Chương 1102: [1036] - Y05.036 - The Journey Forward

Vonda rested her head against her husband's shoulder, squeezing his hand tenderly. She wanted to ask him more about his thoughts, but Adam had already told her it was nothing to worry about. She couldn't help but feel he wanted to free her of the stress for their child's sake, and though it caused her more stress, she allowed it to escape through her sigh.

"Once we're done with the North, I'll head down to East Port, and donate the money properly," Adam assured, squeezing his wife's fingers, which had swollen recently.

"Yes, darling," Vonda replied, hearing the words not for the first time even that day, but each time, Adam always said something new.

"I'll be sure to ask them about how many shields they want. I'll take their order and add in another shield. I'm sure they already know, but I'll send word about the Reavers and my own personal experience. I'll buy some books, some paints, Damakian, I remember." Adam closed his eyes, wondering what else he could do.

"Did you want me to give anything to your mother?" Vonda narrowed her eyes, her cheeks flushing slightly. As much as Mother Florence had raised her, she was still far too shy to call the woman her mother.

"She likes tea."

"Well, I can do that much at least," Adam said, smiling towards his wife, who smiled back at him, and the pair rested their heads together.

"Blues," Konarot called, holding out a seed for the bird, allowing it to peck from her hands. The small bird continued to eat each seed the girl fed her, one by one, while Konarot gently brushed the bird along its back with the back of her finger, as gently as she could, as her granduncle taught her.

"Konarot, Kirot, Karot," Gangak called, holding a pair of sleepy children within her arms. Little Jarot pulled away slightly, staring at his greatfather, who smile at him, before the boy returned to his nano's bosom. Konarot carried Blues as they followed their nano to clean up and go to sleep, allowing their parents some time alone, though Vonda excused herself a short while later. Adam stood up, but paused, noting the look on Jarot's face.

"Come," Jarot called, motioning a hand to the seat beside him. As his grandson dropped down beside him, the old man leaned back, staring up at the darkened sky, the first stars beginning to appear.

"We will join you to Deadwood."

"Why Deadwood?"

"We must train, and Deadwood is fun."

"We?

"Gangak, Otkan, and I."

"Is anything wrong?"

"We are too weak," Jarot stated simply.

"If you're too weak, then I don't have much faith in anyone."

"You should have faith in the Iyr," Jarot said.

"Well, yeah, I meant people though."

"We are Iyrmen."

"Individuals."

"We are Iyrmen," the old man repeated once more, smiling slightly.

"Are the Reavers that dangerous that you of all people need to train?"

"We will survive the Reavers, but how many of us will be sacrificed? I still wish to see my greatchildren grow."

'Holy,' Adam thought, his hairs standing on end.

'An Iyrman who doesn't want to die?' Jarot reached up and placed a hand on Adam's shoulder.

"You must train too."

"I know, but, I can't…" Jarot squeezed the young man's shoulder, staring into his eyes, noting the look within Adam's eyes, before pulling his hand back.

"Live as you wish."

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that…"

"If you cannot say it, then you cannot say it," the old man reassured. Adam eyed up the old one armed cripple, the way he sat, so relaxed, and the way he stared at the sky, lost within his thoughts. Had he seen the old man this wistful before? The terrifying Mad Dog who had beaten him, no longer within his sight. The next morning, they prepared to leave within their carriages, each which could carry six people comfortably, and eight less comfortably.

"Be safe, mister Fred," George said, the gem glowing white with each moment he spoke, his magical voice clear, consistent.

"I will," Fred assured, throwing a smile back towards the boy.

"Will you meet the Order?"

"I pray I do, but it is difficult at this time," Fred admitted.

"Maybe you can meet them when they go to south?"

"Maybe."

"Mister Adam?" a voice called sheepishly. She was short, lean, and had curly dark hair that fell to her shoulders, and shy, dark eyes. Adam beamed down towards the girl, dropping to a knee.

"Elsie. What's the matter?"

"Mnn…" The girl held up a small bracelet of beads.

"We made it for you."

"Ah? A bracelet for me?" Adam asked, accepting it within his hand, before he tied it onto his wrist.

"Who made it for me?"

"We did."

"Who?"

"Me and my brothers and sisters." Adam's heart stopped beating for a moment, before it quickly restarted.

