Chapter 91 It Probably Wasn’t You

“I have an idea. Want to come with or stay here?” Isaac asked Lenna after he had finished his drink.

Lenna turned on her bar stool to face him and got a glance at the room. A few patrons were glancing at them but trying not to be noticed. One table in particular didn’t look very pleased to see her. One of them wrinkled his nose at her and then his eyes darted to something above and behind her and he immediately looked back down at his drink.

“Can I…” Lenna started to ask before Isaac answered her question.

“Sure.” He replied. “I think I’ve tortured you enough today. Even if it was for the best I do feel kind of bad about it.”

Lenna shook her head. “You shouldn’t.”

Isaac shrugged. “Thanks Celeste. How much?” He asked the woman behind the bar.

At that moment she looked as though she was lording over the establishment as her eyes swept the room. She glanced down at him and smiled, all sternness fading. “This one’s on me dear.” She told him.

Isaac returned her smile and Lenna turned to look at her. “Thanks. We’ll be back. If Edward sends anyone for us can you let them know we’ll be at Stan’s.” Isaac explained.

Celeste chuckled. “That old dimwit needs to retire. He’s got grandchildren to visit while he can still see.”

“You know him?” Isaac asked.

Celeste chuckled again and nodded. “He’s my father-in-law.”

Isaac smiled. “I’ll let him know.” He replied with a wink.

—

“Hey Stan!” Isaac called when he and Lenna entered the smith’s shop. The boy was behind the counter again and Isaac assumed Stan was somewhere in the back, probably pounding away at something.

A minute later Stan walked out of the back with a new longsword in hand. “Aye, just who I wanted to see.” He told them and beckoned them towards the counter. He set the sword down on the towel he had previously tossed onto his shoulder.

The pair walked over and eyed the sword. Lenna leaned in and moved to pick it up. She glanced up at Stan. “Can I?” She asked.

The smith nodded. “Go ‘head.” He told her.

Lenna picked the sword up and eyed it. The proportions were perfect. As far as she could tell it was a masterpiece. She knew what he was looking for however. This wasn’t just a normal steel blade from a dwarven smith but his attempt at recreating the one she had sent to get enchanted. After a long moment she set it down. “The steel isn’t right.” She told the smith.

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The dwarf furrowed his brow and picked it up again. “Ya don’t have it back yet do ya?” He asked.

Lenna shook her head. “Actually.” Isaac cut in and pulled the shortsword out of his Inventory and set it on the table next to the new longsword. “I do have this one.”

Stan’s eyes went wide and he picked up both swords and started visually comparing the steel they were made of. The more he did so the deeper his frown. “Aye, the steel’s not right.” He agreed. “I’d need a wizard methinks.”

“Why?” Isaac asked.

“The carbon in the steel, can’t mix it like this by hand. It’s too even.” Stan explained. “It might be possible…” His voice trailed off for a moment. He shook his head. “Don’t think I’ve got the patience for that.”

“For what?” Isaac asked.

“Making it like an elf.” Lenna answered with a hidden grin.

“Aye.” Stan grumbled. “I ain’t foldin’ it a hundred thousand times.”

“Celeste doesn’t seem to think you have enough years left for that.” Isaac interjected with a grin. Stan looked up at him with an unamused look but Isaac continued before he could reply. “She said something about you seeing your grandchildren while you can still see.”

“Now you tell that little lass that I ain’t that bloody old. I’ll probably still outlive ‘er.” He snapped but Isaac could see the mirth buried under the pretend annoyance.

“I’ll let her know.” Isaac told him with a grin. “We are actually here for business though.”

“Oh yeah.” Stan said and tried to tear the rest of his focus off of the sword on the counter.

Isaac pulled Lenna’s adventurer’s badge out of his Inventory and set it on the counter. Stan’s attention caught on the magic trick but focused on the object after a slight delay. “I want this on a necklace for Lenna.”

Stan frowned and picked it up. “Won’t take too long.” He replied. “Why not a jeweler?” He asked.

“She’s going to wear it over her armor when we are in town.” Isaac explained.

Stan looked up with a confused look on his face. “Why?”

“A deterrent.” Isaac replied evenly.

Stan glanced at Lenna. “You been havin’ trouble lass?” He asked.

Lenna wasn’t sure how to answer so she just glanced at Isaac. “He’s gonna find out sooner or later.” He offered.

Lenna sighed and undid her helmet strap. She pulled off her helmet and set it on the counter. “No unexpected trouble.” She told him.

Stan nodded. “Aye, I thought as much.” He said and tapped the guild badge. “Silver hair is rare, even fer drow.”

Lenna nodded. “Many don’t like it. They say we look too much like Lua.” She replied.

Isaac smiled. “If you look like Lua, I want to meet her.”

Lenna gave him a cold look. “Would you start flirting with my goddess too?” She asked accusingly.

Isaac raised his hands and took half a step back. “Hey now,” He said and glanced at Stan. Stan cracked a smirk and shook his head. “No.” He said. It was probably the truth and that seemed to be what got across too.

Lenna shook her head at him. She sighed and looked back at Stan. “Thank you.” She told him.

Stan seemed to get the meaning behind her thanks and gave her a nod. “My son’s killed by drow. Know it probably wasn’t you, but many stories like that ‘round town. Don’t take it personal.” He told Lenna and headed into the back where his smithy was and began work on a steel frame and necklace to hold Lenna’s badge.

Lenna stared after him. “Do you think?” She asked Isaac.

Isaac shrugged. “Who knows.” He answered. He knew she was asking if Stan’s son that was killed was Celeste’s husband. “Like he said, ‘it probably wasn’t you’.” He reminded her. “Celeste seems to think you are alright and if that’s good enough for Stan we should take the blessings when they come.”

Lenna nodded absently. “Yeah.”

—

An hour later the pair were back in the Celestial Dawn for lunch. Lenna wanted to eat in their room so they did. Afterwards Isaac told Celeste that they would be either in the library on the arena for the rest of the day and the two headed out for their favorite, and only, past times.

While sparring Lenna remembered something that she had completely forgotten in all the ‘excitement’ of her unmasking. “We never looked for any of those bounty targets.” She told Isaac while parrying another blow.

“Nope.” He replied and countered her followup.

“You are getting better.” She complimented.

Isaac smiled. He was sweating much more than she was even though she was in heavy armor. “I should hope so.” He replied.

“Are we going to look for them?” She asked.

“Tomorrow.” He said and disengaged. He pulled a waterskin out of his Inventory and tossed it to Lenna. She caught it and set the dull training sword on the ground. “If Edward doesn’t send for us anyway.” He pulled his own waterskin out and took a sip.

“I should keep my helmet on then.” Lenna advised. She was hoping to not have the entire city’s attention on her again if possible.

Isaac shrugged. “Your choice. People already know so it doesn’t really matter if you wear it or not now.”