Hearrd, the assistant smith, entered the forge to find Ethel already at work on removing a dent from a helmet nose piece. Her expression was one of intense concentration, her eyes were narrowed and focused, her hand raising and lowering her hammer to an already practiced rhythm. She was doing very well.
“Good morning, Hearrd,” the girl said, without looking up, without missing a stroke.
“Good morning, Ethel.” He replied, then looked around. “I hope that armour did its work, and the wearer’s nose is still intact?”
Ethel snorted. “He has a big bump from a training exercise. He will live.”
“Good. He will learn to move faster perhaps? Where is our brave leader today, do you know?”
Almost immediately the man regretted his choice of words. She was brave, if only she still believed it.
“Master Heartha is out in the yard. One of the Riders has a horse that urgently needs re-shoeing. She is in a funny mood though, I’ll tell you.” For a moment Ethel paused, taking up her tongs and raising the helm for inspection.
Her words were no surprise. Hertha has been in a strange mood since she returned from the hunt, thought Hearrd. He wished he could be of help. But what good was telling his Mentor she was not at fault for the attack on the caravan on the road to Aldberg? What good was it telling her that she alone could have made no difference. She had been blaming herself for riding straight past hidden orcs these past days, and could not seem to come to terms with it. It wasn’t a good thing.
“I will go and speak with her first, Ethel, in case she has anything particular for me to do. Otherwise I will be straight back to work. I have orders left me from Thane Averel for a large hand bell. He wants inscriptions on it as well. If he wants to invite us all to a feast he can just shout for all I care, but I suppose ringing a bell is more ‘lordly’.
Hearrd grinned. Ethel chuckled.”Like listening for the bellwether, more like. And I certainly don’t need a bell to summon me to dinner. The smell alone does that.”
Once outside again, Hearrd turned in the direction of the main yard of the garrison. There were six horses, but Hertha was standing by a sorry looking sorrel, running a hand over the fetlock of a hind leg.
“Can I help, Master Smith?” he called, in an encouraging voice.
The red haired blacksmith turned to view him. She did not seem to fully see him standing there. Ethel was right. She was in a more distracted frame of mind than even the past days.
“Thank you. I am not certain this horse just needs a new shoe, or if something else is wrong. I fear he may have sprained an ankle. We need a horse healer. Do you know if the woman, Brynleigh, is in the village at the moment?”
Hearrd shook his head, then scratched his beard. “I don’t know. But I will go and find out.”
Heartha nodded, turning her attention back to the horse, who she now led slowly in a wide circle, as she watched his pace.
Hearrd turned to go, but concern was niggling away at him. She seemed different, his old friend. Almost distant.
“Heartha, a moment please.” shoving his hands in his apron pockets made him look like some lad who had stolen apples from a tree, he realised. He did it all the same. “I know you are carrying blame for what happened. Others have tried speaking with you, and I am but one more telling you, it was not your fault.”
The Master Smith stopped a moment, talking gently, she soothed the horse’s snorts of protest.
“Hearrd. I know you care for my well being. And I know your argument.” She let go of the lead rein she was holding for a moment, and put her own hands in her apron pockets in a direct copy of her friend. She walked over to face him.
“I know all the kindness you would offer, but think on this. I am an experienced scout, not some youngster with but a dozen missions behind her. I should have read the signs. I should have smelt them, seen them. I could have given those travellers warning. I could have given them a chance.”
Hearrd lowered his head, wishing he had the right words to reach her.
“I have been considering sticking to smithing alone, and not take any part in scout work again. I do not consider myself fit for such, whereas my metal work is undoubtedly of high quality." She paused. “And now, by chance, I have this.” Heartha withdrew what looked like a loosely scrolled letter from her pocket. She had obviously read it.”
“May I know what it is about?”
With a hint of a more softened expression, she replied “Of course. Though keep it to yourself until tomorrow, if you will. I need to ponder the offer a little more. Well, that’s what it is. An offer of employment elsewhere.”
At that, Hearrd’s head shot up. His eyes were wide with disbelief.
“But you are happy here! You have been in Bancross for years, and then there is your cousin…”
Heartha shook her head, her flame like hair fanning out behind her as the breeze caught it. She suddenly looked so alive. The fire was back in her eyes.
“And here I will always be reminded of my failure. This may give me a fresh start. A replacement master smith is required, and I am being asked to fill the position. It seems my skills are still recognised, rather than my inadequacies. I ask you not to mention it because I must speak with Thilwend first. I need to explain it to her. I am also considering asking Ethel to accompany me, to continue her training.”
Hearrd shook his head. “Waelden won’t have that.”
“I suspect you are right,” Heartha sighed. “But she would be safe enough, and can go home every couple of months for a visit. It would be a bit of an adventure for her. Broaden her horizons? Once she finishes her training the new Master Smith here may find her useful?”
“You already have someone in mind?” The day was going from bad to worse for Hearrd. He almost wanted to crawl back in bed and hope he awoke to something better.
“I have you in mind, my friend. I deem you worthy now. Maybe another few months with me here would be good, but I have taught you enough. Now is your time.”
Raising a hand to his brow, Hearrd sighed. He should have been flattered, well he was flattered. But he didn’t want this. He didn’t want Heartha to leave. Not now. Maybe not ever.
“I don’t know what to say, Master Smith.” he mumbled.
“Then say nothing, my friend. Of course I may yet decide to remain to order you around!”
If only! Managing a smile, Hearrd asked the question buzzing in his thoughts.
“You say it’s a safe place for Ethel? Then it is Aldberg you will go too?”
Heartha shook her head once more, before returning to the horse. “No. Safer than there. The new position is at Helm’s Deep.”
