Chapter 5 #3
“Is this similar to your shop?” she asked, curiously. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to your place in town.”
“In some ways, yes, but in others, no.” He walked over and opened a second window. With the sunlight now filling the room, he had his first real view of the castle forge. He had only been here once or twice as a child, accompanying his father to visit the castle’s blacksmith.
Housed in a building made of brick was a small forge at the far end of the room.
It was a stone hearth that vented out a hole in the roof.
In front of the hearth were two small bellows, attached to ropes that were pulled to work them, to blow air on the fire and make it hotter.
There was, of course, an anvil, and blacksmith tools hanging on the walls, but not much else. The floor was wood and very dusty.
It seemed as if the entire place was covered in filth.
True, blacksmith shops were always filled with smoke and covered with soot, but he kept their shop in town clean.
His family prided themselves on keeping their work area presentable for their customers, and especially the nobles.
The condition of the castle’s forge surprised him.
He could see now why the nobles came to him instead of using their own castle’s smith for what they needed at times.
The conditions here were severely lacking.
“How is it different?” she asked, seeming genuinely interested.
“Well, for one, this is a very small shop. Mine is much bigger.”
“Really?” she asked with a grin. “How much bigger is yours?”
Jonathon could have kicked himself for saying that.
Her smirk told him that she was being flirty and not talking about his shop anymore.
Or at least, he hoped not. He smiled inwardly, liking this playful side of Raven that he had never seen.
From all the stories he’d heard of her, and from what he’d experienced so far, he didn’t think the woman knew how to jest, or even how to smile.
“Did you want to see it for yourself so you can compare?” Now it was his turn to grin. Her cheeks became rosy and her face was flushed. Since there was no fire in the forge, he knew it wasn’t from the heat.
“I suppose this one is small because it is right here in the castle courtyard, and there isn’t much room to expand,” explained Raven, picking up a punch to inspect it. “There are so many outbuildings, that none of them can be too large.”
“Oh, put that down. You don’t want to play with that.
It’s dirty,” he said, taking the metal punch from her.
His hand brushed against hers and he couldn’t help noticing how soft her skin felt.
It surprised him since she worked with weapons.
He half-expected her hands to be rough or even callused.
He quickly put the punch down and turned away.
“Wow, this is big,” she said, causing him to look over his shoulder. She reached out and picked up one of the blacksmith’s hammers.
“Those are heavy. Be careful,” he said, rushing over to take it from her, but stopped. She held it in one hand and didn’t drop it. It was truly impressive since most females could barely even lift it with both hands. “You’re quite strong. For a lady, I mean.”
“Yes, I suppose I am,” she said, almost gloating. “I wield a full-sized sword one-handed, you realize. I hardly think a mere blacksmith’s hammer is going to break me.”
“I can see that,” he said with a nod.
“This isn’t much of a place to live,” she remarked, putting down the hammer.
“It’ll do,” he replied, walking over and peeking into the attached room that was the bedroom.
A small bed with a torn mattress filled most of the room.
A small, dirty pallet lay on the floor in the corner with straw sticking out of it.
“I see two places to sleep. Did someone live here with the blacksmith?”
“He was an old widower, but he did have a son named Gerold. He’s the one who lived here with him. Gerold was his apprentice.”
“Oh, that’s right. I think your father mentioned that to me.”
“Gerold stayed here at the castle after his father’s death, so I’m sure he’ll be assigned to help you.”
“Didn’t he go to live with other family members after his father’s death? I mean, your father said he was just an apprentice so I’m surprised that he stayed.”
“Nay. He has no one else. His father was the only family he had.”
“Oh. So, he is going to become a journeyman and take his father’s place someday soon?”
“I hardly think so,” she said, finding his words funny, though he didn’t know why.
“Hello?” came a voice from the door.
“It’s my father,” said Raven in a hushed whisper.
“Lord Corbett?” Jonathon walked out of the adjoining room to find Corbett Blake standing in the doorway, blocking the light. He was tall, like Jonathon, and had to duck to enter the forge.
“What’s going on here?” asked Corbett in a low voice.
Jonathon now realized it probably hadn’t been a good idea to bring the lord’s daughter here.
It was a dark, dirty place, and not fit for a noblewoman.
Besides, he shouldn’t be in here alone with her, and especially not in the bedroom.
He was sure that wasn’t going to sit right with Lord Corbett.
It wasn’t proper. Especially since he was a commoner.
“Father, I was just showing Jonathon his temporary home,” said Raven, approaching her father and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I hope you don’t mind. I had to get away from Lords Whitehead and Belmouth. I didn’t like them.”
“I’m afraid to say I have to agree with you, Daughter,” said Corbett. “They weren’t the most amicable men I’ve ever met.” He turned his attention to Jonathon. “How do you find the forge?”
“He finds it smaller than his,” Raven answered for him, looking over and grinning.
“It’s fine, my lord,” said Jonathon, not wanting to anger Lord Corbett, and a little embarrassed by Raven saying his was bigger.
“He also said it is very dirty in here,” continued Raven, making Jonathon want to hide under a chair now. Why did she have to say these things and not let him speak for himself?
