Omen: 2, 10

Adam stared down at Taygak, his brows furrowed. Taygak returned the stare up at him, her eyes expectant. She wore clothing which had been gifted to her in the morning by her mother, red, like blood. Her hand was wrapped with all kinds of cloth which had been handed to her by the other children.

“Hmm,” Adam groaned, rubbing his chin. He glanced around, looking at all the other children, who were looking at him expectantly. “There seems to be an issue.”

The children glanced between one another, but did not say anything. They were waiting for it. They knew the joke, they knew the punch line, but the anticipation was causing them to twitch.

“I have this coin,” Adam said, revealing his platinum coin. “I can’t seem to find the person I need to give it to.”

“Who?” Taygak asked.

“I am looking for my adorable Cousin Taygak. She’s turning nine today, but I can’t seem to find her.”

Taygak clenched her fist and stood up taller. “I, Taygak.”

“What?” Adam asked, gasping.

The other children began to giggle and cackle quietly between one another, but they placed their fingers on their lips to try and quieten down.

“I, Taygak,” the Devilkin girl repeated, confidently.

“You are Taygak?”

“Daughter, Kaygak,” the girl stated firmly.

“Taygak, daughter of Kaygak?”

“Yes.”

Adam gasped. “What? You are Taygak, daughter of Kaygak?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my Gods,” Adam said, pulling back. “You can’t be Taygak! You’re too big and too strong to be my little Cousin Taygak!”

The children burst out with laughter, giggling wildly.

“Cousin Adam, you are so silly,” Katool said, pointing up at him.

“You joke too much!” Turot accused, but he was consumed by a fit of laughter.

“I, Taygak. Big. Strong.” Taygak snorted through her nostrils, widening her stance as she stood up straight.

“No! My adorable Cousin Taygak should be small and cute, like always.” Adam frowned.

“No,” Taygak replied firmly. “Big. Strong.”

Adam lifted the girl up, grunting as he pretended to struggle. “Oof! Taygak, you are too big now!”

“Strong,” Taygak accused, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at him.

“I’m strong?”

“Yes.”

Adam stood up straight, holding the girl to his chest. He stared into her eyes, his brows still furrowed, as though thinking. “You know, Taygak. I think you’re right.”

“Yes.” Taygak smiled. Of course she was right, she was Taygak.

“Happy birthday, Taygak,” Adam said, hugging her tight, before letting her down. He knelt down and held out a platinum coin. “Remember, this is your coin, and not even your mother can take it from you.”

“Taygak coin,” she said, taking it.

Adam smiled. “Do you like it?”

“Yes,” the girl replied, staring at the coin. It was so shiny, and she hadn’t seen much platinum in her life.

Adam raised his brows.

“Thank,” Taygak said, patting her Cousin’s shoulder.

“Good girl.” Adam smiled. “It’s a shame I missed my other adorable Cousin Gaks’ birthdays by only a few days, but you got your coin, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Raygak replied, and Saygak nodded.

“Good,” Adam said, his eyes catching Lavgak’s and Kaygak’s eyes. “Well, it’s not like I could have beat them up to get them to hand over the coins.” Then his eyes fell to Jogak and Tizgak.

Jogak and Tizgak exchanged glances. The pair wanted to fire something back, but they were both sure they couldn’t beat Adam, though perhaps together they stood some chance. However, two adult Iyrmen against their daughters’ compatriot? They wouldn’t be able to live with the shame.

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Adam winked at the pair, before letting the others give their gifts to the small Devilkin. Jurot had given her a shield, one which had been given to him when he was a boy from his granduncle, Sarot. Kitool had given her some clay she had brought from Red Oak.

“Taygak, come,” Jaygak said.

Taygak walked over to her cousin, standing at attention. Like all Iyrmen children she made sure to listen to her cousins. It was the way the Iyr worked. There was a level of trust between all Iyrmen, and if something needed to be done, it was to be done without question.

Jaygak unstrapped Stormdrake, before dropping to a knee. “You can meditate with Stormdrake and play with it.”

Taygak twitched, her eyes fluttering. She looked to her mother, who thought for a moment, but nodded her head. Taygak then looked to Jaygak. “Taygak, play?”

“Yes,” Jaygak said, handing the girl the sword in its sheath.

Taygak stared down at it wide eyed, and the other children stared at the sword and their cousin, who was the oldest of all the children. Taygak’s tiny heart beat quickly, feeling the shock of excitement.

“Taygak, play?” Taygak asked, staring up at Jaygak in utter shock, unable to comprehend she was allowed to play with this weapon.

“Yes. Be careful, okay?”

“Okay!”

Jaygak remained with Taygak, making sure she didn’t do anything to hurt herself. Though Taygak was allowed to meditate with it, she didn’t, instead too busy showing it off to her cousins, letting them touch it and swing it, with the girl’s guidance.

It was surely the best gift.

The other adults glared at Jaygak for giving such a great gift to the girl. Jaygak smirked in response, understanding their glares. She basked within the glares, but she knew she could do this without getting reprimanded.

‘I wonder how they’ll react one they find out what my real gift is?’

