Chapter 17: Blacksmith Ruth

"Shila go get ready, we will be heading towards city in about 15 minutes." He said.

Both of them went to there rooms to get ready.

….

"Young master, where are you going? Do you need me to accompany you anywhere?",

As Vikram and Shila exited their main gate, One of the Knight at the gate wearing armor, said with politeness.

"It's okay, I am just going in town to do some shopping, you can rest assure I will come back before dusk."

As Baron estate located on west side of city, They had to walk for some time to get to city.

He walk quickly towards market. He has lot of thing to accomplish today,

First, need to find natural salt selling merchant,

Second, need blacksmith to make equipment for distillation process,

Third, find location of limestone or limestone supplier,

Fourth, Animal fat oil or preferably sainted vegetable oil.

he can make ash in his courtyard so no need search for it.

With this thought in mind they both come near city center. VASCO CITY is beautiful city, with over 30000 citizens. This is not as good as VENISIA( The capital city) but It has it's own charm. City is very busy at this time, People are walking everywhere with excited look in there eyes , street merchant are yelling to attract costumers attention. Beautiful ladies can be seen shopping for some cloths and basic necessities. Although city is prosperous but still in it's primitive stage. Most of the houses were built either with help of wood, mud bricks and stone, no use of burned brick is known to this peoples.

Market is also not that big. Due to poor savings and living standard of people here, most of the merchant went to other city like VENISIA CITY. But still you can get your desired thing if you have money in your pocket. You can also find some merchant and have them import things for you.

First thing on list is salt, he remember father talking about Salt monopoly by Noble in there own territories, that means his father should also be having control over salt supply. In Vijayanagara Empire, Common people don't have any right to make salt at their home, they have to pay tax money to get salt.

he went straight to his father workshop and brought 5 kg salt worth 50 silver coin. Next he has to find blacksmith to make container for distillation. After getting address of best blacksmith from his shop, he started walking towards North direction.

"Hey, Hey , Hey….. You dumb shit… what are you doing standing over there, go get me that hammer, I need to flatten this damn iron ", with loud noise middle age man with round shape, big muscle, said to his servant.

"Y-Yes, yes, master,"

Without any delay, servant pass the big giant hammer to blacksmith.

"Now, look after heat, I will start hitting this masterpiece of mine. Look at the beauty of this sword, hahaha…." With smile of satisfaction on his face, he started hitting sword shape object with all his strength to get it into desired shape.

'cling... clang...cling.....clang'

Just a minute ago Vikram arrive in front of blacksmith shop, he witness whole incident, smile came on his face, he look at the hitting movement of middle age with round shape bald head, sweat was dripping from his forehead because of 1500 degree or so temperature. Listening to the rhythmic sound of iron work he fell pleasurable sensation all over his body, he thought ' What will happen if I give him high quality steel to make some weapons.. hahaha….'

As Vikram was admiring his hard work, Blacksmith noticed his gaze and asked with loud voice.

"What do you want? I am very busy as you can see, state your business quickly?" With impatient look on his face blacksmith said.

With smile on his face face, Vikram said with some flattery, "Hello, I hear that you are the best blacksmith in city, Your equipment are best of the best. Now by looking at your hard work, I am totally convinced."

Middle age, Blacksmith, RUTH stop his work, look at me with smile,

"Do you really think so, come .. come... look at this masterpiece which I am currently working on , it is even better than the other's in market can offer" Ruth invited him inside his shop enthusiastically

He walk inside shop and observe sword shape object for minute,

"Naaaa, No.. It would have been even better if you could get superior metal with high durable strength. Then the outcome would have been marvelous ." With shaking his head Vikram said this in confident voice.

Blacksmith got stunned on spot, 'More durable metal than iron, He must be talking nonsense'

"This is the premium iron on the market , Nobody can give you better purity than this" Ruth said.

"I am not taking about iron, I am taking about new metal known as steel, It 10 times durable than this simple iron" vikram said in serious voice.

"Are you for sure? Do we even have such metal? I never hear about this stell or steel whatever that is."

"If I were to give you this metal, are you willing work for me?"

Without thinking even for second. Ruth replied, " If what you say is true, for sure I am willing to work for you."

Vikram face covered in smile, " Okay, I will come to you once I get that metal delivered, for now I need your help me built some instruments."

"Okay, lets see what you have here?"

Vikram had draw blueprint yesterday for distillation equipment also along with others. He handed is blueprint of distillation equipment to Ruth, seeing the strange looking equipment with weird shape,

"What are this?, I never saw such strange things. What are they used for?" Ruth ask curiously.

"Can It be built or not ? I have my own secrets to keep?"

"Who do you think I am? I am the number one blacksmith in entire city, I can make this things with my left hand." Ruth said confidently.

"If you can give me this things in 6 hours, I will pay you double, What do you say?" he enquired.

"In six hours?" With some thinking Ruth nodded in agreement to his request. He was also curious about this strange looking equipment.

"How much will it cost?"

"1 coin for this, 1 for this, one and half for bigger one…. The total will be 3 and half gold coin. As you promise me to pay double… It will be 7 gold coin in total." Ruth said in casual tone.

"What? Is it that expensive?" he was shock to know the high price.

"Iron is hard to get by in this border town, I have to import that from far east. If you don't have money then shuu shuu, don't just stand there and waste my time?"

With miserable look , Vikram paid his last 7 shinning gold coin, he felt like someone just rob him.

Now he was only left with 2 and half gold coin.

" Okay you come back here in 6 hour." Taking pouch with excited expression Ruth went back to his work without caring about vikram's reaction.

"Come Shila, we still have lot do , I hope this much can be sufficient for other things." Vikram call for his maid and started walking towards his next destination, limestone reserves and oil.

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