Then they go to the smith area and Thunder-hammer takes them to Stormgar. Thunder-hammer introduces Orion, and the three talk of his story and his need for a living sword. Stormgar says, "It's been so long since we had to make one of those. I will have to find the papers on how to do so. Do you have the mithril, dragon's core, dragon's fang, and the blood ink for the sword?" Orion answers, "I do, and actually I want two katanas. I see normal blades but no katanas—has that been lost as well?" Stormgar responds, "Katanas like the eastern folk used. I will draw out a few sketches and we can go with what you feel is best. Oh, hum—I think I can give you a wooden example."
Orion produces, out of thin air, enough mithril for four swords, three dragon cores, one dragon fang, and the blood ink for the runes. Everyone's jaws drop; a mage with his own storage-space spell and no chanting has not been seen in three thousand years. Orion looks at Stormgar and says, "There is enough material here for four swords and two living swords. You get to keep the leftovers as payment—agreed?" Stormgar stares at the dragon's fang, the dragon cores, and the mithril with wide eyes. Dragons haven't been seen for at least a thousand years, and mithril has been even harder to get. What lay before him was enough that someone could live comfortably for life; just the mithril alone was worth enough for him to retire.
Stormgar says, "You will have my best work ever, and I agree on the payment. It will take about three weeks—I have to study up on the runes as well as the process again. I still need the wooden example of the sword." Orion replies, "I have to set up camp, then I will get you one." Thunder-hammer, Sherly, and Orion get up and leave. Thunder-hammer leads them to the clearing and says, "You can set up camp here." He watches to see what "set up camp" means to Orion.
Orion pulls out the stone, sings his song, and the cottage builds itself in the clearing. Thunder-hammer says, "You are really one out of legends. I have never seen such magic in my life—even the greatest of mages can't do that." Orion smiles, walks over to a tree, sings, and the tree drops three branches equal in length and width. He picks them up, sings again, and all three branches float in the air and turn into wooden katana practice swords. Orion takes two into the cabin and walks out with one. "Let's go back to Stormgar," he tells Thunder-hammer.
As they walk back, they see Stormgar pointing at the cottage and the wooden sword in Orion's hand to the other blacksmiths, and they hear him saying, "What makes you think our town would last a night if I tried to swindle him with anything but the best? Greedy kids thinking only what you can make and sell with the mithril and the cores. You have no idea of the danger." Owen and Thunder-hammer approach Stormgar and ask, "Is there a problem?" Stormgar shakes his head and says, "Two of my apprentices are from different clans and decided to boast about the wealth I received, and word travels fast in this town. By the end of the day I will hear from a dozen different families about what I can spare and if I will take on more apprentices. Everyone wants a piece of the pie but won't want to do the work. Our best spell weaver asked for the cores already. The lot of them don't have an inkling of your power, but I do—I remember the last sword mage my master forged for and how he could wipe out armies all by himself. How he fought—he was tougher than anything. Give me three weeks to make these two and I will let you know when they are done."
Orion asks the two of them, "Are there any you would recommend as apprentices for me? I understand the shadow is back and that we need to stop the whispers in every village and town, let alone the cities. I will need to pick up and train people in the spell at the least, and full sword mages at best. I will need travel animals—are there any griffin dens in the area or wyverns in the mountains?" Thunder-hammer shakes his head and says, "That's a big order. I will look into whether or not we have any that could be either sword mages or spell singers to stop the shadows. As for griffins or wyverns, none that I have heard of in the last thousand years."
Stormgar asks, "Does this mean I need to train others in making living blades?" Orion replies, "Only if you can, and they can be trusted. A living sword is a must, but each bond is precious, and if the sword breaks it is not good. The backlash on the wielder and the damage it does is nothing to laugh at." Stormgar says, "I will put the word out, but don't be surprised if you get more looking to fight you than join you." Orion laughs, "That sounds like the typical situation. I will look forward to it."
Stormgar asks, "This wooden sword—is its magic wood?" Orion responds, "Oh, you noticed. When sparring and training it's the closest to a living blade you can get without it being steel. Too bad we never could get a bow-staff wielder as a mage, or train an order of them. Are there at least stables with horses in town?" Stormgar says, "We have some pack mules and some ponies." Orion replies, "Better than walking and faster."
Orion walks back to camp and overhears some dwarves talking about possibly learning the sword and others arguing that the only weapon for a dwarf is the war hammer. Some speak of him singing the cottage and the wooden swords into existence. Someone mentions old legends and the power of the sword mages.