Satisfied, for tonight at least, I made sure that the fire was cold, turned out the lights, and left the forge. I reached the back door of the house and glanced over my shoulder.


    In the distance, moonlight bathed the forge in a soft, silvery light, making Gin''s spider rune wink at me from its new perch. I grinned, winked back, then headed inside to bed.


    My penance had started.