Chapter 43 Someone Else’s Job.

“That took a while.” Lenna commented as Isaac appeared in front of her.

“I had to wait for him. He wasn’t in his office.” Isaac explained.

Lenna nodded in understanding. “Where to next?” She asked.

“The brothers.” Isaac told her. His stomach audibly gurgled. “After lunch.”

Lenna chuckled and shook her head. “I’ll let you off today, because we just got back, but tomorrow we are back to sparring.”

“What’s that have to do with getting lunch?” Isaac questioned.

“Keeping you from getting fat.” She told him.

Isaac looked at her incredulously. “Are you projecting?” He asked. “I can’t get fat, remember?”

Lenna stared at him for a moment. “Oh, I forgot.” She turned away and started walking. “Never mind then.”

Isaac trailed after her. “So… were you projecting?” He questioned again.

“Stress causes you to lose weight.” Lenna replied. “I’m mated to you. I don’t think I can get fat either.”

“Don’t you get enough stress relief?” Isaac questioned with a smirk.

Lenna flashed him a suggestive grin. “There is no such thing.”

A while later the duo were sitting around the brother’s dining table playing cards with Lenny. “Why are there seven tens out at once?” Lenna questioned as she eyed both of the boys she was playing with. She was only completely sure that two of the tens were supposed to be there but she assumed that four of them were not pulled in from another deck.

“You’re imagining it.” Isaac replied without making eye contact.

Lenny coughed. “Is the light too bright, lady-boss?” He questioned.

Lenna scowled at both of them. “I win because you both caught each other cheating. Again.” Isaac sighed and both he and Lenny pushed the coins over to Lenna’s side. She shook her head in disappointment at both of them.

“When is your brother going to be back?” Isaac asked his fellow cheat.

“Probably not until late.” Lenny replied. “Do you need him specifically?”

Isaac shrugged. “I guess not.” He said and nodded towards Lenna. She started pulling gear out of her Bottomless Bag. Two pairs of boots, two cloaks, the pair of curved swords, and five daggers were set on the table. “This stuff is for you.” He explained. “Any of it that you won’t use I am taking back but I think most of it will prove useful.”

Lenny eyed that magical gear with awe. He picked up one of the curved swords and ran his hand over the ornately gilded hilt. He let out a low whistle. “Where’d ya get this?” He asked in a whisper.

“High end drow assassins.” Isaac replied. “Those swords were from their leader. Be careful with them. They cut through my old armor like it wasn’t even there.”

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Lenny’s eyes left the sword in his hand to look at Isaac. “Was it not magical?” He questioned.

Isaac nodded with a serious look on his face. “It was magical armor. That’s what’s scary about them.” He explained. “Have you ever used swords before?”

Lenny shook his head in the negative. “No, but I always wanted to use a pair of curved swords like these. It just doesn’t make sense for someone low leveled like me to go walking around with swords on their hips.” He explained and went back to inspecting the sword. He pulled it a few inches out of the scabbard and got a good look at the thin blade. “A pair of willow leaf sabers… like a dream come true.”

Isaac chuckled. “You’ll need to find someone to teach you or else they will be useless.” He told the young rogue.

Lenny looked up at Isaac with wide, puppy-like eyes. “Can you?” He asked.

Isaac stared at him and then slowly turned to look at Lenna. “I… help?”

Lenna shook her head. “Isaac is not fit to teach you swordsmanship.” She told Lenny. “You should find another rogue to teach you.”

“I became a rogue because it was the only path that was open to me.” Lenny explained. “I’ll take levels into whatever I need to in order to use these swords.”

Lenna chuckled. “If Isaac is serious about helping you,” She began and gave Isaac a sidelong look. “Edward Sasston would be a good person to ask. Also, Marie.”

Isaac nodded along. “Both are good picks but very difficult people to get a hold of. I doubt either of them would be up for it but we can ask at least.” He shrugged. “Absolute worst case, I can spar with you from time to time.”

Lenny’s eyes looked like they were casting their own light from the amount of stars that were packed inside. “Can you?” He asked.

“To which?” Isaac questioned.

“Yes.” Lenny replied. “All of it.”

Isaac chuckled. “We’ll see. Don’t get your hopes up too high.” He shook his head. “On to a different topic. Blackmarket goods.”

“Oh?” Lenny questioned. “What do you need off the blackmarket? The one in Safeharbor isn’t that great. I heard that the one in Sapphirestone was really well stocked but I haven’t been there.”

“You’ve been to the one in Safeharbor?” Isaac questioned.

Lenny nodded. “Yes, it was pretty normal. Stolen jewelry, some magic items that were ‘misplaced’, drugs, a few people. Nothing unusual.” He explained.

Isaac frowned. “There are still people getting put up on the blackmarket?” He questioned. “How long ago was this?”

“Two days ago.” Lenny explained. “James and I were spending some of the money we got so it wasn’t just getting stuffed under the floorboards.”

“You were careful not to stand out right?” Isaac questioned.

Lenny nodded. “Yeah. It’s a masquerade. Cold coins only.” He explained.

Isaac nodded. “Good.”

“But to answer your question, yeah. There are still people that end up on the blackmarket and there probably always will be. Just because it is more difficult to get them out of town now than it used to be doesn’t mean there isn’t still a way.” Lenny explained. “Also, not everyone bought on the blackmarket leaves the city.”

Isaac’s frown deepened. “I see.” He said more to himself than to Lenny. He shook his head and took a deep breath to get back on track with what he was originally trying to talk about. “Can you get magic items to change your appearance at the blackmarket here?”

Lenny frowned in thought. “Maybe, like I said, this blackmarket isn’t that good.” He went on. “I would try Sapphirestone.”

“Keep an eye on this blackmarket.” Isaac told the rogue. “Whenever an item comes up to obscure your appearance or change it in general just buy it. I’ll come up with the money.”

Lenny nodded. “I can do that.” He assured the dark mage. “How many do you need?”

“A minimum of one, no more than five.” Isaac explained.

“Do you have the money for that boss?” Lenny questioned. “Depending on how the item works and how rare it is it could be anywhere from ten to a hundred thousand.”

Isaac winced. “A hundred thousand is a bit much for us right now.” Isaac replied honestly. “When is the next blackmarket?”

Lenny shrugged. “Who knows.” He replied. “Once The Guild collects enough treasures the word just gets spread through word of mouth.”

“Guild?” Isaac questioned.

“The Guild.” Lenny replied. “Thieves, assassins, smugglers, mortal traffickers, anyone and everyone that can’t do business on the surface has met with a Guild rep at some point.” He explained.

“Any way that you or your brother could get a job there?” Isaac wondered.

Lenny shook his head. “Not for another forty years at least.” He replied.

“They’re all old men?” Isaac questioned.

Lenny nodded. “Something like that. You have to be a retiree with good references to get a job in the Guild. All of them are scary legends, boss. I’d be careful if you ever meet one.”

“Noted.” Isaac replied. “Let me know if you need more money for the items when the time comes.”

“Will do, boss.” Lenny replied. “Now, who’s up for another round?”

Isaac shook his head. “We have another stop before we are done for the day.” He told Lenny and rose to his feet along with Lenna. “Actually, speaking of stops, are you keeping Tic’s?”

Lenny tilted his hand back and forth in a so-so gesture. “Yes and no. We are keeping it but neither of us will be working in it. There are a few people we have met over the years who would be good fits for that kind of thing and James decided to take a page out of your book.”

“How so?” Isaac wondered.

“He made it someone else’s job.” Lenna answered for him with a smirk.

Isaac looked surprised and then contemplative. “Huh. I do do that a lot don’t I?”