        It was a quiet evening in blacksmith’s row. The last forges had been doused for the night, leaving the lull of the sea to sing solo. Most of the smiths had long since made their way down to the old bar but a handful of late closers remained, tidying their storefronts and offering their nightly prayers to Bryegot.
       Iyrnahct was up late, sealing and labeling a massive shipment of axe heads bound for the Gridanian botanists’ guild. Jobs like this were typically left to one of his boys but they had begged to spend their evening with two new carpentry apprentices from the drydock. Apparently one of them owned a particularly elegant greataxe. The knock at his door took the old smith by surprise, but he was far more startled to hear a female voice calling him by the long forgotten nickname. “Oh Ernie!†Â
       As he pulled the door open, the tiny form of Daniwyda scurried inside out of the wind. It took him a moment to recognize the woman, without her heavy armour and axe, but one glance at her worn green face jogged his memory back sharply. “Oh is’ ye lass, I’ve yer chainmail aready.†He blurted in surprise, forgetting to keep a check on his northern accent. However the odd dialect seemed to give Daniwyda no pause. “I’d hoped ye would. Sorry ter call back so late. I thought we might talk a wee bit.â€
      The blacksmith pulled his eyes away from her with some difficulty, retrieving her freshly repaired chain coat from behind the counter. It was more than the smiles of a strong and pretty woman, which he had long since believed himself immune to. Something in Daniwyda’s dark grey eyes and sharp face stirred deep memories that he could never exactly place. Each time she passed through the town Iyrnahct found himself wondering for days when and where they had met before, before reluctantly concluding that they never had.
        While she examined his work, the blacksmith found himself examining her yet again, with a puzzled smile. Eventually she caught his eye and laughed, sending the old man’s heart fluttering like a schoolboy’s. “Ye look tired, Ernie.†She told him, placing the payment firmly in his hand. “When’s the last time ye’ve been out ter relax over a drink?â€
     “Oh I donna gerr’out oft’ese days†He answered quickly, forcing his thoughts back to the business at hand. “I’se a shipment good as done ternight…â€
     “Well ye should. I’ll pick up the tab?†Her dark eyes looked up at him, with an inviting smile, but underneath Iyrnahct could detect a low current of sadness. It was a look that touched him with a familiar pang. He knew instantly that she had lost someone very close.
      “Then I’ll jus’ have ter set th’locks an’ hove to.†He replied, folding and packaging the chainmail tenderly. He tucked Dani’s package under her arm and offered the small woman his elbow for the walk, only to pause just outside the door.
    “Why’d ye call me ‘at?â€
    “Call ye what?â€
     “Ernie. No one be callin’ me Ernie since… well not fer a good long while.â€
     “Not sure,†She smiled up at the towering smith. “Reckon it just felt like it belonged ter ye.â€
____________________________________________________________________________
       They arrived home in the small hours, flushed, and still singing the sad chorus of ’Three Fishers’.  Iyrnahct offered Dani a hammock, with gentlemanly grace. Then stole a kiss when refused. She lingered for a few moments just outside the door before starting out on the long hike to the strand.
        Fifteen minutes out from the town, Captain Daniwyda Merlfalkwyn was slowly sobering up humming Three Fishers softly to herself, when the sudden rush of footsteps brought her great axe to hand. The three figures behind her instantly ceased their charge, throwing their hands in the air. She could make out two Sea Wolves and a Midlander, all carrying sea bags and axes. From their silhouettes in the night, she knew they were little more than boys.
       “Mam, Please wait! We’ve heard yer Captain o’ a privateer frigate†Their leader called out breathlessly, “We want ter sail with ye!â€
       As he stepped closer, the boy lifted a lantern and Captain Merlfalkwyn felt her heart leap into her throat. The boy staring eagerly down at her was Merlanka Iyrnachtsyn, the blacksmith’s elder son. The trio begged eagerly, while she wrestled with her conscience. Finally the captain quietly asked “Do yer families know?â€
     “Yes!†Merlanka blurted, unaware that his young face could be read like a book.
      Captain Merlfalkwyn hesitated for a moment more but Merlanka’s eager face woke a deep motherly instinct, which could not be silenced. “Alright,†She sighed “I’ll take ye on. Step quick now.†Towering over his new Captain, Merlanka’s boyish face broke into a massive grin, exactly like his father’s. Daniwyda lead the trio down to her skiff, wondering duly if she would ever have the courage to face Iyrnahct after this.
