Chương 624: 587. Duchess I

Later in the day, Adam met with the porters and farmers to explain the situation to them. None seemed to have any issues with heading north to deal with Sir Landon's request, though they could see the annoyance, and worry, on Adam's face.

'Seriously, I should be helping Dunes…'

"What is this for?" Jaygak asked. Her eyes were glued to the gems Adam had placed down before her.

"For the plate mail," Adam replied, simply.

"It's what, a thousand and five hundred or so? I can pay for at least a third of it." Jaygak wasn't sure if she should accept it, but Adam's threat hung within her mind.

"Thank you, Adam."

'I'll pay a visit to the bank later…'

"Any time," Adam replied, nodding his head towards the Devilkin, before leaving her to stew in her awkwardness. He saw Nobby in the corner, his arms crossed as he thought deeply. Adam wondered why so many people were crossing their arms recently, wondering if he had done so too.

'Is it because of Jurot?'

"Hey, Nobby," Adam called as he sat opposite the large Expert.

"Hello, mister boss."

"What are you thinking about?"

"I want to tell mother and father."

"Oh?" Adam smiled slightly.

"Should we write a letter back to them?"

"I can't write."

"I'll write it," Adam said.

"Your mother can read it out for everyone."

"Thank you, mister boss."

"Should we keep it a secret that you won the tournament?" Adam asked.

"We can write that you did well, and you can send back some gold to them. When we meet them later, you can tell them properly."

"Okay." Adam assisted Nobby in writing a letter, writing that he's been doing well, and that he fought well in the tournament. He kept most of it vague, though mentioned some of Nobby's feats during his battles, and how he had assisted in fighting three hydras. Adam prepared the gold to be sent back home, a sum of fifty gold, which was around three months of decent pay for a labourer, as well as a scale from one of the hydras.

'Ah,' Adam thought once he had sent the payment back to the family.

'I think the money should be running out about now?' Adam thought about how much he should send back to Nobby's family, as well as to Brittany, since they had done quite well under him.

'Should I send back more money each month, or should I increase the length of time?' After thinking on the matter, Adam decided to send back ten gold each month into their account, ten going into Brittany's account, and another ten going to Nobby's parents.

'Should be alright if they get sent this much.' The guild worker's face remained neutral as Adam placed down so much money for the two different account they had at the guild. The payments were going to run out soon, but Adam had refilled them on time. The amount he had handed over, and the amount to be given monthly, meant it would take a while for the accounts to finish settling the gold. She wasn't sure if anyone had asked for such a request previously in her years of working at the guild.

The Adventurer's Guild fell silent as a heavily armoured knight appeared. She wore full plate mail, each piece engraved with all manner of symbols. Her cape was thick, a deep blue which represented the Duchess' personal guard, with golden trim also designed with tiny patterns which shimmered in the light. She carried a blade at her side with was slightly longer than a typical blade, seemingly made silver, with blue gem accents for the pommel and hilt.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Her heavy steps had silenced the Adventurer's Guild, but her sheer size and presence forced the silence to linger. The knight marched towards Adam, her shifting armour breaking the silence, before she stopped abruptly before the Half Elf who she currently towered over.

"Fate's Golden," she began.

"You have the honour of meeting with the Duchess in the morning." Adam bowed his head.

"It is permissible to wear either a breastplate or a chain shirt, and to carry a simple dagger at your side," the knight continued. Adam glanced over to the Iyrmen, wondering what their opinions were on this matter.

"Does that include we Iyrmen?" Kitool asked. The knight turned her head to face Kitool. She tensed for a moment, but upon recalling what the Duchess had stated, she paused.

"No. You have been granted the rights to appear with your armour and weapons, but Her Grace's grace."

"We will do as requested," Adam replied.

"The carriages will be prepared three hours before noon. You are expected to not offend the Duchess with either your sight or scent. We expect every member to be present, except for extraordinary circumstances. I will personally lead the warriors sent to escort you." Adam's entire neck tensed up as he refrained form making a joke, almost grinding his teeth.

"We feel reassured that someone of such great importance is willing to escort us."

"Yes," the knight replied, simply. She turned and left abruptly, with a gait which suggested she had more important places to be.

'She hasn't started a fight with us yet?' Adam thought.

'How scary…'

"You should not bring your ring," Jurot said.

"My what?"

"Your ring."

"…" Jurot switched to their tongue.

"The ring of Wraith."

"Ah," Adam replied.

"Right."

'I don't really feel comfortable not having Wraith with me, though.' XP: 14 500'Hmmmm.' XP: 14 500 -> 13 000 Gained Weapon Bond!

'I'm going in without a way to defend myself,' Adam thought.

'Especially since she's invited Lucy and Mara.'

"…" Mara's eyes fell to Adam for a moment, before her attention returned to the surroundings. Adam could feel the gentle tingle in the back of his head.

'It's all going too well. Should I have really picked the Duchess? If it was another great noble family, we could have worked just as well with them. If we end up fighting our way out…' Adam sighed.

'Who am I kidding? There's no way we can fight our way out of the Duchess' estate. If she wants to kill us, then it's really up to her. I should probably send word back to the Iyr…' Once evening fell, Adam relaxed in his bed. He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts full of the potential dangers in the near future. Mana: 21 -> 18"Hello there. I hope you're all well. We have such a story to tell you. Please tell Lanababy and my children I love them. Night."

"We are well. We will wait for the story. Okay. Please send Jurot my love. Thank you. Good night, Adam."

"Jurot," Adam said, as Jurot opened his door.

"Your mother sends her love." Jurot blinked.

"Yes?"

"I cast Sending," Adam said. Jurot nodded.

"Please tell her that I love her." Adam waited.

"Okay." Adam returned back to his room to cast the spell once more. Mana: 18 -> 15 Spell: Sending"Hello there. Jurot says he loves you too. Please also send it to Lanababy and the other children too. Also my love to Gurot and-," Adam noticed the magic fade.

'Oh, right, twenty five words.'

"Okay. I will. Please take good care. We will wait for your return. Konarot, Kirot, and Karot return your love." Adam smiled upon hearing the names of his triplets.

'Those little rascals! How could they do this to me? What an adorable set of brats! I love you all so much! Should I cast some more to you?' Jurot remained in bed, staring at the ceiling. He wondered if there was a way for him to learn Sending too. He tried to remember the price of the stones. Omen: 9, 14 The entire group bathed in the morning. Adam wondered if he should have brought some scented soap from nearby.

He had spent some of the morning assisting in cleaning their clothes and armour with his magic, before he went to bathe. He donned his puthral breastplate over himself, padding his neck and shoulders with extra cloth so they chafed him less. He carried no weapons, but had spent some time meditating with Wraith, before giving Jurot the ring to wear.

"I don't really know where else to put it," Adam said. Jurot held the ring. He supposed that it was fine for him to wear the ring, since Adam was the one who couldn't bring it with him, but he, as an Iyrman, could. He wondered how Adam would have reacted if the Iyrmen couldn't bring their armour or weapons. Jaygak, out of respect, wore just her breastplate, but carried Stormdrake at her side.

"We will guarantee your safety," Jurot assured the pair of Demons.

"The Duchess is no fool."

"Mother Soza will watch over us," Sir Vonda added, smiling from under her scarf.

"I have a duty to my liege," Mara replied, simply.

"If we are not able to take our weapons, then-,""Fine," Lucy grumbled quietly.

"If you're going to guarantee it, then I'll go." Mara fell silent, and handed over the rings to the Iyrmen. Kitool took the rings, slipping them onto her fingers.

'Hmm. I should really guarantee our safety…' Mana: 21 -> 18 Spell: Sending