The days the group spent in East Port passed by uneventfully, somehow. Adam had spent most of his time within the inn, with the Marshal keeping an eye on him, though eventually going about to do his rounds, promising to return on the first.

Adam also found himself in some trouble, having delayed in gaining his stamps from the Guild.

‘I probably shouldn’t annoy them either…’

Omen: 10, 15

The children stared at the ship that Jurot had chartered for them, while Adam stared at the pouch Jurot handed over to the ship, which was going to take them all to South Port.

‘Kids really are expensive…’

Adam had little complaints, especially considering how little trouble they had with the wolves, which were allowed on with the Iyrmen’s guarantee.

The children stared out across the ocean, with many of their elder siblings, and the members of the business keeping an eye on them. Some of the children were far too eager to stand at the railings, while other, less ambitious children, settled themselves within the lower decks.

Adam stared at Max, who somehow wasn't spilling out his guts as the ship sailed. 'Does he just not like land travel then?'

"You think we'll see a water dragon?"

"Can't see water dragons, they're rare."

"Yeah, but maybe we can see a water hydra?"

"What about a dragon turtle?"

"No such thing's a dragon turtle."

"Yeah, it's like saying dragonlion."

"There's dragonlions in Aswadia."

"No there ain't."

"Yes there is."

Adam stared at the horizon across the seemingly endless ocean. He watched the waves in the distance, the way they gently pushed back and forth, even noting the fish which leapt up and around the surface of the water.

"It's so big," Alex said, standing beside Adam, the shadow known as Nobby looming nearby.

"Yeah."

"I've always seen it in the city, but I've not seen it on a ship before. Is it even bigger?"

"Massive," Adam said. "Most of the world is water, I think."

"There's a lotta land."

"There's a lot of water."

Alex stared across the ocean. "They say that the water's dangerous."

"It is."

"Why?"

"It's water," Adam replied. "Well, everything is dangerous in the extremes. A lot of something is always dangerous, even gold."

"How's that dangerous?"

"If you have the most gold, someone will want to take it from you."

"Oh. What about... the air?"

"Yeah. Too much air and you get light headed, and worse."

"What about... food?"

"You'll grow fat and it'll hurt your body."

"What about... love?"

"You'll become unhinged and destroy the world."

Alex looked up towards Adam, who was staring at the ocean. "Why would someone destroy the world?"

"Some people don't need a reason to destroy the world, but some people have their own reasons, whether they're valid or not, that doesn't matter to someone who wants to destroy the world."

"No one can destroy the world, the Divine will stop it."

"Yeah," Adam replied, smiling slightly. "While we're on the ship, the food might not be quite as nice, but it'll be only for a little while."

"Okay..."

Adam reached over and brushed his hair. "Don't worry, once we're at the business, we'll make sure you can have lots of delicious food. I'll make a budget for the food and I'll make sure it's a lot of gold."

"Is there going to be fish at the business?"

"Probably?"

"I love me some fish. Sometimes Cobra'd bring back some bass, and we'd grill it on the fire. Sometimes we could get some salt too, and some pepper too, but that's all so expensive."

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"I'm not sure about bass, I think river fish are different, but I'll try to get some spices for us."

"Mister Korin's spices are real nice, except the red one, that one's too spicy, burns my mouth."

"I'll be sure to keep that spice separate."

Alex stared out towards the water. "Are there really dragon turtles?"

"I think so."

"I heard some monsters ain't real."

"Which monsters?"

"Lions."

"Lions are real," Adam replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"They say they're like tigers."

"Kind of, yes."

"Wow. Do they really have big beards?"

"Manes, yes."

"Yeah, manes, that's what it's called." Alex nodded. "What about... what about goblins? They say they're like small horcs."

"Goblins are real too," Adam assured. "Perhaps we'll get to meet some."

"I don't want to meet no goblins, they eat children."

"I thought you didn't think they were real."

"Gilbert says goblins are real and they eat children so we got to go to bed on time so they don't come get us."

"I'm not sure about eating children, but the goblins I met don't eat..." Adam recalled how the twins had bitten other kids, though that was when they were really young. "No, no, they don't eat children."

"What about whales? Are they real? I hear they're really big fish."

"Technically they're not fish, they're mammals that live in the ocean."

"They're mamuls?"

"You'll learn about it in the future, don't worry."

"What about..."

Adam continued to listen to Alex's questions, until Cobra finally grabbed him, apologising for the child's questions. Alex brought back much news to the children, about how lions and goblins and whales were real, much to their incredulation.

The journey towards South Port passed by uneventfully, the group making their way past High Cliff and Bark Port, before arriving at the capital city of the newly formed Floria.

"It's like East Port but different," Alex said, glancing around. "Not a lot of colour..."

Adam spied the various banners which fell across the walls of the city. 'I suppose they're rather prideful in Floria, though I suppose I can't blame them. Who else has beaten back Aldland?'

The attention the group received with the Hope and Rays escorting them brought too many eyes to the group. 'Let's Hope they're more reverent and afraid of the Hope than curious about the kids.'

