Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 29 Turn ‘Round.

Isaac and Lenna were on their way to the smithy when they spotted the general store. Inside, like the last one Isaac was in, were at least two of just about anything one could ask for as an adventurer deep underground. Isaac had to buy another rope after his last one got left in one of the tunnels because he couldn’t figure out how to get it down while standing at the bottom.

They also bought a map to Safeharbor. The map cost another one of Isaac’s quickly disappearing platinum pieces. After the ten days of rations for him and the eight days rations for Lenna, she still had two days worth, as well as a length of fifty feet of rope Isaac was down to four platinum, nine gold, ten silver, and ten copper coins.

Lenna had offered to pay for her own rations but Isaac’s reply was too logical for her to argue. “You are paying for them. We are just taking the money from my coin purse instead of yours.” He had said. He, however, had no intention of actually charging her for the rations. As far as he was concerned she was the one who was supposed to be jumping in front of him in case of danger and thus she deserved to be taken care of. Even if she didn’t see it that way.

Lenna could see the logic in splitting up where money was kept in case of theft and let it go. Well she did until she remembered that Isaac always seemed to pull his money out of thin air and never kept it in a place where it could be stolen in the first place. Thankfully for Isaac she didn’t realize that fact for quite a while.

Isaac’s backpack now weighed close to fifty pounds, after they refilled their waterskins at the local well, and he was not happy about it. The thirty pound pack he had with him on his journey from the outpost was heavy enough.

Luckily for both Isaac’s back and his savings the map said there was a natural stream that they could refill their water at close to the halfway mark. Lenna had enough quarts of water to make the entire trip without stopping if only barely but Isaac didn’t even have enough to make it to the halfway point without at least being a little thirsty.

The two now had enough water for five days each, enough food for ten days, and everything they figured they would need to get to Safeharbor. They left the general store almost ready to head out. They soon tracked down the smithy and headed inside. Isaac was hoping that once they got their gear fixed up they would be able to spend another day there to rest. His body would have liked to have more time to replace some of his lost blood before they began another odyssey.

The inside of the smithy’s shop was a small fifteen by ten room with a small counter in the back and rows of weapons and armors on stands and racks against the walls. Behind the counter was a short, stout man with a long beard that went to his waist. The man’s brown hair was graying and his gray eyes seemed dull in the dim light from the lone magical glowing stone in the room.

He looked up from staring off into space to stare at the newcomers. “What in ya need youngsters?” He called out to them. His voice was deep but not as deep as his accent. It was almost hard for Isaac to understand. His voice was also much too loud for the small room.

“Just some repairs.” Isaac replied while squinting from the pain in his ears.

The old dwarf nodded and beckoned them closer. “What needs fixin’?”

Isaac approached and turned to the side. Raising his arm he gestured towards the cut straps and buckle on his armor. “Almost died because of this. I’d prefer to not have to worry about it anymore.” Then he gestured towards Lenna’s helmet with his thumb. “Bent faceplate.”

“And broken rivet.” She continued for him.

The smith nodded. “Aight, won’t take long. Gimme the leather first.” He instructed. “Have to make a new rivet for that one.” He mentioned absently while tossing a glance at Lenna and her bent faceplate.

Isaac took off the chestpiece of his armor and handed it to the smith. He disappeared into the back and after a moment Isaac and Lenna could hear him fast at work taking off the old straps and cutting new ones.

“He never told us how much it’ll cost.” Isaac said with a thoughtful expression. Lenna shook her head in confirmation. Isaac stared at her for a moment. “Take off your helmet and then put your hood back up before he comes back out. Just make sure to not look his way.” Isaac whispered to her.

“What about after I get it back? I’ll have to put it back on.” She countered.

“I’ll distract him by paying him and hopefully he won’t notice you putting it back on.” Isaac responded quietly and ushered her to do it quickly.

