The streets were practically deserted as Kis made her way through the town, nodding greetings to the few locals she passed. Even this late at night the light from the forge lit up the end of the street, promising warmth and safety for passersby.
Stepping through the door Kis waited for a pause in the blacksmith's hammering before calling out. "Hey Clem, how's business?"
The gruff giant turned, his scowling face filling with joy as he caught sight of his old friend. "Kismet, my dear. When did you get back into town?" Laying his hammer down he stepped up to the girl and wrapped his arms around her, lifting Kis off her feet and spinning her around.
"Okay, okay, clam down." Kis laughed, patting Clem's arms until he finally relaxed. "I'm just in town for the night, passing through on a job. Thought I'd drop in and check on that special order."
"You have good timing, finished the work on it yesterday." Clem said, moving over to a large chest set against the wall. Pulling the lid open he picked a package wrapped in rough leather from the pile of others. "Hope it's good enough for you," He said, handing it over to Kis.
Carefully up wrapping it Kis ran her hand down the freshly forged blades, each ten inches long. The inscribed cold steel seemed to frost over even in the heat of the forge, yet as her fingers touched them the metal seemed warm. "They're perfect."
As she stepped back out onto the street, tightening the straps across her chest and straightening the scabbards across her back, Kis set off for the town gate. She still had time to make it to the farm and rest up before dawn, and by the sounds of things she'd be needing a fresh head for the following day.
