"What?"
"Dough." He scoopedup doughy paste from one of his bowls, shaped it like a cake the same size andthickness the seal was to be, and carefully placed it over the design formed bythe plaster. "The dough is to make the shape of the body of the seal. Takethe other caster sand box and fill it full of sand."
She scooped the moist sandinto the box. "And then?"
"We let that sand dry andthen set that box over the first box. Two halves of a whole."
That's what he had said aboutwhat they could have together. Two halves of a whole.
"Pack the moist sand verytightly. You've spilled some... "
It was no wonder. Her handswere trembling as much as his had been the day before. He had closed the door.Why couldn't she do the same?
"After a time we'llseparate the boxes, take out the dough cake, and cut a mouth and two vent holesin the mold. When both are dry, we'll smoke the mold over with a little candlesmoke and let it cool. It's always best to pour hot gold into coldinterstices."
"Is that all I'm supposedto remember?"
His thick brows lifted."Is that not enough? Should I have given you a greater challenge,apprentice?"
"This is quiteenough."
"I hope you paid carefulattention. You'll do Ian's seal by yourself."
Her eyes widened. "What?The entire seal?"
"I'll prepare thematerials, you'll do the work."
"But I'm not ready to dosomething like this. What if I make a mistake?"
He smiled. "Hope that youdo. You learn most from your mistakes."
She grimaced. "And youwould stand by and let me waste hours of work on nothing?"
"I told you to listen. Ifyou ruin your seal, I will explain once more and only once before you do itagain."
She tried frantically toremember the order of the steps he had taken in the process. "What comesnext?"
"We melt the gold, but Ithink you have enough to remember. We won't go into that now."
"Thank you," shesaid sarcastically. "I suppose I'm required to memorize that process aswell. Have you no other words of wisdom to impart?"
He did not look at her as hestood up and took off his leather apron. "Yes, concentrate only on thework at hand."
"I could scarcely doanything else."
"And remember to keep theflame turned low."
"I thought we were notgoing to go into melting the—"
I kept the flame turned lowfor three long years.
Kartauk had been aware of whatshe had been feeling but had ignored it, putting her at ease, giving hersomething to cling to in this unknown sea of emotions. She experienced aglowing warmth deep within her that had an element of despair. How could sheguard against him when he showed such kindness and empathy?
"I understand," shesaid in a low voice.
"Of course you do. You'rea very intelligent woman, apprentice." He moved toward the veranda door."Tidy up this mess while I go to the furnace room and select a sheet ofgold for the melting."
Chapter17
