Chương 1523: [1432] – Y06.332 – Troublesome Children VII

"I know it's awkward to remain within the Front Iyr for all this time, I rather enjoy our little fortress, but the Reavers are quite a potent threat," the half elf informed, addressing the businessfolk before him, who listened with rapt attention.

"It may take some time to deal with them, so we'll have to remain here until then."

'The tales must be true,' Rick thought, considering if Adam was warning them, and spoke with such gravity.

"If there have been any issues here, I'll hear them from the Leads, but if there's something you want to tell me privately, you can come to me this evening, and I'll take your words seriously, even if it's a small issue," Adam continued, hoping the businessfolk trusted his words after all he had done.

"If someone broke the rules, come speak to me, if someone has offended you in some way, come to me, if someone has harmed you, you should especially come to me." The businessfolk remained quiet, and as the half elf glanced towards Rick and Cobra, neither of them stepped forward. Adam would speak to them later that day to check, just in case it was a private matter.

"Allow me to introduce a few newcomers, some of whom are guests of the business, like Kal Uli, a Black Lion from Aswadasad, you can consider him like a King's Blade," Adam said, causing a ripple of excitement through the businessfolk, the children making a noise of awe.

"We also have Kal Lani, the Sword of the Lady, as in, of Lady Arya, she would be considered someone like…"

"The King's Sword, but of Black Mountain," Jurot said, causing an even greater ripple through the group, for though she may have been the equivalent of a King's Sword for an Order, a slightly lower position than the King's Sword for the King of Aldland, she was the Sword of the Lady, of Lady Arya, thus perhaps an even greater position?

"This is Elif, who is currently training as her squire, or rather, is currently assisting the Sword of the Lady, but will return to her town once she is an Expert," Adam informed, for the relationship was rather murky, but it must be so, since Adam was involved. However, to start off as a squire to the Sword of the Lady was quite the story.

"This is Maharan, who saved Karmin, Chief Iromin's cousin, you know, the scary one with the one guy, so he has been granted stay within the business, and I will train him to become an Expert, perhaps a Master, and he will choose whether he wishes to stay or leave," Adam informed, matter of factly.

"Oooh!" the children gasped.

'What did he say?' Maharan thought, barely understanding the half elf's words since he spoke in Aldish, but he had heard his name, as well as Karmin's name.

"There is Kal Zabir too, who is a Mulazim of Arisa, which is equivalent to a Captain within a guard force in East Port, for example."

"Oooh!"

"This is Tanika, a sand giant, who is Bael's squire, not related to the business in the same way, but she is a guest, so please treat her respectfully, and if she causes you trouble, I'll beat her up," Adam said, letting out a soft chuckle.

"What did he say?" Tanika whispered.

"He asked them to treat you respectfully, and should you cause trouble, he will beat you," Bael replied. Tanika furrowed her brows, though quickly recalled Adam was Adam, so if she caused trouble, he would beat her.

"There are a few others who are joining us, but they're currently elsewhere at the moment, the Silver Fate Squad is escorting them, while Nobby is currently in the village, sorry," Adam said, apologising to the parents, who must have been worried he hadn't informed them. He couldn't tell them what happened to Nobby as they left, he would leave it up to Nobby. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Jimmy's eyes beamed towards the returning fellows, especially those in such fine armour, who wielded such fine blades, a familiar blade, for he sketched it so many times already.

"It's good to see you're all well," Rook said, grinning wide, almost like a beast, though the children shyly smiled in return.

"Are you finally joining the business, mister?" Jimmy asked, his eyes so hopeful. Rook realised he could break the child's heart, just to see his tears, but if he did that, surely Adam would bruise his body until his dark skin was blue.

"It is more than likely." Jimmy placed his hands together and prayed to all the Divine, though was quickly distracted by the gifts, the hats, the scarves, the ribbons, the books, the various games, even uthur, though the uthur was handed to the adults, who would apply them during special occasions.

"Don't think I forgot," Adam whispered, holding out a pouch to Charley and Ivy, who excitedly accepted the pouch, heavy with dye. This much would last them years, and the dye from Aswadasad was far more vibrant. As they thanked the half elf, he smiled awkwardly, realising he should have bought some nice weapons for them all.

"Thank you," Bilal said, his face wrapped in a scarf, only revealing his eyes, accepting all the items he had requested, mostly glad about all the uthur, for these children were born in Aswadasad, and some had memories of their home. As Adam spoiled the tiny children, especially the devilkin twins, Bilal noted the darkness emanating from the half elf, kept at bay now that he was home, but it was there, beneath the surface of the half elf's joy.

"Gimon, how goes it?" Adam asked, reaching out to greet the old man, smiling warmly.

"Well, Executive, well," the old man admitted, smiling in return, the old man as thin as ever, but his smile remained bright.

"Are the children helping you with the gardening?"

"They sure are, Executive, they're doing so well, 'specially your twins, no one can garden as well as them," Gimon stated, chuckling lightly, for of all the children here, it was the twins who watched over him best.

"How is your training?" Jurot asked, standing before the group, each of whom daring to meet his eyes, though with rapid hearts.

"The Iyr, and Lead Fred, have been training us," Theo replied, holding Jurot's gaze for a moment.

"I will check," Jurot said, half a warning.

"…" Kitool checked on Luna and Maisie, who were assisting with the bureaucracy, though as one might expect, it was all running fine, since there was little to do at this time, though they asked the Iyrman to double check, since there was a period they couldn't work with Ray Vonda. Kitool then noted Cobra's gaze, bowing her head lightly, Cobra greeting her with a bow too.

"Lady Jasmine, Siten, how do you both fare?" Adam asked, far too casually.

"Well," Jasmine replied.

"Did anyone in the Iyr bully you?" Adam joked, though his face looked serious.

"Let me know, I'll let my daughter know, and we'll see who bullies you." Jasmine tensed up ever so slightly to stop herself from letting out a shocked laugh.

"The Iyr is treating me well."

"Siten, you better not be slacking just because you're in the safest place for a thousand miles," Adam teased the figure all in black, that he had never seen who Siten was, even through his attire.

'A Black Lion,' Rick thought, noting the dark skinned man, who was said to be an equivalent of a King's Blade. They were equivalent in the sense that the King's Blade and the Black Lions held a similar role, so the book he read had informed him, but the difference between the two Orders was vast. The Black Lions were almost a police force, but the King's Blades? They were an Order among Orders, and they were tasked with acting as a royal guard more so than a guard working for the royal family.

Even so, Kal Uli was more than likely a great warrior, a warrior among warriors, and if he did come across a King's Blade, certainly it would be difficult to defeat him.

"Bilal," Kitool called, motioning a finger towards the Aswadian, and took him away. Kal Uli had seen him, but it wouldn't be long before he approached the figure, so Bilal needed to be sent away for a short while, since Bilal was who he was.

'He must be from one of the villages,' Uli thought, noting Bilal walking away, though there was something familiar about him, something Uli couldn't quite place. He was swiftly distracted, for a group of children squealed, a familiar group of children, for the only children who could squeal with such delight were that group of children.

"Kako!" Jirot charged the woman, purple skinned as she was, the woman smiling wide as she lifted Jirot up, tossing her into the air, doing the same for Jarot.

"We were only gone for a few days, did you really miss us that much?" Lucy asked, smiling even wider.

"It seems you must have missed me more than your father?"

'Does she think I won't beat her up?' the half elf thought.