Page 39 of Frostforge: Passage Two

"You really think they'd fall for it?These thieves seem calculated and careful.They've managed to steal weapons from all over the academy without getting caught."

"Whoever's doing this knows their value," Kaine said."They're selective.If we create something too tempting to resist — something unique, something valuable — it'll disappear like all the others."

As he spoke, something changed in his expression.The hard lines of worry softened, replaced by a gleam in his eyes that Thalia hadn't seen before.Despite the dire circumstances, despite the danger, he was excited by the challenge of crafting something extraordinary.

"You want to forge this weapon," she said, understanding dawning.

Kaine's lips curved into a half-smile."Of course I do."

His enthusiasm was infectious, and Thalia found herself smiling back.She was enchanted by this side of Kaine, the artist hidden inside the survivor.It made him seem younger somehow, more alive.

"Alright," she said, decision made."I'll help you.When do we start?"

"Tonight," Kaine replied immediately."The Howling Forge, after the evening bell."

Thalia raised her eyebrows."After hours?That's against at least three academy rules."

"And investigating theft, forging unauthorized weapons, and tracking fellow students breaks about a dozen more."Kaine's expression turned serious again."We need privacy and time.The only way we'll have both is if we work when everyone else is asleep."

"The Howling Forge, after the evening bell," she agreed.

Kaine nodded, satisfaction is evident in the set of his shoulders."Wear something that won't stand out in the shadows.And Thalia —" he hesitated, then reached out to touch her arm briefly, the gesture surprisingly gentle from his calloused hand."Be careful.Whoever's behind this has been operating right under the instructors' noses for weeks.They're clever and connected."

Thalia watched him walk away, his tall figure soon swallowed by the shadows of the old corridor.Only when he'd disappeared did she realize her heart was beating faster than usual—and not entirely from the prospect of catching the thieves.

***

The entrance to the Howling Forge loomed ahead, a massive archway carved with scenes of ancient battles, the stone worn smooth from centuries of hands passing through.The forge itself was never truly cold — the heart fires burned continuously, maintained by a rotating staff of dedicated forge masters — but at this hour, it would be empty.

A figure detached itself from the shadows beside the archway.Thalia's hand flew to the small knife at her belt before she recognized Kaine's silhouette.

Kaine nodded once, then gestured toward a smaller entrance to the right of the main arch — a service door used by the workers who delivered coal and ore.The door swung open with a whisper of well-oiled hinges.Thalia followed him into the narrow passage beyond, their way lit only by the distant glow of forge fires reflecting off the stone walls.The air grew warmer with each step, the familiar scents of hot metal, coal, and sweat enveloping them like an embrace.

They emerged into the Howling Forge.By day, this space echoed with the clang of hammers and the shouts of instructors.Now it lay in half-darkness, the only light coming from the banked coals in the main hearth and a few scattered lanterns left burning for safety.The tools hung in perfect order along the walls, gleaming dully in the firelight.

"I'll stoke the fire at workstation three," Kaine said, already moving toward one of the smaller forges set into the wall."You check the metal stores.We need a pure alloy — the best you can find."

Thalia nodded and headed toward the storage area at the back of the chamber.Rows of orderly shelves held ingots of various metals, each stamped with the mark of its origin and composition.She ran her fingers lightly over them, closing her eyes to better sense the magic that hummed within each piece.

Most of the metals sang false notes to her touch — the inferior alloys she'd identified weeks ago.Their resonance was muted, discordant, lacking the pure harmonies of properly forged metal.She moved deeper into the storeroom, searching more desperately now.They needed pure metal, not just for the decoy to be convincing but for the trace to work properly.

Finally, behind a stack of practice ingots used by first-years, she found what she was looking for — a small cache of steel alloy that sang true beneath her fingers.She selected one bar, then, on impulse, reached for a smaller ingot on a higher shelf.Aluminum — lightweight, rarely used for weapons due to its softness, but perfect for what she had in mind.

When she returned to workstation three, Kaine had the forge glowing hot, the coals a fierce orange that cast dancing shadows across his concentrated face.He looked up as she approached, eyes questioning.

"Found some," she said, holding up the steel ingot."Not much, though.Most of it's been replaced."

"And that?"He nodded toward the smaller aluminum piece.

"For the trace."Thalia set both metals down on the worktable."Aluminum isn't typically used in weapons — too light, makes for a flimsy blade.If I weave a small amount into whatever we make, I'll be able to sense it from a distance.Like a thread I can follow."

“Will it affect the weapon's integrity?"

"Not if we do it right.Or at least, not enough to be noticed."She glanced at the glowing forge."What are we making, anyway?Something that will catch their attention?"

Kaine frowned thoughtfully, then reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small, leather-bound book.Its edges were worn smooth, the cover darkened from years of handling.He flipped it open, and Thalia saw that each page bore detailed sketches of weapons — swords, daggers, axes, spears — each one annotated with tiny, precise handwriting.

He turned the pages slowly, and Thalia glimpsed designs more intricate than any she'd seen in her classes.A battle axe with channeled grooves for cryomancy enhancement.A dual-bladed sword with what appeared to be reinforced crossguards.A set of throwing knives with balance points marked in red ink.

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