Omen: 7, 15

“We have completed our task, and Sir Landon awaits our return,” the Fourth Hope informed. The dawn’s sun glinted off her armour, and it was then Adam recalled how amazing a Hope was truly.

“Once again, we appreciate your assistance in this matter,” Adam replied, doing his best to keep his voice neutral. “I will be sure to inform the Enchanter of your assistance, and I’ll try and expedite the matter of the shields.”

“Thank you.” Hope Willow bowed her head and gathered the rest of her companions. As she began to leave, she met with the remaining Ray. “Ray Vonda, we wish you the best of success in your endeavour.”

“Thank you, Hope Willow,” the young Ray replied, the pair holdings hands in the way the priests did, before the other Rays said their goodbyes to Ray Vonda. As Vonda watched them prepare to leave, she recalled back to the previous night, when Hope Willow called out to her, only to pause in thought, and then leave her be.

‘I will leave them in Ray Vonda’s capable hands,’ Willow thought. She understood why Mother Priest allowed Vonda to remain watching over the demons and Adam. The demons were one thing, but they had caused such little trouble, whereas Adam…

“Adam,” Vasera called, rubbing the side of her neck, stretching it out. “You paid us for the entire month, but if you don’t need us, we can return half the coin and leave.”

‘Should I have them stay to show off my kids?’ Adam’s eyes fell across towards the rest of the Iyrmen, before his eyes took in the sight of the other children about. Vasera and the group were mercenaries, and though they were great mercenaries, he needed to establish the business’ authority.

“I appreciate all you’ve done for us this far. Why don’t you escort the Marshal back? The Hope and Rays are heading back to East Port too, but they might take a little while. I’m sure the Marshal will appreciate returning back to East Port swiftly to complete his tasks.”

“Alright, we’ll do that.”

“It’s a shame that I can’t show off your sword to my kids,” Adam said, reaching out to shake the Marshal’s forearm.

“Perhaps in the future,” the Marshal replied. He had wanted to do something to form a relationship with the business, but he supposed there was no need to rush it. “Thanks for the help.”

“Of course.”

Adam allowed them to say their goodbyes to the children, the mercenaries showing off to the kids a few more times, revealing their magic born from their oaths.

“You’re leaving?” Jimmy pouted towards the mercenaries.

“We have to leave so we can continue to make money,” Rook said.

“The business pays good!”

“It does, but we have other wishes for now.” Rook noticed the boy’s quivering lips. “Perhaps one day we’ll return to work for the business, and we’ll have many more stories to tell you. However, if it’s stories you want to hear, you are in the right place.”

“Goodbye, mister,” Jimmy said, his eyes fluttering as he avoided from tearing up.

“What a good kid,” Rook said, reaching out to pat the boy’s head, before quickly stopping himself. ‘It is no wonder that you keep speaking of your children…’

‘…’ Adam crossed his arms, frowning. ‘I really should show off my kids to them all, but… I should make it so they only meet the workers for now.’

‘Just how much does he think about them?’ Lucy thought. She let out a sigh of relief, her eyes towards the southern gate of the fort, where the Hopes and Rays had left not long ago. Then her eyes fell to Vonda, a Ray who had been assigned to watch over them, and yet wasn’t paying the demons any attention.

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“You’re leaving the fort?” Cobra asked.

“The Executives and I have some business within the Iyr that we need to deal with,” Adam replied. “Very important business.”

‘Does he want to see his children that badly?’

‘Yes,’ Adam’s eyes replied. “Are you worried?”

“How can I be worried when there are so many Iyrmen?” Cobra glanced to the side where she saw the other Iyrmen all about, some of whom wore the tattoos of their monstrous Iyrmen Executives.

None of the older Iyrmen spoke their tales, from those who wore tags of bronze, to those who wore tags of even silver.

‘Silver!’ Cobra’s eyes remained glancing between all the Iyrmen. She had assumed the business was just a front for the Iyr to increase its influence in the region, but it had all been confirmed.

“Manager Vonda and Manager Dunes will remain behind to assist you,” Adam assured, flashing her a warm smile. “They’ll deal with any issues that you may have.”

