Omen: 10, 19

“We must be careful,” Sir Harvey warned. “The next leg of our journey may be dangerous, as we will be travelling for at least fourteen days, more if we are unlucky.”

Adam glanced to the new Knight, a young man who was maybe in his late twenties at most, even younger than Frederick. He wore a dark breastplate, stamped with the West Wood design of their unique tree, with a dark cloak over their shoulder, and a blade at his side.

“Woodknight Dorian Westerly, at your service!” the young Knight declared. “I shall assist to the best of my ability!”

Even Sir Frederick, who was young and eager, threw the young Knight a look, the same look Adam and Jurot had given him when they had met.

“Alright, let’s head on out then,” Adam said.

Sir Dorian stared at at the man in puthral armour, wondering who this Copper Rank was that he had puthral plate mail. His eyes were curious as he stared at Adam.

“Don’t mind me,” Adam said. “I’m queer like any other Half Elf in the world.”

“You are an Elf?” Sir Dorian said, reaching for his blade quickly, eagerly drawing it.

“Whoa,” Adam said, reaching down to the hilt of his blade, wrapping his fingers around it, but not yet drawing it. “I would be careful doing that if I were you.” Adam’s lips turned into a wide smile. “The last big shot who tried to act up around me didn’t even last a single round.”

Sir Dorian narrowed his eyes, staring at the young man in puthral. “I could cut you in half before you drew your sword.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Adam said, and upon hearing the Knight’s intent, he drew his blade.

It was too late now, for the pair had drawn their blades.

“Adam is a member of our company,” Sir Harvey said, noting how the two older Iyrmen watched with a smile, exchanging meaningful glances between one another. “Whether he is a Half Elf or not, he is here to assist and is being paid good money to do so.”

Sir Dorian narrowed his eyes. The pair had drawn their blades, and were eager to fight one another. However, Sir Harvey was the leader of the expedition, and he could not misbehave.

“I understand, Sir Harvey,” the young Knight said. “However, if the Half Elf dares to act suspicious in front of my eyes, I will not hesitate to draw my blade and cut him down where he stands.”

Adam blinked. His eyes fell to Sir Harvey, staring at the High Alchemist. “We should leave him behind,” Adam said, sheathing his blade for Sir Harvey’s sake. “He’s going to be a nuisance on the road.”

“A nuisance?” Sir Dorian gasped. He had never heard of a man who spoke so poorly of a Knight.

But this was no man.

“How dare you!” Sir Dorian snarled, gripping his blade tighter.

“Whose to say I go and take a leak near a tree and he thinks that’s suspicious? Oh, look, he’s next to a tree, he must be sending a message to the trees! Whack, he attacks me with my pants down!” Adam said, shaking his head. “Or let’s say I don’t draw my blade immediately when I see something, and he thinks that I’m on the enemy’s side?”

“That’s preposterous!” Sir Dorian growled.

“Preposterous?” Adam asked, raising his brow. “You saw me, a man in puthral, surrounded by Iyrmen, who was standing beside Sir Harvey, and the moment you heard I was a Half Elf, you drew your sword. Tell me what’s preposterous? The fact that you did that, or the fact that you think you wouldn’t do something so preposterous?”

“It would be hard to explain his return,” Sir Harvey said.

“It would be easy to explain why our mission failed,” Adam replied, simply.

“He will come with us, and that is that, Adam,” Sir Harvey stated. “You should remember your place.”

“I know my place, Sir Harvey,” Adam said. “I know that if he tries anything, it will be hard to explain the lack of his return.”

“Daring to threaten a Knight?” Sir Dorian asked.

“Daring to defend myself, and it will be a gruesome defence, I promise you that, Knight of West Wood.”

Sir Dorian glared at Adam, but the group made to move.

‘Should I mention that Jonn is a Half Elf?’

As they moved, Sir Dorian noted the appearance of the man with the tiger skin. “There is a man following us.”

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“Good job, Sherlock,” Adam said. “He’s Jonn, another of my kind.”

“Another Half Elf? A spy no doubt,” the Knight said, reaching for his blade.

“You can’t be serious,” Adam said. “There’s no way someone like you exists. Are you in such a rush to die?”

“Die? With so many Iyrmen around us?” Sir Dorian glanced around, seeing the two Silver Rank tags.

Adam shook his head. “Can you believe this guy?” Adam asked, glancing to Jurot. “Thinks the Iyrmen wouldn’t cut him down if he acted up.”

Sir Dorian narrowed his eyes.

“Man, West Wood is weird. Everyone’s so eager to use their weapons…” Adam shook his head and sighed.

As they continued, Adam stepped beside Jurot. “That Dorian guy is going to be annoying, I can feel it.”

“It will be difficult for him to act with us here,” Jurot said. “His blade will not cut you down.”

“I knew I could depend on you,” Adam said, patting Jurot’s back, chuckling.

“I wouldn’t mind fighting him,” Dunes said. “It would be good practise to face a Knight.”

“What about the others?” Adam asked. “They’re probably more useful.”

Dunes couldn’t deny the words.

When they set up camp, Jonn remained some ways away, keeping to himself. He was eating some rations from the side as the Iyrmen went out to hunt.

“Get over here, you damn idiot!” Adam shouted towards the Half Elf. “Why are you sulking in your own corner? You’re already so annoying so just come join us.”

Jonn remained silent and still.

