Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 61 For What It’s Worth

“The heroes return.” Izen greeted the duo of returning adventurers at the gate. A cleric was standing next to him, ready to begin healing any injuries at a moment's notice. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks.” Isaac said with a nod. “I think Lenna and I need a bath and a hot meal. Would it be alright if I gave you a report later? The problem has been handled, for now. Hopefully Jala can make it permanent.”

Izen joined the pair as they headed into the city. The sight of the duke walking alongside anyone made sure that everyone stayed out of the way. The fact that Duke Arbencroft’s interlocutors were the famous Lord of Darkness and Lady of Hellfire only multiplied people’s willingness to keep to themselves. “If it is not anything that should be classified, I am fine with a verbal report now, if you are.”

“That’s fine.” Isaac conceded and began retelling his and Lenna’s adventure to reach and then ‘slay’ Shamsha V’Nova. They followed it up with the durability of the hearthstone and the tale of over a day of not-so-glorious battle that was their return trip.

“Another old V’Nova…” Izen said to himself. “Lenna, how many more ancient threats do you think are hiding in Contantis?”

Lenna shook her head with a frown. “I had no idea this one even existed.” She confessed. “It caught me entirely by surprise that we had a Lich ancestor. Only the elders know what else is buried under that city.”

“Do you think Lady L’Vore would know?” Izen questioned. “Alexander had mentioned that she said the name: Shamsha.”

Isaac stopped walking and turned to lock eyes with Lenna. “We need to have a talk with your aunt.”

“Agreed.” Lenna replied.

“I believe I will join you.” Izen added. His guards shared a look behind their backs that made it clear to each other that they both felt uneasy around Jala L’Vore.

—

“Auntie?” Lenna said tentatively to get Jala’s attention. Jala was elbows deep in an entire cow. No one, not even the soldiers guarding her tower, knew where it came from or when it had arrived.

“Yes, hello, dear.” Jala said with a grunt as she hauled out the animal’s massive heart and, as gently as she could, plopped it down onto the countertop behind her.

“What do you know about Shamsha?” Lenna questioned directly. Isaac and Izen were a step behind Lenna and were content to let the paladin get any information she could out of the mad witch. Fen, for his part, had barely glanced up from his book to take note of those entering before he decided to, at the very least pretend to, go back to reading his book.

“So it was him then?” Jala answered Lenna’s question with a question.

Lenna nodded. “Who was he and how did you know about him?” She questioned gently.

“Just an old man with a silly name and a short temper who stayed here long past his time.” Jala explained. “He did it in the worst way possible too.” She added with a shake of her head. “I tried to study him once, it was an awful time. He kept yelling about insolence and whatnot.”

Lenna nodded slowly. “I… see…” She responded before she decided that it was time to move on. “Are there any other… interesting things locked in Contantis’s cellar?”

“Hmm?” Jala replied and finally turned to look at Lenna. “Interesting things? Hmm… There was that petrified hero from the last dragon surge. He picked a fight with the wrong L’Vore if I remember correctly. That one might be interesting to you. I took most of what I found interesting with me when I left the city, the first time, and I never really gave it back. Jallen never asked for it so it didn’t seem like a problem.”

“Alright. Thank you.” Lenna told her aunt. “About Shamsha, what are we supposed to do with his heartst-”

“You have it!” Jala exclaimed and all but jumped onto her niece. Fen winced at the volume and scowled at his book like he was disappointed in it for causing trouble. The look was definitely not meant for the book.

“Yes but-” Lenna tried again to finish a sentence.

“Where?!” Jala demanded. “That was the one part of the old bastard I never got a good look at.” Jala stuffed her hand into Lenna’s Bottomless Bag before Lenna could even properly react and withdrew the hearthstone of the ancient undead mage. “Ah ha!” She exclaimed and ran across the room and down the stairs to a different laboratory that was better set up for studying magic items and souls.

