Page 28 of Ironling
“I’m sorry, my lady, I didn’t hear…” He cleared his throat. “You heat the metal to the right color.”
“Color?”How fascinating!
Seeing her interest, Hakon was good enough to explain how smiths looked for the metal to heat to a certain color to tell when it’d grown hot enough. Sometimes they wanted just a glowing orange, others a yellow so bright it was nearly white.She listened raptly to his explanations as he worked the wooden grips onto the handles.
“And what is it you meant when you…” She repeated the hand gestures he’d made.
“Oh,” he chuckled, “the hand-talk. My grandmother and I would use it when my grandfather was hammering.”
“The gestures mean certain things?”
“Yes, they mean words. It is helpful when it’s difficult to hear over the forge.”
“Indeed. I’d love to learn, if you’d teach me.”
His brows ticked up in surprise. “Of course, my lady. Perhaps then you can explain to me your many Eirean idioms.”
Too soon, he was finished, and from the light pouring into the smithy, Aislinn knew the afternoon waned. There was still so much yet to do, and she was honestly surprised, and pleased, that no one had found her to disturb her afternoon.
Hiding away with the blacksmith was a treat—one she’d never consider with the surly Fearghas.
Thanking him again for humoring her and explaining his craft, Aislinn stood. “I can come back for the shears in a few days, then?” she asked, already counting the hours until she could come again.
“Tomorrow, if you’d like. I can begin on anything else you’d like.”
Aislinn glowed with pleasure, grateful for the chance to duck her head when Wülf pressed into her side.
Fates, you’d think I’d never seen a handsome face before,she chided herself as she gave the wolfhound a final, dusty pat.
Not every handsome face can make you everything you’ve dreamed—and offered to do it, too.
Well, there was that. What else was a woman to do with so many promises?
Although, Aislinn had never been swayed much by promises.She held herself to her own, but the promises of men rarely if ever kept her warm at night.
She was just enjoying his company, was all. She could admire brilliance when she saw it, and all the better for her that he was willing to share his talents and skills.
Still, she couldn’t help asking, “Will we see you at dinner tonight? All are welcome to join us.”
Aislinn watched that wide throat of his bob as he swallowed. Those brown eyes searched hers as she stood waiting, patting Wülf for something to do with her hands.
“Wülf doesn’t like to eat alone, but I’ll try to get away.”
“Dogs are welcome—” She pointed a warning finger at Wülf, “Good,well-behaveddogs are welcome, too.”
“Then we shall join you. Thank you, my lady.”
“Good. Well, then, I’ve taken much of your time. Good day, Hakon.”
“Good day, my lady. Oh—!”
Her heart did that funny flutter when she turned to look over her shoulder at his exclamation. He closed the distance between them again, pulling something small from his pocket.
“I finished this and thought…”
Curious, she held her hand out to receive the bauble. She smiled in delight to find, “The rose? You finished already?”
“I smoothed it for you and thought you…might like it.”
