Chương 1263: [1179] - Y06.079 - The Journey Begins III

'I suppose I'll have to be the one to bring-,' the Vice Commander thought, the thought cutting off as a slap struck him across his future self's cheek. His smile remained upon his lips, though it quickly faded from his eyes as the warning rocked through him.

'If it was so simple, then…' He had almost forgotten the mess the half elf had caused, but there was something even stranger about the situation.

'Did the Iyr deal with the Order? Why did they do it before the half elf was killed? They wouldn't cause that much trouble, would they? Elder Peace has gone to beg for the King's forgiveness, but should she expect it if the half elf is still alive?' As the group approached the walls, revealing the box, a thousand thoughts constantly fought within the Vice Commander's mind. There was no way the Iyr would allow him to walk out so soon.

There was no way they would have dared to kill the Order and act up while not sacrificing the half elf. So why was he out? What was he missing? Did the Iyr think it was so powerful it could begin to take on Aldland? No, there was no chance of that… So… what was the issue? What did the Iyr have planned? Should he draw his blade and try to arrest the boy and figure it out later? He could ask the Commander for his support, but… if Sir Katherine of all warriors couldn't do it, how could he?

Was there a need to involve themselves on that level? It wasn't as though they had any issues with the half elf. It was those Southern Orders, those of High Garden, which had issues with the half elf. It was only then the Vice Commander realised what he was doing.

'Am I… is this…' The shock rocked through him as he realised the root of his words. He clenched his fist, and reached for his blade, only to be stopped by the voice of the Commander.

"Halt!" The Commander's voice thundered in the air, half a warning to the fool of a Vice Commander beside him, and half a warning to the rest of the fort to prepare themselves.

"State your business!"

'Why'd he have to shout so loud?' Adam thought, and as he opened his mouth and spoke, Adam realised why Jurot and Kitool had given him a look when he said he would hand over the chest of silver to the fort. Oh, right.

"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?" Adam called his voice almost cracking as he realised how much of an idiot he was. He chuckled lightly, though the nerves began to fill through ever pore of his body.

"We're just passing on by, heading to Aswadasad."

"What business do you have in Aswadasad," the Commander asked, while a Priest stepped forward beside Adam, but not the Priest he expected.

"Commander, isn't the weather so lovely?" Mork called out, flashing a polite smile towards the Commander. While Adam may have worn an obsidian holy symbol, the problem was that it was the Iyr's Baktu, and not the Aldish Lord Sozain, even if they were the same entity, at least within the Iyr's mind. However, the sun shone brightly on the Priest's holy symbol, that of Lady Tempest, the Lady of the Storms, also known as the Storm Lord.

"It is such lovely weather, Brother," the Commander replied with a bow of his head, gesturing with his hand in respect of the Lady.

"May I ask your name?"

"I am Brother Mork, of the Temple of the Great Lady of the High Seas," Mork replied, smiling politely towards the Commander, the kind of smile that revealed he was from the North.

"Many blessings to you, Brother Mork. I am Commander Theodore Barrenhill, and I hope you are willing to forgive me when I ask you for your intentions." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Many blessings to you, Commander Barrenhill. What is there to forgive? Who does not know of the great Commander Theodore Barrenhill, who fought in the Tariff Skirmish?" The Commander's brows raised in shock, almost matching Mork's brows, who was so glad he had listened to Laygak's tales on the way to Aswadasad, which certainly was coincidental, wasn't it? The Commander fell silent for a moment, allowing the Priest to speak up.

"We are currently heading to Aswadasad for certain matters to do with the Divine, business, and the war against the Reavers."

"With such honourable intentions, I hope the winds fill your sails, and bring you a swiftness through these troubled times."

"Your words provide me respite this day, Commander. It is my pride to say that we were the first to declare war against such wickedry, and we, those of the business of the United Kindom, are further proud to pay the appropriate sum for the war." Mork motioned a hand to the box Adam was carrying, the half elf standing equally as stunned as the Commander.

'If only you weren't here…' the Commander thought, but he couldn't make the Priest wait for too long.

"Open the gates at once! Cursed be those who make a Brother wait!" Since Mork had stepped forward, it was far more difficult for the Commander to make a move. However, that didn't change the situation for the Vice Commander, for though he was a Vice Commander, he was not someone of this fort, or the army proper. Adam held out the chest for the Commander, who felt just how heavy it was. Though it was small, it held more than enough coin to pay their dues.

In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if there was close to fifty gold in silver. As he opened the chest, he realised it wasn't just silver, but there was one entire stack of gold, meaning the amount of gold was probably closer to seventy or eighty. No, perhaps it was closer to one hundred?

'If it's this much…' The Commander nodded towards Adam, who returned a nod of his head.

"How is the Ray?"

"She's well," Adam replied, flashing a small smile towards the Commander, who seemed far more relaxed now.

"I pray for her health," the Commander stated, recalling how troubled the situation was previously. He was glad that he had been rotated out last year, since it all happened, though perhaps if he hadn't been rotated out, the situation may have gone differently?

"Your prayers helped," Adam replied, winking at the Commander. Meanwhile the Vice Commander remained to one side, surrounded by several of his own warriors. Each were heavily armoured, adorned in full plate, and carried blades at their side which were worth well over a thousand gold. Yet they remained at bay, noting the glares of the Iyrmen whose attention was entire fixated upon them.

Each of the Iyrmen were younger, in their twenties or so, but the aura they gave off was oppressive, to the point even the Vice Commander could feel it. Not that he needed such great senses to notice the hunger within their eyes, nor the smirks upon their faces.

'Will they step forward?' Amokan thought, ready and eager to draw his blade, as he had done so previously.

'Can I claim the Vice Commander?' Timojin thought, hoping Jurot would allow him to fight the greatest of them, though there was a small issue… Tanagek glared at the Vice Commander, his entire body tense, but like a spring ready to burst forward. He no longer wielded Fresh Snow Zephyr, and in order to keep his nickname, he needed to be at the ready. Chosen frowned slightly, his eyes falling across the other members of the Steel Wolves.

'They're only Experts. Should I fight two at once? Even if I lose… no. I can't lose, so I'll have to surrender some to the others too.' Tagak's eyes fell across each of the Order members. He was fairly certain he was weaker than any of them, but that didn't matter to him, for if they wanted to pick a fight with Adam, and even if he didn't like the half elf, how dare they act up after what the Orders did?

However, the pressure wasn't just from the older Iyrmen, for the Silver Fate Squad also glared at the Order members.

'We could claim them,' Nirot thought, glancing aside towards her cousin, who remained at his brother's side as he spoke to the Commander. Then her eyes darted to the Vice Commander of the Steel Wolves, one of the few Vice Commanders of the Order.

'If he smiles like that, is it the Smiling Wolf?' Kitool could also feel the aura from the other Iyrmen, from Naqokan, who was also eager to ask her cousin to surrender the Vice Commander to her, all the way to Bavin, who stood tall and alert, but even quiet Bavin's hair stood on end, ready and eager to fight. The only issue was…

'The Steel Wolves…' Kitool thought about what she knew of the Order.

'If it is the Steel Wolves, Wolf Father is thought to be as strong as the Grand Commander of High Garden. Should we fight them here? Should we allow them to step back?' Tork blinked, his eyes falling from Iyrman to Iyrman.

'My brother stepped forward, so why are you guys trying to pick a fight?'