Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 83 You Could Take It Off.

Isaac looked up at the sign of the only jewelry store in Safeharbor. “I’m kind of surprised there is still one of these here. How many times do you think it’s been robbed?” Isaac asked.

“Not recently.” Lenna commented.

“No kidding. The mana is all weird around this place. How many enchantments do you think are packed into this building?” Isaac wondered.

Lenna shook her head. “Enough.” She answered. The mana was a complicated web that would take a wizard to decipher.

Isaac walked in and Lenna followed in after him. A small bell rang when the door opened and again when it closed. An old man met them just inside the door. His gray hair and well trimmed beard only accentuated the wrinkles around his eyes giving him a ‘I may be old but I’m still spry’ look that seemed to twinkle in his eyes. His warm smile met them and he spoke: “Greetings…” His smile started to slip for a second as his eyes darted to the side in thought then back to Isaac. “What can I do for you?” He asked with his smile back on as if nothing had happened.

Isaac offered his hand. “I’m Isaac Wexler and we are here looking for a necklace. I believe silver would accentuate a certain lovely Lady’s silver hair and eyes nicely.”

The jeweler shook Isaac’s hand. “I see. We have quite a few pieces on display.” He said and guided them over to a display cabinet full of silver necklaces and pendants. The prices ranged from four hundred gold to almost a thousand.

“What do you think?” Isaac asked Lenna after a short moment of taking in the necklaces.

“Whichever you choose, my Lord.” Lenna answered unhelpfully.

“Pardon me, but that would make you the Duke’s guest correct?” The jeweler asked.

Isaac caught the jeweler’s wife, who was at a counter a short distance from them, flinch at the question. “Yes.” Isaac answered truthfully. “If I may ask, where did you hear about me?” He asked casually.

The jeweler hesitated to answer but seemed to think better of dodging the question. “My son is in the guard.”

Isaac nodded and smiled. “I hope he is doing well.” He replied then added: “Actually, this is a great opportunity. I was wondering what exactly the guard was told and how much they were allowed to talk about.”

“Um, well…” The older man hesitated.

“Oh don’t worry. I won’t tell Izen any of this.” Isaac waved the man off. “This is just to satiate my curiosity. We both know that he told you more than he is technically allowed to but I don’t fault him for that and I won’t snitch on him.” Isaac went on. “If for no other reason than it’s not worth the effort. I know that countless other guards have over shared with their family. It’s normal.” He assured the man.

The jeweler nodded and seemed a little worried but decided to take Isaac at his word. He swallowed before answering. “I believe he was told explicitly to act like you and your Lady were normal citizens no matter the circumstance and to be on his best behavior whenever you were around.”

Isaac nodded. “Alright.” He acknowledged and thought for a moment. “I kind of assumed they would tell the guard more.” He said to Lenna.

“Indeed.” Lenna replied. “It may cause… complications.”

“Yeah.” Isaac said with a frown. He looked back to the jeweler. “You are sure he wasn’t told anything else? Maybe something he didn’t tell you but you have a feeling is there?”

The jeweler thought for a few moments. “Perhaps, but I was not exactly interrogating him, my Lord.” He replied.

Isaac nodded. “Well, you will be in for a surprise then.” Isaac looked around and again made sure no one but the jeweler and his wife were there other than Lenna and himself. “Since the Lady in question isn’t being helpful we will need to consult your expert opinion on her jewelry choice.”

Lenna inhaled sharply. “I…” She started. “Are you sure?” She asked.

Isaac shrugged. “I was kind of hoping it would be more of an open secret by now actually. I was wondering why we hadn’t had any trouble, at all.” He shared.

The jeweler looked quizzically at Lenna. “If it makes the Lady uncomfortable perhaps my wife would be of better service. I know not of the customs from the land of which you hail my Lady.” He said to Lenna with a slight bow.

Lenna shook her head and reached up to undo her helmet strap. “That isn’t it.” She told him. After undoing the strap she took off her helmet and tucked it under her arm. Her silver eyes met the wide brown ones of the jeweler who seemed too stunned to speak or even breathe.

“Now.” Isaac said, attempting to arrest the attention of the jeweler in front of him, and brought his hands together. “Her dress is simple and silver.”

