Chương 1143: [1071] - Y05.071 - I'll Be Back I

She was pale, time forming rivers of wrinkles upon her face. Her modesti covered her from head to toe, even her hands were hidden away from his sight. An amulet of Life's Rose lay against her front, not betraying the true rank she held within the Order.

"I welcome your return," Mother Priest said, pouring the Iyrman a cup of tea. She recognised the Iyrman from the previous year, when he had escorted Mother Florence and the Seventh Hope back to Life's Rose after Ray Vonda's marriage. She recalled what Mother Florence had informed her of, and later, the Seventh Hope. Seeing the darkness within the Iyrman's eyes, she realised whatever they thought of Shikan was true.

"I have come with a donation to the temple, and a note from my nephew," Shikan said, reaching into his tunic, causing the nearby Priests to stir, each reaching up for their amulets. They sat within the small, bare room, a pair of Priests on duty at the door, while Mother Priest and Shikan sat opposite one another around a small table. They sat upon plush cushions, which lay on the floor. The Iyrman placed the note upon the table, and Mother Priest picked it up, to the Priests' chagrin, and unfurled it.

Her tentative eyes scanned across the note, reading the half elf's words, before clasping the note shut. Silence accompanied them.

"It is a lot of gold, but we cannot accept money marked for death," Mother Priest said. Shikan reached into his tunic and placed down another note, watching as the old woman read it, taking great care for these particular words. The old woman inhaled deeply, letting out a long exhale. She thought over the words. The words of Adam's apology, and the words of Vonda's plea.

"I prayed for them," Mother Priest said.

"I prayed to the Mother to watch over the two children, who were so innocent. Our Ray was far more innocent, and I never would have thought she would have had to deal with…"

"The Mother tests us all," Shikan said.

"Can you stop him?"

"I would not." Mother Priest slowly nodded her head, understanding that it was a near impossible task to stop the half elf who spoke so much of his children.

"Are they Iyrmen children?"

"Yes." Mother Priest inhaled sharply, as almost all hope gave away.

"If he kills them, the Orders will not stand for it."

"Okay."

"He is your nephew," she urged.

"He is a father." Mother Priest bowed her head gently.

"I will recall the Second Hope and the Rays we sent."

"Their lives will be guaranteed," Shikan assured.

"Would you kill them?"

"If they tried to stop us." Mother Priest stared into Shikan's eyes for a long while, before bowing her head, dismissing him. The silver was one thing, but the Mother appreciated that Adam had sent two shields. She couldn't help but think on the significance of sending two shields. Was it about his children, or the lives he was about to take? Shikan made his way out as quickly as he had arrived, heading out of the Order and to the carriage, and the Mother who had waited for him so patiently.

"Is the matter dealt with?" Mother Florence asked.

"It will be." Mother Florence frowned.

"Will you tell me now?"

"Three children were attacked, and two were killed," Shikan said, fighting his throat from closing. Mother Florence's expression went from slightly warm to full of shock, her eyes glued to the Iyrman.

"Which children?"

"Larot and Jarot were killed, Jirot was injured," Shikan explained. Florence's eyes remained glued to the Iyrman's, her heart racing, her mind blank.

"Mother save us." Shikan reached into his tunic, and held out a small comb.

"Adam wished for me to pass this to you. His brother carved it."

"A comb?"

"He thought you might like it," Shikan said, allowing the woman to take the comb, noting her eyes were still full of shock. He still wasn't sure what she thought of the situation, but Vonda was almost like a daughter to her, and to Vonda, the children were her own.

"They were innocent children who wanted for nothing but love. Those children, who will wear upon their foreheads tattoos of their family." Florence met his eyes once more, holding the comb, still stunned. She remained stunned even as Shikan excused himself, the Iyrmen taking their carriage over the bridge of light, heading out into the town to find an inn. She remained frozen for a long while, her mind still, quiet.

'The children?' Florence eventually managed to think, the flashes of little Larot glaring at the world filling her mind, as well as the shy amber eyes of both Jirot and Jarot, who always treated her with such politeness. Her eyes fell down to the comb.