“What? Do you want me to drag you here myself? Don’t forget who beat you.” Adam stared at Jonn.

Eventually, the other Half Elf joined them, eating away at his rations.

Adam smirked at Dorian, waiting to see what he’d do.

“Two Half Elves…” Sir Dorian sighed. “It is a bad omen.”

“Don’t talk to me about omens,” Adam said, chuckling. “I am the son of Fate.”

Sir Dorian squinted at him suspiciously.

“What, going to draw your sword?” Adam teased, resting his arm against his own blade.

“We are all on the same team here,” Sir Merrick said. “We should work together.”

“I’m not sure we are part of the same team,” Adam said. “In case you didn’t realise, Sir Merrick, I have pointed ears and apparently that makes me an enemy of sorts.”

“After what happened to Rock Hill, you should be so lucky you can walk around in peace,” Sir Dorian said.

“No eyes, no ears. How the hell did you become a Knight?”

“Watch your tongue, Elf.” Sir Dorian growled.

“Enough!” Sir Harvey called, finally raising his voice. “Be careful with your words, Adam. It is against the law to say such things to Knights. He has every right to cut you down for what you said, and no one would dare say otherwise.”

“I have every right to cut him down for trying to attack me,” Adam said, “and no one would dare say otherwise.”

“Not by the King’s Law.”

“No, but by the Gods’ Law.”

“You’re in Aldland now.” Sir Harvey stared into Adam’s eyes. “Do not forget.”

“How can I forget?” Adam asked. “I’ve got random people drawing sword against me just because my ears are pointed. If I was an Iyrman, I’d be able to do whatever I want without worrying about the King’s Law. Jurot, I’m envious. You could cut this guy down right before us and the King wouldn’t even be able to lift a finger.”

“Even the Iyrmen are bound by the King’s Law,” Sir Harvey said, sternly. “You need to be more careful with your words.”

Adam glanced over to Jurot. “Is that right?”

“We are bound by the laws of the land, yes, but neither the King, or any other man or woman from Aldland, can punish us.”

“Right,” Adam said, sighing.

“The King cannot punish you?” Sir Dorian said, full of disbelief. “Just who do you Iyrmen think you are? Do you believe yourselves to be gods amongst men?”

Jurot threw his gaze towards the Knight, whereas Aizaban and Lanban raised their brows, their lips growing into a smile.

‘Did he really just say that?’ Aizaban’s eyes said as she stared at her cousin.

‘He does not know.’

“We are those who follow the treaty which has been signed,” Jurot said, his voice clear.

Jonn glanced between the Knight and the Iyrman, wondering if there was going to be a fight.

“The treaty? Which treaty allows you to spit on the King’s Law? I have not heard of such a treaty.”

“I assume it’s that treaty?” Adam said, looking at Jurot. “The one which has currently allowed the King to sit so comfortably on his throne. The Kingdom of Aldland, which was on the verge of collapse, received a hundred Iyrmen warriors as theirs Soldiers, and the Iyrmen remain amicable with the Kingdom. In exchange, the Iyrmen are not to be punished by the Kingdom, but by their own people, within their Iyr.”

“Preposterous,” Sir Dorian said, narrowing his eyes. “What a ridiculous statement! Who would ever believe that? I was not born yesterday. You wish for me to believe that the Iyrmen will provide a hundred Soldiers, which I am sure are quite decent, but to say our King will be unable to punish you…”

Adam blinked and rubbed his eyes.

He shook his head.

Spell: Tricks

“I was just threatened for saying that you have no eyes and no ears. Okay, in all fairness, maybe the no eyes is going too far, but you really don’t have any ears.” Adam turned to look at Harvey. “I can’t believe it. How is it possible that I can make a joke about him not hearing anything, only for him to prove me right. Is this speaking ill of the Knight? To speak the truth which you have heard before me?” Adam shook his head.

Sir Harvey glared at Adam.

Adam glanced towards Jurot. “Did you hear what I said, Jurot?”

“I did,” Jurot said.

“I have no doubt that you heard what I said, Jurot. Would you mind repeating what I said so the good Knight, who perhaps can’t understand the same language when it comes from the lips of a man with Elvish blood, can hear?” Adam asked, glancing back at Sir Dorian.

The Half Elf knew he was playing with fire, but Sir Dorian had annoyed him from their first meeting, and he was going to have fun with that.

“The Kingdom of Aldland, which was on the verge of collapse, received a hundred Iyrmen warriors as their Soldiers, and the Iyrmen remain amicable with the Kingdom.”

“Receive a hundred Iyrmen warriors,” Adam said, “and the Iyrmen remain amicable with the Kingdom. It’s not just a hundred Soldiers. It is a hundred Soldiers, and the lives of hundreds of thousands of lives.”

Sir Dorian narrowed his eyes, his face contorting into rage. “Just what do you mean by that, boy?”

“I mean exactly what I said, Sir No Ears,” Adam said. “The Iyrmen allow your King to keep his seat, and as long as he doesn’t act up, he gets to keep it.”

Sir Dorian reached for his blade.

“You are from the north of Central Aldland,” Sir Merrick said, catching the young Knight’s attention. “I’m sure they don’t speak of the tale there, but they say it often in Red Oak, which is close to the Iyr, I believe the closest town to it.”

“What do you speak of, Sir Merrick? This tale which I am oblivious to.”

“It is called the Tale of the Blackwater Crisis.”