Chapter 80 Sword And Magic.

Lenna’s birthday had been filled with surprises. The first surprise being that it was her birthday. Isaac had led her around the city to get chilled desserts, order some of the best protection money could buy, and eat desserts looking out over the massive cavern. After that she followed him while he hired the same courier they had used for the new loom to take the last of his money back to the capital, again. This time the courier was going to pick up a barrel of the same treatment that was used on the king’s battle garments. It took a lot of money to make money it seemed. Finally they sparred and practiced the sword dance. The evening of Lenna’s birthday found them back inside Celeste’s tavern, sitting at her bar, sipping cheap ale and eating perfectly cooked, extra large, steaks with not nearly enough vegetables with them. The pair savored their dinner and conversed with Celeste pleasantly. Well, for a little while at least.

The doors to the Celestial Dawn swung open and a group walked in to the murmurs of many of the patrons. “Is that the Flame Ravens?” One patron asked.

Another nodded. “I think so.” A second replied.

“They weren’t scheduled to return for a while yet.” A third cut in.

“I heard we had been taken off of their route because of those two.” The second replied and nodded towards Isaac and Lenna. With them in Safeharbor the local platinum team didn’t have to worry about the underground city and its associated town and outpost.

The adventurers in question all wore black and red from head to toe. A younger human man in his twenties walked in the lead with plate mail that oozed magic under a robe of black with red trim and buttons. His hair was dyed black with a bright red streak. His eyes were brown and searched the room like a hawk scouting prey. A sword that radiated heat hung at his side.

Behind him was an elvish woman with hair and skin the color of birchwood and glistening ruby eyes. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail with a black and red ribbon. She wore a black jacket over red leather armor that looked to have been made from some exotic monster. Its texture was glossy and smooth with weird creases and pathways spread across it. She wore chaps that seemed to be made of the same material as the rest of her armor over her black pants with accompanying black boots. She had a short sword hanging in the small of her back and a blazing ruby in the palms of both of her gloved hands.

The third adventurer stopped to lean his massive shield and spear against the inside wall. Both obviously magical and painted in black and red. The shield was adorned with the motif of a black raven burning with bright orange and red flames on a black background. He was tall but looked to be human, at least with what little could be seen of him through his plate armor, his visor was up and his features seemed too square to be elvish. His skin was a light tan and his eyes were brown so a goliath mix was unlikely but possible. He looked to be in his thirties and carried himself with the air of someone who had spent decades on the battlefield and planned on spending the next few decades there as well.

The final adventurer walked in behind the rest with silent steps and predatory grace. Under the black cloak with a red stripe down the side it was impossible to tell anything about the person. They were an average height and had a scarf up over their mouth and nose with their hood pulled low. They almost seemed to vanish into the background if no one was paying attention to them.

The team all took an empty table save for the one who had walked in first. His eyes had stopped on Isaac. The tension in the air began to rise. “Esk, sit down and eat before you do anything stupid.” The elvish woman purred and waved at the waitress to come and take their orders.

“You there!” The young warrior, Esk, called from across the room without moving. Isaac hadn’t even turned to look at the newcomers as he was engrossed in their delicious dinner. He could feel the warrior’s eyes boring holes into the back of his head. Isaac decided to ignore the man. He wasn’t sure what he wanted but yelling at someone from across the room while they were having dinner was not a good way to start.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Celeste looked between Isaac and Esk twice before her eyes went wide and she visibly tensed. “Please don’t fight in my tavern.” Celeste cut in. Her voice met no resistance as the rest of the room had fallen silent.

“Is that the man?” Esk questioned Celeste. When she didn’t answer his eyes swept over the rest of the patrons and no one met his gaze. That was enough confirmation for him.

“Want to fill me in?” Isaac whispered to Celeste just barely loud enough for her to hear. He did it between bites of food so that no one not looking at his face would have been able to even tell that he had spoken.

“His brother was-” Celeste’s voice was abruptly cut off by the warrior.

“Are you the one who killed my brother in this very tavern?” He questioned. “Are you the Shadow Demon?” He demanded.