“What issues will we have?”

“Perhaps something will pop up?” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Issues always arise around me, but you don’t have to worry, since the Managers and the Iyrmen will deal with it.”

“Mister Adam, you’re leaving too?” Alex asked.

“I’m not leaving, exactly, I’ve just got to go to the Iyr to deal with some business.”

“Are you coming back soon?”

“I’ll try and come back quickly.”

“Okay…”

“Don’t miss me too much.” Adam chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Make sure you behave, alright?”

“Yes, mister Adam.”

“Good kid.”

“Is mister Nobby leaving too?”

“Nobby, he’s…” Adam paused. ‘Where is Nobby?’

Chief Merl eyed up the large man, who was currently sitting beside her granddaughter near the centre of the village. In the morning the Iyrmen had come to the village, each telling the tale of the year to the village. The story spread through the entire village, reaching every nook and cranny, which wasn’t surprising considering the mention of the Marshal of the East and the Grand Commander of the Thousand Hunts.

Two of the most impressive feats had come from the Rot family, the same family which had trained the giant boy.

The younger Merl remained silent, lost within her thoughts. She glanced towards the side towards the huge Nobby, who was listening intently to the words of the Iyrmen as they spoke their tale.

‘I did promise to marry him…’

“So this is where you were,” Adam called out, patting Nobby’s shoulder, noting the looks of both Merls towards him. “What?”

“Did you really defeat the Seventh Hope?” Chief Merl asked.

“That I did.”

“The Hopes, they’ve always done good for us,” the Chief said, still feeling the ripples of excitement upon seeing the Hope yesterday. “Nothing good comes of fighting a Seventh Hope.”

“He shouldn’t have spoken so ill of my… brother’s grandfather,” Adam replied. “Not just him, but my grandaunts too. It doesn’t matter. We fought, the matter was dealt with.”

“Did you really defeat him in a single blow?”

Adam smiled. “Something like that.”

“Then you fought the First Hope?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“To resolve the matter completely.”

“…” Merl remained silent for a long moment. There was a question she wanted to ask, but hesitancy trembled across her lips. ‘What good comes from knowing something like that?’ “It’s terrible to hear they spoke poorly of the Iyrmen. It doesn’t surprise me, since they’re so different.”

“Right you are.”

The heavily armoured group began to ride through the village, pausing at the centre. The Hope undid her visor. “Mother’s blessings upon you, Chief.”

“Mother’s blessings upon you, Hope.” The Chief stared up towards her, feeling her heart beat quickly. She could see the stature of the woman, who was a tower of a woman, almost matching Nobby. “Are you leaving?”

“We are,” the Hope confirmed, upon her eerily still mount. “We must return to the order.”

“Safe travels.”

The Marshal tipped his helmet towards the Chief while the Hope paused, her eyes over Adam, but she merely bowed her head, and the group rode out. The villagers watched as the group rode swiftly away, as though they wanted to clear the entire way to Red Oak in a single day.

The Chief watched them go. Her eyes then fell to Adam, who watched the group go, holding his amulet. ‘It’s best not to think of that.’

‘Should I mention it?’ Adam thought. “Nobby. Even though you don’t need to stick to Alex, would you mind keeping an eye on him anyway?”

“Okay, mister boss.”

“Chief, is there any chance we could pay the village for a supply of food? We don’t have any animals, so there isn’t much in the way of fresh milk and meat.”

“We can offer that,” the Chief replied with a nod.

“Good stuff. You can sort out the monetary details with the Managers.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’m heading to the Front Iyr in a short while.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Everyone’s worked hard.”

“You’ve brought back so many children?”

“They’re new workers for the business.”

“How many children did you bring?”

“Seventeen,” Adam replied, before quickly correcting himself, “eighteen, though the children of the other workers will be joining soon.”

“Were they urchins?”

“They were.”

“What does the business need of urchins?”

“It just so happened that Fate brought us together, that’s all.”

“You got into so much trouble with the nobles on the way…” Merl said. “You need to be careful when dealing with…” She blinked at Adam’s response. ‘He’s… smiling?’