"What… an amazing gift for me. I'll be sure to bring back something lovely for you all too." Elsie smiled, before quickly retreating back to Cobra, who exchanged a look with Adam. The half elf smiled, wondering if he'd need to promote her for her hard work, and if nothing else, for the dessert she gifted to him. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

'Do I have a keen eye for workers, or what?' Adam thought, beaming with delight, it being stopped by a form which towered over him.

'Uh oh.'

"Daddy!" Jirot called, staring up at her father, her stance wide, ready to fight.

"I want to play in village!"

"Dear, I already told you, it's too dangerous." Jirot inhaled deeply, before smirking as her father fell into her trap.

"It is not dangerous."

"It is."

"It is not." Jirot wielded her blade like finger, and with a practised swing, she point to a figure.

"He can take me." Adam remained silent for a long while. At first, he thought about beating him up, but he decided against it. He stared down into his daughter's eyes, seeing how resolute they were in wanting to cause mischief. He wanted to deny it, every fibre of his being told him to deny it, but that's when he thought about it.

'If they get used to her, then…'

"Jirot." Adam dropped down to a knee, placing his hands on either side of her face, brushing her cheeks with his thumb. For once, the half elf wasn't smiling, causing his daughter to frown slightly, her heart dropping. She feared not her father, but the unknown of this father of hers.

"Listen to me carefully, okay?"

"Okay…"

"Daddy is going to be serious now." Adam leaned in to plant a kiss on her forehead.

"You know that daddy loves you very much, right?"

"Yes."

"I love you so much. I keep spoiling you because I love you so much, but this time, I need you to listen to daddy. You cannot make trouble this time, because it's dangerous."

"I know…"

"That's why you need to promise me, that if you and your brother are going to the village, you must take Lead Jonn, and Nobby too, okay?"

"Nobby?"

"Jonn is strong, but so is Nobby," Adam said, feeling his heart beat quicker, though he quelled the rising anxiety.

"You must take Jonn and Nobby with you. Do you promise?"

"I promise."

"I want you to promise to mummy and nana too, because this is important," Adam said, pulling her in for a tight hug, scooping his son within his arm too. The half elf was glad he hadn't donned his armour yet, feeling them against his chest through his clothing, swaying from side to side.

"Okay, I promise." The girl could feel something different about her father this time.

"I promise, daddy. I tell mummy and nana."

"Let's go tell her together," Adam said, leading the girl away. Vonda and Sonarot could see the anxiety upon Adam's face, even as Jirot desperately promised them to be good. Vonda smiled, assuring Adam, holding the half elf's hands. Sonarot thought deeply. She allowed it to pass, though she glanced aside to the few Iyrmen who remained.

'Should I send for more?' She wondered just how much she could trouble the Rot family, but if she did, wouldn't that display a lack of trust for Adam? With her heavy thoughts, she couldn't help but think as to how she dealt with the position of Family Head.

"Rick," Adam called, shaking his forearm, before leaning to whisper into his ear.

"Jirot and Jarot, if they're heading to the village, they should do so only with Jonn and Nobby escorting them, or rather, at least those two."

"Yes, Executive."

"I want you, Ivy, and Charley to escort my triplets if they want to head in, alright?" Adam pat the man's forearm gently.

"Yes, Executive." Adam then made his way to his triplets, embracing each of them, watching as their tails swayed from side to side.

"Okay? Promise me."

"Promise," the triplets replied, agreeing to their father's demands.

"Larot…" Adam said, looking out to the boy, who sat to one side, just relaxing.

"You just stay in the fort, alright?"

"…"

"I'll have Nirot walk you around, since she can just use your greatfather's name to protect you," Adam said, before pausing.

"No, hold on, I'll have Naqokan do it?"

"I will do it," a figure yawned, trying to fight away the sleepiness.

"He doesn't like to move much, so I'll stay with him."

"Thanks, Uwajin," Adam said, reaching out to shake her forearm.

'Do you need to thank me for this?' Uwajin thought, feeling the magic from the greatsword upon her back. She glanced aside to Naqokan, who wielded an identical greatsword, and then to Nirot, who wielded a particular axe which had been retired recently. This side of Adam, which tickled an Iyrman's interest in wielding great weapons in order to protect the business, was something she hadn't expected.

Laygak, and Faool were able to wield their cousin's weapons, adding to their story, while Bavin was able to wield Wraith in hand, for obvious reasons.

