Page 178 of Keeper of the Word

She rubbed her eyes. A fleeting moment manifested a smooth, plain copper sheet before the map revealed itself to her again. The blacksmith’s expression remained blank as if he’d detected neither transformation.

“Aye, I shall,” Elanna said.

The two spent the afternoon creating the copper map together, the blacksmith tapping minuscule holes into the map with a tiny punch. When ’twas finished, the corner of the blacksmith’s mouth lifted.

His eyes were transfixed on Asalle’s place on the map.

He handed it to Elanna.

She did not know why she took it, but she accepted the copper map and walked toward the door.

“Two days?”

His back already to her, he nodded. He studied the gouge in the club revealing the starstone.

She exited and made her way back into the trees. Wait until she told the others she’d found someone to make the starstone key!

She froze. “I did not tell him what I desired to be made from the starstone.”

’Twas true. He had so rattled her with this copper map that she had ne’er actually told him what she wanted. Of course, the whole afternoon had been one that she now recalled through a haze. But she had to tell him.

She made her way back through the woods and peeked at the dwelling, ensuring that no one spotted her. Why, she knew not, but Elanna would not question that at this moment.

All was quiet.

When she stepped through the door, the blacksmith stood there, leaning against his table. The sunlight shone differently through the window as if it were a different time of day, and the fire in his forge was extinguished.

He held a beautiful key in his hand. The size of Elanna’s palm, it gleamed white. The bit was patterned in extraordinary shapes. The bow of the key had been intricately crafted into a five-pointed star encompassed by a ring. A swirl of designs was inlaid throughout the star.

The blacksmith appeared incredibly pleased.

He outstretched his hand to her and placed the key in her palm.

“How did you make this already? I left only an hour’s half ago.” She brought the key to eye level. “And how did you know what I wished you to make? I ne’er told you.”

His answer was to silently glower at her.

“Is that all you need?” he finally uttered.

Elanna nodded; her vision blurred again.

“You best be going then.” He handed her a small, heavy, leather pouch.

“What is this?”

“The rest of the starstone. I melted it into coins.”

“You must keep this,” Elanna said, extending the pouch to him.

The blacksmith shook his head slowly. “Not meant to be here.”

Elanna knew confusion clouded her face, but the blacksmith did not budge. There was so much she longed to ask him. So muchshe craved to know. But she could detect through the window that dusk approached. She did not wish everyone to worry more than they most assuredly were already.

She removed five coins and placed them on his table. “For your family.”

His eyes followed her hands, and he gave a curt nod.

“My thanks,” Elanna said, placing the key in her pocket. “What you have crafted is beautiful. And ’tis more significant than you could possibly know.”