Chapter 15: Steel and Shadows

Drake left the alleyway and headed towards the sound of hammering metal. He soon found himself standing in front of a small smithy, the air thick with the smell of coal smoke and hot iron. A burly dwarf with a soot-stained face and a thick, braided beard was hammering a piece of metal on an anvil, sparks flying with each strike.

Drake stepped inside, the heat from the forge warming his face. "Excuse me," he called out, his voice easily carrying over the clang of the hammer.

The dwarf stopped hammering and turned to face Drake, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you want, human?" he grunted, wiping sweat from his brow with a soot-covered hand.

"I'm looking to buy a weapon," Drake replied. "Something… practical."

The dwarf grunted again and gestured towards a rack of weapons displayed along one wall. "Take a look. I've got swords, axes, hammers… the usual fare."

Drake examined the weapons, his eyes scanning over the various blades and bludgeons. Most of them looked too heavy for his current strength. He needed something light and agile, something that would complement his high Dexterity.

"Do you have anything… lighter?" he asked. "Something for someone who's not exactly built like a mountain?"

The dwarf chuckled. "You want a toothpick, then?" He turned and rummaged through a pile of weapons in the corner, eventually pulling out a short sword. "This one's a bit lighter than the others. Good for quick strikes."

Drake took the sword and hefted it. It felt much better in his hand, balanced and easy to wield. "This will do," he said.

"That'll be 20 gold coins," the dwarf said.

Drake winced. He only had 50 gold coins from the mercenaries. He needed to haggle. "How about 15?" he countered.

The dwarf scoffed. "15? That's barely enough for the materials!"

"Well," Drake said, reaching into his inventory. "I happen to have some… interesting materials of my own." He pulled out the Pyrowolf fangs and hide. "How about these?"

The dwarf's eyes widened as he examined the items. "Pyrowolf parts?" he muttered. "These are valuable. Where did you…?"

"Let's just say I had a close encounter with a very hot dog," Drake replied with a grin. "So, what do you say? The fangs and hide for the sword?"

The dwarf considered the offer for a moment, then nodded. "Alright," he grunted. "Deal."

Drake handed over the Pyrowolf parts and took the short sword. He felt much better equipped now. As he was about to leave, a young woman entered the smithy. She was dressed in simple but practical clothes, with a leather satchel slung over her shoulder. She had short, cropped hair and bright, intelligent eyes.

"Master Borin," she said to the dwarf, her voice clear and confident. "I've brought the payment for the tools you repaired."

"Ah, Elara," the dwarf said, nodding to the woman. "Good to see you. These tools were in a sorry state, but I managed to get them working again."

Elara smiled and handed Borin a small pouch of coins. As she turned to leave, she noticed Drake standing near the door, examining his new sword.

"That's a nice blade," she commented, her eyes appraising the weapon. "It looks well-balanced."

"Thanks," Drake replied, returning her smile. "Just picked it up. Needed something for my… upcoming adventures."

"Adventures, huh?" Elara raised an eyebrow. "What kind of adventures?"

"The goblin-hunting kind," Drake replied. "Heard they've been causing some trouble in the Whispering Caves."

Elara's eyes widened slightly. "The Whispering Caves? That's… dangerous. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"