Hertha

With a hand raised to shield her eyes from the unexpectedly bright sun of the early winter’s morning, Hertha watched as her cousin, Thilwend, approached the doors to the Armoury and, with a court nod and a ‘Fair day to you,’ passed on her way to her office. But another, much smaller figure wasn’t far behind the sergeant. Her lightness of step and cheerful expression caused the Smith to smile a little.

“Hertha, can you help me? I need to make a gift for my mama?”

The smith looked round a touch sternly, as she was just about to discuss the main tasks of the day with her assistant, Heard. 

Finally closing the armoury doors behind her, Hertha took a deep breath, and straightened her shoulders. There was one more thing she wanted to do before she headed for her rented accommodation, and a well deserved sleep. Her day had been full at the forge. Then three travellers had arrived to stay a few days at the Roaring Dragon, and two with horses that needed her attention.

Hertha looked up from her studied examination of a box of nails, a gate hinge and a small eating knife. The double doors to the armory and forge swung open in a manner suggesting someone was not totally at ease that day.

“Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, cousin, or is it something I said?” 

She was weary. The sun was not even high in the sky, and she was weary. Sweeping a strand of thick flaming auburn hair from her eyes, the smith worked on the bellows, building the fire in her forge a little hotter. Why was it that she had such trouble from that foolish and vain guard. He didn’t want a woman working on his armour? Fine! Let him find someone else to do the repairs.