“I realize the place is lacking,” said Corbett. “That is why I brought Gerold with me. He’ll be your apprentice during the duration of your stay, so just let him know what needs to be done to tidy things up.”
“Gerold is here?” Jonathon peered out the door over Corbett’s shoulder, but didn’t see anyone else. “Where is he?”
“I’m right here,” came a little voice from behind Corbett. Out stepped a young lad who was skinny and small and looked too frail to even lift a punch, let alone a hammer.
“You? You’re going to be my apprentice?” asked Jonathon in surprise.
“He’s young, but is a good worker,” said Corbett.
“Gerold, how old are you?” Jonathon could see this was not going to work. He needed someone who was strong and who could aid him. Not a lad that he’d have to watch over closer than tending to the hounds.
“I just turned nine,” said the boy proudly. He might be nine, but honestly, he was so small and skinny that he looked more like he was only six or seven.
“So, then you’ve just started your apprenticeship,” said Jonathon.
“He’s lived here with his father all his life. His mother died when he was born,” explained Corbett.
“I know everything about the forge,” bragged the boy, but Jonathon didn’t believe it.
“I’m sure you do,” he said, looking from the boy back up to Corbett. “You did say my brother Avery could assist me?” Jonathon checked. “I mean, he is twenty years of age and has also just completed his apprenticeship. He is a journeyman now and will be a great asset.”
“Are you a journeyman too?” Raven asked Jonathon.
“I am,” he answered. “Actually, I am only one masterpiece away from being a master at my trade. Your father assured me I would have time to work on my presentation for the guild masters who are to judge it sometime soon.”
“Yes, I did say that, and of course your brother is welcome here to assist you, as well,” said Corbett. “However, there isn’t much room for all three of you to live here.”
“Lord Corbett, will I have to give up my pallet in the bedroom?” asked the boy looking up to the lord of the castle with sad eyes.
“Well, that will be up to Jonathon,” answered Corbett, looking over to him, putting him in a terrible position.
Jonathon didn’t want the child living there with him and his brother.
He would only be in the way. He certainly didn’t want the lad sleeping in the same room, either.
But how could he turn the child away? This was his home.
He didn’t have anyone now, and was an orphan.
He’d lost everything he’d ever had. Jonathon’s heart broke for him.
He wasn’t going to be the one to take away the boy’s home as well.
“He’s welcome to stay,” answered Jonathon, realizing how long his time here was going to feel, now that he answered in this manner.
“Thank you,” said the little boy, wiping his nose with his sleeve. Dirt streaked across his face. His clothes were worn thin and covered in ash. He wasn’t even wearing shoes, although at first Jonathon thought he was since his feet looked almost black. “What’s my first job?” asked Gerold excitedly.
“Grab a broom and start sweeping,” Jonathon told the boy. “I want this place to shine.”
“Right away, my lord.” Gerold ran barefooted to grab the broom.
“I’m not a lord,” he told the boy. “Just call me Jonathon.”
“Aye, Jonathon.” The boy sniffled and once more wiped his nose with his sleeve.
“Do you have other clothes? And a pair of shoes, Gerold?” asked Jonathon. “The forge is too dangerous to be working here barefooted. Besides, everything and everyone in the forge needs to stay as clean as possible. I insist upon it.”
“I had shoes but they fell apart last week,” said the boy, sweeping quickly, causing a big cloud of dust to rise up into the air. “These are my only clothes.”
“I’ll get him some shoes,” offered Corbett. “I had no idea of his condition.”
“I’ll get him clothes,” said Jonathon. “I have a younger brother just a little older than you, Gerold. You can have his clothes that he’s outgrown.”
“Fine,” said Corbett, turning to go.
“Father,” said Raven, making Corbett stop and turn around. “Can I go to town with Jonathon to see his shop?”
“Why?” Corbett’s eyes drifted over to Jonathon.
“I will need to bring some of my tools here. This shop is small and lacking. There are some things I will require to do my job,” explained Jonathon.
“Plus, he has to get my new clothes,” little Gerold reminded him, sounding excited to be getting something new. Or new to him, at least, even if they were hand-me-downs.
“I suppose that would be all right. Just stay with Jonathon at all times, Raven,” warned her father. “Remember, when the castle gates close at nightfall, leave him alone, since he’ll have work to do in the forge.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Why what?” asked Corbett.
“Why are you making me stay with him? What are you and Rook up to, Father?”
“I’ll watch over her, my lord,” said Jonathon, knowing that Corbett wasn’t going to want to answer that question.
They never explained to her why they felt she needed a personal guard, and hell if Jonathon was going to be the one to do it.
“Gerold, slow down and sweep gently or we’re all going to choke to death on the dust.”
“Sorry,” answered the boy.
“I suggest we go out in the fresh air, my lady.” Jonathon stretched out his arm, motioning Raven out the door after her father.
Once outside, he looked back at the boy again, shaking his head.
Now, he would have two to watch over instead of just one.
How in heaven’s name was he ever going to find time to construct a piece worthy enough to be accepted into the guild as a master of his trade when he had so many other duties that would be taking his attention?