Ledecestre, 720 AD
The ox-cart creaked and groaned under the weight of the iron bars up to the doorway of the smithy. Three days remained till the third full moon since the bloomer took on the commission.
“Mornin" to you, Master Herrig!” he called into the forge.
Out came the blacksmith with the usual cheerful smile he reserved for his supplier.
“You got it then, Master Bloomer?”
“I have, ay. An" you"ll not find better bars in the whole of Mierce! Now give me a hand to unload.”
“Can"t do that, my friend. Not yet, leastways. Bring the cart round the back of the forge. Lord Enulf wants us both up at the hall first.”
The bloomer"s eyes lit up. The gold coin had made his task easy. In Lindissi, the cooperation and attention to detail were such as he"d never had at the clamp before. Back