She did as she was told and had her hood, from Isaac’s cloak, back up before the old smith was finished. He exited the back room while giving the chestpiece another look over. “Fancy leather. Good stuff. Take care o’ it now ya hear?” The smith told Isaac.

Isaac nodded. “I’ll try. Monsters don’t seem to like that idea though.” He quipped while exchanging Lenna’s helmet for his chestpiece. “How much is this gonna cost?”

The old dwarf looked over Lenna’s helmet a moment before lifting his chin in thought for a bit. “Two gold. Your repairs ‘ere easy ‘nough but I’mma hav’ ta forge a new rivet and treat it ‘fore bendin’ the rest back. It’ll ‘ake an hour or so. Two oh you can come back la’er if’in ya want.”

Isaac looked at Lenna for a moment out of the corner of his eye. “We’ll wait.” He told the smith.

“Aye, suit yerself.” The smith said then disappeared into the back once again.

Isaac walked over next to Lenna who was pretending to inspect one of the swords on the wall. “I guess we’re stuck in here for a bit.” She just nodded. “I hope nobody else walks in.”

She turned her head to meet his gaze. “They say that is bad luck.”

“What is?” He asked.

“Mentioning something unfortunate. They say it causes it to happen.” She explained.

“Oh.” Was Isaac’s only response. He hoped that she was wrong but worried that she might be right.

An hour passed with Isaac leaning against the counter and Lenna staring at the wall. Lenna was a patient person and simply existed for their time waiting for her gear to finish getting fixed. Isaac on the other hand couldn’t sit still for more than three minutes without anything to do. Without a book to read and nothing in particular to talk to Lenna about he turned to the only other thing he could think of to occupy his time, magic.

Isaac coalesced shadows around his arms and examined them. He slowly started adding more and more while condensing them as much as possible. ‘Maybe armor?’ He thought. Then he realized how much mana he was burning through and decided against it. Then he focused it all into one of his palms and made an impossibly black orb.

He tried to shape the orb. First making it oblong and then a disk. He grabbed the disk on either side and tried to bend it. It took some effort but he was still able to bend it in half. ‘Not hard enough yet but it has some potential I think.’ He mentally noted. After messing around for a bit longer he finally heard the smith set down his tools and come back out to the front.

“ ‘ere ya are laddy.” The dwarf said as he set the helmet down on the counter. “Now fer me coin.”

Isaac reached his hand into a pocket on his backpack and pulled a pair of gold coins out of it. He decided that just pulling them out of thin air like he had been was drawing too much attention. “Thanks for the help.” He said as he handed the coins over.

“Anytime lad.” The dwarf replied and slid the helmet over towards Isaac. Isaac smiled and nodded while grabbing the helmet. He covered the two step distance towards Lenna and handed her the missing piece of her armor. His mind was racing trying to find a way to distract the dwarf so Lenna could put it on.

Isaac walked back over to the counter. “Can I trade my longsword in for something a little lighter with just as much reach?” Isaac asked, trying to draw as much attention to himself as he could.

“Maybe. Ya still wanna slash wi’’it?” The old smith asked. Isaac had to think for a second before his brain understood what the man was trying to say.

“Yeah. I like having one hand free but my shortsword is just too short sometimes.” Isaac explained. As he did Lenna quickly tossed her hood back and slipped on her helmet. The old dwarf’s eyes flicked towards the movement.

“Hold on now lass. Turn ‘round.” The smith ordered Lenna. She did so as she clasped her helmet on tight. He looked her over for a moment. “Move yer visor.” He commanded.

Isaac took a step between them. “What’s the matter? She doesn’t ever show her face.” He lied.

The dwarf just ignored him. “That be’’er not ‘ave been dark poi’’y ears and white ‘air I saw.”

Isaac tilted his head like he was confused. “What do you mean?” He asked innocently.

“That ‘’ere is a drow bitch I tell yee!” The smith yelled.

“A drow? You must be seeing things.” Isaac retorted. Just then the situation got even worse. A woman burst through the door. A woman with a certain boy in tow.