Chương 1760: [1657] – Y07.157 – A City of Gold II

As the searing noonval sun fell upon Aswadasad, the half dragon, whose heart called him towards slumber, gave his greetings to the various Iyrmen, taking special note of the triplets, who had chattered his ears numb about this, about that, about this and that, and that and this.

"Kal Tawid," Adam called, holding out the quicksilver sword he had bought, a sword that was quite a fine work, though not quite Masterwork.

"I hope you'll accept this gift."

"It was I who was meant to spoil you and your family this day," Tawid replied, though he accepted the sword.

"A thousand and one gratitudes."

"Next time we swing by, I'll let you spoil us even more," Adam assured, and with a smile and a wave, allowed the half dragon to retreat away from the vicious aura emanating from the nearby Iyrmen. Once they returned to the estate, Adam picked up his daughter, and though she made to fight, the half elf planted a firm kiss on her forehead, and she stopped squirming.

Adam allowed little Jarot to follow after them, but he settled himself into a corner, and held his daughter close to him, cuddling her as though she were a pillow.

"Do you know why I must speak with you?"

"Yes…"

"You're not in trouble," Adam whispered, planting a kiss on her cheek, but allowed the girl to remain buried against his chest, for if she saw his face, the anxiety may wound her heart. Adam brushed through her thick hair, and as he noted little Jarot's awkward face, the boy shuffled away slightly, and busied himself with looking at the tiny bugs on the floor nearby.

"Jirot, you are one of the kindest children in the whole world." Jirot clutched her father's shalwar within her chubby hands.

"You are also so vicious with your words, and even though you are allowed to bully your family, and sometimes, you're allowed to bully others playfully, there are some things you can and cannot say, and even though you can bully babo a lot, because he is so big and strong, and so tough, there are some things you cannot say."

"Sorry, daddy…"

"I know, Jibaby, I know." Adam continued to brush her hair gently with his fingers.

"When you say such words, even if babo laughs at them, you still hurt the people around him. Your papas and kakas, when they heard you say those things about his arm and leg, they were hurt too, and I know that you never mean to hurt people with your words like that, but sometimes it happens."

"I am sorry, daddy…" Adam continued to hold the girl, rubbing along her back gently. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and then her ear.

"We do not say such things about people's appearances, especially things like that. I do not want to hear you say something about someone's appearance unless they speak of your appearance, and I don't want to hear you say such words about your family."

"Okay, daddy…" Adam's heart ached, but he let out a sharp sigh, and as he stood, he groaned pretending as though he was struggling to lift her, and as he pressed her up twice, he brought her down so the girl's pout was right in front of him.

"Tonight, I want you to apologise to your babo, and you have to cuddle with him all night, okay?"

"Okay, daddy." Adam leaned in to blow a raspberry against her stomach, but decided against it, instead blowing a raspberry against her neck, showering her in kisses, and he finally placed her down, carefully, smiling down towards the girl, carefully.

"Don't worry, I will not tell mummy of what you said."

"Thank you, daddy…" Jirot flushed even deeper red, and perhaps it was then she realised the true gravity of the situation. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Okay, go apologise to your papas and kakas quickly and give them a hug and a kiss, and I'm sure they won't be saddened by your words after that," Adam said, pinching his daughter's cheeks, hoping she wasn't too upset by what he said. He was also proud of himself for not defaulting to the absolute worst excuse a parent could make, and that was to excuse her behaviour for she was but a child, even though one should understand that much, though it should remain unspoken.

"Okay..." Jirot waddled off to her brother first, and as she apologised, the two hugged and kissed one another's cheeks, and she waddled over to her eldest siblings, who accepted her affection, the trio hugging their younger sister and kissing her.

'I'm so lucky to have such well behaved children,' Adam thought, killing the thought as to why they had to be so well behaved, and as he tensed up, he flexed his fist and relaxed it, as though crushing the thought within his fist.

'Should I begin oppressing others?'