The jeweler’s eyes slowly broke off of Lenna and to Isaac as he struggled to hold his practiced composure. “How low is the dress cut? How much space is available around the base of her neck? You said simple, how so?” He asked getting down to business in an attempt to distract himself from the drow woman standing a few feet from him.

Isaac looked to Lenna. “I haven’t seen it on you.” He told her.

Lenna inhaled to speak and the jeweler turned to look at her. They both hesitated for a moment. She raised her free hand and drew the edge of her collarbone down the one side to just under her armpit on the other. “It’s all one piece with no frills, tassels, buttons, or bows visible. It’s smooth silk over a hidden corset.” She explained.

The jeweler took a moment but eventually nodded and turned to look at the display cabinet thoughtfully. “Do you prefer simple or more elaborate designs?” The jeweler asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t worn jewelry in at least a hundred years.” She said and stared at the cabinet.

“Hmm.” The jeweler looked from one piece to the next. Some had gems, some did not. The necklaces inlaid with amethyst and diamonds stuck out to him.

Isaac followed his gaze. “I was thinking about the amethysts too.” He told the jeweler. “It’s a shame she can’t see the colors.”

The jeweler turned and asked: “Why not?”

“True dark vision.” Lenna answered. When the jeweler didn’t seem to catch her meaning she continued. “If a creature has true dark vision they can never see in color. It is the natural price for properly seeing in the dark.” She explained.

The jeweler rubbed his chin and turned back to the display cabinet. “That does make it difficult. Are there any gems that stand out to you anyway?” He asked her.

Lenna had been looking at all the expensive necklaces almost the entire time but none of them had seemed like more than just an accessory. She really didn’t care as long as it was pretty and matched. “Whatever my Lord decides, will look better than any I would choose based on a guess.” She told them after her eyes swept the display again.

“Unhelpful. Understandable, but still unhelpful.” Isaac replied without turning to see her rolled eyes and the smirk that flashed across her face. “What about that one?” He asked and pointed at one of the necklaces. It was a simple chain whose links were a bit larger than the rest and attached on opposing sides of an amethyst that was cut like a diamond with the bottom tip cut off. The gem was the better part of an inch across. The silver that it was set into completely covered the back and its perfect, mirror, finish helped the light of the room reflect off the backing and back out of the gem.

The jeweler smiled. “Would you like to try it on?” He asked.

“I-I couldn’t.” Lenna replied now suddenly back on the spot. “I’m still in my armor.” Her breastplate went the whole way around her neck which made it impossible to put on something like that.

“You could take it off.” Isaac offered.

“It’s bad enough when you see me without my armor.” She countered with slightly wide eyes.

Isaac couldn’t help but smirk. She was actually getting flustered. A rare sight that he was making sure to enjoy while he could. “You’re wearing clothes under it.” He replied as if he couldn’t understand what the problem was. “Also, when we had to leave our gear with the guard it didn’t look like you had a problem.”

“That was out of necessity.” She argued. She narrowed her eyes at him.

“What?” Isaac asked at her glare.

She huffed. “You are enjoying this too much.”

Isaac smirk turned into a full on smile. “Probably.” He agreed. “But seriously, you should try it on before we buy it.”

“I agree with the Lord my Lady.” The jeweler cut in. “If it is too large I will have to remove some of the links and if it is too small I would have to add some.” He explained.

Lenna’s face softened into a frown. She sighed. “Do you have a back room?” She asked. She really didn’t like being exposed at all let alone in the middle of the store. With Jessica, the Silverstrand Seamstress, it was different. They were in a back room and it was a tailor. Her underarmor was tight fitting. Too tight fitting. She didn’t like how clear her curves were in it.

The jeweler’s wife smiled. “Yes we do. Follow me.” She told her and beckoned for Lenna to follow.

Lenna gave one last look at Isaac who nodded her on. “I’ll be right here. I promise.” He told her as the jeweler removed the necklace from the display and handed it to her on a velvet pad.

She took it with a nod but didn’t take her eyes off of Isaac. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Isaac chuckled. “Go. I won’t melt if you take your eyes off of me.”

She nodded and followed the jeweler’s wife. One of the reasons she didn’t like this was the time it would take. When Isaac invaded James’ hideout and bullied the small gang of thugs she was right outside and could be there in two seconds at a maximum. This new endeavor would take a few minutes with her out of clear ear shot. It made her anxious.