The first place they went was naturally the blacksmith that opened early. It was an elongated house, pretty far out even in Torch Fortress. There was a smithy with no walls but only a roof, and next to it a house with a shop atmosphere displaying weapons.
They were together with just one wall between them.
'What do they call that structure again?'
"Aeon!"
At Yuval's shout, the blacksmith Aeon, who'd been stoking the furnace, looked up. His face was fairly aged. To Rowan's eyes, he looked about 40.
"Well, it's been a while. You managed not to die."
Steel Smithy was a blacksmith frequently visited by mercenaries. Because prices were cheaper than other places. Weapon quality was average, but ultimately the cheapest place was best for mercenaries.
"This is Rowan, a mercenary I got to know recently."
"Looks pretty young. Not a greenhorn?"
"He's a hunter. Called the Deep Forest Hunter. Even catches bears."
