ok, that should warn off JP. The Dark Blade is the current working title of the novel I'm writing about Peks. Therefore, if you fear spoilers, I'd suggest not reading this until later. However, at least three of you on the board know how this ends, so I'm going to asks you a question.
In the current form, the Dark Brood and their chosen have an extreme reaction to iron. Thus, I have made Birge's sword of iron. So Peks can use it later, even though that's an unusual thing to do in a world where steel has been developed.
I'm wondering if it would not be more plausible to go back to Lund, where Peks hangs with the smith. Now, the smith gives Peks a knife. Would it be better to make this knife iron (in terms of plausibility)? Or, even though Peks is nigh incompetent at everything at that point, have him make a knife out of a lump of iron there and make that his weapon? This choice seems a little more satisfactory to me, since it is something Peks has done, and he doesn't get everything cool in his life as a hand-me-down from Birge (like a dog, etc).
The only down side I see is that Birge's sword can be reforged and be an anti-Dark Brood sword for future installments. Unless it's not used. What do you think?