The sunlight filtered through the thin mist, casting its glow over the humble rooftops of Blackstone Town.
From the direction of the stables came the boisterous voice of Ed, interspersed with the disgruntled grunts of a baby rhino.
Rello pushed open the door, and a wave of warmth, mingled with the scents of hay and livestock, greeted him.
Ed was clumsily trying to brush a baby rhino, but the little creature clearly wasn't having any of it. It wriggled its sturdy body, nearly sending Ed tumbling.
"My lord, you're awake!"
Ed spotted Rello and flashed a simple, good-natured smile, one hand still clutching the brush. "These two little fellows are full of energy! I fed them hay and water last night, and they slept pretty soundly."
Rello approached and took a look at the two baby rhinos, who seemed to have grown even darker and glossier. They appeared to have settled into their new environment, no longer as terrified as they had been the previous night, though they were still a bit impatient with Ed's "annoyances."
"Hmm, they look good," Rello nodded. "You keep an eye on them. I'm going to take a stroll around town."
"Sure thing!" Ed replied.
The number of sand rats had been increasing, so Rello had asked old Buck to organize the townsfolk to launch a rat-extermination campaign. After checking it out early that morning, he found that the simple snare traps they'd set up weren't very efficient.
Perhaps he could ask the town blacksmith for help and have some more delicate and durable rat-catching devices made.
This would also serve as a good pretext to visit Blacksmith Hook, the blacksmith who possessed dwarven forging skills.
Blackstone Town's blacksmith shop was located slightly to the west of the town center, a low stone building with a chimney that constantly belched black smoke.
From a distance, the rhythmic "clang, clang" of blacksmithing could be heard.
As Rello drew nearer, he saw Blacksmith Hook, shirtless, revealing his bronzed, muscular torso, wielding a heavy hammer and pounding it down onto a red-hot piece of iron again and again, sending sparks flying in all directions.
He looked to be in his forties, with a rugged face and intense, focused eyes.
"Master Hook, busy at work?"
Rello stood at the doorway and waited until Hook finished this round of forging before greeting him.
Hook put down the hammer, grabbed a nearby water gourd, and took several big gulps. Only then did he turn his head and wipe the sweat off with a dirty towel hanging around his neck.
"Lord Rello?" Hook looked surprised, not expecting the lord to pay a personal visit.
"I'd like to ask Master Hook for a favor."
Rello stepped inside. The blacksmith shop was filled with scorching air mixed with the smell of coal smoke and metal.
"The town has been hit by a rat plague recently. The townsfolk made some simple traps, but the results have been mediocre. I was wondering if you could forge some sturdier and more sensitive rat traps?"
As Rello spoke, his eyes scanned the blacksmith shop.
In the corner were stacked some farm tools, horseshoes, and a few unfinished weapons. The craftsmanship seemed a notch above that of an ordinary village blacksmith.
His gaze finally landed on an unfinished short axe beside the anvil. The lines of the axe blade were smooth, exuding a sense of solidity, slightly different from ordinary ironware.
"Master Hook's craftsmanship doesn't seem ordinary," Rello remarked casually.
Hook's eyes flickered. He picked up the short axe and flicked the blade with his finger, producing a clear, resonant hum.
"A man's got to make a living with skills that are up to snuff," he said in a flat tone, but his confidence in his craftsmanship was evident.
Rello took a few steps closer and pointed to an inconspicuous forging mark on the axe body. "This forging technique... I've only seen similar textures on some ancient dwarven relics before."
Hook's grip on the short axe tightened abruptly, and his gaze towards Rello turned sharp and wary. "You know about forging?"
"A bit," Rello smiled.
"I've seen a thing or two out in the world during my wanderings."
He didn't press the issue directly but waited for Hook to speak up on his own.
Silence descended upon the blacksmith shop, broken only by the occasional crackling of the furnace fire.
In a low voice, Hook began, "When I was young, I worked as a miner deep in the Blackstone Mountains. One time, there was a cave-in in the mine, and I got trapped. By chance, I stumbled into a... dwarven chamber that was exposed after the collapse."
He paused, as if recalling that experience. "It was an ancient place. Apart from some broken tools and armor, there were also some stone tablets with inscriptions about dwarven forging techniques. I was trapped there for a few days and memorized the forging methods on the tablets. After I was rescued, I left the mining team and came to Blackstone Town to open this forge."
So it was as expected.
"Dwarven forging techniques..."
Rello repeated softly, his tone filled with just the right amount of awe and admiration. "That's a lost treasure. Master Hook, guarding such skills and only forging farm tools and horseshoes in this small town, don't you feel like... you're wasting your talents?"
A bitterness flashed across Hook's face. "What else can I do? Dwarven things are too conspicuous. They'd easily bring trouble. Moreover, a lot of advanced forging requires special materials and tools, and even assistants to cooperate. I'm alone here. I can't get them, nor can I do it."
He sighed. "Being able to live a stable but ordinary life, forging iron to make a living here, is good enough."
"What if," Rello looked Hook straight in the eye, his tone turning serious, "Master Hook, what if you were willing to swear loyalty to me? In return, I'll provide you with the best conditions, allowing you to become a truly respected master forger, not just a blacksmith in a remote town."
Hook's chest heaved violently, obviously in the midst of an intense internal struggle.
On one hand was a stable but unremarkable life, and on the other was an opportunity filled with uncertainties but one that could fulfill his ambitions.
He looked at his rough, calloused hands and then at the short axe that embodied his efforts but couldn't be perfected.
Finally, with a clenched jaw, he said in a deep voice, "Alright, my lord! I'll follow you! Just tell me what you need me to do!"
All the repression and discontent he'd felt over the years found an outlet at this moment.
No man wants to remain obscure forever.
"My lord, if it's alright, I have a request..." Hook said.
Having secured Hook's loyalty, Rello was in high spirits and laughed. "Master Hook, just say it. I won't refuse anything."
"I have a son named Hubba. If possible, I hope he can also become your squire and learn knightly skills."
Hook pulled over a young man who had been assisting him and had him kneel before Rello.
Rello smiled and said, "Master Hook, I agree to take Hubba as my knightly squire."
Hook was overjoyed and quickly knelt down to thank Rello as well.
Rello laughed heartily and helped the father and son up.
"Ed, Hubba is my first squire. Before he becomes a knight, he'll follow you to learn knightly skills. You must teach him everything you know and help him grow into a proper knight as soon as possible."
Rello said to Ed behind him.
Ed quickly accepted the command.
"Very good."
Rello wore a satisfied smile. "I'll have Mayor Buck arrange some people. Master Hook, you'll be in charge of teaching them. While they help you, you'll also pass on the skills you've mastered. It doesn't have to be a large group. A dozen or so will do, but pick some clever, hardworking young men."
"No problem!"
Hook agreed immediately, his whole person seeming to regain his vitality.
"My lord, I'll definitely teach them everything I know!"
"Forging rat traps isn't difficult. It'll be a good opportunity for these apprentices to practice."
"Don't worry, it's in my hands!"
Hook patted his chest in assurance. With a bright future ahead for both himself and his son, he was now brimming with energy.
Having settled things with Hook, Rello was in a good mood.
A blacksmith with dwarven forging skills was of inestimable value.