“I was thinking about forming a guard to protect my children, not just my children, but the children of the business, not just those who are children of the Iyr.”
Chief Iromin remained silent, taking in the sight of the half elf before him. He had just slain one of the strongest figures in Aldland, but he was almost a little boy as he spoke of the topic. The Chief recalled the promise Adam had Elder Peace make to him, and at first he thought it was serious but humorous, but the Chief understood it was far less humorous than he originally realised. ‘I did not think it would take such a toll upon you.’
“I was thinking to expand the business with more enchanters too. Then, I want to create a unit of guards, not just typical guards, but Experts at least, maybe greater. They’ll be loyal to the business, which means they’ll be loyal to the Iyr, since, you know…” Adam smiled knowingly. “I was also thinking about asking for more land for the business. I want us to have a more diverse spread of… well, everything. Resources from the nearby forest, preferably the Iyr’s forests, which we’ll take good care of, and the river, and so on.”
Chief Iromin remained silent, concentrating on Adam’s request. Upon seeing the half elf was waiting for permission to continue, the Great Elder motioned with his hand.
“I was thinking about how many Iyrmen are around the business too. It’s not that I dislike it, but I do feel a little guilty about it. Still, I thought about it from your point of view, so I won’t ask you to reduce the number, even though I think I’m being a burden, I understand you get a large benefit from keeping a watchful eye on us. I was hoping that the Iyrmen might be able to assist in training the guards, perhaps watching over them, keeping their loyalties in check too.”
Iromin thought about Adam’s request. Considering just how light the half elf tried to be, sometimes his requests were so heavy. Adam would go from over thinking something small, to then making a request like this. Iromin sipped his tea, hiding his smile.
“You… may expand your business as you wish. Pay the appropriate compensation and the matter will be dealt with. You should speak with Elder Gold to understand the limits.”
“I have a favour to ask, and it’s a favour I can only ask you for.”
“What is it?”
“I want the Iyr to take the business in if something happens. Say the King marches an army to the border, or… the Reavers start showing up. I know you’ll know in advance, and I’d like for you to protect the workers.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just that-, okay?” Adam asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Adam fell silent for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts. “Right, well… I was planning on unlocking a few more enchanters over the next few years anyway. Some Iyrmen. Some… not.”
“Okay.”
“I, uh… I was thinking about picking up some people from Aswadasad, mercenaries, or younger people, and to train them up to guard the children.” Adam paused for a long moment. “I was hoping the Iyr would train them in Jurot and Kitool’s way.”
“…”
“Please.”
“We will consider the matter.”
“Thanks. We’d pay the Iyr, obviously.”
“What would be the compensation?”
“Gold. Magical items. Enchanters. What else would you like?”
Chief Iromin sipped the tea, falling deep into thought. He poured them both more tea. “You are now able to defeat the likes of a Grand Commander of an Order, a Paragon.”
Adam flushed slightly, having blocked out the thought from his mind. He smiled bashfully, but sipped his tea, knowing the tragedy that comes with being so strong.
“Your strength may even rival King Merryweather, and our Great Elders, or our Ten Paragons. Without your equipment, perhaps not, but you are still more powerful than a typical Master.” Iromin took in the eyes of the half elf. “You are powerful. A great threat. To defeat you, we would require a great many resources.”
“You need at least two people who know Counterspell,” Adam began, keeping the Chief’s gaze within his own. “At least two Grandmasters that know the way of the Rot family, two more Grandmasters that are like Kitool, and then however many more in order to put me down properly. You also need those who know certain spells, Fireball, Cone of Cold, so on, to bypass my great armour. I’m quite, very, weak to magic. It’s my kryptonite, you might say, which is a great reference, I assure you.”
The Chief shook his head lightly, for Adam had not yet told him everything from his first life.
“Plus… you have so many of my weaknesses. I mean, I’ve never defeated my wife, and I don’t dare to go up against my Jirot.”
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Iromin took in the look within Adam’s eyes, one of the few reasons why the half elf was still alive. “We cannot use your children against you.”
“Why not?”
“They are too young, and even if they come of age, we promised we would not.”
“You still have Kavgak,” Adam joked, flashing a wide smile.
Iromin smiled slightly, bowing his head lightly.
“I won’t act up, Chief. If I do, it’ll be because I’m charmed, or mind controlled.” Adam’s smile quickly dropped, but there was something even darker as his eyes flashed to the eldritch horrors which threatened him in his second life.
“If you are mind controlled, it would be a catastrophe.”
“Yeah.”
“Will you accept the tattoos of the Iyr?”
Adam choked on his tea, coughing and spluttering the liquid all around him, before he wiped his mouth and face. “What?”
“We will create a set of tattoos for you. You would not be adopted into the Iyr, though we would prefer it, to keep you properly restrained. The tattoos will hold certain wards to resist charms and mind control, and restrictions upon speech, so you cannot give up the Iyr’s secrets.”
Adam stared into the Chief’s eyes, still full of shock, but he understood what the Chief was doing. “Would…“ Adam swallowed. “Would the tattoos influence me?”
“The Iyr can send feelings through the tattoos, but you have the choice to act upon them.”
“How strong are these feelings?”
“They are not so deep. Annoyance in place of rage. Melancholy in place of depression. They are messages to we Iyrmen. If the Iyr is to war, it shall be sent through in feelings through the tattoos, so that an Iyrman, beyond even the Confederacy, can know of our plight.”
