Clang,
Clang,
Clang. The sound of metal striking metal resounded through the stifling blacksmith shop.
“Alright Jacob, heat it back up,” Taima instructed.
The human lad was scrawny with gangly limbs and a mop of straw hair atop his head, but what her father's apprentice lacked in size he made up for in enthusiasm. Grabbing onto the bellows, the young boy began to pump air into the burning embers until they glowed a fiery red.
Wiping a dirty rag across her face, Taima cleared the grit and dirt from her scaly hide and pulled the glowing blade free of the hot coals. Laying it across the anvil she began her work in earnest once more. Each clang of her hammer served to further shape the steel blade. At six foot eight, Taima hadn't the stature of her father, but she was an imposing figure none the less. Toned and well muscled, Taima had both the strength of a blacksmith and the litheness of her mother all in one.
It was nearly midday by the time Taima was at last finished. Lifting the blade up to get a look at it, she seemed satisfied with her work as she dropped it into a basin of cold water. With a sizzle of steam the hot metal swiftly cooled. For two weeks she had been working on the sword between other odds and ends about the shop.
“Go on, once that's cooled get it fitted with a hilt and take it out back to sharpen it,” Taima told the lad.
“Is this one mine?” Jacob asked.
Taima chuckled and clapped a hand against the boys shoulder. “It is, and you don't want to be running off to the academy with a dull blade do you? But be quick about it, we still need to shoe your father's horse.”
By the time evening had stolen over the place, Taima was thoroughly spent. Working her fathers blacksmith shop while he was out of town and also helping at the farrier's while the man's son was sick with fever left Taima little time for recreational activity. She never complained though, after all it was a good days hard work that made an honest person honest. Besides, she thought to herself, her father would be back in another week and the farrier's son was on the mend; there would be plenty of time for hunting soon enough. Maybe she would head up to cedar reach for a few days. Rumors had been circulating of Strakken sightings up that way, and she was keen to have a look herself for signs of the creatures.
Most of the other businesses had already closed down for the night and only a few remnants of light still lingered in the sky outside, but as Taima went about closing up her father's shop she caught ear of someone at the front door.
“We're closing up for the night,” Taima called out.”We'll be open again at first light if you want to come back tomorrow.”
