Chương 1295: [1211] - Y06.111 - The Father I

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Brother," the fellow said, who seemed to be the youngest, for he was a fresh faced youth, perhaps in his late teens. His hair was cut short, his face freshly shaved, his dark eyes holding a clarity from beyond his years, and yet an audacity one could only have when they were either noble, ignoble, or a young man. As the younger fellow held out his hand, Adam could see all the callouses, and the wear that came from a man born in poverty.

Adam held out his own hand, much softer, thanks to his fae ancestry, but still rough from knowing the life of wielding axe and blade.

"It's nice to meet you too," Adam said, shaking the young man's forearm, holding the young man's gaze for a long moment. His companions were a young woman and two men, each older, though still in their early twenties, and each holding a roughness. They wore simple clothing, freshly pressed that evening for the dinner, the trio all greeting the Brother and the Iyrmen with firm forearm shakes. Though Adam noted quite a few features, the Iyrmen beside him noticed far more.

Jurot's eyes seemed almost greedy as he eyed up each of them, though one was less impressive than the other three.

"My name is John," the youngest said, still holding an intensity within his eyes.

"Adam," Adam replied, though he raised his brow, for how many Johns had he come across?

"Are you the one they call the Crazy Father?"

"So I am."

"A half elf who is in the company of Iyrmen, wearing an obsidian amulet with their Lord of Death, and…" John paused a moment, as though unsure if he was young and stupid enough to continue.

"And who killed the Vice Commander of the Thousand Hunts for his sins."

"At least you know the proper story," Adam said, smiling slightly, though a darkness glazed across the surface of his eyes.

"So, John, Esther, Samuel, Amos, what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I wished to ask you if you require the services of guards," John said, still holding Adam's gaze.

"I may."

"We're well known in these parts, Brother, so if you have need of guards, we wish to offer our services."

"Perhaps, but why come work for me? You can work for plenty of people I'm sure, but you sent someone to find me, and caused me quite a bit of stress might I add." Adam's tone remained playful as he smiled.

"I'm sorry, but I was on duty, and could not speak with you personally. I thought it would be best to speak over dinner." John could already feel how annoyed his companions were, for this dinner was going to cost them dearly.

"Shall we order first?"

"Well, since you invited me, I assume you're going to be paying, but that puts me in a difficult spot," Adam said.

"A difficult spot, Brother?"

"You see, I'm meant to be banished from this land, but you see me walking around in broad daylight in Gold Port. The King and I have some issues, due to the sins of a particular Vice Commander, and if he hears that I am allowing the hardworking folk of Gold Port pay for my dinner, he might use it as an excuse to force me out. So, for taking the initiative, allow me to pay for the meal, especially since it may go quite some way in warming relations with the King."

John realised just how out of his depths he was, for who would dare to criticise King Merryweather of all people? His fervent following was almost cultish, even John had to tense up to stop himself from defending the King, who is still considered the greatest King's Sword to date in Aldland, and held the greatest of respects even in Aswadasad.

"So let's order, and don't worry, I'm not so poor that I need to watch over a few handfuls of gold. I'll eat what you recommend, and I won't hold it against you." Adam then motioned a hand to a worker, leaning in to whisper into their ear, and once he found out the price, he nodded.

"Please order a bottle for each table."

"Each table, Brother?" Adam reached into his robes, taking out a small pouch, and the worker, stared at it in confusion, until she felt the shape of the gems. Her eyes grew wide, since the small pouch contained at least ten gems, at least a hundred gold within.

Once the matter was resolved, for the gems were not just obsidian, but also held tiger eyes and more, enough to pay the worker's entire year's worth of wages and more, the bottles quickly appeared upon the various tables, and the half elf and his companions and the four rough fellows before them each ordered all manner of dishes.

"I heard rumours previously that you were looking for workers, guards and others, and my friends here, as well as a few others, have experience in the role. One of ours is also exceptionally smart, if he were born with a silver spoon, he would be taken into an academy to learn magic. The rest of us, we're better in the fighting role, and we have worked in Gold Port, and across Aldland. They say that your offer was like that out of a dream, too good to be true, but it isn't just that, Brother.

They said you fought the Vice Commander for your children, who…" John fell quiet. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Who?" Adam asked. John remained quiet for a long moment.

"Brother, I am a father too."

"You?"

"I have triplets. It's difficult to raise them upon a temporary guard's wage, though escorting caravans has helped, but I would do anything to raise them right. If something happened to them, even if it was a Vice Commander…" Adam slowly nodded his head.

"How old are you?"

"I'm turning nineteen at the end of noonval."

"How old are your children?"

"Turning two at the end of duskval." Adam blinked, trying to figure out when he had gotten married and had children.

"You had children really young, huh?"

"Slightly on the younger side, they say," John confirmed.