Lenna, Isaac, and Izen followed her at a measured pace like none of them were sure if it was a good idea or not. Fen didn’t look up from his book until one of Izen’s guards tried to follow them. One glance from Fen halted the guard in his tracks. The utter confidence and ancient power in his gaze sent shivers up the man’s spine. “I will be fine.” Izen assured his guard with a nod and then rejoined Isaac and Lenna. Fen casually went back to his book and the guard looked utterly lost with what he was supposed to do.

Jala immediately dove into studying the magical gem. “Uh, auntie? Jala?” Lenna said to try and get her attention. “Can you promise me that he isn’t going to come back or anything?”

“Oh, that won’t be a problem.” Jala assured her niece. “How long has he been dead for?” She asked and then shook her head. “Never mind, I can get a more accurate time in a moment. Regardless, it will be fine. I have him handled.”

“I, uh, alright.” Lenna conceded and turned to look at Isaac and Izen. “She says she has it handled.” She parroted with a shrug.

“That’s good enough for me.” Isaac replied and turned to leave. “Everything else is officially a ‘tomorrow problem’.” He said and made for the stairs.

“If you are both sure…” Izen said but didn’t look very convinced.

“Jala’s been learning instead of creating. We only have to worry once she starts creating again.” Isaac said while waving off Izen’s concerns. “Actually, Jala!” Isaac called out.

“Hmm?” Jala replied and turned to look at him. “What is it?”

“What is the end goal with all of your research? I can’t imagine someone like you would be doing all of this just for the knowledge itself.” Isaac wondered.

“Oh!” Jala’s face immediately brightened. “I am going to create artificial life.” She replied simply. “The ultimate lifeform capable of growth and learning and even being resurrected.”

Isaac nodded in understanding. Suddenly all of the times Jala had seemingly gotten distracted by odd things made sense. At first it hadn’t made very much sense to Isaac that Jala had wanted to study his animation process and Kahtesh as much as she had wanted to but now the pieces had properly fit together. “That sounds… both heretical and utterly-”

“Amazing?!” Jala cut in.

“I was going to say insane but amazing works just as well.” Isaac conceded. “Insane is quite on brand for you though so I’m not really surprised.” Jala just shrugged and got back to work. Isaac nodded to himself. “Good talk.” He said more to himself than to her and left with Lenna and Izen.

“Researching artificial life is outlawed.” Izen explained to the pair in a whisper. He didn’t want his guards to hear what they had just learned. “Try to keep this a secret if you want her to stay here.”

“That bad?” Isaac wondered.

“The Church Inquisitors would show up within a week to hunt her down for heresy.” Izen explained.

“Noted. We’ll keep it quiet.” Isaac assured him. “Are you convinced that Jala has it handled now?”

Izen’s lips were pursed into a thin line. “Yes, though I do not like it, I am positive that this ‘Shamsha’ will not be a problem anymore.” Answered Izen. “With this, I will let you go rest.”

“Actually, I was wondering about the battle.” Isaac replied. “How bad was it?”

“Three deaths.” Izen replied simply. “All of them are alive again already. Alexander took responsibility for everything. It was his plan and he insisted on bearing its failures. I am sure that he is glad that you both returned safely.”

Isaac nodded along with Izen’s explanation. “Thanks and, for what it’s worth coming from me, you all did much better than either of us could have hoped. We saw how many skeletons were heading your way but we couldn’t take the time to try and thin them out. Safeharbor had been put to the test recently and has come out on top with colors held high. So, I guess, what I am trying to say is, ‘Good job and I am glad that I chose this city.’”

Izen couldn’t form a reply immediately and Isaac took the opportunity to leave before he could. Izen was so completely taken off guard by Isaac’s sudden praise that for the first time in a long time he was left utterly speechless. Isaac and Lenna were long gone before a smile crept onto the duke’s face. “You know, for what it’s worth coming from me, I am glad you did too.” Izen said to Isaac, even though the dark mage was far out of earshot, but regardless of distance, the sentiment was felt in the future demigod’s heart. Safeharbor wasn’t the most righteous or beautiful city by any means but it was now also Isaac’s city. Together the dark mage, his mate, the duke, and the duchess would ensure that Safeharbor lived up to its name with the help of all of their family, friends, and allies.