Birka's forge was bigger than the one on Berk, which wasn't a surprise. Birka was a bigger city than Berk. It had two forges on either side of the room, making the air more hot than Magnhild was used to but she was raised by fire breathing dragons so the warmth wasn't a problem for her. Vivian was another story.

Vivian was hit with the unfamiliar heat like she had been hit in the face. Her eyes widened and she gasped.

The black haired smith laughed at her reaction. "Never been in a forge before, girl?"

"No," Vivian answered, "I've only walked past here a few times."

The blacksmith, who had introduced himself as Ulvar, crossed his arms over his broad chest and looked between the two women after they had asked them if they could use the forge to make a saddle. His eyes landed on Magnhild. "I've never seen a woman use a forge before."

"Well, isn't it time for you to see a woman use the forge than?" Magnhild hinted and raised her chin. She felt the panic still holding a grib in her chest, just like when she walked through Birka and its people to make it here. But something about being in a familiar environment and knowing what tool to use to defend herself with, Magnhild felt herself a little safer.

Ulvar chuckled. "A saddle you say?"

Magnhild nodded.

"For a horse?" he raised an eyebrow.

"What other animal need's a saddle?" Magnhild shrugged. He didn't need to know the saddle was for a dragon, because she didn't know if Birka was okay to have a dragon nearby. Temple had been hidden the first time they were here and she didn't want to take any chances with Sun.

"Fine. You're in luck, the other smith is sick so you can take his side." he gestured to the forge to his right. "I've been keeping him warm and alive for him and tried to work on two things at the sametime, but now I have a reason not to work on his stuff."

"Thank you." Magnhild thanked.

"Just don't ask me questions about any smith work, because I believe you got this and if you break anything; the price is on you."

Magnhild gave him a small smile. "Of course."

From that moment, Magnhild stayed there the whole day till the dark washed over the sky and stars started to shine. The saddle was almost done, just a few stitches and it was ready for Sun.

The material the saddle required was gathered by Vivian and Magnhild after they knew they had a forge to work in, or for Magnhild to work in. Vivian had been sitting and watching Magnhild work as she had been sweating. Making her clothes and her short blonde hair sticking on her body.

Magnhild was as sweaty as Vivian, but she was used to the heat and Vivian wasn't. Magnhild was glad and impressed that she had stayed the whole time to make sure Magnhild wasn't alone with Ulvar for a second.

Ulvar had been working on the other side of the room, looking interesting on how Magnhild was working, but he hadn't been staring at her and Magnhild couldn't blame the glances if he had never seen a woman working a forge before even if his eyes on her felt undesirable. He had given the girls some food and water by dinner time and for that they were thankful for.

Now Vivian was sleeping against the wall by the slightly open window to get some cold air on her. Magnhild sat by the table a few meters from her and stitches the last stitches on the brown saddle. She knew it wouldn't blend at all to Sun white scales, but Magnhild didn't have time to gather scales from the dragon.

Magnhild could hear footsteps from behind her and she turned her head to see Ulvar coming towards her.

Ulvar sat down beside her and leaned against the table with his elbows. "I have to say; I'm impressed by you, Magnhild."

Magnhild pressed her lips together and gave him a nood. "Thanks." she leaned away from him and avoided his eyes.

"I'm not gonna do anything to you or your friend over there." he looked towards the sleeping Vivian. "I'm just curious who taught you how to blacksmith?"

"My village blacksmith and my father." Magnhild said with pride.

He blinked a few times with huge eyes. "Your father let his daughter become a blacksmith?"

"My father let me learn how to fight with any weapon I could get my hands on and my mother was happy to teach me just like he teached me how to blacksmith." she made the last stitch and snatched the thread in two with her teeth.

"Nah, I could never do that to my daughters, but it would be nice to show them how I work. Unfortunately my wife would never let me take them inside this house." he stroked his jaw.

Magnhild turned her head to him. "You have daughters?"

Ulvar nooded. "Yes, four girls who are my everything and I'm still mad at them for getting married way too soon."

"Did you marry them just because or did they choose?" Magnhild quizzed.

"I let them marry whomever they please." Ulvar countered frowning. "I want them to be happy, not live a life for me."

"Good." Magnhild simply said and stood up grabbed the saddle before walking to Vivian and woke her up.

Vivian woke up with a jerk."Wha-"

"I'm done so let's go home."

Vivian stood up and didn't bother to look around, she needed to get out of this heat before she fainted.

Magnhild walked after but stopped at the door and turned around to Ulvar. "Thank you for lending me the forge and you shouldn't let your wife get in the way of showing your daughter's how you work. I preciour the memories I have with my father in the forge and I would be pisst if my mother was in the way of them." she gave him a last smile before turning her heel and closed the door behind her as the cold night air hit her heated body.