A Promise of Iron by Brandon McCoy (the reading list .txt) 📕

reaction on copper. It is not the same as a pure reaction, but again, they were so drunk that when I told them it was ninety percent silver and worth at least six iron stars, they started celebrating.”

“Didn’t the auditors come and verify it?”

“Look around Fae, do you see many auditors here? Most are down below, preparing the vault deposit. We took in so much iron yesterday that they are calling for another barge.”

She placed her hands calmly back on the counter.

“They gave me an alchemical set as soon as I came in, probably why they asked me yesterday to help cover. Botched count or not, I’m one of only a handful of girls they have trained in the process.” She held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. “When I went to the back to collect their payment, I slipped off to the side and used a noble from my purse to produce the forgery.”

I wasn’t sure she truly understood the consequences. If she or I were to be caught, it would not be a simple fee to pay. Teaching her hand tricks may have been unwise, but I was just as giddy as she was.

“So is it true then?” I asked in disbelief.

“You tell me, Mr. Blacksmith,” she replied smugly.

I reached forward, grabbing the broken hilt of the blade and lifting it off the counter. It was lighter than I expected, and I was expecting it to be light. Now it seemed clear I should have noticed when she carried a two-handed sword with such ease from the back room.

“How did the miners not notice the weight of it?”

“I don’t know, Fae. Why all the questions? They were drunk; they wouldn’t have known their balls from a bat wing.”

I placed the weapon back down and stared at it in disbelief.

“So is this why you bought up my stock at Corin’s, you know you really shouldn’t have done….”

“Of course that’s why, you fool barbarian; I couldn’t just give you a handful of gold coins to buy a sword I just took into inventory now, could I?”

“That’s not the point. You really should have—”

“Stuff your pride, Fae and use your head,” she scolded. “If this is what we think it is, a few gold coins won’t matter. This is worth thousands more, tens of thousands, it’s, “she took in a sharp breath, “priceless.”

I ran a finger down the length of the blade. “There isn’t a single true blade left in Cyllian possession. They ruined all the weapons they took during the occupation. I saw some on display in a museum down south. They still tested them from time to time, hoping to stumble onto the secret, but not one of them is anything more than useless silver now.”

She nodded in agreement, eyes dancing with excitement.

“This is truesilver then,” I said. “You found a fucking truesilver blade and bought it for six stars!” I tried to stifle a laugh, but it slipped through. She held her finger to her lips again, but her smile spoke volumes.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Now, would you like to buy it?”

I nodded. I would let the wisdom of this beautiful, clever, amazing woman guide me the rest of the way.

“Yes, sir, a fine blade for any dining hall, your lord would certainly approve,” she said, reprising her role as before.

“The price is set at nine iron stars.”

I let out an exacerbated sigh and leaned in again. “Lira, I don’t have that kind of coin. Can we do something about…”

“If I’m going to avoid scrutiny, I’ll need to sell this at double the procurement cost,” she explained. “How much do you have now?”

“Counting your,” I searched for the appropriate word, “investment, I have about six and a half. It could take me weeks, maybe a cycle or more to come up with that.”

“No, that won’t work,” she said, shaking her head. “The metallurgist is coming. He will check the vault count then verify purity on the blades we took in. He will check the new stock first, items that haven’t been inventoried yet. There’s no way I will be able to push this past him.”

“I have a few crowns back at home; I could send you to…” She trailed off as she finished the thought through to its impossible conclusion. “I will be discovered.” She ran a hand through a strand of hair nervously. “Gods, Fae, I used your name earlier; they will have recorded it. This will come back on you too. Oh, gods, I’m such a fool.”

I took a deep breath. It was my turn to set a plan. “I will find Crylwin; he can loan me the coin. When will the metallurgist be here?”

“First thing tomorrow morning, before the House opens. The vault check won’t take long. His next stop will be the armory to inspect the new acquisitions. We will need to get this out of here tonight before we close. That gives you until sundown.”

“Two and a half stars in five hours?” I said as I looked at the oculus above. My chest grew tight. “Consider it done.”

“What if you can’t find him, what will…”

“I’ll find him, Lira, and be back before sundown,” I reassured her.

She breathed in sharply and nodded. “Yes, I can hold the item for you, sir, while you collect your funds.” Moisture formed around the edges of her copper eyes. She was frightened and had every right to be.

I nodded, resting my hand over hers. I would save her—I had to.

Chapter Twelve

Summer 1272, Cyllian Imperial Count

I made my way to the exit casually, not wanting to draw attention. Once on Heart Street, I was in a dead run, but not back to the shop. I headed for one of the carriage depots near Eastgate. I wouldn’t be hiring a carriage; this was no afternoon drive through the country. I hoped that with the right horse, I could make it to Windshear in under an hour.

I approached a stall below a sign with a red painted mare.

“I need