Chapter 88 Only One Way To Find Out.

“How are you sure that is where it was?” Edward asked with furrowed brows.

“It’s the only open tunnel on the map in that direction.” Isaac replied. “Any closer and it would have to be in this tunnel here.” He pointed at a tunnel in the negative of a ball of yarn that was the spider infested tunnels. “If it was there it would have fallen on top of us.” He then pointed even farther out at the next available tunnel past the original location. “I can’t even picture that distance properly in my head. If it was that far away it would have to be several magnitudes stronger. In that case just abandon the city.”

Edward nodded. “Lady V’Nova, is there anything out there?” He asked. He was hoping her prior knowledge as a V’Nova would help them.

Lenna shook her head. “Not that I am aware.” She replied. She looked over the map and found two locations marked as hidden drow outposts. She started pointing at new locations on the map and even one in a previously unexplored area. “There are more hidden outposts here, here, here, and here. There is another one here but it is shared with Neckeden.”

“Neckeden?” Isaac asked.

“Contantis’ closest sister city.” Lenna explained.

“Tim, mark those locations.” Izen ordered.

“Yes sir.” The captain of the guard, Tim, replied and grabbed a handful of wooden disks. He wrote ‘hidden outpost’ on each of them and placed them where Lenna hand pointed.

“How are you sure you can trust her?” Gio argued.

Izen sighed and shook his head. “I’m not but doubting her won’t do us any good. She has offered information freely and although I may have some reservations I will take her at her word.” He replied. His tone was final.

Gio scoffed. He had been glaring daggers at Lenna the entire time. Everyone, save for the oblivious Edward, had been surprised that he had managed to hold his tongue as long as he had. “We’ve reported everything we’ve seen. Trust or don’t. If it looks like the city is going to fall, especially if it’s your fault in any way, we are out of here. Deal or no.” Isaac said evenly while locking eyes with Gio.

Edward caught the tension and changed the subject as best as he could. “I have a man searching for the best,” He glanced at Isaac. “maybe second best, scout in town. He is going to go try to figure out what Lord Wexler here felt. He’s going to start here.” He explained and pointed at the closest point on the main path to where Isaac had felt the monster. “Then head roughly this direction.” He pointed to where Isaac had been when he felt the monster. “From there he will most likely continue on that heading.”

“Most likely?” Izen asked.

Edward frowned. “Yeah… he’s… a character. He’s good at his job though, he’ll get us results either way.”

Izen nodded. “I trust your judgment Edward.”

“Thank you.” Edward replied and then continued with his explanation. “After he figures out what is hiding in the dark over here,” He gestured at the map again where Isaac felt the monster. “he will head back this way and sneak through these wards to find what the drow are hiding back there.” He said and pointed at the wards Wo Lu had found.

“We should send a team that way first.” Gio argued.

Edward looked up from the map and met his eyes. “If the magistrate wishes to lead his own team that way without it first being scouted out he is more than free to do so. I run the Adventurers’ Guild, not the city garrison.” Edward told him evenly. Edward was a proud warrior and survivor of many harrowing battles. He had led men and been led by them. He knew who to trust and when. He could feel it in his gut.

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Edward also felt that if the drow mage who had made the chimera wanted to recover its corpse then that meant that the mage still had use for it. If that was the case then the mage would be tied up with that little project for a time. Whether that time was a day or a week he wasn’t sure but he preferred threats that they at least had a proper idea about rather than complete unknowns.

Gio scoffed. “The nerve.” He grumbled.

“Edward is right. Information is the most important thing right now.” Izen spoke, mirroring Edwards internal thoughts. “Make sure someone reports to me the instant there is any new information. I don’t care what time it is.” He ordered Edward.

“Yes my Lord.” Edward replied with a slight bow.

“If that is all, you are dismissed.” Izen told him, Isaac and Lenna.

“It is.” Edward replied with a nod.

“Very well. Continue the good work.” Izen replied and looked back down at the map. “What are they planning?” He asked himself.

—

Edward stopped to stretch just outside the duke’s mansion. “Sir Gio really doesn’t like you.” He commented.

Isaac pulled a piece of jerky out of his Inventory. “Nope.” He replied and took a bite. The pair had put off their after work meal due to the current craziness.

“I’ll send a messenger to you as well. I might have need of you.” Edward said the pair and started his trek back to the Guild Hall.

“What are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Isaac asked.

“Wait.” Edward replied without turning around.

After Edward had gained some distance Isaac turned to Lenna. “I hate waiting.”

“I know.” She replied and then seemed to remember the guards standing a few feet behind them on either side of the front door to the duke’s mansion. “My Lord.”

Isaac cracked a smirk. “Let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving.”

—

The rest of the day was spent as it normally would be. They sparred, read, and rested. The following day when they went to the guild Alice had some choice words for them.

“Edward told you to wait, so no jobs for you.” She scolded. It was more comical than threatening as she was barely over half the pair’s height.

“I can’t just sit on my hands all day.” Isaac complained.

“It won’t kill you two to take a day off anyway. You are taking jobs and killing spiders like it’s going out of style. Which, to be fair, it never really was in style but that doesn’t matter.” She rambled on. “Take a day or two to rest.”

“Please Alice, there must be something.” Lenna pleaded. “If he doesn’t have something to keep him busy, he’ll drive me crazy.”

“Hey.” Isaac interjected with his hand on his chest like he’d been shot.

Alice sighed. “Fine.” She grumbled. She leaned in and dropped her voice. “Don’t tell Edward or I’m going to get in trouble. He really wants you two to lock yourselves in your room until he needs you. Walk around town, get some food at the local shops, if you see anyone on this list tie them up and drop them at the guard station next to the cells.” She opened one of her binders and took out a small stack of papers about two dozen deep.

“What are these?” Isaac asked while taking the papers. They had a sketch of a person, their name, and “a bounty? Five silver, a gold, five gold… what is this exactly?” He questioned.

“A copy of all the people with active warrants. That is how much the guard will pay for them to be brought in. That is usually what the new adventurers start with. Most of the other bounties are too dangerous.” Alice explained. “These are easy but tedious.” She leaned in closer to Isaac and whispered as quietly as she could while hiding her mouth from Lenna with her hand. “It’ll also give you an excuse to go on a date around the town.”

Isaac smiled. “Your manipulation attempt is commendable.” He told her. “We’ll take it. If for no other reason than for something to do.”

—

The pair’s first stop was an affordable tailor settled in between downtown and the more middle class area of town. “You need day clothes.” Isaac told Lenna while looking through casual clothes for himself.

“Why?” She questioned.

“Because if we are going to go wandering around downtown you’ll scare the locals.” He answered.

Lenna just stared at him for a moment before blinking a few times. “Without my armor?” She asked.

“Yeah. We’ll be fine. Gio won’t make a move until at least after this mess blows over.” He reasoned.

Lenna covered her chest with her arms as if she was completely exposed. “You want me to go walking around without my armor? In the open? Right now?”

Isaac chuckled at the display. “Yes.”

“My Lord.” She said, slightly concerned. “Are you… did you hit your head?”

Isaac burst out laughing and took a moment to calm down. “No.” He got out with a chuckle. “I think it’s about time you stop hiding from everyone.”

Lenna shook her head. “I just think, maybe full exposure is a little…”

“Dangerous?” Isaac asked.

“Yes.” She replied.

“Okay.” Isaac said and thought for a moment. “How about you just take off your helmet for today.” He offered. “What’s the term… baby steps?” He said with a contemplative look on his face.

“That is the term.” She assured him. “Are you sure?”

“No.” Isaac replied with a smirk. “But there’s only one way to find out.”