"She has to survive. She has to survive. I have to survive....we both have to survive all this and get back to Winterfell!" Thomas was talking to himself as he made his way back to Gendry and the younger Mangana and his rooms. Jiemba, Belaletrix, and Beth were all helping translate Gendry's new tome. It was in an older form of the Amanian language, and they were having trouble with it. They were having trouble working out what one word meant. Talking through it together, Thomas said, "Star metal... like meteorites." Jon, who had joined their efforts, said, "The forgers of magic items in town kept speaking about a rare metal needed; we could ask them if it is star metal." Belaletrix offered to join Jon as translator, and the two of them left for town. As they were leaving, Brienne asked about their going, and when told, she added, "I have some armor to pick up there as well; I will join you." So the three headed into town together.When they were in the shop, Belaletrix asked about 'star metal' and an old forge master nodded and said, "But only one meteorite in a 100 has the right combination to be used." Belaletrix countered with, "How can a forge master know which metal is right?" The old man produced two small bars and a small wooden mallet. He struck one of the bars, and it made a muted ringing noise. He struck the other bar, and it rang true and sweet. The old man then said, "Why do you ask?" Belaletrix related the story of the tiger hunt and their rewards. He told about Gendry finding a forge hammer and tome and that from what translation had been done already it was a tome on forging star metal into magical items. The old man's eyebrows went up, and he asked, "In what language was this tome written?" "Old Amanian," came Belaletrix's reply.The old man's eyes went wide at that. He thought for a moment and said, "Take me back to where it is being translated, please. I will offer these two small bars and the mallet and add two larger star metal bars to listen to the tome when it is finished. My eyes are beyond use for reading now, but my ears are as young as ever."Brienne was having her new armor adjusted to fit her better and nodded as it was correctly finished. Jon had received his bracer, and the two of them settled up their debts. The old man brought his offerings and joined them in the carriage, and they made their way back to the estate. The old man introduced himself to them but said his name was unimportant, and that everyone called him Yéye.The group made their way into the forge rooms just as Bart was spreading out the evening meal for them all. Food was made available to them all, and Yéye seemed especially happy about the food being served. He listened intently as each word was discussed and offered suggestions with the wisdom and skill of his years as a forge master. He showed Gendry the two bars and rang their sounds so Gendry could understand. He gave Gendry all of the items he had brought, and Gendry bowed to him. He asked about the hammer, and Gendry handed it to him. The old man studied the hammer head and nodded, then he became quite excited when he studied the hammer's handle. Through translation, he said, "There is a very rare element in the handle. It is a very thin, half silver, half red crystal, and it is wrapped in the same star metal the head of the hammer is made from. Was there a ring along with hammer and tome?" Gendry told him there was not. Yéye got a thoughtful look on his face. He pulled a small trinket from his robes and said, "I bought this trinket many years ago, and I think it could be forged into a ring to enable the true use of that hammer. Do you have any platinum?" Gendry went to a drawer and pulled out three rings that hadn't sold at the auction and showed them to Yéye. He raised two fingers, and Gendry and Thomas began to remove the stones from the ring. The translation of the book continued far into the night, and they were still not done. Very late, the translators wandered off to sleep. They invited Yéye to stay the night, and a comfortable pallet was arranged for him. Through Belaletrix, translating, Gendry and Yéye talked far into the night about blacksmithing and forge work. At last, they slept, and Belaletrix dozed off in his chair. In the morning translation of the tome began again while Gendry melted the two rings down and Thomas consulted with Yéye about the mold to fit the stone and made it. To save time, he used one of his older molds and enlarged it in places where Yéye suggested. Gendry poured the molten platinum into the mold, and everyone broke for breakfast, while it cooled, as Bart was bringing breakfast in.Again, Yéye marveled at the food and ate hungrily. The group laughed and cheered his consumption on. He was a wonderful old man, and Gendry asked, "Yéye, will you stay a week with us and train me?" Yéye looked around at the smiling eyes of the group, and Belaletrix translated his answer, "I will, but for that and my old trinket you must pay me." Gendry nodded without any question about the cost. Yéye sent word back to town that he would be staying at the estate for another week.
