Adar

Chapter 19 : Feelings

SORRY THIS CHAPTER TOOK LONG AS WELL! THIS IS MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU ALL!

I WAS PARTICULARLY EXCITED TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER !

ENJOY!

A few days passed. Adar was now completely healed, now working for Martin in blacksmithing. John had thought the rate of Adar healing was odd. But he had been cleared to work without a doubt.

The first Adar arrived, Martin showed him all the tools and how to handle the orders. Upon Adar's second day, he was in the back learning to fix and forge horse shoes, being that he had past experience in blacksmithing.

Martin stood back with his arms crossed, seeing Adar beat upon the iron with his hammer, the anvil making a clang each time it landed. He held the iron down with a pair of tongs.

"Adar, have you ever worked in blacksmithing before?" Mr. Martin asked.

The shop was relatively small for its size, humble in appearance. The brick furnace, built in the center of the shop, seemed well beyond its prime, dark scorch marks running near the sides. A slack tub was to the right of it. Hooks rested over the walls, holding aprons that Martin used. A stool was to the right of the tub. It seemed relatively dark in the shop, except for the fire glowing from the forge and occasional sparks of the hammer.

Adar was silent. He picked the workpiece up with the tongs and walked over to the slack tub, placing it in slowly seeing the water hiss, and watching the steam rise.

"Yes. I once did with my father," said Adar looking down at the workpiece through the disturbed water. In a sense, the workpiece reminded him of himself.

I am what I am because of what has been done to me, he thought. Hold me down in water to drown me, and I burn it. Hold me in a furnace and I heat up to a dangerous level. Beat me with a hammer and I cause pain to travel through your wrist as I resist your change.

Forging, wielding, heat treating, and the finishing of iron; Adar claimed to know the basics of them all. He also stated to Martin that he was also comfortable with the drawing of metals.

"Was he skilled?" Martin continued.

"Not very. He taught me only what little he knew," said Adar. "His skills lied in other things such as hunting and fishing, being excellent in both."

He loved working, since his childhood had he known that. It seemed to ease his mind of worry and pain. The hours had flown by, the day already nearing its end.

***

Adar placed his apron on a hanger, ready to clean up. He had just completed the door hinge needed for the Bosworths- a wealthy family in town.

He wiped the sweat off his forehead.

The setting sun's orange glow creeped a few inches into the darkness of the shop. It never made it more than that. He walked out slowly, going into the sunlight, stopping short of exposing his face.

The day had been a long. He had swordmanship training early in the morning with John. He also helped around the farm before leaving, and finally he wore himself out hammering away in the shop.

Adar yawned, stretching his arms. Martin had seen what Adar could do and was pleased. He already knew Adar would make a perfect blacksmith striker-  also known as a blacksmith's apprentice.

"You did well today, Adar. I'm elated that John was able to get a hold of a hard worker as you for my apprentice. You may leave now before it gets dark. I'll finish the rest of this work by myself.