George remained beside Fred at all times, the boy barely stepping away from the young man.

"We'll spend a couple of days here and pass through," Adam told the children, having spent another heavy sum for their stay. 'I'm going to be bankrupt if we keep this up...'

Somehow, the pair of knights and the Lady didn't cause Adam any trouble. The lack of trouble almost caused him to forget they were even around, Kitool and Jurot dealing with the nobles, while Adam remained elsewhere. Adam swiftly made his way to the baths once the inn was dealt with, leaving Kitool and Jurot to hear the complaints from the nobles about how they had a certain appearance to maintain, and so Jonn and Jaygak went with them to another inn, acting as additional guards.

When the next morning came, Adam allowed the children to explore South Port, handing a few silver pieces to each child. Vasera and the others also assisted in guarding the children, while the Marshal remained near Adam, watching over the half elf, though kept an eye on Alex and George. He assumed Alex was the child that he needed to keep an eye on and to report back to the Duchess, having heard of George's story from Fred.

'They said the fort's going to be done in noonval. By the time we return, it's probably going to be the first week of duskval.' Adam had calculated that if the group rushed back, they'd be able to return to the fort by the end of the month, perhaps even midweek, but pushing the children so much caused his heart to fall.

"Are you okay, Adam?" Dunes asked, noting the look on Adam's face, taking a seat opposite him.

"I'm fine."

"Are you worried about the return?"

"A little."

Dunes slowly nodded his head. "Once we return to the Iyr, you will see your children again."

"Yeah..." A small smile appeared on Adam's face. "We'll be able to see the kids again and I'll get to spoil them. It's a shame I won't be able to see them in their cute little festival outfits, but..."

Dunes could see the way Adam winced. A thought crossed the young half elf's face, a thought which could allow him to return back to the Iyr swiftly, perhaps with only a few others so he could see his children sooner to spoil them, but that gave away to the duty he had to the business and the others he had guaranteed.

"I pray every morning our journey is uneventful," Dunes said, pouring the young man some wine.

"Me too."

"You have begun to pray?"

"Lightly."

"Do you pray in the way the Priests of Lord Sozain do so, or is it your own prayers?"

"My own prayers."

Dunes slowly nodded, sipping his wine. "I try to pray as much as I can, but it is difficult on the road. The best time to pray is at dawn, and noon, and dusk. I try for all three, for it is most pious, but sometimes I can only make one or two of the prayers."

"Is it bad to miss the prayers?"

"I must pray at least once each day, unless it is an extreme circumstance. Though, if I am training, that is also considered a prayer. If I am sick, of course the Good Lady understands, and I am exempt. If I do not pray, and I do not have a reason to not pray, or I do not pay my dues, then I will know the Lady's scorn."

"Her scorn?"

Dunes raised his hands, staring at his palms. "There are tales of priests of old who squandered the gifts the Divine had given to them. They did not appreciate them, and they did not pay the proper respects."

Dunes closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, before letting out a low sigh. "I can feel within my body a warmth, Adam. It is a warmth that I do not feel because I am so used to it, but if I concentrate, I can."

Dunes opened his eyes and stared at his palms, as though seeing them for the first time. "There is written an account of Kal Kalid, a Brother from many years ago," Dunes said, motioning his head as though to say it was many, many years ago. "He speaks of the Lady's scorn. It was not overt. It was not, how they say in East Port, colourful. It was a chill, Adam. A chill that entered his body because the warmth of the Lady fell away."

Dunes fell silent for a long moment, before whispering.

"He felt like any other person. A Brother feels the warmth of the Lady's divinity, but when it goes, it does not feel like you are like any other who lives around you. It is as though you were the Shen of Shens, with all the mountains of gold, and then, one day you fall asleep, and when dawn comes, it is gone. You are like the goat herder across the hill, but not the same. You knew of the gold you once had, and then it is gone. You can feel the emptiness within your heart, not like that of a goat herder who did not know the pleasure of the mountains of gold you once had."

'I kinda get it,' Adam thought.

"Kal Kalid, the Fool we call him, for he continued to spur the Lady. Within the month, he jumped off a cliff. He wrote in his journal every day, and we still have it. He spoke of his thoughts, and the thoughts he spoke of were that of anger, but it was anger which came through the grief of pride. He could not live without the Lady's warmth, no one can once they feel her warmth."

"..."

"Thankfully, I do not spur the Lady. I revere her with all my heart, and she gifts me the power to protect those I love, and for me to complete my duties to my people." Dunes smiled warmly.

Adam slowly nodded his head. 'Damn.'

"I will not ask you why you asked me that question, Adam, for no priest would ever ask of it," Dunes said. "Your relationship with Lord Sozain must be special if the Lord of Death has not given you warmth, and you do not believe you will miss it."

"If you want to know, I'll tell you."

"Risk my life for forbidden knowledge?" Dunes waved his hand. "Have you forgotten why I had come to South Port in the beginning?"

Adam laughed.