Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 1]

Blake gasped. "They're beautiful…"

"Aren't they?"

Her eyes lit up as she drew the gift out into the sunlight. The light reflected off the silvery daggers. Not jewellery or some other gift, but I didn't think the smile on her face would have been nearly as big for anything else. She glanced down at me and bit her lip. "Can I…?"

"They're yours. Go wild."

Blake hopped up and out of my arms. She slashed once forward, then parried an invisible opponent with the second and twirled around to place a dagger in his gut. The Assassin was as graceful as ever, a flickering figure almost too fast to see. A minute or two later, she stopped. Her breath came a little harsher and her hair hung loose, but the expression on her face was nothing short of euphoric.

"Perfect," she whispered, twirling the daggers in her hand. "I've never held something that fits me so well. Your father must be an incredible Blacksmith. Give him my thanks."

"He knows," I said, hiding my smile. The one who had forged her new weapons knew, in any case. I'd wanted to make them straight away, but that would have been suspicious. I had to wait long enough for it to make sense for me to ship her ingots back home, and then receive them again. That it came around the time I forged my own was less coincidence and more convenience. That and me wanting to make the best daggers I could.

—Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 1]