Jogak placed a hand at the back of his daughter’s head.

“Father?”

“What are you planning?” Jogak asked.

Jaygak kept the smirk on her face. “What do you mean?”

“I can feel it,” he said. “The tingling at the tip of my horns. I know you are going to do something.”

“What have I done?” Jaygak asked, feeling the strong hand at the back of her head. She was enjoying the feeling, the feeling of her father wanting to reprimand her, but with no reason to do so.

Jogak sighed, pulling her head to his chest. “Do not go too far, it is little Taygak’s birthday.”

Jaygak just smiled up at her father, which stated that she would take his words into consideration, but she was definitely going to do whatever it was she was going to do. Jogak left, keeping an eye on Jaygak, while she was keeping an eye on Taygak. Even if she was going to go wild later, she understood that she needed to make sure Taygak, regardless of how sensible she was, wasn’t in danger because of Stormdrake.

The Iyrmen tensed up, though seeing the familiar stranger, they calmed down.

“Hello,” Strom called, stepping through the archway. “How are you all? I heard it was someone’s birthday so I thought I’d stop by.”

The Iyrmen should have expected Strom, who had also appeared the month previously for both Raygak and Saygak.

Adam wanted to tease Strom, but he couldn’t. Strom was still slowly losing weight, and his skin was growing slightly paler. He did not give the same intense pressure as he had after giving up his Spark. “Yo.”

“I hope I’m not too late to give my gift,” Strom said, revealing a sword made of metal which looked almost like the night sky. He had brought similar blades previously for Raygak and Saygak. They were not magical, but were made of exotic materials, those not found in these lands.

They all looked to Kaygak, but she looked to the nearby Iyrman. She was a familiar face, which caused the children to rush up to her in delight. She had also come previously with Strom for Raygak and Saygak.

“Grandaunt! Grandaunt,” they shouted, rushing towards Shaool.

“Good morning,” she said, picking Taygak up, brushing her hair. “What a big girl you have become, little Taygak.”

Taygak snorted, before resting her head against Shaool’s cheek. “Yes.”

“Will you accept Lord Strom’s gift?”

Taygak looked towards Strom, who smiled politely. She shyly nodded her head. “Thank…”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Strom said, who had already showered the Iyr in a hundred weapons thus far.

“Okay,” the girl replied, staring at the sword. She knew that Strom was really important, even if she didn’t know who he was.

It was surely the best gift.

Jaygak narrowed her eyes towards Strom. “I have a gift too.” She had wanted to save it for the evening, but she couldn’t let Strom upstage her like this.

“You have already given a gift,” Kaygak said, trying to put some pressure on the girl. She, like the other adult Iyrmen, could feel it. It was a sense which they had trained thanks to the girl, but it had been refined by Adam.

Jaygak was going to do something stupid.

Jaygak turned, but found herself face to face with her father. “Step aside, father.”

Jogak reached up to grab her shoulder, and though Jaygak tried to slip aside, he had anticipated where she was going to go, and managed to grab her. He smiled politely, letting her know she was still far too young to be trying to fight him. “We have Guests, Jaygak.”

Jaygak stared up towards her father’s eyes, and he could tell it wasn’t done yet. “I have to give my gift to my cousin.”

“You have given your gift,” Jogak rebuked, trying to get her to back down.

“I have not,” Jaygak stated, not taking it for an answer.

“You have,” Jogak replied, speaking more clearly. He was making sure she understood she couldn’t act up, especially not in front of Strom.

“Hmmm,” Adam hummed.

The adult Iyrmen’s eyes then snapped towards Adam, who was smiling.

Oh no.

Quickly, their eyes snapped to Sonarot, who was watching it all unfold. Strom, too, watched the play, understanding there was something about to happen.

“Oh dear,” Adam said. “If Jaygak is unable to get her gift, then I suppose I’ll have to say my thoughts out loud.”

It was an obvious warning.

“Adam, what are you…” Mirot began, only to note that Jurot and Kitool had straightened up.

It was then the Iyrmen realised it was not just Jaygak and Adam, but Jurot and Kitool too. Their eyes then fell to the Guests, all of whom Adam had invited, from Dunes to Vonda, and those he had adventured with. Adam had invited them to Taygak’s birthday, making sure they had gifts for her.

If they continued this, they would only continue to embarrass themselves, and if Adam said whatever he was thinking out loud, then they could only blame themselves since he had warned them.

Jogak had to make a decision. He sighed, and let go of his daughter’s shoulder, allowing her to make her way to the house.

Adam continued to smile innocently. Even if it meant aggravating the adults, he couldn’t help but want to help Jaygak spoil Taygak. Even if they disliked him for it, it was worth it. Jaygak probably had something great she wanted to hand to…

All the eyes fell onto Jaygak as she returned, who held in her hands a sword. The hilt was made of a beautiful red gem, with a yellow cloth tied around it, matching the Gak family tatoo of a red cross with yellow tilted kites.

It was not just any blade, but one which had slain all manner of creatures, and had no small part in keeping Jaygak alive.

Strom and Adam burst out in laughter.