Chapter 84 Advise Them
“I want an organ teacher and to order a piano, an organ, and a violin.” Isaac told Branden while they sat at the man’s dining table. Branden’s house was small for the district but a little large for one man to live in all by himself, even so, it was well taken care of.
“That is quite the order.” Branden replied and sipped at his tea. The tea was the medicinal variant of the mushroom tea most of the residents drank as a morning stimulant. “I obviously have a contact for ordering new instruments but finding you an organ teacher will be much, much, harder. There aren’t very many people who play the organ. There are just too many issues with it.”
“What kinds of issues?” Isaac wondered.
“It is too large for most noble houses to have installed.” He said with a very pointed look at Isaac. “It is expensive and requires a lot of regular maintenance.” Branden shook his head. “That isn’t even the worst of it,” He sighed. “the worst part is that everyone within a mile will have to suffer through you learning it. That reason alone has all but killed the instrument. Organ’s are loud and if they aren’t then they don’t sound right. An organ is a powerful instrument that is designed to resonate not just with the pipes but with the room it is in, even the building as a whole.”
Isaac nodded in understanding. “I will put off the organ for now.” He conceded. “I should be able to fix the range of sound issue, at least until I am competent with it, with some enchantments. As for the rest of it… how much worse would a magical recreation of an organ be?”
“Like a keyboard?” Branden asked.
Isaac was taken aback from Branden’s words but he wasn’t exactly sure why. It was just another instance of Isaac missing context to his feelings. “Explain it to me.” He told the older man.
“It is a magic item that looks like the keys from a piano set onto a long board. The keys can still be pressed because they have counterbalances and springs inside but the sound is produced with magic.” Branden explained. “They are expensive but traveling pianists of high esteem and regard tend to have one made for them. Piano’s are far too difficult to move around so in the long run it ends up saving them money at the cost of good acoustics.”
“So the acoustics will suffer.” Isaac said with a frown. “An organ that sounds flat wouldn’t really be an organ would it?” He asked rhetorically.
Branden shook his head. “No. It would not.” He agreed. “I can get you everything else within the next year or so. The creation of instruments is not something to rush, not if you want the best quality. Until then, you are of course still free to use the ones in the hall.”
Isaac nodded in thanks. “That timetable might be a little awkward but worse comes to worst, I can leave instructions on where to leave the instruments. As for an organ teacher, do you know of anyone that might be interested?”
Branden hummed in thought. “I am not sure. Most of them are employed by the churches but there is one in the capital that is a free agent.” He explained.
“The churches…” Isaac parroted. “Actually, I might be able to work with that. We’ll have to stop in with all the major churches as we travel.” He told Lenna. “I’m sure there is one that wouldn’t have a problem teaching me. It should only be about twice as hard as a piano.”
Lenna chuckled at Isaac nonchalance about learning an instrument as complicated as an organ. “Yes.” She laughed. “I am sure that one of them would be willing to do you a favor.”
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Branden frowned. “Churches are not known to be that open with their prized relics. Most church organs were made by the same person a hundred years after the last, well, you know, the thing.” Branden explained.
“The dragon surge?” Isaac asked. Branden’s eyes went wide and he seemed to shrink into his chair slightly. “Branden, do you know what the impetus is for their invasion?”
Brand shook his head. “N-no. I cannot say that I do.” The older man replied.
“Total Global Mortal Population.” Isaac explained. “Saying the words ‘dragon surge’ isn’t going to summon a million dragons. I might summon one, maybe two, but even with the Flame Ravens and Fable out of town I think we can handle a dragon or two.”
“The collateral damage would be atrocious.” Lenna commented. “I think it would be best not to tempt fate too much. Lady Luck must balance the good luck with the bad.”
“Fair point.” Isaac replied. “Regardless, Branden, you were saying about how most of the organs were made by the same person?”
Branden nodded. “Yes. Because of how old most of them are, they are very fickle when it comes to taking on a new organist.” He explained. “I do not think I have ever heard of an outsider ever touching an organ without extreme repercussions.”
“Like being burned at the stake extreme, like fined out of their livelihood extreme, or like thrown out face first into the street extreme?” Isaac questioned.
“It depends on the church.” Branden replied seriously.
“It won’t hurt to ask.” Isaac said with a shrug. “If I get lucky then great, if not, I’ll have to wait until the capital.”
—
“If only your house was ready, you could host us one of these times.” Sera teased the pair hardly a moment after they had sat down.
“I get this feeling that your bodyguard would be anything but pleased at that notion.” Isaac joked while Marie scowled at her charge. “Marie, you can join us, it’s not like we don’t know it’s you.”
“Thank you, but I must remain vigilant.” Marie replied.
“Vigilant yesterday, and tomorrow.” Sera said with a roll of her eyes. “So? How is the new house? What is it like on the inside? I have barely had a chance to take a peek at it from the outside.”
Isaac and Lenna gave Sera a generic rundown of the building with the promise of a tour once everything was furnished. Over the course of the afternoon the trio caught up with each other to the distant sounds of a bustling town and the smells of flowers. A few other things of note came up throughout their visit. One of the things of note being the care of Isaac and Lenna’s Outerworld plants in the Innerworld.
“Would it be too much to ask your gardener to teach Shamesh?” Isaac asked.
“It is true that you do not have enough of a garden to warrant a full time gardener but it might be best if your gardener doesn’t go on adventures with you.” Sera warned.
Isaac nodded in agreement. “I know but there is just one small problem.” He began.
“We don’t have manor staff.” Lenna finished for him. “We just, sort of, forgot to find someone capable and trustworthy to do it.”
Sera frowned in thought. “That does make things difficult.” Sera agreed. “Marie, ask around if any of our staff have family members that might be interested. It could give everyone a nice start.”
Marie nodded. “I can do that.” She replied. “What about the boys?” Marie asked Isaac and Lenna. “Do they know of anyone from the slums that might be a good fit?”
“The problem is the dynamic.” Isaac replied. “I don’t want them to feel like it is charity work. I want professionals with professionalism, not someone who does mediocre work because they think I am being altruistic.”
“Then make it clear up front.” Sera advised him. “You are both very scary people when you want to be. Advise them that crossing you would end exactly as badly as they are imagining it. Tell them what you expect out of them and offer them a wage. If they agree then you know it is someone with no small level of drive to do better for themselves.”
“Having said that,” Marie cut in before Isaac or Lenna could respond. “if they do cross you, well, don’t break your pattern.”
Sera frowned deeply. “I am not a fan of the examples you have made of people.” Sera confessed. “I understand it, mostly, but violence, specifically mortal violence, is something I try to leave as a last resort, not a regular tool.”
“I know, Sera.” Isaac replied. “But I am no noble heir, I am a man with a lot of power and things to protect. I don’t usually go out of my way to make an example of someone and each time I have, it has set a precedent that has actually held up quite nicely over our months here.” He explained. “How many times have you heard about us getting in a fight over something stupid like snide comments or something? None, that’s how many times. Everyone knows that we exist here, in this city, without their consent. They know that we will come down on them, hard, if they start picking fights. And lastly, most of them know that we are agreeable people as long as they are polite to us. Those deaths, the men brutally sacrificed, saved countless others from my wrath in the future.”
Sera nodded. “I know. I just wish that people did not have to die. That is all.” She replied. “Now, on to better topics, what is this about music and instruments that I have heard about you?”