The next morning as I stretched and yawned, my grogginess burned away like morning mist in light of the major project emblazoned in my mind. I couldn't wait to get to work. I grabbed breakfast from Eimer, today some sort of flat bread wrapped around a chunky salsa-like filling perfect for eating on the go. I didn't recognise most of the ingredients, but a single bite with the fresh crunch of the inside contrasting the soft taco shell and the flavour sour but overwhelmingly fresh to the point of astringency, made me know I'd be asking more about these "nopales" later. A quick check in with the guildmaster confirmed her awareness of Ha-Na's class and approval of her commission, and I was off to the workshop bright and early despite the late night the evening before. As much as I wanted to make a start on Ha-Na's armour, I knew it was going to take some time, and I’d been adding shorter projects to my to-do list for days. In addition, some of those tasks would ease me into alchemy and forging which would be needed for dyeing and treating the leather and creating any metal pieces respectively.

  I started at the forge; it was time to make some nails! However, before I got to setting anything alight or melting any metal, it seemed prudent to consider exactly what my steps would be. Unlike with sewing, I couldn’t easily pause in the middle of a process if it felt wrong, and avoiding accidents seemed a touch more serious. Casting might be the quickest method if I could set up a proper mould to make several at once. I’d found plenty of planks and just enough nails to form the box, or cope as my mind supplied, for the sand to rest in. The sand itself was proving somewhat more elusive, as while there was a barrel near my forge, something was telling me that was the wrong type of sand. Maybe the sand from the dungeon would do it, but it had all gone to the glassmaker. I ran my fingers through the grains trying to work out what was wrong with the sand I had, too dry perhaps? Well, that would be easily fixed judging by the intensifying patter of rain against the roof. I had plenty of metal and fuel so all that was left was something like a wooden carving or pattern to press the sand around to give the shape of the nails and runners for the metal to flow into. As I began searching to see if I’d had something similar that I’d used previously, my instincts kept nagging at me. Something was wrong but I didn’t know what.

  “Hi Vaul. Have you got a minute?”

  The voice from the door of my workshop made me jump. Turning around I saw a middle-aged man experimenting with a moustache. He was dressed in the practical garb of a builder, but I had an inkling there was more to it, he seemed familiar.

  “Come on in. I think what I had planned needs some more thought anyway. How can I help?”

  “I’d like to apologise on behalf of my employees,” dipping into a deep bow. “You have been very gracious if there was ever anything we needed and one of my employees broke that trust by venturing unaccompanied into your stores. As the craftsman in-charge, I take responsibility.”

  “Woah, woah, there’s no need to bow mate. It’s fine, all got sorted. I’da given the nails anyway and the guards checked out that he didn’t take anything else. We just gotta double check these things, I hope you understand.”

  He thankfully straightened, though his look was conflicted, “Absolutely, he never should have been in there. I’ll ensure everyone knows better in future.”

  “It’s fine then! All sorted. Besides I’d heard the senior craftsman wasn’t even here when it happened.”

  He sighed, “It’s still my responsibility, particularly when it’s my nephew at fault. But I appreciate your understanding Vaul. I’d told the kid I was picking up nails on my visit to the city-” he must have seen my expression brighten and winced, “Oh did you need them urgently as well?”

  “Not urgently, I just figured I should restock in case they were needed.”

  “Ahh, then while I’d be happy to restock or reimburse you as needed, if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather do the latter. The nailers and blacksmiths in town were rather low on iron, and there are some places where bronze and copper, or wooden pegs just won’t cut it. Hence why my trip took longer than expected. I’ve arranged for more to be transported from further afield, but that will take some time, and the costliest part of any construction project are delays.”

  I tried not to think about the small fortune in metal ingots and blanks lying in the storeroom, but while I would need those, I could help him out a bit.

  “Best double check with Kete or Sarala, but reimbursement should be fine. Like I said, I was planning to cast some new ones this morning anyway.”

  “Cast them?” His eyebrow raised.

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  “Is that not the typical way? I thought it would be fastest, but I’ve had some memory issues lately.”

  “It’s probably possible, and I wouldn’t doubt you if you said you could do it, but no, it’s not typical. Long narrow shapes tend to be a poor fit for sand casting, since the further the metal needs to travel, and the narrower the passage, the more heat it loses along the way, potentially causing it to solidify early. Air pockets also present an issue.”

  Faced with a much more technical answer than I’d expected, I had to ask, “What would be typical then?”

