Chương 1784: [1681] – Y07.181 – A Family Burdened I

'There was so much to do in Aswadasad,' Adam thought, and though he wished to take his children out to explore the capital more, he realised it was best to take them home, and he needed to calm his heart, otherwise he might end up doing something he might regret. He was grateful the Grand Malawi hadn't stepped out again, though he was sure the Grand Malawi wasn't going to be grateful for his life. Vonda's hand clasped his.

"I should have at least taken the old man to go see Master Shay…"

"When we return another time, let's make sure babo meets Master Shay, okay?" Vonda called, looking down towards her daughter, who peeked up towards her mother from her book, while her eldest siblings were snoozing away upon their father's lap, and little Jarot was beside her, upon her mother's other leg, reading his own book.

"Okay, mummy…"

'I am blessed to have someone like Vonda in my life…' Adam thought, for though the gloominess remained, he had to kill it, in the same way he killed a great many things. He looked out of the window, to the landscape, his thoughts upon his siblings, his Aunt, and the rest of his family, hoping they enjoyed the trip as much as he had, save for the meeting with the Grand Malawi.

'Just a single meeting of some dickhead and then…' Vonda, noting how her husband winced, assumed he had cursed within his mind. She reached over with her foot, rubbing along his calf gently, and as Adam half hooked her leg within his own, he leaned back, allowing his children to swallow him whole.

Bael sat atop the top of their carriage, the sword tight in one hand, his eyes staring ahead of him, though he was not looking at the world, but through it, considering his place within it for a moment, and then the place for his adorable little nieces and nephews, for that was what they could be considered, though he was who he was, and they were who they were, and yet they called him their papo, so what could he do against such a heavy title?

'If I burn a sliver of my Spark, I could probably kill him swiftly enough and retreat,' the half dragon, who was certainly a dragon, thought. Tanika sat opposite Amal, staring into the girl's eyes, the girl staring into hers, the two giants, one an adult, the other a toddler, continued to stare into each other's eyes.

"Big," Amalrot accused.

"You do not need to say it that way," Tanika replied. Amalrot looked up towards her mother, causing Tanika to glance aside, while Sonarot smiled down towards the girl, deciding against threatening Tanika, for she was a woman of good humour, and the giant's humour was decent.

"If you eat as much as her, perhaps you will reach her height?" Amalrot turned back to look towards Tanika, reaching up to hide her face, then turning to hide within her mother's bosom. Ashmir stared out of the window, his eyes watching the scenery pass on by.

He considered what Sully had said to him on the way back, and since his son was the kind of man that he was, and the half elf's morality was, though he was a half elf near Aldland, had not born into the same hatred between the humans and devilkin, and the devilkin and humans, like Sully and the others, it was best for Sal to remain.

'I barely tolerate you,' Sully had said, glad to see him go. Ashmir was certain that the Mountain probably missed him as much as the Lion King missed him in return. The carriages sped away, darting across the land, from town to town, passing by the Order of Black Lions, although the Mustashalur was absent, and they continued along their way, village to village, Ramizash, and his family, were somehow absent too. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Why is everyone missing?" Adam mused, sipping the stew, his eyes falling onto the villagers in front of him, each of whom were dancing and singing.

"The various villages might be in discussions," Korin replied.

"I believe Flower Spear might have requested it, considering her position."

"Oh…" Adam shrugged his shoulders, since, finally, it was something he wasn't involved in.

"What if Aswadasad attacks the villages during this time?" One of the villagers glanced aside to the half elf, opening their mouth in surprise, but they quickly smiled, for this half elf, he wasn't a coward, was he?

"I'm sure Ramizash would love nothing more for the army to march and attack any of the villages in the discussions, although, perhaps Lord Taymoraleaf is enough to force them not to act upon this village at least. Even so, if the army attacked any other village, whether it is those within these hills, or those in the deserts, even if the Reavers weren't about, I doubt they would do so, for the bloodshed, for the sake of one village, would even cause Iyrmen to salivate."

"I guess everyone's insane in the world, and not just the Iyrmen?" Adam joked.

"Doesn't that mean no one is insane then?"

"If everyone is insane, but one person is sane, are they then the insane one?" Adam considered the word.

"That is not what insane means," Jirot said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Daddy, you should know."

"I should?"

"Immoderate. Wild. Foolish. Absurd." The girl's eyes remained entirely upon her father, the two holding one another's gaze for a long moment. The accusation was loud.

"I see, although, I'm not entirely sure why I would know…" Jirot reached up to her head, wiping her face, and she turned to look towards her ahm.

"Daddy is always eating my head."

"He should try the stew instead," Korin replied.

"Oh ho?" Jirot turned, side eyeing her ahm.

"Ahm, you are so funny too?"

"I am as funny as I am handsome."

"No, you are much more handsome, ahm."

"Then I am much more funny, but I choose not to speak the words, for I will get into big trouble. I'm sure you know…" Korin and Jirot held one another's gazes for a long moment, and the girl returned to her meal. The accusation was loud.

As the noonval sun continued to bear upon them, Adam used his magic to cool the water they drank, flavouring it now and again for the children, while Amalrot stared at the water, which continued to change flavours, until Adam began to change cups, so it made much more sense to the girl, who slurped the water noisily, clutching the cup with both hands, half wearing the juices on her clothing.

'Even in this way Adam thinks so deeply…' It wasn't long before they also made their way into the Order, though the Iyrmen showed them mercy, for Adam remained silent as the moon above them, and Jarot, who had grinned like such a beast, was kept at bay by Vonda's request for the twins to remain with him, and Jirot held her greatfather's head within her chubby hands, glaring deep into his eyes, as though daring him to act up.

"…"

"…"

"Do you think I do not know you adore this greatfather of yours most?"

"You think because I adore this greatfather of mine most, I will allow this greatfather, who I adore most, to cause trouble in front of my mummy?"

"I see." Jarot planted a firm kiss on the girl's forehead, and she assaulted him with her lips in return, and held up her finger, and sealed the threat with further kisses.

'Why is she so aggressive?' the Order thought. The city sprawled across the horizon, the buildings flowing out like a wave across the land, the hilly terrain hiding much of the expansive city. The gates were imposing, and the guards remained at attention, but it was he who stood tallest and proudest. He was tall, wide, and carried a pair of blades on his back that would make lesser warriors falter to even wield.

His armour was forged of darker steel, aged by battle, the details lost to warriors who had dared to come across the faris. His cloak was heavy, barely shifting, even as he stood within the harsh noonval winds which whipped the city.

"Asaym, Iyrmen," Kal Fadi called, greeting them with the greatest of respect, at the behest of the Faro, and considering how they had returned so early, he understood it meant there had been such trouble. It was either someone who did not know they were Iyrmen, though if it was they, would they have returned?

'It was definitely the Grand Malawi.'

"Walay, Kal," Karmin called, for it was he who had spoken with the Faris previously, and he would take the lead once more.

"The Lady Faro hopes your travels were safe, and I hope they were entertaining for the children." Karmin held the faris' gaze, for he had no idea he had worked up the courage to be so funny.

"It was indeed safe, and entertaining for the children, though, for the sake of those who lost to us, we shall not speak of the matter."

"As you say," Kal Fadi replied, with the understanding there were probably a few of Aswadasad's greatest warriors who had failed to defeat them, for otherwise the Iyrmen would have admitted their warriors were great.

'What happened?'