Taran studied under Hevydd briefly during his wanderings in the novel Taran Wanderer, learning the basics of how to make a sword. Though Taran eventually decided a smith's life was not for him, he was not without skill; the sword he made would eventually ring true during combat, and save his life against the bandit Dorath. Hevydd originally tried to get Taran to leave, but was enraged when he thought Taran doubted his skill.