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The consecration was not complete until the weapon had tasted blood. The first blood should be enemy blood if possible, taken in legitimate combat, confirming that the weapon could fulfill its purpose. But if battle was not imminent, animal blood might suffice—a sacrifice performed specifically to feed the weapon, to awaken its capacity for violence before that capacity would be tested against human opponents.
The first use in combat was treated with special significance. The warrior might fast beforehand, might perform prayers or rituals seeking divine favor, might consult with seers about the most auspicious time to first draw the weapon in anger. The initial combat was understood as defining moment, establishing the weapon’s character and future trajectory.
A weapon that performed well in first blood became trusted companion. One that failed—breaking, missing its mark, proving awkward to wield—might be deemed ill-fated, lacking proper blessing, needing additional consecration or perhaps abandonment in favor of better-blessed steel. The first blood was test and initiation simultaneously, revealing whether the consecration had succeeded.
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