Chương 1223: [1142] - Y06.042 - Answers IV

"Nobby," Ted called, the older man embracing his son, patting the boy's shoulder gently.

"Take care of yerself, alright?"

"Yes, pa," the large auroch of a man replied.

"If you need any help, you make sure you ask the Executives, alright? They don't want to invest all that gold into you just to waste it because of some… whatever they call themselves."

"Yes, pa.

"Who'll help Freddie if something happens to you?"

"Yes, pa." Freddie remained quiet as Ted continued to tell off the large fellow that was his son, though the older man brimmed with pride. The young man's eyes darted around, taking in the sight of all the figures preparing to leave. He narrowed his eyes, looking at all those who had gathered that day, ignoring most of the Iyrmen. The Executives from Adam to Kitool, the Managers from Dunes to Mara, the Leads from Fred to Rick, then the likes of Nobby and Brittany, who were among a similar level.

Then he looked to the others, from Ivy, all the way to Mork. They numbered greater than twenty, and though there were newer guards, like himself, ignoring them, everyone he saw was at least an Expert. It was only when he saw them all standing together, ready for battle, that Freddie suddenly filled with the tingling sensation in his stomach. It was a strange feeling, both warm and cold, both excitement and dread, and both pride and shame.

'I need to work harder…' The memory of Jurot beating him during training caused him to wince.

"Bilal!" Adam called out, approaching the older Aswadian.

"Are all the kids within their carriages?"

"Yes," Bilal replied. His white hair remained hidden within his turban, his beard thick and lined by an Aswadian hand, orange thanks to Charley. He wore the attire of the United Kindom, fairly typical shirt and trousers, and with well made heavy boots, and at his side the Aswadian carried a scimitar he did not need.

"Alya and Asya too?"

"They are watching over Ranya and Enisa," Bilal replied. Adam smiled slightly, glancing aside, noticing he couldn't see Amira anywhere.

"Yeah…" Bilal remained silent, allowing the half elf to take in the sight before him, before the Executive took a step closer.

"If something does happen, I hope you'll step forward," Adam said.

"I will," Bilal promised, and with that, the half elf stepped away, and Bilal could once more feel Baztam's gaze upon him.

'If Bael and Bilal are around then it should be…' Adam paused.

'Where's Bael?'

"If the Iyr needs my help, it must be terrible," Bael said, standing in front of one of the figures who could judge his fate.

"We do not need your help," Iromin stated. Bael laughed, rubbing the side of his neck, before his eyes darted around, noting the unseen eyes upon his skin.

"I didn't think so."

"Will you remain or do you wish to leave?"

"I haven't had the chance to explore the Iyr yet, so I'd like to stay."

"Your exploration is limited."

"That's fine by me," Bael replied, and the Chief bowed his head.

"I won't trouble you much." Iromin's eyes remained full of doubt, recalling the trouble his family had already caused the Iyr recently.

"What?"

"It is always an honour to host one such as yourself." Bael groaned, tutting lightly. He inhaled sharply, letting out his mischief.

"If the Reavers start causing you trouble, you can call for me."

"Many things have changed since the Iyr first formed. We, who were brought so low, to a handful of children, and now…" Iromin looked out towards the fort to the side, before his eyes fell to the hills and the distant mountain.

"We are not the Iyr of old, Prince." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Don't call me Prince when I'm trying to speak to you from my heart," Bael replied, almost gagging.

"I'm a hero."

"I regret to inform you, you may need to find another calamity to make your name," Iromin replied.

"You're that confident?"

"Even if you were to explore the Iyr freely, you would not know of its true strength." Bael raised his brow, surprised to hear the Chief speak so brazenly to confirm the Iyr dealt with smokes and mirrors.

"You trust me enough to tell me that?"

"Outside of your great grandfather, there has been only one other who has treated us appropriately from your family," Iromin dared to say.

"There was another?" Bael asked, more surprised to hear that. As far as he was aware, everyone within his family despised the relationship and duty they held towards the Iyr. Iromin smiled, but decided to say anything more.

"I will trust you with another matter."

"You want me to kill him if he turns."

"…" Iromin's eyes darted to the figure who was still in his half dragon form. He had thought Bael picked up on things quickly, but to think he knew the favour he was going to ask almost immediately…

"I'll have to burn my Spark to beat him," Bael said, yawning, before smirking so obviously.