       Iyrnahct was up late, sealing and labeling a massive shipment of axe heads bound for the Gridanian botanists’ guild. Jobs like this were typically left to one of his boys but they had begged to spend their evening with two new carpentry apprentices from the drydock. Apparently one of them owned a particularly elegant greataxe. The knock at his door took the old smith by surprise, but he was far more startled to hear a female voice calling him by the long forgotten nickname. “Oh Ernie!†Â
       As he pulled the door open, the tiny form of Daniwyda scurried inside out of the wind. It took him a moment to recognize the woman, without her heavy armour and axe, but one glance at her worn green face jogged his memory back sharply. “Oh is’ ye lass, I’ve yer chainmail aready.†He blurted in surprise, forgetting to keep a check on his northern accent. However the odd dialect seemed to give Daniwyda no pause. “I’d hoped ye would. Sorry ter call back so late. I thought we might talk a wee bit.â€
      The blacksmith pulled his eyes away from her with some difficulty, retrieving her freshly repaired chain coat from behind the counter. It was more than the smiles of a strong and pretty woman, which he had long since believed himself immune to. Something in Daniwyda’s dark grey eyes and sharp face stirred deep memories that he could never exactly place. Each time she passed through the town Iyrnahct found himself wondering for days when and where they had met before, before reluctantly concluding that they never had.
        While she examined his work, the blacksmith found himself examining her yet again, with a puzzled smile. Eventually she caught his eye and laughed, sending the old man’s heart fluttering like a schoolboy’s. “Ye look tired, Ernie.†She told him, placing the payment firmly in his hand. “When’s the last time ye’ve been out ter relax over a drink?â€
     “Oh I donna gerr’out oft’ese days†He answered quickly, forcing his thoughts back to the business at hand. “I’se a shipment good as done ternight…â€
     “Well ye should. I’ll pick up the tab?†Her dark eyes looked up at him, with an inviting smile, but underneath Iyrnahct could detect a low current of sadness. It was a look that touched him with a familiar pang. He knew instantly that she had lost someone very close.
      “Then I’ll jus’ have ter set th’locks an’ hove to.†He replied, folding and packaging the chainmail tenderly. He tucked Dani’s package under her arm and offered the small woman his elbow for the walk, only to pause just outside the door.
    “Why’d ye call me ‘at?â€
    “Call ye what?â€
     “Ernie. No one be callin’ me Ernie since… well not fer a good long while.â€
     “Not sure,†She smiled up at the towering smith. “Reckon it just felt like it belonged ter ye.â€
____________________________________________________________________________
       They arrived home in the small hours, flushed, and still singing the sad chorus of ’Three Fishers’.  Iyrnahct offered Dani a hammock, with gentlemanly grace. Then stole a kiss when refused. She lingered for a few moments just outside the door before starting out on the long hike to the strand.
        Fifteen minutes out from the town, Captain Daniwyda Merlfalkwyn was slowly sobering up humming Three Fishers softly to herself, when the sudden rush of footsteps brought her great axe to hand. The three figures behind her instantly ceased their charge, throwing their hands in the air. She could make out two Sea Wolves and a Midlander, all carrying sea bags and axes. From their silhouettes in the night, she knew they were little more than boys.
       “Mam, Please wait! We’ve heard yer Captain o’ a privateer frigate†Their leader called out breathlessly, “We want ter sail with ye!â€
       As he stepped closer, the boy lifted a lantern and Captain Merlfalkwyn felt her heart leap into her throat. The boy staring eagerly down at her was Merlanka Iyrnachtsyn, the blacksmith’s elder son. The trio begged eagerly, while she wrestled with her conscience. Finally the captain quietly asked “Do yer families know?â€
     “Yes!†Merlanka blurted, unaware that his young face could be read like a book.
      Captain Merlfalkwyn hesitated for a moment more but Merlanka’s eager face woke a deep motherly instinct, which could not be silenced. “Alright,†She sighed “I’ll take ye on. Step quick now.†Towering over his new Captain, Merlanka’s boyish face broke into a massive grin, exactly like his father’s. Daniwyda lead the trio down to her skiff, wondering duly if she would ever have the courage to face Iyrnahct after this.
