“They have brought gifts,” Jurot stated.
Dusk had yet to blanket the sky when the tribesfolk appeared, gifts in tow. There were two large gifts wrapped in blankets, though Adam could spot the tips of the tyrantboar tusks peeking out from the sides. The group had also brought cuts of the tyrantboar’s skin and meat for the group.
“We appreciate the gifts,” Adam replied, bowing his head towards the tribesfolk.
The tribesfolk with the staff motioned a hand to the other tribesfolk, before signing with their hands as they made noises towards Jurot. Jurot almost turned to Adam to ask for permission, but instead replied with short grunts and his own signs.
The tribesfolk with the staff then stepped towards Adam placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder, needing to tip toe to do so, before they formed a thumbs up, bringing it to beneath their jaw.
“It means thank you,” Jurot replied.
“Ah, of course,” Adam replied, bowing his head lightly.
The tribesfolk made a noise towards Jurot, smacking the back of their hand to their palm, before chuckling lightly.
“Yes,” Jurot replied, standing a little taller.
The tribesfolk bowed their heads a final time and led the others out. Adam looked towards Jurot expectantly.
“They spoke the truth.”
“What did they say?”
“They said I have a good brother.”
“Well, yeah,” Adam replied, standing a little taller. “How did they know I was your brother?”
“I told them.”
“Oh. Right. Makes sense.”
“A tyrantboar tusk,” Jaygak said, admiring the tusks. “Two.”
“Yeah,” Adam replied. “Looks like the business is going to have some cool weapons.”
“Bonecleave is made of tyrantboar,” Jaygak said, thinking back to the blade. “It belongs to the Min family.”
“Is that what the Chief’s weapon is made of?”
“No, that blade is made from titan bone and dragonsteel.”
“What bone?”
“Titan bone,” Jaygak replied.
“Titan?”
“Ancient beings who were said to be the precursors of giants, though that may be rumour.”
“How ancient are they?”
“They come from the time before the Iyr, before even the dragons,” Jaygak replied. “The story of its procurement was buried.”
“Ah,” Adam replied, suddenly far less eager to hear about the weapon. ‘No need to seek my death so eagerly.’
“Bonecleave is a good weapon,” Jurot said. “It is made of a tyrantboar which once skewered a dragon.”
“Nice,” Adam whispered.
“It can skewer dragons pretty well too,” Jaygak said. “The Min family possesses it, and it has been used to hunt dragons since it holds a property which allows it to strike dragons with greater might.”
“Oh yeah?” Adam replied. “Sounds cool.”
“It is,” Jaygak replied. “It was once used to threaten Veisswing.”
“Veisswing?” Adam asked. “He’s got a sister, right?”
“The Princess of the Red Desert,” Jaygak confirmed.
“Right, right,” Adam replied, slowly nodding his head. “Didn’t Rose’s order have something to do with Veisswing?”
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“No, her order is allied with the Princess of the Red Desert.”
“Ah, right.” Adam slowly nodded his head. ‘Wasn’t there another order which was allied with the bronze dragons?’
“Veisswing had stolen an item meant as a gift from the Iyr to another, and so the Chief of the time went to speak with Veisswing, taking with him a member of the Min family along with a number of other Iyrmen,” Jaygak informed. “Veisswing almost did not relent.”
“Why not?”
“His father slumbered nearby and he believed the Iyr would not wish to face a dragon which held such great power.”
“Oh?”
“His father is an Ancient Brass Dragon,” Jaygak replied.
“Oh. Ancient?” Adam thought about how strong a dragon of that calibre would be. “Is he about as strong Jaeryael then?”
“He could clash with the Golden Empress,” Jaygak confirmed.
Adam whistled. “Damn. So what happened?”
“He realised we Iyrmen would wish to face a dragon which held such great power,” Jaygak replied.
Jurot’s lips twitched slightly upon hearing the tale. ‘Yes.’
“Right,” Adam replied. “You’d think he’d know about the Iyrmen and their, your, proclivity to being crazy.”
“Your are the blade calling the spear bloody, Adam,” Jaygak replied, flashing a smile.
Adam furrowed his brows. ‘What does that mean?’
Korin took command of the fresh tyrantboar meat, slicing it thinly as he prepared to fry it, using his spices, and the oil he had procured and has thus barely used. The meat of the tyrantboar melted into their mouths as they ate it, the spices dancing along their tongues. Jurot wrapped the meat around his cheese and chewed it slowly, before melting a small block over the meat, finishing the last of his tyrantboar meat and the good cheese.
