Inside the Flames

[Jaded Eyes]

The blacksmith named David watched quietly as his large assistant hammered out the last horseshoe for his order. Normally, he would not have taken on the man, but he had gotten an influx of orders and all of his apprentices had left for the summer. While he certainly could have managed on his own, it was nice to have some time with his wife and children, and for that reason alone it was worth a little gold lost, especially for the quality of work this stranger put out. Not for the first time, he wondered about where this man who claimed he had no memories came from. In spite of his work, David had little doubt that he was not a true blacksmith. While David was a large man, he sported a keg around his midsection from years of good eating and drinking, but this man seemed to bear no ounce of fat. The stranger worked bare chested with only a leather apron to cover himself, sweat dripping down through hair that just barely revealed scars that David had seen before. In his youth, the blacksmith had fancied himself an adventurer, but quickly decided such a life was not for him. Aye, he knew those scars, and they came from swords, axes, knives. Some of them even looked fresh, perhaps only a few months old.

Ssssss!

The sound drew David from his reverie, and he made his way over to his assistant, "Finished, friend Judas?"

"Aye, David," came the rumbling reply as he tossed the last horseshoe with the others. Turning to look at his employer, he asked, "Do you have anymore work for me today?"

David paused, looking up into the stranger's blue eyes, and then slowly answered, "Perhaps I do. I was going to do it myself, but I would like to see your work in something other than the mundane. Have you ever forged a sword, friend Judas?"

Judas did not reply at once, and his eyes took on a distant look, leaving the blacksmith to wonder if he had heard at all. This had happened before, however, and David had grown used to it. When the silence stretched on, the blacksmith opened his mouth to repeat the question, but was stopped when those blue eyes met his again, "Aye, David. I.. believe that I have forged one before."

The blacksmith nodded, "Good. A man commissioned one, though I know not who he was, but he seemed important enough. His gold was good, so I expect good work. Nothing ornate, mind you, but good solid work. Now get on it!"

"Yes, David," replied Judas as he turned towards the steel, a strange thrill coursing through his body.

[Jaded Eyes]

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The hammer tolled like a bell as it beat against the steel.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart hammered against his heart as the flames licked at his skin. He shoved the steel back into the flames and brushed the ashes that were kicked up from his arms and face. Sweat trickled from his hair line down the lines of his face to disappear into the forest of his beard, and inside of his bright, blue eyes the flames burned as hot as they did in the forge. When the steel was glowing once more, he pulled it from the flames and took it back to the anvil.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hammer and fold. Hammer and fold. Reheat. Hammer and fold. Hammer and fold. It went on and on until his whole world revolved around the glowing metal. As he worked, the gaoler of his memories let loose, and visions appeared before his eyes within the folds of the steel. "Keep goin', laddie! If ye stop ye'll lose it!" came the rough voice from the depths of his mind. "Listen t' th' earth, laddie. She sings fer ye! With ev'ry strike o' yer hammer, she cries out in joy! Listen t' her! Hear th' song and work wit it! Sing, laddie! Sing wit th' Mother!" And so he sang.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

There was life in the steel. In the anvil. The hammer. The earth. Each of them were one, and so he sang in joy. It was a song with no words. It was an ancient song of the earth, and it reverberated in the smithy until it rivaled the sound of the hammer pounding on the steel. Each note brought forth memories until he was enveloped in a world far from the smithy in Myrken Town, one created by his mind and memories. The sound of the song came from all around, from a hundred voices that sang with him as he worked, and then he heard it! She sang with him! He could not stop now, even though his shoulders burned with the heat of a thousand forges, and each swing the hammer grew heavier.

* * *

Off in the corner, David watched and listened in silence to this strange man's voice. His brown eyes were a mask behind which is thoughts burned.