"I am looking to procure a sword."

Kagome didn't look up from her station, sliding the stone along the length of the blade. "You and everyone else in the village."

Coins clinked together as a satchel was set on the front of her stall. "I can pay."

"So have a lot of people." She knew it wasn't the best way to drum up business, but she was sick and tired of putting her heart and soul into making a weapon only for the owner to cut himself due to lack of training and then blame it on shoddy workmanship.

Finishing the one she was working on, she quietly set it aside, grabbing a length of fabric for the handle. "Look, there's another smith on the other side of town. He'll have what you're looking for."

"I am looking for the best," the man argued. "And that means you."

Well, that was new.

Wrapping the fabric around her hand to measure it out, she finally lifted her head, forcing herself not to blast him when she saw the crest on his moss-coloured vest. Last time she checked, insulting royalty led to lost limbs. "I thought the king had all of his weapons specially ordered from the north," she said.

"The king has. I wish for something else." He eyed the collection of weapons hanging behind her. "Something better."

Kagome bit her lip. She didn't want to admit he was ever the charming prince that had the village women swooning as he walked by, but his compliments were breaking through the armour she'd built up. Being the only female swordsmith in town, possibly at all, had her fighting for acknowledgement—from anyone.

Making something for the crown prince would give her more than enough prestige, and coin, to continue her mother's work.

If he was being serious.

"A test then," she said, getting to her feet. "To see if you can handle something made by me."

A silver eyebrow raised, golden eyes glinting in interest. "As you wish."

She ripped off a piece of parchment, drawing a makeshift map with charcoal. "Meet me here in an hour. I assume you're going to want the weapon to withstand youki?"

"Indeed."

Nodded, she circled the area inside a grove of trees. "This will contain residual power. From both of us. Come alone, or you're not getting anything."

"You expect the king's son to show up without—"

Kagome slammed her hand down on the table. "I don't care about your lineage. If you want a weapon from me, you're going to have to prove you can wield it. And that means by yourself."

He eyed her, then her shop, before inclining his head. "Very well." He grabbed her hand before she could step away, brushing his lips against her knuckles. "I appreciate you taking the time to complete my request."

She yanked her hand away, making a show out of rubbing it off on her apron. "Don't push your luck, your highness. We'll see how you handle it first." He bowed slightly, then walked away, leaving the pouch of coins behind. "Wait! You forgot—"

"Think of it as incentive for you to show up," he called back, quickly disappearing into the throng of villagers. Kagome growled, tempted to throw it at him, but pocketed it instead. If he wanted to waste his money on the chance of getting a weapon, that was his problem.