Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 52 Alright. I’ll Trust You Two.

Edward led Isaac and Lenna back to the Adventurers' Guild. Alice was lagging behind and making sure to give Isaac a wide berth. They walked in silence until they were in front of the Guild Hall. “You two. In my office. We have some things to talk about away from listening ears.” Edward told Isaac and Lenna.

Isaac and Lenna shared a look. The question of whether or not this was some kind of trap passed between them. They decided that even if it was, the odds of them surviving were actually quite high. They followed Edward inside and through the door in the back. The door led to a stairwell up to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was another flight and a hallway.

There were a dozen doors that lined the walls of the wide and long hallway. Edward led them to the end where he opened the door with a key that was hidden and tied around his wrist. He didn’t wait for them and walked up to a liquor cabinet.

Inside the room was a large wooden desk, a few magical glowing stones inside paper lanterns, four chairs arranged in a line on their side of the desk, a larger chair on the opposite side, a wide and tall bookshelf across one wall, and the liquor cabinet. “Brandy?” Edward asked as he poured himself a glass.

“I’m fine.” Isaac replied as he carefully entered the room. Once he and Lenna were inside Edward turned around and gestured to the door.

“Close and lock that. We need the privacy.” He said, seemingly unaware of the other two’s worry.

Isaac looked at Lenna and nodded. She walked over to the door and closed it. Nothing happened. She turned the lock. A light pulse of mana went out around the room and across the walls where it seemed to just hang in place. “What was that?” Isaac asked.

“A silence enchantment.” Edward told him. “Now nobody will hear what is said in here.” He gestured to the chairs that were close together. “Sit. We have a lot to talk about.”

Isaac tentatively took a seat and Edward sat on his desk a few feet away with his brandy in hand. He took a sip and Lenna took up her position right behind Isaac’s right shoulder.

“Alright. Give it to me straight. What is actually going on? I gave you what you want now I need you to do the same.” He told them.

Isaac and Lenna were stunned at how sincere and straightforward he was. “Okay…” Isaac said. “Here is what I’m willing to give you.” He cleared his throat. “Izen, the duke, approved of us being here under a few conditions.”

“Alright.” Edward took another sip.

“Basically we stay out of trouble and stay where he wants us to stay.” Isaac explained. “In exchange he pays for our lodging and lets the guards know that if they… look at Lenna… there is a chance that I will kill them.”

“Kill them? Look at her? Explain.” Edward told him.

Isaac glanced over his shoulder to Lenna and then back at Edward. “Lenna is a drow.” Isaac told him.

Edward just stared at the floor for a moment in thought. “The vest is proof then?” He asked.

“Yeah” Isaac answered.

“What will I find out if I ask him about you?” Edward questioned.

“Three dead guards that were all basically unrecognizable and obviously got one hit killed.” Isaac started with a deep breath. “The agreement of basically mutual understanding and cooperation.”

“Nothing else?” Edward continued his questioning.

Isaac thought for a moment. “Sera invited us over for tea.” He thought for a moment more. “There are some things he will probably uncover eventually but nothing that is really that important.” Isaac told him.

“Alright.” Edward sighed. “I’ll trust you two.” Edward said after taking another sip. “I’m still going to go talk to him.”

“Fair enough.” Isaac replied. “Trust but verify.”

“Thank you for this.” Edward told them. “Like I said before, I am Edward, the Blade Master, Guild Master, and seventeenth level warrior. I hope that this will, at the very least, be a relationship I don’t hate.” He offered his hand to Isaac.

Isaac stood and took it. “Well, I am Lord Isaac Wexler, Dark Mage. I'm thinking about adding the ‘Lord of Darkness’ title but I’ll wait a little while on that one. I also hope this, at the very least, is not an unpleasant relationship.”

Edward offered his hand to Lenna as well. She took it. “Lady Lenna V’Nova, Oathbreaker, Guardian of Lord Isaac Wexler, tenth level paladin.”

Edward froze. “V’Nova?”

“Yes.” She replied.

“Lord Izen knows?” He asked.

“Yeah and everyone else that was in the hall when he met with him.” Isaac answered for her.

“That’s good enough for me.” Edward replied. “Now if you don’t mind I think I’m going to get another drink.”

“Then we will leave you to it.” Isaac told him and started toward the door. He unlocked it and Lenna followed him out. “See ya around.”

“Guild Master.” Lenna said farewell with a nod of respect.

He waved to them with his drink hand. “Later.”

Lenna closed the door and she and Isaac started walking down the hallway. “Well that went well.” Isaac said.

“Yes.” Lenna replied.

The two of them walked down to the receptionist’s desk and met Alice. The woman was still shaken by Isaac’s display from earlier and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “What can I do for you?” She asked quietly.

“Badges?” Isaac asked.

“Oh… I apologize but they will not be ready until tomorrow.” She replied like a servant who was afraid to get hit for delivering bad news.

Isaac frowned. “Alice?” He said sweetly.

“Y-Yes?” She replied.

“Just treat me like a normal adventurer. You’re making this awkward.” He explained.

“I-I’m sorry.” She said, he raised his eyebrow at her. “I’ll do my best.” That time she said it with some resolve in her voice. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze but it was progress.

“That’s all I ask.” Isaac told her with kindness in his voice. “We’ll be back tomorrow. How late?”

“Mid day.” She replied.

“Okay. Have a good rest of your day Alice.” Isaac bid his farewell and left with Lenna in tow.

“You as well.” Alice called after them.

Outside the guild Isaac stopped. “I wasn’t planning on her getting so scared. I hope it doesn’t make anything more difficult.” He said to both Lenna and himself.

“You can be quite scary.” Lenna replied.

“I’m not used to that reaction though. Usually people are wary or feel threatened. Sometimes they are afraid but that was only really that one guard and he was the next in line to get disintegrated.” Isaac went on as they walked down the street towards the Silverstrand Seamstress.

“Normal people are weak.” Lenna told him.

Isaac frowned. “I know… at least I think I do… It’s hard to really understand. Like why don’t they get stronger?”

“Not everyone wants to fight. Many hope guards will fight for them.” Lenna explained.

“But…” Isaac’s voice trailed off in thought. “What about when guards aren’t around? Then what?”

“They die.” Lenna said matter of factly.