Boone the Blacksmith

Boone stood looking across the street at the Quartermaster with his Officers and supply Sergeants, all impeccably dressed, boots shined and hats tall and proud. No matter how much Boone tried over the last 4 months to encourage the Quartermaster to buy his swords and bayonets, the Quartermaster went with Boone’s competition. After hearing the rumbles of a possible military conflict, Boone spent almost all his coin to purchase steel, coal, and other supplies for his forge. He left barely enough to buy meager food and drink to sustain himself while he worked 6 days a week forging weapons for the regiment located at the fort outside the city in case duty, and war, called. 

Knowing the other blacksmith employed several hired hands, Boone knew he would not be able to match the production rates, so he decided to work his specialty, the harder steel (which required longer and hotter burn times, plus needed more hammering to create a finished product.) Unfortunately, the harder steel did not produce a flashier or more refined blade unless Boone worked on a single blade for weeks at a time, which he did not have. In fact, Boon is the only blacksmith in the region that even knew how to work the harder steel, but the other blacksmiths made up for it with mass-produced weapons, and the army needed more, not better right now.  

Dejected, Boone returned to his shop. Sitting down, he pulled his ledger book out and removed the last remaining coin from his lockbox. In the last 2 months, his only sales included a few butcher knives and several horseshoes. All his hope hinged on selling the 50 some swords and 60 or so bayonets he forged for the army. Now, that hope faded and reality stared him in the face, a reality that his nearly 18-year career was over and most likely his shop would close. 

Looking back over his career, he smiled a bit, remembering the blades he made, a few gates for the homes of local aristocrats that still stood tall, some plows for local farmers, and finally the accolades from the Duke and his Lords when a sword he forged won the grand prize at a contest years ago. After the contest, Boone’s shop became the place for apprentices to learn, but unfortunately, most were not up to Boone’s standards and he sent more than a dozen away. Boone knew he was a hard man to work for. His standards were much higher than others, his work ethic surpassed others and he had a short temper (which he also believed drove his wife to an early death.) Looking around his shop he knew he could sell his tools and the remaining steel for enough money to keep him fed for a few years, but his career was over.

Noise by the open door startled him and he turned to see two men, dressed in drab-colored cloaks with hoods pulled over their heads, high brown worn leather boots, and each carrying a walking stick with pointed metal tips walking into his shop.

“Can I help you?” Boone gruffly asked.

“We are looking for Master Boone the Blacksmith.”

“Who are you and what do you want with him? Maybe I can find him if I know why you are looking for him.”

“Sir, my name is Captain Fletcher and we are looking to make a purchase from Master Boone. That is the extent of the information we’re allowed to release at this time.”

“A purchase of what?”

“Weapons, specifically swords. Do you know if Master Boone has a store of swords we can purchase, and if so, how many?”

Boone stood looking at the men. Clearly, the one that spoke was the leader of the two and stood closer to Boone. Both men were also physically fit, young, respectful, and well-mannered, enough that Boone decided to take a chance.

“Aye, I have swords for sale, and bayonets, more than 50 of each, but I need to know who they are for, these are troubling times.”

Captain Fletcher turned to the other, spoke quietly to him, and turned back towards Boone while the other man rushed out the entrance.

“My Company Commander, Major Griffiths, recommended your shop, and Ensign Cole is on his way to retrieve him. We’re looking to purchase weapons for our Company's deployment during the conflict.”

“Never heard of him or you, and I know all the officers at the fort.”

“Sir, we’re not from the fort, but I will let the Major discuss that when he arrives.”

Boone stood looking at the other man, saying nothing. Several minutes passed before either turned away from the others' watchful look, and the Captain moved first when he heard footsteps behind him. Dressed in the same drab cloak (but with the hood down and a clear smile on his face) walked a man Boone guessed to be in his mid-20s.

“Master Boone! I am honored to see you again and I am thrilled you have weapons we can purchase.”

“I have no idea who you are Major.”

“No idea? Master Boone, I apprenticed here about 10 years ago, until you threw me out on my ear. In fact, I remember your comment as you kicked me out…”David, you are worthless and have zero work ethic. You are nothing but a snotty and spoiled privileged kid and I should have never taken you on.””

“Young David?”

“Not so young anymore, but not only did I disappoint you, you kicking me out caused me to fall out of favor with my father, which also looked bad on you, which is not really a good thing.”

“Why would I care if you or I fell out of favor with your father, you were one of the worst apprentices I ever had.”

Major Griffiths cocked his head to the side a bit. “You don’t care about my father’s favor?”

“Why would I care about your father’s favor, I’m sure he is a failure just like you?”