“Kit’a, Jay’a,” Adam called, motioning with his head, sneaking them away. He held out two slices of tyrantboar meat he had absconded with, before tossing them to each of the direwolves, rubbing their necks. “Don’t tell anyone that I gave you the meat, okay?”
They yelped quietly and rubbed the sides of their faces against Adam’s cheeks, the half elf half hugging their large necks, their thick fur tickling him. The pair returned to devour the fireboar meat the Iyrmen had prepared for them.
“What?” Adam asked, noting Zeus staring at him. “I’ll get you some nice apples when we’re back in town.” ‘It’s not like you need to eat anyhow…’ Adam made sure not to send the thought to his magical steed.
The days continued to pass without much fanfare, though more birdcats appeared to harass them. Once the Fireballs softened them up, Fate’s Golden easily dispatched the
creatures.
When the firewolves appeared, it was more difficult, especially due to their flame breaths. It was more awkward to kill them since they were still resistant to Fireball, but not weak to frost like the fireboars. Thankfully, their typical tactics of using the two priests to concentrate on Spirit Sentinels in safety, while the rage dancers formed the front line, supported by those wielding long pikes, did more than enough.
Adam swapped out Faool with Bavin, since Bavin was a rage dancer, and was much better on the front line, even if Faool could force multiple creatures away with the Ool family’s abilities. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite as good with a pike, but settled with a bow, the young man was a fierce archer who could then close the gap if needed.
Brittany’s eyes fell to the Iyrman, the cousin of the same Iyrman who had trained her. ‘Isn’t he considered one of the weaker Iyrmen?’ Brittany had understood the Iyr was full of monsters, but to think what they considered to be weak was still stronger than what she considered to be strong…
“You Iyrmen are so crazy,” Adam said, glancing between Jurot and the younger Iyrmen. He stood with his arms crossed, and tapped his finger along his bicep, frowning slightly. Then his eyes fell to the large pythons which had appeared on the horizon, making their way to the fort.
“It is time for glory,” Jurot said.
“Didn’t you already get enough glory with the fireboars?”
“We assisted others, but now it is time to earn our own.”
Adam huffed, still tapping his bicep. He wouldn’t have minded allowing the Iyrmen to fight outside the fort, but Jurot had asked only for the Iyrmen to participate, which was more awkward. If he was around, he’d be more eager to allow them to fight, but…
‘But what?’ Adam thought. ‘They’ve got Jurot, Jaygak, and Kitool. What, you think you can outmatch those three, you idiot?’ “Alright, but none of you are allowed to die.”
“It is-,” Nirot began, before she stopped, seeing the glare in Adam’s eyes.
“We will follow the rules,” Naqokan assured.
“How can you do this to me?” Adam asked, turning aside. “You just want to show off to your siblings, taking all the glory for yourselves.”
“Yes,” all the Iyrmen replied.
“You punks!” Adam exclaimed, turning further away from them. “I won’t forgive you if you go down! What will I say to little Inakan and the others?”
Since Adam was being cringe, Jurot understood they had permission to fight the giant pythons themselves.
“Here,” Adam said, offering Strong Shield, which Jurot had returned as the days had passed. “You don’t need to meditate with it, so it should be fine to use it.”
“No,” Jurot replied. “The pythons will want to eat those with magical items.”
“…” Adam thought back to the creatures they had been facing, and it did seem as though they were more focused on those with magical items.
The group made their way to the other fort, Jurot communicating their intentions, which the tribesfolk relented to.
Jonn watched as Adam followed from a distance, far enough away that he couldn’t interfere, but close enough to get to anyone who dropped shortly.
“Will you not follow him?” Mara asked, watching from the wall beside him.
“He does not need me beside him.”
“It is our duty to follow our…” Mara felt the sharp gaze from Lucy.
“I would only be a bother.”
“Then you must grow powerful enough not to be a bother,” Mara replied.
“Yes,” Jonn replied, wondering why the demon was picking a fight with him.
The Iyrmen formed an arrow as they had done so previously, once more with Jurot at the tip, followed by the other rage dancers.
Adam stared at the group ahead of him as they prepared themselves, ready to deal with the half dozen or so giant pythons. From what he knew, each was more powerful than an Expert, and their jaws could crush any normal man apart.
‘They should be fine, right?’