  “Usually, they’re fashioned from iron rods which are cut and then hammered into shape. It’s impressively fast if you ever see even a journeyman or master nailer, though I don’t know how they stand the lack of variety. Are you sure you’re okay though Vaul? I know you mentioned some memory issues but as a craftsman myself I can’t imagine you weren’t familiar with the process. While I might make use of the fruit of their labours more often, your work certainly veers closer to their own.”

  “It’s not great, but I’ve been checked out by Argat and I’ve just got to give it time. Honestly, I forgot just about everything, but a combination of a bunch of help, skills, and trial and error are pulling me through for now. I’m just taking things one step at a time.”

  “Well then count myself among your helpers. I might not do all the things you do, but I am a master craftsman, so I should be able to offer some insight at the very least. I won’t be here all the time, got to cycle through a few worksites, chat with clients, and ensure supplies get delivered. But if I or any of the other lads can help, just say the word.”

  “Thanks mate. You’ve already saved most of my morning, if not my entire day from being wasted.”

  “To be fair, it’s also my fault you’re making nails in the first place. I’m sure the guild could order things in or set quests for items if you need time to adjust. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

  “All good. It should be a good reintroduction to working at the forge.”

  “I have heard it’s where a lot of apprentice blacksmiths start. If you’re sure, then the warehouse probably has some round or square stock, your anvil has a hardy hole... ” He was rooting around near the forge before raising what looked like a metal puck with a rod attached as a handle, “There we are!”

  As soon as I glimpsed the small square hole in the centre of the puck, the name of the tool came to me, “A nail header. Yup, that definitely sounds helpful. I don’t even want to think about how long I would have spent blindly searching for it if you hadn’t pointed it out. Thanks mate. I don’t suppose you could quickly walk me through the process while you’re here?”

  “Sure, happy to. Just find a couple of rods of about the right thickness and get them heading up un the forge.” He heaved up a block of metal that tapered like an axe head on one side and slid the other into a square hole in the anvil with a clang. “Once they’re hot enough just hammer the end into a point. Then chop it off at the cutting chisel I just fitted in the hardy hole. Finally, drop it into the nail header which will give ya a shoulder to hammer the top flat and yer done. You can check the point in the header before you cut it to make sure you get the right length of nail. At least that’s what I’ve seen anyway, never done it myself.”

  Armed with the right tools and a description of what to do, I felt much more confident as he returned to his work outside. I only realised after he left that I never quite caught his name, but I figured I could just ask someone later. Once I knew what to look for, I quickly returned from the warehouse clutching a handful of thin metal rods – or round stock as my variably helpful blend of memories and skills insisted – each about the width of my pinkie. Donning my safety gear, thick leather apron and gloves, safety goggles and clogs – those still seemed a bit odd, but were swiftly growing on me – I felt ready.

  There was something momentous about finally lighting the forge. I’d been feeling something of a fraud over the last few days, being seen as a craftsman without knowing how to make anything. Lighting this felt like a commitment to learn or relearn to be a craftsman, not just do some repairs and look like one, but to actually make something new. Even if it was just nails. The combination of kindling, good coal and pumping the bellows had a flame roaring in short order. I felt sweat begin to bead and I hadn’t even started yet.

  Deciding to take things slow and build steadily, I rested the end of a single rod in the flames. Giving it a few moments to heat I pulled it out with the tongs to see a faint yellow glow. My skills seemed to whisper "not enough," so back into the flame it went. A little longer and it was glowing orange, swiftly fading to yellow. My skills screamed at me to act. Onto the anvil my hammer drew out steel with rapid blows, the other hand rotating the rod with each strike to bring it to a point. The colours shifted as the blows connected, no orange remained and the yellow retreated to the centre. A blow near the tip seemed to bring heat back to that extremity for a moment, but it swiftly faded. Flakes of material scattered with every strike, but I didn’t have time to think about that. Checking the length with the header it passed a few inches up the tip. It would work.

  Swiftly removing the header, I played it safe with my first nail, plunging it back into the flames for a few moments. It barely restored the yellow hue but I decided to press on. Resting it above the chisel on the anvil a few hard strikes separated nail from rod. Plunging the new end of the rod back into the flames I worked with the tongs and header to fit the nail within, only a small amount protruding over top. A firm hammer blow on top and on each of the cardinal directions to even up the mass, and the head was formed. Tipping the header the nail dropped out, clinking against the anvil. I’d made my first nail. My skills were saying something about a rose head and highlighting where the point hadn’t been drawn out entirely evenly, but I was just ecstatic to finally have made something. Now to make more, better and faster.

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