The man slapped his knee, “You’re General Ziggy’s boy?” Montegue’s eyes searched him up and down. “Your ma must have been a twig.”
“Will you make me a sword, then?” Gavin’s chest beat to the sound of the hammers.
“Well, it’s complicated. Back orders. Materials.” The man rolled his shoulders. “My time, of course. No one else can do the detail work. And I don’t lay an edge like I used to. I can, but it’s hard. The back isn’t what it once was. I’m sure Ziggy knows what that’s like.”
“L’Marc said you could bill it to his guild. He just asked that I get a receipt.”
“Alright, boy, come into my office.” Montegue stood, and it was like watching a mountain rise. Slow but unstoppable. He stomped away, through a metal door with an iron grate.
Past the door was a tiny office filled with slips of paper, square wooden pencils, and sticks of grease pen. Montegue settled into a worn leather chair like an avalanche behind a desk. “Tell me about this sword you want.”
“I want a rapier.”
“And?”
Gavin thought back to the training swords. “Well, I don’t want it to be too heavy.” He felt Montegue’s eyes on his arms. He stopped hugging himself and let his arms drop.
“Of course not. You need mobility. I remember your father carried a claymore.” The man looked away, “But he had a different frame.”
“Well, he carried a claymore in battle—.”
Montegue interrupted him. “He always carried a claymore. I made the one for court special. Beautiful thing, that. Does he still have it?”
“It’s in the greatroom. On a plaque.”
Montegue smiled. Gavin noticed that he was missing three teeth below a bent nose.
Montegue said, “I’m glad he kept it. I hope you keep the one I make you forever.”
Gavin could breathe again, “So you’ll do it?”
“Well, we haven’t talked price yet,” Montegue named a figure. It was enough to buy a team of warhorses. Gavin thought it must be the most glorious sword ever forged, for that price.
“Thank you, Montegue. I need it in a week.” Gavin stepped forward and extended his hand.
The man took it in his and crushed it, standing up as he did so, “Make sure you give L’Marc the receipt.”