Isaac didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure how to defuse the situation in a way that was acceptable. There was no way that Isaac was going to try to apologize or right any wrong. Isaac wouldn’t even pretend to lower himself. He was too proud and arrogant for that. There was also his image to consider. If a mortal could wrangle Isaac then the rumor of him being a demigod would be worthless. He also didn’t want bloodshed on Lenna’s birthday. ‘Why’d he have to show up today of all days?’ Isaac grumbled internally.

“Won’t answer me?” The warrior mocked and began taking off his gauntlet. “A coward through and through then. Just a monster in human skin hiding in plain sight.” Esk spat. “Turn and face me, demon.”

Isaac made no move but Lenna set down her fork and knife and started to get up. Isaac put a hand on her arm. “Do you really want bloodshed on your birthday?” Isaac asked to get her to sit back down. Lenna just frowned and waited to see how Isaac would handle the situation.

“Fine.” Esk began in a snarl. “I will show myself the bigger person and challenge you to a duel properly. Unlike you, I am not a coward who ambushes people in taverns and executes them.” He finished and threw his, now removed, gauntlet at Isaac’s back. He didn’t aim for Isaac’s head as that could be seen as an actual attack before their duel. Esk had his honor and he intended to prove to everyone that, not only was he the one in the right, he was also stronger than the dark mage that everyone was talking about.

Lenna’s hand snapped out and caught the gauntlet before it hit Isaac. “I’m going to kill him.” Lenna whispered. She was getting tired of him insulting Isaac. Her honor may have been a coin in his dragon’s hoard but the opposite was also true. Lenna could be a dragon if she let herself go. She was always in control. She always tried to do what was right and what Lua would have her do. This time, she was going to take her anger out on the person making her angry. She had been having an amazing birthday with the man she loved and this worm who called himself a warrior was insulting and belittling that man. She was having none of it.

Lenna turned and got up from her bar stool. “Not man enough to face me yourself?” Esk taunted. “I’m challenging you to a due-” His voice was cut off by his own gauntlet impacting him in the chest hard enough that he staggered backwards while catching it.

Lenna had thrown the gauntlet with the intent to send it through the man’s chest. She had even used her aura to enhance her strength when she threw it. “I accept.” Lenna replied with fire in her eyes and flint in her voice. “You are not worthy of fighting him. I will tear you apart for your insolence and insults. He is no monster, nor is he a demon.” Esk stared at her in surprise for a moment before going to retort. “Tomorrow, at the same time, I will meet you in the arena. If you can beat me then you may challenge him.” He went to retort again. “If you are not strong enough to beat me then he will just turn you to dust in an instant, just like your brother.”

The entire tavern was so silent that the kitchen could be clearly heard. “Fine.” Esk eventually spoke, breaking the silence. “Tomorrow between the seventeenth and eighteenth bells.” He agreed. “Choose your weapons and rules.”

“I will use my sword and magic. You can use whatever you want.” Lenna spat while looking down on him. She didn’t care if he brought a damn ballista to the duel, she was going to smear his face across the packed sand. “To the death.” She told him.

“I too will use my sword and magic.” He replied. “And I wouldn’t have let you surrender anyway.” With that he spun on his heel and marched out of the Celestial Dawn.

“I knew this would happen.” The elf that accompanied Esk grumbled with her head in her hands. “Damn human children.” She grumbled and then got a good look at Lenna. Her nose wrinkled slightly but she refrained from stirring the pot and instead just told the waitress her order. The three remaining Flame Ravens seemed to not care about the fourth’s absence further and enjoyed one of Leo’s fresh cooked meals in peace. It was a good choice..

Lenna sat back down next to Isaac. “I’m sorry.” She told Isaac. “I know you were doing it for me but…” She turned her head to face him and their eyes met. “I know how you felt now. I cou-”

Isaac cut her off with a smile. “Thank you.” He replied. “But, finish your steak before it gets cold.” He told her and took another bite of his own. “I already had a plan for this.” He whispered once the tavern had come alive again. “I wish it wouldn’t have happened on your birthday but it can’t be helped.”

“A plan?” Lenna asked.

Isaac grinned like a storybook villain and Celeste who’d seen it gulped audibly. “Yes.” He purred. “A grand plan indeed.”