Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 69 It’s Been Busier

Lenna sat on the crate and looked around. The cavern that Safeharbor was in was mostly empty save for the city itself. The guards on the wall and at the gate would occasionally look over at them but were content to leave them be. A small group of mismatched warriors left the city and headed towards the spider tunnels.

She simply sat and enjoyed the quiet. She could actually enjoy it now that she wasn’t worrying about Isaac. Her peace lasted for the better part of an hour before a familiar face left the city and started to walk towards them. She leaned towards the sleeping Isaac and in her normal voice at her normal volume said his name.

“What?” He groaned and moved his arm off his eyes.

“The Guild Master is coming.” She told him and sat back up.

Isaac rubbed his eyes and yawned. “The way Alice was talking I figured it would just be some random guy with a horse or something.” He said and then sat up. He took a deep breath and hopped off the wagon. He walked around to the side and leaned against it to wait for the Guild Master.

“If you got it the whole way here why can’t you take it inside?” Edward said by way of greeting.

“Good morning to you too.” Isaac replied and yawned. “I hear skeletons are frowned upon.”

“You’re a necromancer too?” Edward asked skeptically.

Isaac shook his head. “No. I just used a skeleton to help get it here. No more skeleton.”

Edward sighted. He reached into a satchel hanging at his side and pulled out a set of horseshoes. He tossed them out to his side but they never hit the ground. The horseshoes arranged themselves as if a real horse was wearing them and floated in the air a few inches off the ground.

A blue spectral horse slowly came into view wearing the horseshoes. It neighed and tossed its head. Edward nodded toward the wagon and the horse moved into position to be hitched. “I want one.” Isaac said in awe of the magic item.

Edward shook his head and chuckled. “Cost me a good fortune I’ll tell you that.” Then he continued in a more serious tone. “Lost too many horses back in the day.”

Lenna hopped down from the wagon and hitched the spectral horse to it with her rope. “Very Rare?”

“Yeah.” Edward confirmed.

“What do you mean?” Isaac asked.

“Magical items are classified as; Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare, Legendary, and Mythic.” Edward explained. “Mythics are usually made by gods, used by them, or used on them. Legendaries are just that, from legends. Famous heroes, kings, and arch mages either made them, found them, or had them commissioned. Everything else is for people like us, adventurers.”

“What is your gear classified as?” Isaac asked Lenna.

“All of it is rare.” She told him.

“Even the sword?” Edward asked, looking at it on her hip.

She shook her head. “Not alone, it’s a set with the scabbard.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” He said more to himself than to her. “Hardened and sharpened?”

“Yes. Anything else is impractical.” She replied.

Edward chuckled and nodded toward the gate. Lenna was finished hooking the horse to the wagon and the three of them started walking with the horse pulling the wagon behind them. “Maybe for you. A flaming sword is much better than a regular one for the rest of us.”

“Webs.” Isaac said dryly.

“And hydras.” Edward continued.

“I really need a monster encyclopedia.” Isaac grumbled.

“There’s one in the guild library.” Edward commented as they walked past the guards who nodded to each of them. The pair were instantly recognized and a messenger was sent to notify someone of their arrival just as one had every time they left or returned.

Isaac rubbed his chin. “I can’t take it out of the library can I?”

Edward nodded. “You can. But,” He raised a finger for emphasis. “If you lose it, it’ll come out of your pay.”

“Fair enough.” Isaac replied. “I’ll have to borrow it then.”

The trio kept talking, and Edward asked about the wagon and where it came from, until they arrived behind the guild, where loot was often dropped off to be sold by the guild. “Return to four, then to me.” Edward commanded the horse which faded away and the four horseshoes floated into his hand.

“Ask one of the girls for the book. I’ll send one back when I head in.” He told the pair and left with a casual wave.

“Thanks for the help.” Isaac told him as he left.

“Yes, Thank you.” Lenna said. She turned to Isaac once he was gone. “What about the gold dust?”

“Shit. Kahtesh still has it.” Isaac looked around and didn’t see anyone. He took a few steps away from the wagon so there was enough space. He spread his shadows out in a wide sphere and made them thick enough that no one could see through them. He summoned Kahtesh and quickly started pulling the bags of gold dust out and stashing them in his Inventory because it was faster than doing anything else with them.

Lenna watched him disappear behind a wall of shadows and kept watch. Isaac was almost done when Alice walked out. “W-what’s happening?” She asked, clearly concerned.

“My Lord misplaced something. He’s retrieving it.” Lenna told her casually. She tried to play it off as something normal to keep from arousing any more suspicion and to ease the heart of the poor girl.

“Um, okay.” She replied and the two waited for Isaac to finish. It only took him another ten seconds before Kahtesh was back in his shadow and the shadows dispersed.

“Sorry. Anyway, hi Alice.” Isaac said casually as he walked over to where the girls were standing.

“Um, it’s alright, uh, you have loot to get rid of?” She asked.

“Yes. The wagon, well, what’s left of it, the crate of quartz crystals, and a bunch of gold dust.” He told her.

“Okay just leave it all here and I’ll sort it out. Anything you want to keep?” She asked.

“Nah, I don’t do the whole rituals thing.” He told her.

Alice nodded. “Okay. There is a slight guild tax on things. You couldn’t have noticed because you were selling the monster parts to us and then we sell them to alchemists and wizards for a slight mark up. With the wagon though, it might be better if you find someone yourself. Unless of course you don’t mind the guild taking a ten percent cut.”

“That’s fine. Finding somebody to buy it sounds like a hassle worth losing ten percent to have someone else do it.” Isaac told her.

Alice smiled and nodded. “That’s just one of the reasons we are here.”

“They really keep you busy around here huh?” Isaac commented.

Alice nodded. “It’s been busier since you arrived.” Her eyes went wide and she shook her head and waved her hands at them “Not that it’s a bad thing we love the business.”

Isaac laughed and even Lenna shook her head at the girl. “It’s fine. I know what you meant.” Isaac assured her. “Should we come back tomorrow for the gold?”

“Sure.” Alice replied.

“The head.” Lenna reminded him.

“Oh yeah. There is a bunch of drow guard gear and some mage robes, as well as the head from a chimera that tried to kill us on the way back. Also, here are the guild badges from the wraiths we laid to rest.” Isaac told her and pulled the guild badges out of his Inventory and handed them to her, Lenna had given them to him for safe keeping.

“Oh, uh, okay.” Alice stammered out and took the badges slightly overwhelmed by the sudden bombardment.

Isaac jumped into the wagon and grabbed the blanket he had used as a pillow. When he did so he also pulled the bags of gold dust out of his Inventory and set them next to the crate of quartz crystals. He hopped out the wagon and grabbed his backpack. Lenna grabbed hers as well and the two headed home with a wave and a quick thanks to Alice.

Isaac collapsed onto the bed as soon as he was out of his armor. “Finally. A bed.”

“You’re filthy.” Lenna reminded him.

Isaac groaned and rolled onto his back. “Yeah… we also need to send the swords away today.”

“Indeed.” Lenna replied and then sighed wistfully while looking at the bath.

Isaac chuckled. “I’m also hungry for some fresh food. Let’s get something to eat then head out. The quicker we get going the quicker we can both wash up and I can go back to sleep.” Lenna didn’t need any prodding and hurried down stairs.