"Brother!" Lanarot called, rushing over towards him from her sister, the woman who had realised her husband was thinking something so vicious.

"Lanababy."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. Are you okay?"

"Mm. Brother, if Jirot fought grandfather, would she win?"

"Yes, since a child of the Iyr is more powerful than even the Mad Dog."

"Ah, of course."

"Of course," Adam agreed.

"If I fought Jirot, would I win? I am a child too?"

"You are her aunt, so it would wound your heart too much, so you would lose," Adam replied, as though it were truly that simple. Lanarot considered her brother's words, and as she closed her eyes, mulling over the thoughts as though they were a long, drawn out, bloody battle, she nodded.

"You are so wise, brother."

"I have to be this wise, for I am a fool."

"Ah, of course."

"Of course."

"Brother, that means I can defeat you, because I am a child of the Iyr, and you are my brother, and it would wound your heart to strike me?"

"I suppose that's true. Except, wouldn't it wound your heart to beat this brother of yours?"

"Not even a little bit," Lanarot assured, patting his side gently, before sauntering off to her younger sister, who was currently in the middle of napping within the shade. Adam watched the girl's form grow ever smaller, almost growing smaller than his youngest sister, and though her words wounded his heart, his lips formed the most gentlest of smiles.

'I don't have to worry about the kids since Lanarot is so smart.'

"Lanarot is too wise," Jurot said as he approached, his eyes trailing the girl's form, but then changed to look towards Jirot.

"Jirot is…"

"I spoke with her."

"Mm," Jurot affirmed.

"There is no doubt she is grandfather's greatdaughter, and your daughter."

"I feel like calling him an Aldishman is the limit, but even that might be too much."

"If it is Jirot, she can speak those words to grandfather," Jurot replied.

"I, too, will do so, when I wish to covet Baktu's gentle embrace."

"If I say it, do you think he will kill me?"

"He will not kill you, but he will beat you well."

"I think the heat is getting to her," Adam said, looking out towards his daughter, who had apologised to her greatfather, but was quickly distracted by her greatparents' affection.

"It might be because of the way the people were looking at her and her brother, so she might feel frustrated because of that."

"Her eyes are keener than even yours," Jurot agreed, and though he wished to go spill the blood of those who held such a gaze towards his niece who was so kind hearted, save for the short rant she had drowned her greatfather in, and even then, perhaps it was deserved, at least, from the eyes of the Aldishmen.

"I've dealt with it, and I know that Jirot understands, since she's so smart."

"Mm," Jurot affirmed. The young Iyrman considered which of Adam's children could dare to speak such a way towards anyone, but it was Jirot, whose lips moved so freely, who was the only one with such a capability.

"Do you think Damrot will ever speak such words." Adam let out a cough, almost choking on air.

"Damrot? He might bully you and me a little bit now and again, but he's too sweet."

"What of Monarot?"

"I don't know…"

"What of Pamarot?"

"Absolutely, she's almost as wicked as Jirot!" Adam snapped, with such a sudden shift in energy, Jurot winced, but only because he wanted to stop himself from smiling at Adam's terrible joke, otherwise Jirot would be able to speak the wicked words to him too, and deservedly so, for he would be considered the greatest fool.

"I'm sorry about taking you and Pam away from Pamarot, especially when she's so young."

"The children require the trip," Jurot said, and he didn't speak the words, for they were difficult for him to speak. He wasn't sure if just this much would be able to ease their hearts, for the amount of trouble they could cause, the amount of blood they could spill, was limited. Thankfully, however, Adam and the others were able to let out their pent up frustrations upon many of the Aswadian warriors.

As the stars began to twinkle in the air, Jirot crawled atop her greatfather's chest, and claimed one half of her greatfather, though quickly crawled onto the other side, wrapping her arms around her greatfather's wooden arm.

"I am sorry for saying such rude things, babo."

"It is okay, my Jirot," Jarot assured.

"No! It is not okay, babo!"