Chapter 67 Staff.
“Yes. I see the problem.” Alexander said while nodding sagely. “Just from a surface glance at the magic at work it is easy to tell that this is not necromancy but it is definitely necromancy-adjacent.”
“Do you think we need a disguise?” Isaac questioned the court mage.
“Oh most definitely.” Alexander agreed with Isaac and Lenna’s previous assumption. “A disguise spell or artifact of some kind would be necessary.” He continued. “Though, on second thought, you have been walking around with a dragon made of bones in your shadow for quite a while. It is more of an open secret but people still keep their tones low while talking about it. As long as you are not sending it-er-him to run errands for you it should be fine.” After thinking about it for a second more he raised a finger. “Though, the butler idea would help a lot. I would recommend a full set of armor but to each their own.”
“We can try it.” Isaac said with a shrug while looking at Lenna. He then looked over at Shamesh who was standing perfectly still while Jala poked him with an iron rod covered in golden runes and lined with quartz crystals. Each time she touched him some of the crystals would start to glow in differing patterns and amounts. “Okay Shamesh, we can leave, for now.”
“What? But I just started!” Jala exclaimed.
“Go over your notes or something. He has been sending me all sorts of negative feelings for the past five minutes.” Isaac explained.
“Thank you.” Shamesh told Isaac and walked over to him.
“What is it?” Isaac asked his skeleton who seemed to carry an aura that spoke of a request yet unspoken.
“May I walk to wherever we are going next?” Shamesh requested.
“This time, maybe not every time, but yes.” Isaac said and easily coated the skeleton in shadows. Shamesh was easier to hide than Lenna because there was already an existing connection between the pair. Something about Shamesh being Isaac’s shadow probably helped as well but that was a bit harder for Isaac to put his finger on. “Let’s go see the assassin and try to find Shamesh some clothes, maybe some butler training as well.”
Lenna chuckled. “You are serious about the butler thing aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Isaac replied simply. “I’ve always wanted a butler that can still kick ass.” Isaac explained.
“Always?” Lenna questioned.
Isaac shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not, but it’ll still be awesome.”
Lenna rolled her eyes. “How old are you?”
“Old enough to do whatever I want and live with the consequences without a safety net.” Isaac replied pragmatically. Lenna just shook her head and went along with him and Shamesh.
—
Isaac and Lenna were led to Sera and Marie who were playing Kingsmen in Sera’s study instead of working on the small stack of ledgers and loose papers that were on her desk. Sera’s office was very different from Izen’s. Where Izen had old weapons of dukes long past, Sera had paintings of the ocean and beautiful forests. Where Izen had dark wood and dark cushions on his chairs, Sera had shining pine and brilliant blue cushions. Where Izen preferred firelight with a dash of glowing stone light, Sera had just enough candles burning around the room to give an illusion of sunlight through the glowing stone light.
“You let me win.” Marie grumbled. Her auburn hair was hanging over her eyes as she squinted at Sera.
“I did not.” Sera replied. “You are getting better.”
Marie turned to regard Isaac and Lenna. She seemed to sense something else as her body language momentarily betrayed a sense of unease. “Hello.” Marie greeted them. “I’ll have to have a talk with the maids. They didn’t announce your presence ahead of time.”
“I told them they didn’t have to.” Sera explained. “Isaac and Lenna are my only two guests that they shouldn’t fuss too much over. They are here too often and most times it is not an official visit. I gave them the same orders for Eddy but my brother never comes to see me.” She gave Isaac and Lenna a warm smile. “Welcome.”
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“Thank you.” Isaac replied with a nod. “And this is another unofficial visit.”
“Oh?” Sera said with a twinkle in her eye. She always knew when it was going to be something interesting at best and a segue into utter chaos at worst. Either way it was going to be entertaining, probably. “Do tell.”
In a blink Shamesh in all of his ill fitted clothed glory appeared just off to the side and behind Isaac. “I was hoping for a butler uniform for my shadow.” He explained.
Sera’s mouth hung open momentarily at the skeleton that had just appeared. She quickly schooled herself and gave them a smile. “I think we might be able to work something out.” She said and then turned to Marie. “What do you think?”
“I think he just snuck a very dangerous creature into the manor and you should probably be a little more concerned than you are.” Marie replied without taking her eyes off of Shamesh.
“Oh he’s fine.” Isaac said and waved her off. “Don’t you want to hear the story?”
With that Marie seemed to relax slightly in her chair. “Alright.” She agreed. “If you are completely sure it’s safe for Sera.”
“He.” Isaac replied. “But yes, I wouldn’t bring anything or anyone I thought would hurt her anywhere near her. You should know that by now.”
Marie searched his face for a long moment before she sighed and seemed to relax further. “Yes. You are right. You haven’t given me any reason to suspect anything other than proper care for Sera’s safety. I’m sorry, I just really don’t like surprises and you are practically made of them.” She explained.
