An Unearthing of Goddesses

An Unearthing of Goddesses Part 44

The door to Hephaestus's blacksmith shop was an elaborate wrought iron arch, detailed with vines and flowers, animals and nymphs. It was open and the goddesses walked in, finding the burly man at work at his forge, striking a blade on the anvil repeatedly with his mighty hammer. They entered silently and his work was quite raucous, but still he turned almost immediately. He wore a leather chest plate and had rather wild reddish hair, with a long beard ending in a leather braid. He grunted in recognition.

"Ladies. Been a right long time since I've seen the likes of any of you. How's your dagger holding up?" He addressed Maeve directly.

"It is a fine blade I'm sure," she answered, patting her hip where it hung on her belt. "It accompanies me everywhere."

He snorted. "Something tells me its not a commission that brings the lot of you here for a visit." He turned back to the fire, stoking it with a poker.

"Brother," Gaia stepped forward. "You have a client we'd like to find out some information about."

"Do I?" He remained with his back to them. "Might take some incentive to jog my memory." The goddesses eyed each other.

"You want a little Elemental fire we assume?" Dona stepped forward. He turned and smiled. "I wouldn't turn it down."

She nodded and, with Gaia, moved to his forge. Together they turned their palms upward, which erupted in flames shooting through their fingers. They leaned in and fed his fire, causing it to spark enthusiastically.

"That should keep it healthy for quite a time," Dona said as they returned.

"Mighty obliged," the god said, crossing his arms. "Nothing like the flames from an Elemental fire to kiss my iron work. Makes the blades extra strong. Now, what do you want to know?"

Anya came forward. "We think one of your customers is a person of interest to us. She is an older Japanese woman with an air element samurai sword. She will have brought it to you to sharpen. Have you done this for her?"

Hesphaestus nodded. "Aye. Lady Keiko. She has been here six times to sharpen her sword. It has been dull as a butter knife each time – she must have had much swordplay between visits. Feisty woman I wager."

"Have you had any conversation with her? Any clue as to what she has been doing with the sword?" Anya asked.

"Nay. She is a woman of few words, that one. The sword is from a master – I inquired as to its provenance, but she shared nothing. She did say upon our last meeting however, that she did not intend to visit again, as her work would soon be completed."

"Did she?" Anya glanced at the others. "No mention of the nature of this work?"

"Only that she was much pleased that it was almost complete. She looked forward to rest."

"Rest?" Anya pace the room. "What rest will come for any of us while this threat to the order of the universe continues?"

Cassie had been perusing the room and stopped to admire a headpiece displayed on a wooden mannequin head. It was an intricately woven golden circlet that curved round the skull gracefully, ropes of delicate gold chain dripping beneath the chin and down the back and a large butterfly adorning the front of the crown.

"Oh." She ran her finger over the gleaming piece and lifted a dangling chain. "How lovely."

Hephaestus strode to her side. "You like it? It's my latest creation. I do dabble a bit in more delicate arts than the sword."

"May I?" Cassie went to pick up the headpiece, lifting it to her own crown.

"Well – I should tell you – I'm not at liberty to part with this bit of fancy as it belongs to someone else. In fact – "