There is no time for rest when you have work to do. No time to think on where you life is, or why do you keep moving forward when it all seems so pointless. I use to be defined by that. All who call the city of Salire home think like that. At least the type that don’t have blue blood flowing in their their veins.

There was a time when I was just a simple orphan just doing what I can to make ends meet. Taking jobs from anyone willing to pay someone who doesn’t have the proper work papers. Some jobs were back breaking and others were just dangerous. Though their was one job that set me on the path I find myself.

There was a knock on the door that stopped be from my thoughts. I was in my office overlooking the books trying to figure how my budget was going. It has been a month since I returned to the city of Salire and a week since I opened up my new tavern. 

“Who is it?” I asked as I leaned back into my chair.

“It’s me, Joe.” The man on the other side of the door replied.

“Then come on in Joe and tell me why you disturb me before the night has begun.”

Joe made his way in wearing the apron he uses to clean. “Sorry boss, just wanted to inform you that the bartender who was pose to work today had an accident and won’t come in for awhile.” 

I rubbed at my nose and let out a growl. “Ok, I’ll take care of the bar tonight. Give me a moment and I’ll be down there in a bit.” I told him

The man nodded his head and made his way out. I didn’t say nothing and closed the book holding my budget. I rubbed a finger along one of my scars I got in the west, before getting up from my desk.

“No rest when you have work to do.” I said to myself before making may way out of my office.

I made sure the bar was properly stocked and that we had the menu for today set. I already informed the workers of what was need to tonight and was making sure the bar was properly cleaned and ready for customers. While we had a few that already wandered in for an early meal and maybe a drink. Business hasn’t really started as the factory workers would still be hard at work.

Though when a man who wasn’t dressed like the common worker or slum inhabitant, walked in I couldn’t help looking at him. He seemed nervous, like he didn’t regularly come to the slums. Why a man like this would be here with no one to act as a body guard was surprising.

As he approached I gave him my best smile. “Welcome to the Burning Anvil, what can I get you?” I asked as cheerful as I could.

He took a step back and rubbed at the back of his head. I assumed a rough woman like me made him nervous. I chuckled for a moment and gave him another one of my smiles.

“Don’t worry I don’t bite.” 

“That’s not the thing I’m worried about.” He said as he regained his resolve. He moved to sit at my stool and placed some money on the table. “A cup of ale and a chance to talk with the owner by any chance.”

I nodded my head before turning around grabbing a glass and bottle of ale. I filled up his glass and placed it in front of him. 

“There’s your glass and why do you want to talk to me.” I said.

“Your the owner of this place?” He asked suprised as he looked me over.

“Are you really surprised a woman who looks like me would name a tavern the way I did.” I said as I motioned around the trickets I had placed along the walls to make it look like a blacksmiths workshop.

“I guess it makes sense. Though you seem more like a warrior than a blacksmith.” He said before taking a sip from his glass.

“You be suprised how many warriors learn how to make thier own weapons.” I told him. “Now what did you want to talk to me about?”

The man placed his glass back on the bar. “Well I wanted to interview you for the Salire Daily, about your tavern.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to answer your questions. Just know you have till business picks up.” 

“That’s good with me.” He said before reaching into his coat and pulling out a note pad and pen. “Now where to begin. Can you tell me why you would start a tavern here of all places?”

“If you must know I was born here. An orphan of the slums who use to work around this very block doing odd jobs.”

“So you were a freelancer back then?” 

“Yeah, a very good one. Though I did my best at anything involving a bit of manual labor.” I quickly flexed my muscles a bit. “As you can see I was built for it.”

“I can see that.” He eyes my arms, making sure to glance over my biceps. “Any memorable jobs?”

“There were many. Though I could tell you one, I wouldn’t call it exciting mind you. Though it was one of many jobs that influenced me in establishing this place.”

“Do tell?” 

I was making my way to the old tavern to pick up work. See, back then all freelancers would come to the old tavern to seek work. Many people would show up there to give offers for jobs that need workers. Some were more legit than others.

The owner at the time was a gruff man who made good drinks, but his meals were not the best. Really only having one thing on his menu which was chili. Now it wasn’t bad it’s just grew old fast.

I came to pick up some work sadly most of the work wasn’t looking to good. I needed to make rent with enough for food. Sadly some previous jobs stiffed me on pay. So I was also looking for someone to trust.

Thats when this woman showed up who looked just as out of place as you, Mr. Reporter. Though she had more back bone than you. 

“I need someone who thinks they can work a forge and an anvil. I’ll pay well if you work is good. If not you can return to wallow in your filth.” The woman said as she stood in the middle of the tavern. I could tell some of the freelancers looked a little heated.

I moved from my seat to stop one individual buy placing a hand on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t do that” I whispered to him. “Such actions could bring the city guards on top of this place and lead to a crack down.”

