Chapter 26 Everything.
The sun was just falling below the horizon when Alejandro returned. “I apologize on behalf of his grace for making you wait. He requested that you return in the morning, around noontime, for a meeting. Someone will be waiting here, on the docks, to take you to the citadel.” The court mage explained to Isaac and Lenna as soon as he had appeared. Isaac finally took the time to look at the mage and did so while carrying a frown.
The older-middle aged human man that met Isaac’s gaze looked exhausted. His pale blue eyes were sunken and his platinum blonde hair was spilling out from under his large hat in a frizzy mess. His tanned skin looked flushed pale and his lips were chapped. At least it looked like he had shaved that morning so it only looked like he had had a bad day and not a bad week. His robes, hat, and staff were all painted or dyed blue, proclaiming his allegiance to any who saw him.
“We agree on the time and place.” Isaac told him calmly. “Though, I do wish this could have been decided in less time. I was starting to get excited with the sun so close to its resting place.”
Alejandro bowed slightly. “I understand and so does my master. Duke Sasston has informed me that adequate compensation for your time will await you, tomorrow.” The court mage informed them.
“I see.” Isaac replied simply. “We will leave the slums alone until we have talked with Duke Sasston about them, or tomorrow evening, whichever comes first.”
Alejandro looked slightly confused for a moment at Isaac’s reply before the implications set it. “Lord Darkness, some may find that comment offensive to their lord.” He retorted sternly yet without hostility. It was more of an informational warning than a threat or anything of the like.
“I am aware.” Isaac told him. “However, both you and your master must see it from my perspective. We were just left to wait for nearly two hours in the evening sun for what, your master to decide to meet us for lunch tomorrow?” Isaac shook his head slightly. “Punctuality is important in noble circles, especially high noble ones, which means that I cannot see this as simply an unfortunate waste of our time. Between the fact that we were willing to wait, and the fact that I am completely positive that you have direct contact with Safeharbor, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that he has any reason to be unnecessarily wary of us. All of these combined means that our two wasted hours were purposeful.”
Alejandro swallowed under Isaac’s relaxed but disappointed gaze. The unseen but piercing gaze of Lenna seemed to triple the pressure on the poor mage. “We are aware of how it looks, which is why compensation shall await you, tomorrow.” The court mage replied amicably.
Isaac nodded once. “I understand. Inform Duke Sasston that we will patiently await our meeting with him for lunch.” Isaac told Alejandro. “If there is nothing else, you are dismissed, Magus Alejandro.”
The court mage bowed slightly in acknowledgement of everything that Isaac had said. “I will relay everything to his grace and will greet you again on the morrow.” Alejandro spoke and then tapped the ground with his staff. A blink later and he was gone, whisked away to his tower.
“Could have gone better, could have gone worse.” Lenna commented.
“I do hate the wasted time though.” Isaac replied. “If they were just going to send us away until tomorrow they could have done that immediately. They had us waiting so long that I figured they were cleaning the citadel for our arrival.” He finished with a shake of his head. “Well, what do we do now? We’ve seen just about everything there is to see in this city during the day and the slums will have to wait until tomorrow night.”
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Lenna shrugged. “We could check in with the adventurers’ Guild and get paid for our trip here.” She offered.
“But then what?” Isaac wondered.
Lenna shrugged again. “I’m sure I can think of something to pass the night away.”
—
“You! We’ve been waiting for you!” A small man, who looked to be the size of the average human child, exclaimed from his seat behind the receptionist counter in the Sapphirestone Adventurers’ Guild. “Please, right this way.” He told them and hopped down from his stool. He walked around the desk and waved for them to follow. The layout of the Adventurers’ Guild in Sapphirestone was almost identical to the one in Safeharbor save for the liberal use of paint. Paint, and the fact that every piece of glass that wasn’t a window was instead replaced with the city’s namesake.
Isaac and Lenna shared a questioning look but followed after the receptionist regardless of any questions or misgivings. They followed him to the second floor of the guild building and into a meeting room. The meeting room was casual and comfortable with a pair of couches on either side of a short table. “So, now that we are here,” Isaac began. “care to explain why we are here?”
“The dragon, obviously.” The receptionist replied. “Please take a seat and I will fetch the Guild Master.” He told them and then closed the door behind himself as he left.
“What a strange little man.” Isaac spoke in a slightly off tone and cadence as if he was quoting something, though neither he nor Lenna knew what.
“This entire city is strange.” Lenna commented. “It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world yet its ruler hides away in his castle. It is one of the richest cities in Altia yet there are slums under sheets of crystal. It is built on the edge of the ocean yet is surrounded by high walls and is known for its crystalline stone. This place takes the term ‘two headed coin’ to another level.”
“I noticed that too.” Isaac replied. “Something, or someone, is definitely holding the city back. I don’t see a reason why it couldn’t become the second capital of Altia. From everything I’ve heard, it should be that way already.”
Lenna hummed in thought and was about to speak when there was a knock on the door which then opened to reveal the Guild Master. He was a short man with a thick beard that was cut short to keep it out of the way, though it looked like chin straps were out of the question. His beard was a mix of salt white and cinnamon brownish-red. His light brown, almost tan, eyes showed both an age and an energy that defied it. His head was bald, by genetics not by choice, and shined with polish. His frame was toned, neither slim nor bulky, and it fit well in his open collared white shirt and sapphire blue pants. His clothes complimented his heavily tanned skin tone well and his frame was complemented by his weapons. Hanging at either side of him was a small crossbow. Both were covered in enchantments, some of which must’ve gone to keep them loaded at all times while preventing their bolts from falling out, as was evident by their loaded and gilded states.
“Hello.” The Guild Master began with a nod towards the two double platinum level adventurers. His voice was calm and confident which complimented his rich pitch and almost gentle cadence. “I am Benedict Montgomery, Scout and Ranger by trade, and Guild Master by virtue. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Isaac and Lenna took a heartbeat to eye the newcomer before they both gave him a nod in reply. “Guild Master, I am Isaac Wexler, The Lord of Darkness, and this is my mate, my Lady of Hellfire.” Isaac began their side of the introductions.
“Lenna V’Nova.” Lenna finished them.
Benedict nodded again and gestured towards the couches. “Please, sit, and we may begin. I am sure that you do not want your evening wasted by me, and I would like to retire for the night myself.” The Guild Master spoke without the slightest change from their initial greetings.
Isaac and Lenna took their seats across from Benedict as the Guild Master sat down. “Verywell, what would you like to know about the dragon?” Isaac asked him.
Benedict nodded once. “Good, Hilton mentioned it.” He spoke more to himself than to the two adventurers across from him before taking a deep breath to begin. “Everything.” He stated. “I want to know, everything. Everything you know about the dragon. Everything that stood out to you. Everything spoken back and forth, please, leave nothing out.”
Isaac and Lenna shared a look of mutual acceptance to the request and then explain they did. They left out the specifics about themselves but they missed nothing when talking about Chatohsha. Apparently the group that had been sent after her hadn’t been able to pick up any signs of her presence either, just like Isaac’s Polarity Sense couldn’t. Something was definitely going on with that dragon.
Too many things were swirling around in Isaac’s head while they informed Benedict about the dragon: A merchant who spent an obscene amount of money on a wanted type of magic item, a shut-in duke, a dragon that couldn’t be tracked, and escaped bandits. By themselves each thing was just another event in daily life of a double platinum level adventurer, but if they were somehow connected, Isaac had no idea but he knew that it wouldn’t be good.