Zach was hard at work on the anvil when Nick arrived. He was shaping a long flat piece of iron when he heard the hooves of a caravan coming down the cobbled street, the clopping slowing the closer they came. Zach paused a moment to slide the metal into the hot coals, before dabbing at his sweaty forehead. The caravan consisted of three covered wagons that held common soldiers along with various farming equipment. Surrounding the caravan was a trio of capital guards that were Surveying the surrounding streets and stalls. 

“Hidy Ho!” Nick called as Zach slipped through the side door of the shop. 

“I have arrived and I’m ready to bang some metal together!” Nick exclaimed, There were a few snickers from the caravan and Nick smirked and looked at Zach. Zack had no doubts that Nick said that with as much innuendo as he dared.

“The morale of the soldiers is quite the delicate thing to have. It takes constant upkeep.” Nick said conspiratorially.

“I bet it is.” Zach said, chuckling.

“I’d hate to ask, but since the caravan is already here, you wouldn’t mind taking a look at their equipment, wouldn’t you?” Nick asked sheepishly.

“Oh not at all. I’m not desperate for business but I’d be glad for the work!” Zach said! 

Smiling Nick called out;

“Ears!”

“Open!” The soldiers yelled.

“Eyes!”

“Snap!” The soldiers yelled.

“Ok Zach here has agreed to look at your equipment before you move on to the farm lands. If you have any weapons that need repairs or replacement go and get them taken care of. That goes for the Capital Guard as well.” Nick said.

Shortly after that there was an orderly line stretching from his shop to the intersection thirty meters away.

“Bill me.” Nick said to Zach.

Zach smirked at Nick and got to work.

There were thirteen swords that needed sharpening, five spears that needed reshafting, and a plethora of various knives and knuckle dusters that needed replacement.

Zach was just finishing up with sharpening a dirk when one of the capital guards stepped up to him.

“Excuse me but do you have a specialty with bows?” He asked zach.

“Depends on the type. If you are looking for a recurve I am currently out of stock and the process of making any bow takes months.” Zach said looking up. Zach was looking at a young man that was shorter than him but equally muscled, he was wearing a simple getup that the capital guard wore but he had added various pockets and straps to the trousers all of which adorned an assortment of bottles and glasses full of mysterious pounders and liquid, only a few Zach could identify by sight. His hair was shaved on the sides leaving the top a mop of pink hair. 

“I’d like to have this one repaired.” He said.

“Let’s have a look,” Zach said, gesturing to the bow that was neatly unstrung. “What do I call you?” Zach asked as he looked at the woodwork.

“You can call me Conner, sir.” Conner said, as if he was talking to a superior officer.

“There’s no need to call me sir, Conner. Zach is fine.” Zach said.

Letting out a pent up breath, Conner visibly relaxed.

“Ok Zach… so can you fix it?” Conner asked Zach.

The bow in question was beautifully crafted that was as much a deadly weapon as is a piece of art. The longbow had an assortment of layers that looked like it came from the dark brown and orange wood that resided deep in the forest that neared the capital. There was no carving on the bow that would weaken it but it was laminated in such a way that it looked almost carved.

There was a small crack in the laminated layers close to the tip of the arm. If left unmended the layers would split all the way down the arm and make the entire bow useless.

“I sure can!”zach said as he opened a nearby cabinet. Withdrawing a role of what looked like tape, Zach tore a long piece and wrapped it around the tip of the bow arm.

“There is a special adhesive in the tape that will seep into the wood the pressure of the wrapping with force the split to close and it will glue it together. Leave the tape on until it starts to peel off by itself. Do not unwind it all at once, but cut the part that peels off.” Zach said cheerfully.