“Sorry, I just hate when some high class shit thinks she can talk do to us.” The man said. 

“I understand, I’ll see if I can get her out of here with out her getting stabbed.” I said before making my way over to her.

She looked at me with an intense look as if she was examining me for purchase. “You could do. Definitely have a build of a hard worker.” She moved toward me and nearly got in my face causing me to take a step back. “Miss have you ever held a hammer before?”

I stumbled on my words before finally coming out with a coherent word. “Yes.”

“You will do.” She said before shoving a card into my chest. “Make sure to show up bright and early tomorrow. Make sure to wear something you have no problem messing up.”

I stood their shocked as she made her way out of the tavern with little concern for anyone else. I brought the card up to my face to see the address and knew I had to do this if I wanted to make it through the week.

“So you going to that ladies place for work?” the old bartender asked as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I think I will. Who knows this might be my big chance.”

“Was it your big chance?” the reporter asked as he stopped jotting down his notes.

“It was a start of something, can’t really say it was my big chance. Though if I didn’t show up I wouldn’t be where I am now.” I cracked my knuckles ever so slightly.

“So what happened when you showed up the next day?” 

“Well the address I followed took me to her workshop which was well maintained. Though as I stepped inside I was greeted with the scowl of my new boss. She told me I was late and needed to get there earlier next time.”

“How early she talking about?”

“Five in the morning.”

“That early, wow. So what else happened?”

Well she showed me around the shop before bringing me in front of her forge and anvil that sat at the back of the workshop. She already has the forge heating up and anvil and tools ready to work. She even told me she would show me how to do it before giving me a chance at it.

“So you need to heat the metal in the forge till it’s nice and hot. Then place it on the anvil where you will take the hammer and hit it till it’s start smoothing out and taking the necessary shape.”

“Cool, how about those metal molds and the melting of the ingots?” I asked.

“No need to worry about that for now. I just need you to do slight shaping for now. So all you need to know is how to heat the metal and how to hit the metal. I will teach you more if you prove your self able to do something this simple.”

I nodded my head. “I guess that makes sense.” 

“Good.” She said before placing the hammer into my hand. “I have laid a few blades for you to try hammering. Do your best though know that your chance of continued work is based on how good you do this. So good luck.”

She made her way to the other side of the shop leaving me with a hammer and a couple blades to hammer to my delight. I took one of the blades and heated it up in the forge before bringing it to the anvil. I took hold of the hammer and raised it up high before bringing it down on the blade.

The sound of metal hitting metal awoke something within me. With each hit I knew what to do next. Where to hit, how to hit it, and what I truly wanted as the end goal of my work.

By the time the shop owner came to check on me I was finishing my last blade and putting it in a bucket of water to cool it off. She let out a cough catching my attention and stopping me in my work.

“I see you been hard at work.” She said as she pulled one of my finished blades to look over. “This is perfectly shaped and what is this you etched into it.”

I rubbed at the back of my head, before I slid my hand down to rub at my neck. “I think it’s a rune or a crest or something. It kind of popped into my head while I was working.”

I looked as she rubbed a finger over the symbol and smiled before tossing the blade in the air and catching it. “This is some good work. I think you got the job.” She placed the blade back on the table.

“Really.” I said as I took a step toward her.

“Yes really, you will get paid thirty gold a day and a twenty five percent bonus on big work orders.”

“Thank you mam.” I said before giving a slight bow.

“Good, you can go now. You will start work on Monday.” She said before tossing me a bag of gold. “This is your signing bonus. Don’t spend it all on drinks. I don’t need a drunk coming to work this monday.”

“So you got the job.” The reporter stated.

“Yeah, and the road to here begins. As you can see that job would inspire everything about me. It would allow me to realize the real me. I will never forget the things I learned with that job.”

“Interesting, anything else I should know about the actual work?” He asked.

“Well I worked on many weapons and tools. Made a lot of money along the way. Their are many parts that still being used in factories today that had my hammer having touched them. I even got into things beyond your typical blacksmith work.” I told him.

“Really, what type of work would that be?”

“Well did some adventuring, designed and repurpose different technologies. You know what a forge master would do.” I said.

“You were a forge master?” He asked.

“Still am, I may not work on the forge or anvil as much, but a forge master always thinks like one.” I replied. “Well I think we have gone as far as we can, I believe my regulars are making their way in.”

“Well I guess I do have a lot of notes to go over. I thank you. I also hope I get a chance to talk to you more.” 

“That would be nice. I’m sure I have many more tales to tell. Now either order some more or get going so I can serve my customers.” I said as I motioned him away.

He chuckled as he got up off the bar stool. He placed money on the table and nodded his head before waving goodbye. “See you later Ms. Forge Master.”