"Blues, be good for our Konarot, okay?" Adam said, tickling the bird's head gently with the back of his finger, before letting him go.

'Bring as much good luck for my children as you can, and I'll be sure to feed you until you're almost bursting.' Adam embraced his children one by one, kissing them, and letting them kiss him. From Konarot to Karot, from Jirot to Jarot, and of course, Larot, who allowed his father to pepper his head with kisses, but refused to return the kiss. Adam then brushed his hand along Virot's forehead, the girl staring up at him for a moment, before smiling.

"Goo boo," the girl said.

"Yes, yes, my dear!" Adam replied, before sneaking off to go see Damrot and Ranya, doting on them too. Jurot embraced Pam close for a moment, inhaling the scent of bread, before letting her go.

"I will return soon."

"Don't return too late," Pam teased, squeezing his hands gently, feeling how gentle they were at this moment.

"I will try."

"Do or do not, there is no try," Pam quoted her niece. Jurot blinked, having heard this phrase so many times, all originating from one fellow in particular.

"Okay." While her father and uncle said their goodbyes, Jirot noted one figure to one side, and she rushed over to him.

"Baba, you are going?"

"I am," Jogak replied.

"Kako is not?"

"No, she is not." Jirot blinked, pouting slightly.

"Why you are going?"

"I must go, because I am a Director." Jirot blinked, before glancing aside to her brother, and then looked back up at her granduncle.

"Baba…"

"What is the matter?" Jirot held up her arms, and the confused Jogak picked her up, letting her hug his neck tight, while her brother did the same. He remained standing there, unsure of why they were so upset.

"You must come back safely, okay?" Jirot said, daring him to deny her words.

"I will. I will return safely with your father."

"Daddy is so troublesome, so you must look after him," Jirot said, with wisdom she had inherited from her mother. Jogak smiled. He planted firm kisses on their foreheads, before allowing those glaring at him a chance to say their goodbyes too.

"You cannot cause trouble for your mother or grandmother," Gangak said, embracing the pair close.

"If you wish to cause trouble, you may!" Jarot assured, embracing the pair tight.

"Eat well," Otkan said, ruffling their hair. The triplets also said their goodbyes, each embracing all those who were leaving.

"Tell me if Ranya wants me to buy her anything," Adam said, shaking Dunes' forearm.

"I will," Dunes replied, shaking his head lightly. He watched the group enter their carriages, before they made their way out, their magical steeds driving them into the village, then towards the horizon. He glanced aside to Vonda, who caught his eyes, and the pair let out gentle sighs. The pair of Priests prayed the group wouldn't get into any trouble.

'I didn't get a chance to thank him,' Chief Merl thought, knowing Adam was the one behind pushing for the Enchanter to enchant them magical weapons. She thought she could have said her thanks when Adam said goodbye to Merry, but he hadn't taken the time to say it. Adam only remembered once he could see the walls of the when they were at the second village, but by then, there was something even more important to deal with.

"I want to apologise again for the trouble I have caused," Adam said, bowing his head towards the young Chief, who couldn't help but notice the obsidian amulet upon Adam's chest.

"Please, Brother Adam, there is no need for this," Terry replied, feeling the cool grip of fear clutching at his heart.

'How can I make a Brother of Death bow for me?'

"We are currently in the process of making our way to deal with business in the North, and though we're only renting two of the staves to the village, I hope the coin and the magical equipment are good enough to ask for your forgiveness." Adam could feel the slight sickness enter him as he apologised like the rich.

"It's enough, Brother, it's enough," Terry said, with rising panic within his heart.

'So please, enough with this!' Adam apologised once more, before they continued eastward, making their way to Red Oak, approaching the last village to hand them the magical staves for rent too.

'Is he trying to form relationships with the villages?' Bael thought.

'He should aim for the nearby towns and cities instead.' Adam let out a sigh as he stared at the sky. He worried about the apology to Chief Terry and his people, and hoped that money would tide it over, as well as the magical equipment for their Chief. He had half thought to leave behind Mork, who had cast spells for the villagers already, and casting more could have gone further to assist in mending the wounds Adam's existence caused.

However, it was tomorrow which worried the half elf more, as his eyes fell to another figure within their group. Of course it was him. The old one armed Iyrman yawned, oblivious to the stress his mere existence caused his grandson.

'I should kill a few hydras for my greatchildren, and let a few others go for the sake of their mother.'