"I'm still young, I've got years still. We're all fairly young, and if your business is looking for guards that'll be working for years and years, we're hard working, loyal."

"Hard working. Loyal. Those words sound good, but I want to know how you're so hard working," Adam said as a medley of dishes began to cover the table, and though a bottle of wine was placed in the middle of the table, neither of them reached for it. Though the salty smell had hung heavily upon the air, it was quickly replaced by the smell of roasted meat, and Adam swallowed, unable to resist as he began to sneak certain bits as the young man replied.

"Every morning, we run two miles, and complete a whole routine expected of us. I am the first one in, the last one out. I start work an hour before other guards and finish up an hour later."

"Why is it that you work so hard?"

"My wife died giving birth to my sons."

"Oh," Adam replied, almost choking on the meat.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"My children are…" John paused.

"They're half elves. In Floria. The King, he's growing old, Brother."

"Ah," Adam replied, suddenly understanding it all, and seeing the desperation within the man's eyes, as well as his willingness to do what it took. Adam was unsure if he had ever felt anyone glare at him with such intensity, with the willingness to throw themselves into a den of beasts.

"Who is looking after your triplets?"

"My friends and their families," John said, motioning to his companions.

"There are ten of us who can guard, and another who is good with numbers."

"Do you have any other family?"

"No, Brother."

"You can call me Executive if that's more comfortable for you," Adam joked.

"Also, you're young, nineteen, huh? Your wife… what was her name?"

"Emilia."

"A beautiful name."

"She was-," John said, wincing slightly, forcing away the tears.

"She was a half elf?"

"Yes, Brother."

"You're really pulling my heartstrings here," Adam whispered, unable to taste the meat.

"Are you all working as guards now?"

"We work as part of the pool guard, they call us. The merchants, they call us up daily. We get up, wait in line, and hope there's enough work for us. Some know us by name and try to grab us."

"Mostly John here," Esther said.

"He's in high demand, so they pay him a few extra silvers here and there for'im."

"How much do they pay you daily?"

"Five silver, sometimes six. If you work extra hours, help set up before, stay a little while after, they pay an additional sum. Sometimes they give out additional pay at the end of the month too."

"How many days do you normally work?" Adam asked.

"Seven."

"Do you take any days off?"

"You have to take a day or two off each month, for taxes, duties, tithes."

"Are you willing to relocate?"

"I am."

"The rest of your friends?" Adam asked, motioning to the trio.

"If the offer is good enough," Esther replied, nodding her head, though her eyes still seemed so full of suspicion. Adam pulled out his journal, writing down notes within, trying to calculate everything, while also trying to jot down important information for later. He then reached into his pocket and placed down one gold in front of each of them.

"I appreciate the answers to my questions. They are relevant to me, to the business, but also, mostly, they're for my personal satisfaction. With that said, I'd like to know how much you make, and how much your companions make, in a typical month."

"I make around fifteen, my companions, they make around twelve, but if we're escorting, more than that, but it all goes to other expenses usually."

"How much are taxes each month?"

"Two gold."

"Oh?" Adam was surprised it was so little.

"How much is your rent? Ah, wait, never mind that. How much are you able to save each month, if you are able to save any coin at all?"

"If I'm lucky, five or six. If I'm unlucky, or there are lots of expenses for the month, none at all, but usually at least one gold."

"It is impressive to save so much," Jurot said, slowly nodding his head, and as he spoke, alarm flooded through the four, though it lasted only a moment.

"Are you working tomorrow?"

"If you do not have need of us, yes."

"Take the day off. I'll pay you each a gold. I'd like to meet your families and speak with you all properly. Let's eat for now, and tomorrow I'll interview you, your families, and we'll discuss a lot from your abilities, to your dreams, expectations of work and pay, and so on. Though, I will say, so far, I'm liking everything I've heard, to the point I'm almost suspicious, but…" Adam thought about the warmth within his heart, and he thought of his children who remained for him at home.

"You caught me at a point in my life that I want to believe in you, so be glad of your fortune." John swallowed, trying to keep his expectations in check, but the half elf kept his word, and ordered so much food and alcohol, and even sent them away with an escort with the Priest and the horc, as well as a whole pouch of silver each, easily more than a week's wage. Once they returned to the fort, Adam settled to one side, and then raised his brows towards his brother, who had been eager to talk with him for a while.

"John, Esther, and Samuel each have good builds for dancing," Jurot said.

"Dancing? Why do we-, ah! Dancing!" Adam slowly nodded, the warmth of the alcohol flowing through him.

"Amos is strong, and he could dance well, but he would be more suitable for typical fighting."

"John is extremely talented," Kitool said.

"He holds greater talent than Jurot or I."

"It's all too perfect, isn't-," Adam blinked.

"What? More than you two?"

"I perceived it too," Jurot admitted.

"If we must accept others who are not so talented, it would be worth it to procure the four."

"Well, damn."