Ore blocks had been brought in before dawn by two inner staff who would not talk about the matter past the courtyard gate. The inner courtyard was quiet in its purpose, with high walls on three sides, the garden in the near corner with the smell of cut herbs still hanging in the morning air, and the only entrance the passage from the working annex behind the main building.
Beorn had chalk-marked the ground made of stone across the width of the courtyard. The ore blocks formed a rough line from the smallest, perhaps twenty pounds, to the largest, which was the size of a man's torso and a dark reddish gray where the iron was denser through the mineral.
Three iron rods leaned against the wall near him. The ledger lay open on a low table beside him.
Tam came through the passage with the book under her arm. She looked at the ore with mild confusion.
"Good day, Tam." Beorn said. "We'll be testing your powers today. Don't worry, there's only us here."
She nodded once.
