The sound of hammer striking metal slowed down little by little until it finally stopped. The heat from the forge still filled the air, but the constant noise that had been there all day faded into a quiet hum. Outside, the light had already begun to fade, and the sky was turning darker by the minute. It was already evening, almost nighttime, and the long day of work had finally come to an end. Horg stepped back from the anvil and wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his arm, his breathing steady but heavy from hours of effort.
Dory looked at the stack of finished metal beside the wall, his eyes scanning it carefully as he adjusted his glasses. The pieces were not perfect, but they were solid and consistent enough to be used. He counted them silently, making sure there was no mistake in the number.
"Fifty," he said.
Lila blinked, clearly surprised.
"That many?"
Dano nodded slowly as she wiped her hands.
"We didn't waste time."
