Chapter 78 Flaming Iron Skillet.
“Lady L’Vore struck me as… rather odd.” Clayton told Isaac while the pair walked towards their respective destinations. Isaac was in search of his bed or Lenna, while Clayton was going back to work but they were heading in the same direction for a few blocks before they had to go their separate ways.
Isaac chuckled. “Odd is a word for her, yes.” He replied.
Clayton cracked a smile at Isaac’s response. “I thought dark elves hated drider being defiled. Isn’t that what you were doing?” He asked curiously.
Isaac nodded. “Yeah but, as you said, Jala is odd.” Isaac replied. “Not very many things matter to her. She is obsessed with her work and research into chimeras and artificial life. Both things are taboo, so I’ve been told, though, so don’t go spreading it around.” There weren’t very many people walking the streets around that time and those that were had places to go and people to see that weren’t either of the two mages. “I get the feeling that Jala would dissect her god’s body if given the chance. If Fen dies of old age before she does then I wouldn’t be surprised to see even her own husband on the table in front of her. Though, I really hope she dies first. I can deal with a depressed and aimless shadow sorcerer, I can’t deal with a grief stricken, mad, totally-not-a-necromancer.”
Clayton swallowed hard. “You don’t think she would try to become a lich or something do you?” He asked nervously.
Isaac shook his head. “No.” He replied honestly. “I can see her trying to bring Fen back as one though. That’s what scares me.”
Clayton’s mouth was dry. “Is it really alright to let her live here, in the city?” Clayton wondered aloud.
Isaac shrugged. “It should be fine. Alexander lives above her and as long as Fen’s around he’ll at least keep her from ending the world or something, probably. Worst case, Alexander calls for me and I punch her in the head or Lenna burns her creation to ash.” He explained.
Clayton didn’t look like he completely believed Isaac but decided that it was a problem for people in higher stations than ‘magic shop clerk’. “Here’s my turn.” He told the dark mage accompanying him. “Thank you, again, for inviting me along.”
Isaac gave Clayton a smile and nodded. “It’ll help if I don’t have to fill you in on those kinds of things once you become well versed in mana colors and all that. Who knows, maybe the research notes will have something truly helpful in them.”
Clayton nodded. “I hope so.” He told Isaac. “The anticipation is ruining my sleep.”
Isaac laughed and waved while walking in the direction of his warm bed. “See ya around Clayton.” He told the wizard and vanished. Isaac was nothing if not dramatic.
“Uh, yes, bye.” Clayton stammered in the direction of the already disintegrating silhouette Isaac had left behind.
—
Isaac arrived on the rooftop just in time to see Lenna push herself back up into a sitting position. She gave him a tired smile. The glint in her eyes betrayed her secret before she could reveal it to him. “You did it then?” He asked with a smile of his own.
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“Yes.” She replied with a widening grin. “You?”
“Same.” Isaac replied with a widening grin of his own.
“How long has it been?” Lenna asked.
Isaac looked down at the pocket watch he had purchased with some of their excess coin. “It’s almost time for breakfast.” He told her. “The bell should be ringing soon.” He nodded towards the clocktower. Lenna couldn’t see it over the fence that crowned the top of the Celestial Dawn. Isaac could see the tower but the clock’s face wasn’t facing them directly so he had a hard time seeing it. “Hungry?”
Lenna nodded and reached out a hand. Isaac crossed the distance and hauled her to her feet. “Any news?” She questioned.
Isaac shook his head. “No. Just tea time with Sera in a few hours.” The ‘As much as I would love to cancel it would be even more suspicious.’ went unsaid. He leaned in and cupped her face like he was going to kiss her. Shadows danced around them as if Isaac was simply trying to ensure they could have a private romantic moment. “If there are drow spies in town then they are definitely keeping an eye on us.” He told her before actually planting his lips on hers.
Lenna shook her head once Isaac had pulled back enough for her to speak. “I feel like they would have made a move by now.” She replied.
“Like poisoning our food?” Isaac wondered.
Lenna chuckled. “Could you imagine Celeste catching someone trying to slip something into the food her son made?” She asked.
Isaac started to laugh and they broke apart along with his shadows. “I’m imagining her hitting someone upside the head with a flaming iron skillet.” He replied and Lenna couldn’t hold back her laughter at the thought.
The pair were sitting down at Celeste’s bar before Lenna got her laughter under control. Isaac was still occasionally chuckling at the mental image. “Back to what we were talking about.” Lenna eventually told him. “No, defamation of character is more likely.”
“You don’t think someone is already doing that?” Isaac questioned.
Lenna shook her head. “No.” She replied simply. “Some people just don’t like us. That’s understandable.”
“You’re talking about pamphlets and someone trying to stir up a crowd or something.” Isaac surmised to which Lenna nodded. “I guess we have gotten off pretty lightly, all things considered.”
“Most people who actually hate either of us enough to do something like that are also smart enough to see the folly of it.” Lenna continued. “You aren’t the type of person to back down and you have too good of a reputation with those that keep the people safe. Many of the guards might not like you personally but your bounty record and capturing Jala and Fen put you in a good position.”
“Us.” Isaac cut in.
“Hmm?” Lenna hummed in question.
“The good reputation isn’t just mine. In fact I think you have a better reputation than I do with everyone who isn’t a normal civilian.” Isaac explained. “The common folks might be wary of me because I am dangerous and have proven to be willing to kill someone outright for trying to bully either of us but they hate you simply because of the color of your skin, and your name, I guess.” He added. “Everyone of any import knows that you are the more reasonable one of us. The only reason they don’t go to you instead of me is because they know that you always defer to me anyway. Trying to go to you about something only to have you go to me about it will just look bad for them.”
Lenna nodded with a thoughtful expression on her face before shaking her head. “It’s too early in the day for this.” She told him just as Celeste walked around the corner with a yawn.
“Morning Celeste.” Isaac greeted the sorceress. Lenna gave the woman a warm smile.
Celeste returned Lenna’s smile. “Good morning you two. You are up early again. Something going on?” She asked.
“Just training.” Lenna replied.
“We were both up all night working on getting stronger. Having to rely on Fable and the Flame Ravens really put our power back into perspective.” Isaac explained. It wasn’t a lie but that wasn’t the real reason they were pushing to finish their different projects. Neither Isaac nor Lenna knew if Celeste had been told anything or not yet so they opted to not talk about it, not that they would’ve without ensuring that no one was listening in.
Celeste gave them a warm but weary smile. “That takes me back. I haven’t fought or traveled with a party in a long time.” She explained.
Isaac gave her a fake smile and tilted his head to the side slightly, seeming to say: ‘That comment won’t hold up for long.’ Celeste’s eyebrows raised slightly but a subtle shake of Isaac’s head kept her quiet “What’s for breakfast?” Isaac asked to brush their silent conversation under the rug. He had just proven that Celeste didn’t know what was going on and he wasn’t about to enlighten her. If her old party members wanted to tell her then they would.
Time ticked by as Isaac, Lenna, and Celeste conversed about this and that before the breakfast rush arrived. Eventually it was time to leave and see Sera and, maybe more importantly, Marie. It was time for Isaac to get his final confirmation on the plan. He was excited to see Marie in combat but he doubted that he would get to see her at all once the operation started. Only time would tell though, plan’s didn’t tend to survive first contact.