Chapter 52 I’ll Be Back
“Hey Alice.” Isaac greeted while appearing on her desk. He was sitting with one foot on the desk and the other hanging off of it. Lenna walked into the Guild Hall a moment later. Just in time to hear Alice’s yelp at Isaac’s sudden appearance and a thud.
“Isaac!” She yelled while pulling herself up from the floor. He had startled her so much that she had actually fallen from her chair. His poor attempt at concealing his laughter wasn’t helping defuse her in the slightest.
“Sorry.” Isaac said through his laughter. She scowled at him with an intensity that only made him laugh harder because, at her incredibly short height, she looked like an upset child.
“For what it’s worth,” Lenna began when she reached the commotion. “I am sorry. There’s no stopping him.”
Alice huffed and decided that she preferred dealing with Lenna. “Thank you.” She told the older woman.
“Any progress?” Isaac asked though it was clear he was still only barely holding back laughter.
Alice huffed again and turned her head away from him which only added to the comedy. “Any progress?” Lenna asked. She was obviously the most mature one there.
Alice took a deep breath to try and regain some professionalism. “Yes and no. Trying to find a weaver that is trustworthy, capable, and has the machines to work with your,” She looked around the room. “strange materials, is proving to be quite difficult.” She confessed.
Isaac shared a look with Lenna. “What about Jessica Silverstrand’s daughter? Doesn’t she do that kind of work?” Isaac asked. He had a vague memory of it coming up in conversation at one point or another.
Alice nodded. “Yes but she is lacking the proper tools and hasn’t worked with the guild before.” She explained. “If you trust her then I can meet with her about it but she is going to need new equipment. The cost of the equipment is looking to be around ten thousand gold. That’s without transport costs.” She shook her head. “I was hoping to find someone who already had that kind of equipment but there isn’t anyone in Safeharbor or Sapphirestone at least.”
Isaac thought about the cost for a long moment. He also thought about the drider skull that was sitting in his Inventory. Kahtesh could still make lightning bolts but he wasn’t sure if Shaeo could still make silk as a bone golem. “There aren’t any other major cities close by are there?” Isaac asked which got a shake of her head from Alice. “I didn’t think so.” He replied. “How long would it take to get the equipment here?”
Alice shrugged. “Like with most things, it would probably have to come from the capital.” She contemplated the travel time and estimated construction time. “Two weeks if they already have it. Maybe two weeks to build it since there is already a patent for one.” There was an alternate form of travel but it was usually far too expensive to use unless it was an emergency. “There is always a courier by teleportation circle. The only problem with that is the cost.”
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“How much are we talking and who runs it? I’m assuming by the name that it is a teleportation network of some kind that relies on ritual circles.” Isaac said.
Alice nodded. “I forget how little you know sometimes. Yes.” She affirmed. “The kingdom owns, runs, and maintains it. The circles are only technically open to the public. Something about the rituals being expensive and wearing out from use. A thousand gold each way.”
Isaac winced. “That’s not counting the courier is it?” He asked. Alice just shook her head. “There isn’t one in Safeharbor as far as I’m aware.” Isaac commented.
Alice shook her head. “No. It would have to go to Sapphirestone and then be taken here. Also, someone would have to put it together so a specialist might be needed. Thankfully the teleport cost wouldn’t change if they arrived and left together. Everything on the plate goes from one place to the other as long as it fits. They are like twenty feet across if I remember right.” Alice explained.
Isaac nodded. “Let’s go with that plan. I know it’s expensive as all hells but it should be worth it in the end and there is always the possibility of going hunting for more.” He told her. His bank account wasn’t going to like the massive cost. In all likelihood he was going to be barely still in the four digit amounts of gold coins by the end of it.
Alice stared at him wide eyed. “If you’re sure…”
Isaac nodded. “I am.”
“Okay…” Alice didn’t sound very convinced but it was his money not hers so she wasn’t going to argue the point. “I’ll get on that. I’ll need you to find a courier and get the money for the teleports. The problem now is how long it takes to get mail to and from the capital. Unless you know a fifth level wizard with good connections in the capital who can also cast the long range telepathic message spell?”
Isaac had just the person. “I’ll see what I can do on that front. Write a letter and I’ll be back later with confirmation.” Isaac told her and they split up to handle their respective tasks.
Isaac went to Alexander and called in a favor. The mage was only a little reluctant to play middleman but he had someone in the capital who was willing to relay the messages to the right people for them. The biggest problem with the long range telepathic message spell, commonly referred to as Sending because its real name was far too long, was that the sender had to be familiar with the receiver’s mana signature otherwise the spell would fail. This meant that Alexander couldn’t just send the messages directly to who they would end up ordering the machine from. The back and forth took up much of the rest of the day and almost the entirety of Alexander’s mana reserves along with a concession to treat his friend to a night on the town the next time Alexander was in the capital. Alexander told Isaac that he would be giving him the bill when that happened.
Isaac also had to pay the courier upfront the entire thirteen thousand two hundred gold. Two hundred for the courier to take the trip there and back, one thousand to take the courier to the capital, one to take him and the specialist back to Sapphirestone, and then another to return the specialist, and finally ten thousand for the machine and its assembly in Safeharbor.
The new courier was a normal looking human man with blonde hair and brown eyes. He had a flare of magic about him but Isaac couldn’t tell what kind of caster he was. He assumed a wizard. He was in his forties and was wearing some loose traveling robes and had a glove with a gem in the middle of its palm on his right hand. The man didn’t seem phased by the massive amount of money he was carrying and Isaac got the impression that he had been a courier for quite a while. Isaac wasn’t sure if he should be glad or disappointed that the new courier wasn’t as flamboyant and eccentric as the wood elf that had taken their swords to get enchanted. He made sure to get the courier’s name and memorize his face. If something happened to that money Isaac was prepared to go on a manhunt. It wasn’t that it was an impossible amount for him to make back but it was enough that Isaac would have to kill him to prove a point.
Apparently the machinist had one already made but he would need to go over it as it had been sitting around for a small handful of years. He promised to have it in perfect condition and torn apart within a week so the timetable for getting the new loom set up in Safeharbor was looking like somewhere between eight and twelve days. Isaac told them that as long as it was done within two weeks he was happy but if it took any longer than that he would take back the money for the return teleport and make the specialist find his own way home. As it was, he wasn’t comfortable sending all the money in one go but Alice and Alexander had both assured him that the machinist was well known to be the best in the kingdom so he put faith in the reputation. He was still prepared to do what it took to get his money back if it came to it.
With all of that out of the way and Celeste getting ready to close down for the night Isaac and Lenna called it a day. They both knew that they had an important meeting to go to the next day. Well, as important as teatime with a duchess anyway.