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rrel staves after they were hopped together； among other things。 When he was done。 The other man's barrel scrape had made him think of it。
As soon as he had made the hot…cut； he tossed the glowing metal into the salted quenching barrel。 Unsalted gave a harder quench； for the hardest metal； while the oil gave the softest； for good knives。 And swords； he had heard； but he had never had any part in making anything like that。
When the metal had cooled enough； to a dull gray； he removed it from the water and took it to the grinding wheels。 A little slow work with the footpedals ground a polish onto the blade。 Carefully； he heated the blade portion again。 This time the colors deepened； to straw； to bronze。 When the bronze color began to run up the blade in waves； he set it aside to cool。 The final edge could be sharpened then。 Quenching again would destroy the tempering he had just done。
〃A very neat bit of work；〃 the smith said。 〃No wasted motion。 You looking for work？ My apprentices just walked away； all three of them； the worthless fools； and I've plenty you could do。〃
Perrin shook his head。 〃I do not know how long I will be in Tear。 I'd like to work a little longer； if you do not mind。 It has been a long time； and I miss it。 Maybe I could do some of the work your apprentices would have done。〃
The smith snorted loudly。 〃You're a deal better than any of those louts； moping around and staring； muttering about their nightmares。 As if everyone doesn't have nightmares； sometimes。 Yes； you can work here； as long as you want。 Light； I've orders for a dozen drawknives and three cooper's adzes； and a carpenter down the street needs a mortise hammer； and。。。 Too much to list it。 Start with the drawknives； and we will see how far we get before night。〃
Perrin lost himself in the work； for a time forgetting everything but the heat of the metal； the ring of his hammer； and the smell of the forge； but there came a time when he looked up and found the smith … Dermid Ajala； he had said his name was … taking off his vest； and the shoeing yard dark。 All the light came from the forge and a pair of lamps。 And Zarine was sitting on an anvil by one of the cold forges； watching him。
〃So you really are a blacksmith； blacksmith；〃 she said。
〃He is that； mistress；〃 Ajala said。 〃Apprentice； he says； but the work he did today amounts to his master's piece as far as I am concerned。 Fine stroking； and better than steady。〃 Perrin shifted his feet at the pliments； and the smith grinned at him。 Zarine stared at both of them with a lack of prehension。
Perrin went to replace the vest and apron on their peg； but once he had them off； he was suddenly conscious of Zarine's eyes on his back。 It was if she were touching him； for a moment； the herbal scent of her seemed overwhelming。 He quickly pulled his shirt over his head； stuffed it raggedly into his breeches； and jerked on his coat。 When he turned around； Zarine wore one of those small； secretive smiles that had always made him nervous。
〃Is this what you mean to do； then？〃 she asked。 〃Did you e all this way to be a blacksmith again？〃 Ajala paused in the act of pulling the yard doors closed and listened。
Perrin picked up the heavy hammer he had used； a ten…pound head with a handle as long as his forearm。 It felt good in his hands。 It felt right。 The smith had glanced at his eyes once and never even blinked； it was the work that was important； the skill with metal； not the color of a man's eyes。 〃No；〃 he said sadly。 〃One day； I hope。 But not yet。〃 He started to hang the hammer back on the wall。
〃Take it。〃 Ajala cleared his throat。 〃I do not usually give away good hammers； but。。。 The work you've done today is worth more than the price of that hammer by far； and maybe it will help you to that 'one day。' Man； if I have ever seen anyone made to hold a smith's hammer； it is you。 So take it。 Keep it。〃
Perrin closed his hand around the haft。 It did feel right。 〃Thank you；〃 he said。 〃I cannot say what this means to me。〃
〃Just remember the 'one day；' man。 Just you remember it。〃
As they left； Zarine looked up at him and said； 〃Do you have any idea how strange men are； blacksmith？ No。 I did not think you did。〃 She darted ahead； leaving him holding the hammer in one hand and scratching his head with the other。
No one in the mon room looked at him twice； a golden…eyed man carrying a smith's hammer。 He went up to his room； remembering for once to light a tallow candle。 His quiver and the axe hung from the same peg on the plaster wall。 He hefted the axe in one hand； the hammer in the other。 By weight of metal； the axe； with its half…moon blade and thick spike； was a good five or six pounds lighter than the hammer； but it felt ten times heavier。 Replacing the axe in the loop on its belt； he set the hammer on the floor beneath the peg； handle against the wall。 Axe haft and hammer haft almost touched； two pieces of wood equally thick。 Two pieces of metal； near enough the same weight。 For a long time he sat on the stool staring at them。 He was still staring when Lan put his head into the room。
〃e； blacksmith。 We have things to talk over。〃
〃I am a blacksmith；〃 Perrin said； and the Warder frowned at him。
〃Don't go winter…crazy on me now； blacksmith。 If you cannot carry your weight any longer； you may drag us all down the mountain。〃
〃I'll carry my weight；〃 Perrin growled。 〃I will do what has to be done。 What do you want？〃
〃You； blacksmith。 Don't you listen？ e on； farmboy。〃
That name that Zarine so often called him pulled him to his feet angrily； now； but Lan was already turning away。 Perrin hurried into the hall and followed him toward the front of the inn； meaning to tell the Warder he had had enough of this 〃blacksmith〃 and 〃farmboy；〃 his name was Perrin Aybara。 The Warder ducked into the inn's only private dining room； overlooking the street。
Perrin followed him。 〃Now listen； Warder； I …〃
〃You listen； Perrin；〃 Moiraine said。 〃Be quiet and listen。〃 Her face was smooth； but her eyes looked as grim as her voice sounded。
Perrin had not realized anyone was in the room except for himself and the Warder； standing with one arm up on the mantel of the unlit fireplace。 Moiraine sat at the table in the middle of the floor； a simple piece； of black oak。 None of the other chairs with their high； carved backs were occupied。 Zarine was leaning against the wall at the other end of the room from Lan； scowling； and Loial had chosen to sit on the floor since none of the chairs really fit him。
〃I'm glad you decided to join us； farmboy；〃 Zarine said sarcastically。 〃Moiraine would not say anything till you came。 She just looks at us as if she is deciding which of us is going to die。 I … 〃
〃Be quiet；〃 Moiraine told her sharply。 〃One of the Forsaken is in Tear。 The High Lord Samon is Be'lal。〃 Perrin shivered。
Loial squeezed his eyes shut and groaned。 〃I could have remained in the stedding。 I would probably have been very happy； married； whoever my mother chose。 She is a fine woman； my mother； and she would not give me to a bad wife。〃 His ears see