'Adam… and Vonda's children?' She thought of the scared little girl who she had raised, the girl's burnt face she had applied lotion to daily. She who had worked so diligently for the Order, she who had managed to gain the title of one of the youngest Rays to date. She did not have such memories of Adam, but she recalled the first time they had met, when Adam came to blows with a pair of Hopes. Mother Priest and Mother Florence both understood the calamity which would soon befall the land.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It began to rain that evening, a rain which soon blanketed the Iyr at night. An Iyrman cut through the rain with his blade, completing his family's exercises with his blade. Even so, he stood within the rain, his hair stuck to his forehead, the rain against his skin. He turned, towards his companion, also drenched from his head to his boots.

"You may train under a tarp," Mosen said, his lips forming a wide grin, pouring the cups of wine, covering them with his hand to protect their drinks from the rain.

"It is too noisy." Tonagek limped over to his friend, and sat beside him, unstrapping his shield, before accepting the cup of wine. The pair drank together, feeling the pitter patter of rain against their skin, and the silence in their hearts.

"I saw your nephew today. I brought Chisen over to play with her cousins, and her nieces and nephews. I saw him in his room. He was so… pale. I could see his veins. So dark. So…" He continued to sip his wine slowly, pouring more for each of them.

"Before he noticed me, I could see it in his eyes."

"What did you see?" Tonagek asked. After a long moment of silence, Tonagek turned to see Mosen in thought, his facial expression pensive, and full of apprehension. The days passed. It was raining that morning. Adam finished his hot bath, and shaved, though he didn't need to shave much since it was not yet nightval. The half elf slipped upon the layers of clothes, barely able to feel them against his skin.

His eyes were still dark, his body still lean, having lose quite some weight throughout the seasons since it happened. Vonda folded his collar and pressed against it, before meeting his eyes. The pair hugged one another tight, and Adam felt just how tightly his wife clutched at him, the half elf clutching her back just as tight. He stepped into the shared estate, feeling the light pitter patter of rain upon his armour, meeting the gazes of all the children, who had found out just then. Their father was leaving.

"Daddy? You are going?" Jirot asked, her mouth open in shock.

"I need to go," Adam replied, his voice strained.

"Daddy is going to get rid of the bad people."

"Bad people?" Jirot asked.

"The people who hurt my children, I'm going to get rid of them, and send them to Baktu," Adam said, dropping down to his knees to pull Jirot and Jarot close, smothering them with his affection.

"You have to pray to Baktu for daddy, and Karot, you need to pray to Mahtu, okay?"

"Daddy…" Jirot pouted up at her father.

"Daddy, you cannot go."

"We must go," Jurot said.

"No?" Jirot replied, furrowing her brows.

"We must," called the old, gruff voice of the Mad Dog, who had remained with them that morning.

"Babo? You are going too?" Jirot asked, reaching out a hand to her babo.

"I must," Jarot said, holding the girl's small hand within her own, the old Iyrman grinning wide.

"I will make sure to kill them well before I return."

"Babo! You are so old! You cannot go! I take care of you, babo! You must tell daddy!" Jirot urged, clutching his hand with both hands, smiling slightly as the old man laughed. Old Jarot lifted his greatdaughter up and pulled her to his chest, planting a kiss against her cheek, before brushing his cheek against hers.

"I will return soon." Little Jarot pouted, until the older Jarot also pulled him close, the old man upon a knee as he held the boy close. The pair hugged tight, while Jirot clutched at the old man's sleeve.

"My bones have grown so cold, my Jirot, my Jarot," the old Jarot whispered.

"I must warm up before I return."

"No…" Jirot's lips trembled and the girl started to cry, her screeches filling the air. Adam dropped to his knees to scoop up his triplets, kissing each of their foreheads one by one.

"You must all behave for mummy and nana, okay?"

"Okay…" The triplets held their father, who basked in their adoration. Their tails swayed from side to side, though they sensed there was something off about the situation. This wasn't how their father left the Iyr. It felt so different. So… unknown. Once Jirot had calmed down, Adam embraced all six of his older children, even pulling Larot in close, planting a kiss on his forehead.

