Chương 1787: [1684] – Y07.184 – A Family Burdened IV

Shamus' eyes fell upon the particular figure once more, and as the warmth of the food struck against his face, wiping his sweat away with a rag, he picked up the dishes and brought them over to a particular corner, in which particular people sat.

"Asaym, Ray," Shamus greeted, placing down the last of the dishes, wiping his face once more, his eyes darting around the Iyrmen nearby.

"Walay," Vonda replied.

"Uh, um," the chef began, pausing a moment.

"Many blessings."

"May the Mother bless you," Vonda replied, bowing her head gently towards the chef, her smile warm.

"Ah!" Shamus smiled.

"You are with the Iyrmen?"

"They are my family," Vonda assured, still speaking in their tongue.

"It is good fortune to have Iyrmen as your family," Shamus said, his tone suggesting he didn't entirely believe his words, though his eyes darted all about the Iyrmen, noting how many of them held a grave aura, and as his eyes fell to the half elf, he nodded his head to him too.

"Mo."

"I am Mo Adam, connected mostly to the Iyr, and this is Ray Vonda of Life's Rose, my wife, and these are our children and our family," Adam informed, just in case it hadn't been obvious after the way they treated their children, and even after Vonda explained, for technically though she spoke the Aswadic tongue, it didn't seem as though the chef was certain she was speaking it fluently.

"Shukhur, what a large family. I am Shamus, the owner of this place, the chef, and though it is a simple heartbayt, I hope it is to your tastes, and that you feel as warm as those who frequent this place."

"It is a warm house, certainly," Adam assured.

"You speak our tongue well, Mo. Are you from Eastern Aswadasad?"

"I believe they call it Aswabayad, though I am not from there, I am from far away, and have friends in Black Mountain, and I have travelled throughout the land twice, thrice, now, to meet the various nobles, the Fariqi, and of course, those of Black Mountain."

"Shukhur, Mo, you have met with the Fariqi of this land?" Shamus asked, for he had heard something in Adam's tone.

"I… met with a few of them. My grandfather here, he had an issue with one of them, and so caused them some trouble, though thankfully he was able to step back." Shamus turned to look towards the old man, with his wooden arm and his wooden leg, bowing his head, and the old man, assuming what Adam was talking about, grinned wide, the most beastly grin.

"My grandfather here is the Mad Dog, although you might know his cousin, who is to Aswadasad, as he is to Aldland." Adam then almost pointed to Marmak, but decided against it, for there was no need to ruin their appetites.

"My akh al'jid is called Butcher Marmak." The man's brows raised in alarm.

"You are, you say, this is your family, Iyrmen?"

"He is my grandson," Gangak said, nodding her head towards the chef, who had taken the right precautions, even if they did take a short while, but then again, who would dare to suggest such a thing in front of so many Iyrmen unless it was true?

"Shukhur, shukhur," Shamus prayed, mostly for his own heart, within this bayt.

"Actually, you may have heard of my grandmother, who was quite well known here about fifty or so years ago."

"Flame Brand?" Shamus asked, causing murmuring all throughout the heartbayt. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Yes." Gangak's smile reached all the way to her eyes.

"How did you know?"

"There are a few who look like you that have made their name in this land, and if his grandfather is one similar to Butcher Markmak, then you must be Flame Brand, for only the likes of Flame Brand can tame one known as Mad Dog."

"She's my grandmother from the other side, this is my grandmother who married the Mad Dog, Ascending Swallow, who is more well known in Aldland." Adam introduced his family to the chef, who listened intently.

'Did the guards send them?' Shamus thought, seeing his life flash before his eyes.

"These are my children, my eldest five, my eldest triplets and then my twins, although my twins are a little shy today…" Adam rubbed his twins' backs gently with a hand, smiling with such innocence, Shamus knew he was guilty.

"I see your children have such eyes, your two daughters, their eyes are so sharp, and these three have such soft eyes."

