Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 46 Next Question

Isaac and Lenna walked into a tavern that dominated the corner on which it sat. It was the only building within a block that was completely painted. The first floor was red stone bricks set in mortar that, towards the bottom of the second floor, transitioned into painted red wooden siding. The siding continued for the next two floors before abruptly stopping and the building was capped by a waist high picket fence. Set on the fence, in the center so it was in line with the entrance, was a wooden sun painted in bright yellows and oranges. The sun was eight feet across and was actually glowing, probably from some form of magic, which drew the eye from blocks away.

The main entrance was a pair of wooden batwing style doors that were painted the same red as the siding. Above the entrance was the name made entirely of painted white wooden letters. Each letter was a foot tall so the name could be read from a considerable distance. “The Celestial Dawn. Well it was easy to find at least.” Isaac said aloud.

“Where are we going to eat?” Lenna asked and threw on the vest she had gotten to prove that she was allowed in town. They had to wait for the duke to send a messenger for them to get a room so she was worried that everyone would find out what she was before they had even gotten one night’s sleep in the city.

“Let’s find out.” Isaac offered and walked in. Inside was the typical tavern layout. A bar with barrels and bottles lining the walls behind it, a few dozen pegs with keys hanging from them on the one side, fifteen stools placed along its length. There were two dozen or so round tables with anywhere from two to eight chairs around them.

There were about a dozen patrons at that time and they seemed to hardly notice the pair entering. Behind the bar was a middle aged woman with graying ginger hair and scarlet eyes. Her ears were slightly pointed but her features were soft unlike most elves and half-elves. She had some wrinkles around her eyes but ran about serving drinks and talking to patrons with a brisk step and clear energy.

Isaac walked up to the bar and sat down close to the end. He made sure to leave two open spaces to one side so Lenna could sit but she didn’t even glance at it. She just stood behind him patiently waiting for him to handle the social situation. The woman behind the bar slid over to them. “What can I do for you dear?” She asked in a sweet motherly voice.

Isaac smiled and replied casually: “We were hoping to get some warm food.”

“Well you have come to the right place.” She told him and pulled a wooden plaque out from under the counter that had a short list of dishes.

“A menu?” Isaac said, surprised. “Um… What do you recommend?” He asked her.

She chuckled. “Been out in the wild for a while?” Isaac nodded absently. “The boar stew is ready if you want something fast and cheap, my son makes an amazing steak and potatoes. The fish just came in two days ago so it’s still pretty fresh but we haven’t been able to get one of the seasonings that really makes ours special.” She enlightened them.

Isaac looked over his shoulder at Lenna. “What do you want?” He asked her.

Lenna thought for a moment. “Cheap is good. You are still recovering. Honestly you should still be on bed rest.”

“That was like two weeks ago. I feel fine.” He told her and then turned back to the woman behind the bar. “We’ll take two boar stews.”

“Want anything to drink with that? I had to start charging a copper for water just so ya know.” The woman told him.

“Just water is fine.” Isaac told her. He was cheap in more than just his food choices. He hadn’t had anything except water to drink because it was free.

“You’ll get scurvy. We’ll take two apple cherry meads.” Lenna cut in.

The woman chuckled. “She takes good care of you. I can tell.” She said and winked at Isaac.

“Yeah. She does.” Isaac replied with a smirk. “One question.”

“Yes hun?” The woman asked.

“Is there somewhere more private that we can eat?” He asked and glanced at Lenna for a short moment before returning his gaze to her.

“Hmm… The roof is open but there’s no chairs or tables up there. I haven’t needed to use it in a while.” The woman replied. “I’m Celeste by the way. You two gonna be staying in town for a while?”

Isaac smiled. “The roof sounds great. Yeah. Izen said he’d send a messenger to sort out our lodging with you. I’m Isaac and that’s Lenna.

Celeste seemed to really notice the guardsmen vest Lenna was wearing and then leaned in to whisper to Isaac. “You are somebody important aren’t you? People don’t usually call that old killjoy by his first name.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Isaac said innocently. “The letter should explain everything. If it doesn’t feel free to ask away. That doesn’t mean I’ll answer though.”

Celeste’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll get your food. Dinner is on me this time. It’s not often something interesting comes through those doors.” She then called back through a certain door behind the bar for somebody to bring what they had ordered and poured two mugs of apple cherry mead.

After Isaac and Lenna got their orders they headed up the three flights of stairs to the roof. Just as Celeste had said it was entirely empty. There was a thin layer of red stone dust on everything but that didn’t stop Lenna and Isaac from sitting on the floor next to each other in the corner. Isaac inhaled deeply. “That smells good.”

Lenna removed her helmet and promptly dug in. Isaac followed her lead and they ate in silence until there was nothing left. “I’ve been wondering.” Lenna started. “How do you make things disappear?”

“Like coins and stuff?” Isaac asked and she nodded. “No idea really. I have this window lookin’ thing that I can call up with my mind and anything I put in it disappears and anything I want that is in there I can just take out. There is only one real restriction as far as I can tell. Whatever is in there still exists and thus still weighs something. That weight is then spread out across my body.”

“That’s why you still use a backpack.” Lenna reasoned.

“Yeah.” Isaac concurred. “My turn. Why was the duke glancing at the magistrate over and over again?”

“The truth spell can be overpowered. He was making sure that neither of us had done that.” She answered.

Isaac tilted his head in thought. “How?”

“The magic is weak. You can just force yourself to lie, if your will is strong enough, it will break” She explained.

“Oh. That easy huh.” Isaac shrugged. At least that made sense to him now. “That was the magistrate right? I kinda just assumed because he was the one to cast the spell.”

“Yes.” Lenna replied.

“Next question. What did you mean by selective breeding when it came to your family?” He asked.

Lenna leaned back against the fence. “They marry strong warriors into the V’Nova clan. Those who aren’t strong enough are stripped of their surname and enlisted as guards or infantry. This makes sure every generation is as strong as possible. Both physically and mentally.”

“But not magically?” Isaac followed up.

She shook her head. “No. That is the L’Vore family’s thing.”

“I take it there’s no choice in the matter?” Isaac questioned.

“No.” She replied curtly.

“On an entirely different note, you’ll have to teach me about spells and stuff. I know it’s weird that I don’t use them to make magical effects but I want to try.” Isaac told her.

Lenna shook her head again. “I can’t help you. I’m a paladin. Our spells are from us invoking power. That power comes from our oaths or, in my case, the broken oath. Clerics get theirs from invoking the power of their god. Warlocks from their patron. Sorcerers from their blood. Maybe a sorcerer could help you? A wizard gains magic from studying it and properly understanding the spell sigils and chants. That is what you need.” She explained.

Isaac thought about everything she had just said. “So when Aria brought Claus back from the dead it was her goddess’ power not hers? And your fireball was from your broken oath?”

“Yes.” She replied.

“But my power comes from the mana inside me. It’s all mine. So how do I use it properly?” He asked.

Lenna looked at him while he was deep in thought. She wished she could help him but their magic was fundamentally different. She leaned her head back against the fence and looked up to the cavern’s ceiling. “I don’t know.” She said quietly.