Before the Major could reply, another soldier ran up behind him.

“Major, an emergency message from Regimental Headquarters.”  He handed the Major a letter.

“Excuse me Master Boone, I’m sorry for the interruption.”

As the Major stepped outside, the Captain stepped forward.

“Master Boone, do you not know who Major Griffiths’ father is, or who the Major is? He told us he apprenticed for you for almost 6 months, surely you know who he is.”

“Captain, not only don’t I know, I don’t care.”

“Master Boone, Major Griffiths is the son of the Duke of Upper Straton, the younger brother of the King, and as such, the Major is the nephew of the King. I would think not being in the favor of his father, as well as insulting his father, would concern you, and may be why the army is across the street purchasing weapons from your competitor and not you.”

Boone just stared at the Captain dumbfounded.

“David is the son of the Duke, and nephew to the King?”

“Yes, and, from what he told me when you threw him out, his father excommunicated him due to embarrassment. The Major turned to his cousin, Princess Isabelle for help. She secretly took him in and, after a few years, granted him a commission in her Regiment of Light Dragoons. However, he earned everything he now has without using his royal family name, while his older brother is a regional Governor, a Brigadier General in command of the 3^rd Brigade of His Majesties Heavy Infantry already engaged in combat, and the future Duke of Upper Straton.”

Boone looked outside at the Major, finishing his discussion with a junior soldier, as he tried to remember anything about how David came to be his apprentice, but couldn’t remember anything. While still thinking, the Major reentered Boone’s shop.

“Major, I am sorry I spoke out of turn about your father, I didn’t know who you were related to. I hope you can forgive me.”

“Master Boone, there is no forgiveness needed, I hold no ill will to you or what you did to me. In fact, you throwing me out changed my life for the better. I was a spoiled child like you said with no drive or ambition, but after watching you for 6 months, and seeing the amount of heart and effort you put into your job, I realized later what it meant to be successful. I needed to work for it; I needed to get up off my arse and earn my way in life; I needed to become a man, who respected others but took no crap from people that worked for me, as long as I gave them the tools and knowledge of how to do the job. It was their choice what they did with their opportunities. They too needed to earn their way. I am blessed my cousin believed in me when no one else did. Besides her small favor, your hard life lesson is the reason I am now in command of a Company of Dragoons and I thank you with all my heart.”

Major Griffiths bowed to Boone 

“Additionally, my Company would like to purchase all your swords and bayonets. We, unlike the army across the street, rely on the best workmanship and best tools for our survival and success in battle. That is why my father sent me here, to begin with, based upon the sword you made for him during the contest he commissioned. He wanted me to learn what success looked like, but I couldn’t see what he meant until I forfeited my opportunity. I broke his heart, and he still doesn’t speak to me even though recently he agreed to correspond via letter.”

Major Griffiths turned to Captain Fletcher who handed him a bag. Turning back, the Major handed the bag to Boone.

“I believe this will more than cover the cost to purchase the weapons.” Then, turning his head to the door, the Major waved towards someone outside. “Additionally, with your permission, I would like to nominate Ensign Allen to be a new apprentice for you. He’s one of my most trusted men, but he recently suffered a leg injury and can no longer ride a horse well enough. I spoke with him about the rigors you will put him through and he knows what he’ll need to do to learn from you so he can continue to do his part for Princess Isabelle’s Royal Light Dragoons.”

Boone felt the weight of coin in the bag before he opened it. As he opened it, he realized this payment was more than he thought the army would ever pay him for double the number of weapons. Plus, with a new apprentice, now his shop could stay open.

He bowed towards the Major.

“Major Griffiths, it is an honor to have you back in my shop. I am glad you took my lessons and made more of yourself than I would have ever imagined. I gladly accept your choice of apprentices and will ensure your Company will always have the best weapons at their disposal.”

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Epilogue:

Boone inspected Allen’s most recent knife, turning it over in his hands, gripping the handle, and making cutting motions, then finally slashing a stretched leather hide.

“Well done, Allen, well done. You are progressing nicely, even during the shop’s busiest fall season ever. If you can do this kind of workmanship after 8 months, you will soon be better than me.”

Allen smiled at the old man. “Thank you, Master Boone, I appreciate the compliment, but I am sure it will take me years to learn everything you know.”

The door to the shop opened and both Boone and Allen turned. In walked two men who looked around the forge quickly, turned towards Boone, and announced “His Grace, the Duke of Upper Straton!”

Boone turned to look for the old man to walk through the door, readying himself to give the apology he knew was long overdue.

In walked young David Griffiths, well dressed with a smile on his face.