“Hmm…” Adam wasn’t sure just how deep these feelings went, and he tensed, trying to form a castle within his mind. That is how it should have been, right? A man’s thoughts should be his own, but… “The Iyr won’t be able to mind control me?”
“No. I, as the Chief, may request the Rot family to hand you to me for your death. It is their choice whether they wish to act upon my words. If they do not, unless I utilise one of my keys, I cannot force them to hand you to me.”
“Keys?”
“We Great Elders possess keys to amplify our powers during times of crisis. Unless I bring forth a key, I cannot force the Rot family to hand you to me. If I use a key, even if the Mad Dog may aim for my neck, the Rot family would kill you if I asked for it. The tattoos are not a key, but a recommendation, an acknowledgement.”
“Would you use a key to kill me?” Adam asked.
“If you were to turn against the Iyr, we would not need a key to kill you. If you were not to turn against the Iyr, there would be no reason to use a key.”
Adam frowned, still unsure of what the Great Elder meant. “Maybe?”
“I would recommend you should accept the tattoo, otherwise, I cannot bring the matter before the Great Elders.”
“They don’t know?”
“No. It is the first time we of the Iyr shall have created a tattoo for an outsider in this particular way. It would be best to aid against falling under the mind control of another, so that I do not have to fight off the Mad Dog if we must kill you.”
“I always appreciate you keeping me alive, Chief Iromin. Alright, if you think it’s a good idea, I’ll accept the tattoo. I trust you at least that much, and, well…” Adam smiled nervously. “I’m Greyish, so I love to lick the boot of my monarch.”
Iromin raised his brow as Adam laughed, the half elf stopping, opening his mouth as if to explain the joke, but making the wise decision to decide against it.
“Anyway… since we’re talking about trying to keep me alive, is it okay that I know Fifth Gate spells?”
“Yes.”
“I realised I didn’t tell you when I said I become a Master, so…”
“Which spells have you taken?”
“Raise Dead and Steel Wind Strike.”
Iromin blinked, slowly nodding his head. He had expected other spells, but if Adam had changed his mind, he was fine with it. Steel Wind Strike? That did increase the level of danger, but it was within his expectations of the young half elf.
Adam sipped his tea as silently as he could, since it was the deepest the Chief had thought during the conversation.
“Do not reveal such,” Iromin said, forcing away the stress. “Before you learn Sixth Gate spells, please speak with me.”
“How do you know I’ll learn Sixth Gate spells?”
“I know because you are Adam.”
Adam smiled slightly. “Sorry, Chief.”
Iromin dismissed the half elf’s worries with his hand, sipping more of his tea, the Iyrman leaning into the chair.
“If I’m going to get tattooed, should I ask Vonda?”
“You should not.”
“Why?”
“She is a Ray of Life’s Rose.”
‘Ah, right.’ Adam sighed. “My wife should trouble you that much at least.”
Iromin began to smile. “So she should.”
“As always, if the Iyr needs me, I’m always up to help.”
“The Reavers will come soon. The land has expanded during the Great Twilight, and we have claimed our land, but the Aldish may take issue.”
“The land has expanded? What do you mean by that?”
“Sometimes, land is born anew, or it springs up from the sea beneath. Such an event is rare, and is usually temporary, but this time, it may be more permanent. Due to the death here, Aldland may wish to take the lake from us.” Chief Iromin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile growing wide upon his lips. “They can try.”
‘Damn…’ Adam let out a sigh. “You know, have you thought of creating your own mercenary group? You could send them out to do your bidding, while pretending you’re keeping your hands clean. It’s a very popular tactic, and I haven’t heard the Iyr using it.”
“That may be what you are,” Iromin joked.
“Yeah, but I’d rather not get sent to my death, especially to the Aldish.”
“We have considered it, but it is dishonest, and if we refused such fun, the Family Elders and Family Heads would rebel.”
“Even more fun!” Adam joked, laughing wildly at his joke.
Iromin furrowed his brows, but his lips twitched slightly. “We can only have fun if the Iyr is safe.”
“Yeah. I suppose you have underground connections, though?”
“All countries do.”
Adam slowly nodded his head. “I, uh… I find that I love the Iyr. It’s my… home. Though I’m no Iyrman, and I’ll probably never be an Iyrman, and though I don’t agree with everything you guys do, it’s… it’s got my family. It has welcomed me. It…” Adam’s eyes burned up slightly. “Thank you, Chief. Really.”
Iromin placed a hand upon Adam’s head, rubbing the top of the half elf’s head. “Do not worry, Adam. Your children are safe. Your wife is safe. You are safe. You have defeated the Grand Commander lawfully before the eyes of the Divine. It was a fair, just duel.”
“You know how the Aldish are.”
“We know, that is why we will take full responsibility.”
“Why?”
“It has always been the Iyr’s responsibility, and… if I refuse the fun, the Family Elders and the Family Heads will rebel.”
Adam chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Though, it may be different to travel within Aldland for this year.”
“Yeah, well… I was planning on heading through Floria to Aswadasad anyhow.”
“A wise decision.”
“Thank you.”
“Perhaps I should stab you again to see if you are truly Adam.”
“Please don’t.”
“Okay.”