'He has a Spark?' Iromin thought, suddenly uncertain of Bael's true strength.

'How…' At first, it was impossible, but then Iromin thought about what the Iyr had received only years ago.

"You don't have to worry, Chief. As sad as it is to say, I have a greater loyalty to the Iyr than even my own home."

"The Iyr is your home too." Bael scoffed lightly, before meeting the Chief's gaze. The look within the young Iyrman's eyes struck deep into Bael's heart.

"A home I've never stepped within? The old man was right. You're all more insane than I could imagine!" At the fort, Adam eyed up both Charley and Greg.

'Why aren't they wearing full plate? Didn't I…' Adam tutted at himself.

'Damn it.'

"Blues!" Konarot nuzzled against the bird's nose.

"You take care, okay?"

"Teet!" the small bird replied. Konarot frowned, still unable to speak with the bird.

"Sorry, Blues…" Seeing her ears fall and her tail sway, Jurot placed a hand upon the girl's shoulder.

"When we return, I will speak with Blues for you."

"Blues can come?"

"No." Konarot pouted, but she nodded her head, allowing the bird to remain behind. She climbed into the carriage, Tonagek entering with her, keeping an eye on the girl and the rest of the triplets. Jaygak sat with Jirot and Jarot, the pair cuddling her close as they talked the girl's ears off. As the carriages made their way towards the Front Iyr, Dogek and Rajin watched them go.

Kamrot continued to circle around the wall, the guards remaining at the business, trusting in the Iyrmen who had come to assist to escort the children back. Some of those who had come to kill the Order members remained too, with Keiwyj and the Bak twins settled within the fort, waiting for support. Duteous could feel it burn against his chest, the plaque the Chief had handed to him, denoting him as the Chief's representative.

'Do I deserve it?' As the carriages made their way, the small army accompanying them remained alert, with the businessfolk keeping an eye out. Many of the Iyrmen remained near the children they were assigned to watch over. However, as they made their way to the Front Iyr, they came across a small army of Iyrmen, at least two hundred. Chief Iromin greeted the leader, and after a moment, the army split into two, one half escorting the carriages, and the other half making their way after checking on the children.

Most who approached the fort were younger, in their late twenties and early thirties, while those accompanying the carriages were in their late thirties and early forties. The giant wall stretched out before them, all across the horizon, following the curves of the hills. The bottom of the wall was made of earth and rock, and was about as tall as Adam. At the top of each hill was a tower, though it was covered by cloth, coloured similarly to the walls.

Part of the path beside them gently sloped further downwards, save for the path which led right to the gate. The gate itself was made of a giant slab of wood, twice as tall as Adam, and six Adams wide. The slab of wood began to shift as it opened up horizontally, only to reveal another slab of wood, which was moving in the opposition direction, before they met half way and the light peeked through. The gate was about twenty to thirty paces deep.

The carriages continued along through the pathway, surrounded by sheer walls on either side, each which was slightly taller than the wall behind them. The path gently sloped upwards for roughly half a mile, towards another set of heavy gates.

"So this must be The Valley of Death," Mork joked, but though he joked, he was unable to hide the awe.

'This kind of place… it's more heavily fortified than even Jaghi!'

"No," Tork replied, knowing what his brother's expression was saying.

"This place's more." Mork couldn't refute the words. The gates at the top were already open by the time they arrived, where another path led forward to the village some quarter mile away from them. Tanagek stared out towards the Front Iyr, meeting Jurot's gaze for a moment. Where once he had seen the open plains which hid mysteries to outsiders, there were large walls of jagged rock, like those of mountain peaks.

Where once a sparse, expansive village of wooden cabins dotted across the land lay, now were replaced with hundreds of large estates. The ground floor of each estate was made of hard stone, and for the few buildings with more than one story, the upper stories were made of wood. Tanagek spotted a handful of buildings which reached towards the sky, three stories tall, made completely of stone.

'This must have happened during the Year of Silence,' Tanagek thought, before his eyes fell to the Chief, who led them ever forward. The businessfolk quickly understood just why even their Executive feared the Iyr.

"Lord Stokmar made all the walls," Jirot informed her youngest sisters.

"Lord Stokmar is the Lord of Earth. You were too small, so you cannot remember, but Lord Stokmar played with us at our birthday party last year."

"Loh?" Virot asked.

"Yes. Lord Stokmar is very strong, but it's okay, because I am the Demon Lord, and I will be stronger!"