Role

Chapter 2

"Git this rubbish gone from me forge, boy."

"Aye, if ye refusin te be proper learnin from us, ye can be gone. Else ye can
be makin nails till yer beard be grey."

The eyes of one narrowed. "Git yerself some real experience. Ye cannah be
makin a sharp blade if yer own sense be dull."

"Aye, maybe knock her hard head on some duergar skulls and ye might be figurin
what a hammer be fer!"

They all laughed, and Horfik smiled.

He had enough sense to know what they were doing.

Seeing Horfik's expression, they dropped the charade.

"I promised yer father down in them tunnels that I'd be makin sure ye were
raised right and learned all we could be teachin."

"So if ye be wantin more, and I be seen it in yer eye, then ye be needin to
learn not just how to make em, but how te wield em. And once ye doin that,
then becomin a weapon yerself."

"Aye, so go be killin some mages!"

"Feh, you and them mages ye old fart, he could be makin a better name for
hisself in tha Brigade!"

"Aye, and a right brave one at that. Ye remember he were a wee sprat and got
inter his thick head he were gonna be tha bait fer tha orc traps, an since 'e
wouldn' hear elsewise, we worked em till 'is legs were mush and he couln' git
outta bed!"

They all laughed uproariously at the retelling, and Horfik's ears grew a shade
redder.

"Ye'll make a fine leader..."

"Commander!" one interrupted.

"Shove it! Anyway, ye'll make a fine leader one day Horfik. And when ye fin'
yerself covered in duergar n' dark mage bits, the fire still burnin in yer
belly, the forge'll be callin. Tha's when ye be makin tha real work yer
lookin fer."

The masters stood together, and each took it in turn to slap Horfik on the
shoulder. He was quite sore there by the end, but he did not show it.

"So be leavin, and it aint no choice. We bein fine from tha orcs and duergar
wi' out yer scrawny arse. Ye can be comin back wit yer masterwork."

They all nodded, and it was time to go.