Isaac nodded. “That’s fair.” He agreed.
“So?” Sera pressed. “Sit and tell me all about it.”
“Well,” Lenna began. “it all started when we went to end whatever was controlling all of those skeletons…”
A while later, they had their lunch brought to them out in the garden, Isaac and Lenna finally finished telling the story. “How was it from your point of view?” She asked Shamesh only to be startled upon actually hearing his voice as he replied.
“It was strange. Everything is strange. I did not like it.” Shamesh explained. “My master has explained it thoroughly. I have nothing else to add.”
“I-I see.” Sera said with a nod. “And how do you feel about becoming a butler?”
“Will it permit me to spend more time outside of the shadowy world?” Shamesh asked Isaac.
“Shadowy world?” Isaac parroted. “You mean the place I send you?” Shamesh nodded. “Is there something wrong with it? What is it like?”
“Disorienting.” Shamesh explained. “Time is odd. I could be there for hours or days and not know the difference.”
“What about weeks or months?” Isaac wondered.
“I have not been there for weeks at a time.” Shamesh replied. “I do not know.”
Isaac and Lenna shared a look. “Yes, you have.” Isaac corrected. “You have been kept in the void for at least two weeks at one point.”
Shamesh tilted his head to the side in confusion. “I do not understand.”
“I don’t think time flows the same for you in there as it does out here.” Isaac explained. “If anything, that is better for you. It means that when you need to be hidden away close at hand you won’t be waiting for extended periods of time.”
“Why?” Shamesh asked.
“Why what?” Isaac wondered.
“Why does waiting matter?” Shamesh clarified.
Isaac shrugged. “So you won’t get bored, I guess.”
“I do not understand.” Shamesh replied.
“What? Boredom?” Isaac wondered.
Shamesh nodded. “Yes. Please explain it to me.”
Sera and Marie watched and listened with much interest. Once Isaac had finally gotten to the bottom of why people get bored and how people don’t like that state of being, Sera threw Shamesh another complex idea to see if he would understand it. This continued almost until dinnertime. Marie had called for a maid who arrived about the time they finished the discussion on attraction.
“Please, Sera, no more.” Isaac begged. “I can only mentally handle so much at a time.”
Sera laughed with such pure and obvious joy at it all that Isaac and Lenna couldn’t help but smile along. She then gestured towards the maid. “This is Kathrin.” Sera explained. “She will be measuring you, Shamesh, so you can have clothes that fit properly. Also, Kathrin, would you mind teaching him how to properly serve his master?”
“Ex-excuse me, my Lady?” Kathrin questioned with wide dark oak colored eyes.
“He has perfect memory but some things might take him a few tries to get right so please be patient with him.” Sera explained. “He is quite new to having thumbs.”
“Yes, Shamesh, introduce yourself.” Isaac added.
Shamesh’s gaze hadn’t left the woman since she had entered. “Hello, I am Shamesh.” The skeleton spoke. It looked as if it were a miracle that the woman hadn’t screamed. As it was, she had turned ghostly white. When she hadn’t replied in any way for more than five seconds Shamesh turned to Isaac. “Did I do it right?” He asked his master.
Isaac, for his part, was chuckling to himself at the maid’s reaction. “Yes, yes you did it perfectly fine.” He assured his skeleton. “Though, they may teach you to introduce yourself in a different way. I would defer to them.” Isaac then turned to Maire. “I can trust you to make sure nothing happens?”
Marie nodded. “I will make sure everyone behaves.” She assured him. “That includes you, Shamesh.” She told the skeleton.
Shamesh tilted his head at her and then looked to Isaac for guidance. “What does that mean?” He asked Isaac who groaned internally at being asked to explain something else. “It means that she will correct your behavior if you make any mistakes. Sera is the highest authority for you, followed by Marie, followed by Kathrin for as long as you are here learning.” He then turned to Sera. “How should we schedule this?”
“You can drop him off after breakfast everyday until his training is done.” Sera replied like she was talking about leaving a kid at a school or a playdate.
“If you are fine with that much extra work.” Lenna cut in. “We wouldn’t want to put unnecessary pressure on your staff.”
“I already told you that we would be willing to train your staff for you. We just did not expect one that does not need to sleep or eat, otherwise I would say that he could stay here overnight but the manor sleeps and so should its staff.” Sera explained. “Now, as much as I would like to invite you for dinner, I am afraid that I will be eating in my office. My procrastination break has turned into taking half the day off and I may not look it, most of the time, but I do actually have work that needs to be done.”
Isaac laughed and Lenna chuckled. “Thank you for all of your help.” Lenna told the duchess.
“Do not thank me yet.” Sera replied with a smile. “Now, Kathrin, measure Shamesh so they may be on their way and then, when they are ready, escort them out.” She ordered the maid and then turned back to Isaac and Lenna. “I am afraid I must be off first, have a good night you three.”