Jessica decided that she was ready to take on the dungeons and Shaden did not try to dissuade her. He had commissioned and then personally enchanted her armor and weaponry so in preparing for their first trip, he took the time to outfit her carefully while Vanessa watched with a keen eye.

"This wand is attuned to offensive light magic and will boost your damage spells," Shaden explained, showing her a grey marble wand with gold flecks.

"Alright."

After she acknowledged it, he tucked it away in the wand harness on her barrel.

"This one is for healing magic," Shaden told her next. It was an ebony wand with a rune engraved in the handle.

"That's very pretty. Did you carve the runes yourself my lord?" Jessica inquired.

"Indeed I did."

"Thank you for your care and concern for me."

They exchanged affection and Vanessa looked away.

Shaden noted her motion but didn't let them stop him from showing love to his wife. Vanessa was perhaps the most jealous of his girls but she refused to properly address it.

"I waffled for a long time over what weapon I should get you. I decided in the end to get you a halberd. It is bespelled to recognize your voice and also to respond to your magic. So you can wield it freely as an extension of yourself."

"This must be quite expensive," Vanessa blurted out.

Shaden glanced at her.

"Indeed. The halberd was made by Devion. All of his weapons cost enough to buy a house," Shaden shared.

Vanessa's intake of breath was audible.

Samantha and Shaden exchanged a knowing look.

"Fo general saftey, I have purchsed this wisp from one of the beast tamers of the Mage's Guild, you may name it and start to bond with it," Shaden pointed out a small blue ball of pure light energy which was currently bobbing up and down next to one of his guards as if currious about them.

"It's cute," Samantha laughed as she spoke, "Can bonding with it help my light magic you think?"

"As always you show you are both beautiful and intelligent," Shaden praised.

The two of them exchanged another intimate look and Vanessa's countenance continued to sour visibly.

They were drawing short on time so Shaden quickly covered the rest of the gear he prepared in one go.

"Since we are going into the Earthen Cauldron, this robe is enchanted with ice runes to keep you cool and additionally I have made some waterproof bracers for you legs in case we decided to venture into the moor afterwards."

"You're very thoughtful and thorough, my lord, thank you."

"Is she strong enough to handle those dungeons, my lord?" Vanessa interjected with a worried voice, "I am a better fighter than her and I can only manage the Overgrown Cavern."

"I have hired Cerridwen, one of the White Hand mercenaries, to go with us," Shaden offered as an answer.

Vanessa had no idea that he was the boss of the White Hand but Jessica knew of course. From his beloved wife of his, he had no secrets.

"Why waste that money?" Vanessa asked anxiously, "I could come with you."

"You are a personal guard for surface world dangers, not a mercenary skilled in dungeoneering," Shaden pointed out bluntly, "That is not to say that you lack the ability but you definitely lack the experience."

Vanessa seemed ready to argue but then she caught sight of Jessica's look dissuading such and her mouth snapped shut.

"I am deficient and I will strive to gain the experience," Vanessa said instead, "No need to tangle with the likes of the White Hand. They are already influential enough without getting your hard earned money."

Shaden felt his irritation rise by one notch.

"Are you really so fussed over 200 coins?" Shaden inquired. He hadn't noticed she was this much of a miser before. It was baffling to him. He paid her ten thousand coins a month and that was on top of the allowance she received for being his lover.

"It's not the money. It is the principle of the thing," she complained, "The White Hand is spreading like a plague. It even has outposts in Luciana and my Father wrote to me last week and said a branch is opening in Windrise. It's rumored they are really assassins and I don't want you tangled with this."

Shaden counted back from ten before he spoke.

"Your concerns are noted. I will be careful."

Vanessa still looked upset about it but she wisely ended the conversation there.