The runed exterior of the forge glowed dangerously bright. My tongs were softening in my grip. Even as the heat-loving trollkona (temperature extremes was where I felt comfortable as a trollkona), I was having difficulty remaining in the smithy. But I continued with the task. I reasoned what tools failed in the heat were no loss, and what tools survived the heat were tempered. Sometimes you don’t know what you have until tested.

8,539 words.