"I want you to all remember this one thing before I go. Daddy loves you all, so, so much. I love you. Okay?"

"Okay…" The response came back jumbled, almost confused.

"Virot and Xarot, they're too young. They won't be able to remember what I said, so when I come back, I'll tell them too, but while I'm gone, you make sure you tell them, every single day, that their father loves them, okay?"

"Okay!" Jirot's voice cut through the jumble of noise.

"Promise?"

"Promise!" came the confident response from his children. Adam held them close for a long moment, closing his eyes, before letting them go, and quickly snatching Virot to shower her with his affection before she complained for her mother, reaching out for her, babbling away wildly. Adam tickled Xarot's nose, the boy twitching and kicking out a leg, before staring up at the block of purple.

Adam took in his sight, as well as Damrot, brushing the boy's hair tenderly, and finally Monarot, tickling her nose too, the girl beginning to cry until she was soothed by her father's hug. Adam glanced to the rest of the children, from Taygak to Inakan. He could see the expectations within their eyes, that the half elf would say his goodbyes one by one, but Adam understood if he did that, he may not return.

"You all stay in school, and don't do drugs, okay?"

"Okay?" they all mumbled in response. Mirot wasn't sure what Adam was doing, considering she had requested some additional time for the children that morning in order for him to say goodbye. Adam lifted Lanarot up, holding her close, feeding her a bit of bread.

"I suppose I should leave you all here to finish your breakfast."

"We must go with you, cousin Adam," Katool said.

"No," Adam said.

"I'll be back in a few weeks, so it's okay." Sonarot noted all the looks she was getting, the woman falling into thought for a moment.

"Okay." Turot gave his aunt a curious look, for this was not done, but as he glanced around, he noted none of the adults complained.

"Cousin Adam?"

"Yes."

"Will you use Strong Shield?"

"I will. I'll use Strong Shield, and then I'll come back, and I'll tell you the story of what happened. Will you gift it to Asorot?"

"Okay," Turot replied with a proud smile, though he glanced around to the adults, noting their apprehension. Could he not give it to his brother?

"Huu!" Jirot sniffled, though Gangak wiped her face, kissing her cheek.

"You're always so good at taking care of the children," Adam said.

"Will you stay to watch over them?" Gangak inhaled sharply, her brows raised towards the half elf, who smiled innocently, though was overwhelmed by the guilt.

"Today, I will remain. In the future, I will not."

"Jirot. You have my permission to bully nano Gangak and nano Otkan until I come back, okay?"

"I will not bully nano, silly daddy," Jirot replied, placing her hands upon her hips, glaring at her father.

"Just a little bit?" Adam asked.

"Just a little bit," Jirot confirmed. Adam smiled, reaching down to trail her hair with a finger, before tickling her ear, doing the same to Jarot. Adam held the boy's gaze, seeing the sadness within those large, innocent, amber eyes. He tickled Jarot's ears with both of his fingers, causing the boy to giggle, before he ruffled Larot's hair, and made his way to his wife. He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, flashing a small smile towards her.

"I hope to see you soon, darling," Vonda said, reaching up to place her hand upon his.

"Me too." Adam winked, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"I will return soon," Jurot said.

"Okay," Pam replied, squeezing his hand. She could feel how rough they were today, the fresh marks against his skin coarse, like iron. Jurot glanced at Adam, and for half a moment thought about kissing his wife's cheek, but decided it would be best for him to kiss her upon his return. His ears burned a deep red. The pair stepped out, strapped with their packs and long cloaks, making their way to a nearby shared estate. Adam stopped before entering it.

'Should I go back and do it properly?' Adam thought.

'No. No. I gotta come back and do it properly then.'

"Are you ready?" Tonagek asked, adorned in his full plate, wearing his blade at his side, and his shield upon his back, over his pack.

"Yeah," Adam replied, letting go of his cousins' small chubby hands.

"I'm ready." The group made their way out of the Iyr, heading to the Front Iyr. They sat within the carriage, pulled along by a magical steed. Adam looked around, noting the four of them.

'I feel like we're missing a few people…'