"Usually it's my Jirot, this daughter of mine, who holds the most viciousness, but she is so shy these days, but once we are in the Iyr, I'm sure she will bully me again." Adam kissed his twins' cheeks gently.

"Shukhur. I hope you will all enjoy the food. I will send for some fresh milk and I will bring the desserts soon."

He waved towards the children, especially the girl who was so big and blue, and who was destroying all the food before her, for one might have assumed perhaps she was the daughter of the one known as Sully the Mountain within the capital, and the one beside her, one may have assumed he was the Lion King, but Shamus, though he could shoot a crossbow at the guards, could not even shoot knowledgeable looks to those before him.

"The food is so good…" Jirot whispered, taking a bite of the goat rice, chewing on each grain of rice slowly, offering a small bite to her brother, who accepted a single bite from her spoon.

"I told you, didn't I?" Adam, too, brought a spoon of rice to his son's lips, just enough so the boy would not be intimidated by the food. However, the boy brought up his gourd to his lips, blocking any other food, though he would not speak the words. Adam pulled his son up onto his lap and planted a firm kiss on his cheek.

"It's so good, even our little Jarot is eating so well!" Little Jarot flushed, hiding himself against his father's chest, and Adam brushed along his cheek tenderly, and since his son had ate so much, he allowed the boy his peace, for he understood his son's heart, which was so sweet, so tender.

"Well done," Jirot said, reaching over to hold her brother's hand for a moment.

"If you want more food, you can ask me, I will share it, okay?"

"No more…"

"I know, I know. When you want more, you can tell me. You can drink your milk. Make sure you drink a lot of milk, okay? It is hot and you must cool down, or you will get sick." Adam held onto his son, his heart throbbing, and he winced lightly. His eyes fell down to his daughter, who was the best sister for her brother, and as the girl fussed over him, his eyes fell to his wife, but she knew him too well, and she was too busy feeding the triplets with her spoon, allowing them to feed her in return.

As the family finished their meals, the chef personally brought a tray of small cupcakes, with icing to make them appear like flowers. They were sweet, not quite sickly so, and the others glanced their way, as though having never seen such desserts in their life.

"Cake and milk tastes really good together," Adam said, cutting a tiny piece of cake with his spoon, offering it to his son's lips. The boy stared at the spoon for a small moment, but opened his mouth tentatively, allowing his father to feed him, and his eyes fell upon his father, whose eyes beamed so brightly, and the boy drank his milk lightly, accepting his father's affection. Shamus noted the difficulty the boy possessed eating, and as the seconds passed, he was certain he knew why, but couldn't quite place it.

"Thank you for the meal," Korin said, placing a pouch onto the table, while Adam reached into his cloak, and then slipped in a small object, one that thunk against the metal, but itself wasn't metal.

"Shukhur, Akh, I hope you enjoyed it."

"It was delicious, as always."

"I did not know you were a man of Black Mountain," Shamus admitted.

"I liked to enjoy my time here, but this time I came to spoil my nieces and nephews, for I wished for them to taste Arisa's food, not just its fish, but the goat rice that I would often spend my silvers on."

"Shukhur," Shamus said, tapping his heart lightly, accepting the pouch, which was heavier than he expected.

"Did you pay too much, Akh?"

"I paid a comfortable amount." Korin smiled innocently, and as Shamus stepped away, Korin winked at the half elf.

"You came here often?" Adam asked.

"Most times. I did not step through this year, so I thought to take you all out."

"You kept the fact you were from Black Mountain a secret?"

"It is nice to step out as Korin, and not Akh Korin." Adam smiled, nodding his head gently, and with that, they made their way out, while Shamus eyed up the glint of gold, when it should have been silver. He had spent quite a bit for the large meal, but it was for the Akh, the Ray, and the Mo. It was the gem, however, an amber, worth a hundred gold, which caused a heavier burden upon his heart. As he stared at the gem, he recalled the eyes of the two little Iyrmen.