Christopher Swifte

****C******hristopher Swifte** was **the Ironmonger**. He created the much-coveted knife Albatross.

## Biography

### *Bluecrowne*

Trigemine told Blister that he was going to look for the Ironmonger in the Quenching Press. He knew that this was an opportune time and place because of the calculations he'd done with his kairos mechanism. To his surprise, he saw the man in the Quenching Press. The Ironmonger was talking to a Jumper, who was inviting him to go to a town in Louisiana Territory, a crossroads town that needed a blacksmith, and mentioned his offer for the Albatross. The Ironmonger did not seem very pleased, and declared that he would think about it.
Trigemine approached the Ironmonger, who identified him as "one of Morvengarde's creatures". Christopher Swifte demonstrated significant knowledge of Morvengarde's dealings, and as Trigemine explained his offer for the Albatross: they would pay generously for twenty more Albatrosses, which the Ironmonger said would take twenty years. He decided to consider that as well.

Christopher Swifte later told Trigemine he had declined the offer. He did not want to make more Albatrosses, and he planned to stop making weapons as well. He would like to keep the Albatross, he said, because he'd made it. Trigemine recalled that in the future (where he'd come from by way of his kairos mechanism), the Ironmonger had eventually left the roaming world, settled down, and stopped baking weapons, but not for a long time; this had probably been caused by the Jumper. The Ironmonger declared he wasn't selling it to the Jumper either, and left.

After Liao was kidnapped, Trigemine told Lucy the price to get her brother back: get the Albatross from Christopher Swifte, either by stealing it or by convincing him to sell it to her. Lucy received directions from Trigemine, then set off to the Quayside Harbors. She broke in, but was caught by the Ironmonger, who knew her purpose. She told him the truth and why she needed the knife, and he and Jianming Cerrajero and Jonas Forgeron, who were also there, spoke with her. Lucy explained her predicament and they in turn informed her that Trigemine had lied to her—he wouldn't give Liao back, not even if she gave him the knife. Swifte agreed to give it to her if she really thought it would do good, as that was better than giving it to someone who didn't intend it that way, but Lucy realized that they were right and Trigemine would not keep his word, and that he'd somehow known the Ironmonger would offer the knife to her. Lucy thanked them and left, having decided that she would find another way. Swifte stopped her leaving, and provided her with a marlinespike in the hopes that it would help. Lucy left.

Swifte tried to give the Albatross to the Jumper Simon Coffrett, naming his price: get Liao back, but Simon deemed that Lucy had what she needed. Swifte considered, then agreed, giving the Albatross to Simon Coffrett and declaring that he would go to Arcane. Trigemine realized that the Ironmonger had indeed given Lucy a knife, to his fury. The marlinespike ended up being very helpful to Lucy in the battle to free Liao.

## Physical appearance

The Ironmonger is very tall and muscular. He is black. The Ironmonger has a long scar on his neck and his hands are callused and covered in burn scars. His voice is deep and rich.

## Personality and traits

Christopher Swifte is imposing. He is unamused by most things. He knows a lot of things and is wise, and generally truthful and decisive. He is polite but very down-to-earth.

## Trivia

* A *swift* is a swallow-like bird, which is possibly a reference to his making the Albatross.