Adam's heart pounded wildly within his chest, his entire body flashing red hot as his ears tingled, his cheeks burning a furious red.

‘What?’

Adam remained silent for a long moment, noting the burning red on Vonda’s face, and though he wanted to look away, Vonda’s eyes remained firm and fixed upon his own. Adam cleared his throat, his fingers twitching for the cup in front to wet his throat, but Vonda’s firm conviction paralysed him.

“I… don’t know what to say, Vonda.”

Vonda smiled warmly, though her heart sunk. It was one thing for Adam to accept, one thing for Adam to deny, but this answer, a vague, half drawn picture, hurt the most.

“I…” Adam blinked, trying to wet his dry mouth, and to give him some time away from Vonda’s gaze. “I suppose I’ll have to say the same thing I said to Lord Morkarai…” Adam’s reached up to his face, hiding his mouth from Vonda, his eyes glancing aside now that Vonda’s pressure had subsided. “You’ll need to get permission from my children, and of course, my dear Lanarot.”

“I will request their permission,” Vonda half joked, her voice light.

Adam’s heart continued to beat hard, his entire body tingling with an unknown sensation. Adam felt as though he could take on the Divine with just his fists. ‘Whoa. So that’s how that feels like? Damn.’

“Are you… sure?” Adam asked.

“Sure of what?”

“Of… choosing me?” Adam’s face flushed a deeper red, the young half elf coughing into his fist to hide his embarrassment.

“Of course.”

“I… fear I may not be worthy of you.”

“If you are not worthy of me, I fear I will remain unmarried for the rest of my life.”

“I doubt it. You’re quite the…” Adam hid behind his fist once more. ‘Won’t you roll me a check to see if I can flirt with her?’

Wisdom Save

D20 + 4 = 9 (5)

“I think you’re pretty great, Vonda.” Adam let out a soft sigh, his entire body still red hot with embarrassment.

“That is lovely to hear, Adam. I think you are… too.” Even Vonda, with all her training with keeping calm, was unable to say any more, her throat closing up.

The pair remained in their silence, the soft rain in the distance and the screams and shouts of fighting, being unable to drown out their heartbeats, which reached even their ears.

“You are so warm, daddy,” Jirot said when she finally returned, having charged at her father, oblivious to the reason behind his new redness. She rubbed her cheek against her father’s as they embraced.

“How can I not be warm when I love you so much, my girl?” Adam asked, kissing her cheek. ‘Seriously, my girl is too smart!’ He embraced the rest of his children, with Konarot’s embrace cooling him down.

The next day was chillier. The rain fell heavier across the Iyr. Adam was still in the afterglow of the proposal, and he was glad Vonda had decided to give him some space. He could feel the gaze of the old man honed upon him like a blade, all the while the half elf tried to relax.

Jarot remained silent, sipping his tea opposite the half elf. He leaned back, feeling the ache of his missing arm and leg. Larot’s tiny body warmed the old man, the boy’s breath gently pressing against the old man’s shirt.

‘Will I be able to stay here forever?’ Adam thought. ‘If I do get married to Vonda, how does that work? Will I be beholden to the order? To the Iyr? To neither? To both?’

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As Jarot held the boy within his chest, he narrowed his eyes until they were almost shut, only able to see vague, blurry shapes. He thought of his youngest son, who would sleep upon his chest so peacefully, save for the one or two coughs. He used to read while his son slept upon his chest, though with his single arm, it was far more difficult.

‘My Farot…’ The old man inhaled deeply, his chest rising slowly, causing the tiny Larot to stir slightly, before he was called to slumber once more. The old man’s thoughts then fell to Churot, who was still yet to be tattooed. Though he was a quiet boy, and remained away from many others, Adam still spoke with the boy and embraced him dearly.

“Thank you, Adam.”

“For what?” Adam asked, snapped out of his thoughts.

“For all you have done.”

“I haven’t done much?”

“You have done more than enough.” The old man smiled warmly. “If the Iyr chooses to abandon you, know you can abandon it in return. You owe us no favours, for you have done so much?”

“Is something wrong?” Adam asked, feeling a chill enter his heart. ‘If the old man’s saying something like that… does he know something?’

“No. Nothing is wrong.”

Adam stared at the old man. He was an elderly man, and though he was training, he was someone who had gone through countless battles, before losing much of his ability to fight. “Are you dying, old man?”

“Not yet.”

“Good. My kids still need you, you old geezer.”

Jarot’s lips formed a small smile. He closed his eyes and sat there, silent.

‘What was that all about?’ Adam thought, feeling his heart sunk. ‘You old geezer, I haven’t given you permission to die yet! If you die, Jirot’s going to bully you so much!’

When they all returned to the shared estate, Adam busied himself among his cousins. He groaned as he picked one of the boys up.

“Look at this chonky boy. Who is my chonky boy? Is it you?” Adam asked, pretending to struggle as he help up the boy, who ate so well.

“No,” Gurot declares, smirking slightly.

“You’re my chonky boy!” Adam pulled the boy in for a deep embrace, rubbing his cheek against Gurot’s chubby cheek.

Gurot smiled as Adam showered him in affection, before he was distracted by a piece of fruit Adam brought to his lips. Adam allowed the boy to leave, but replaced him with his younger brother, blowing into the boy’s tummy, who giggled with joy.

“You… you all… who gave you permission to be this cute? I won’t allow it!” Adam said, playing with all the children in the evening, feeding them and cuddling with them, before taking the initiative to read them a story.

‘I can’t leave the Iyr… not when my cousins are still growing up!’

Jurot glanced towards Adam, before his eyes fell to Vonda, who was currently playing with Jirot and Jarot, the pair giggling and cackling at the woman’s stories. He had noted a queerness between them, and a curiosity among his aunts and uncles.

‘…’

It was later in the evening when Adam changed his children into their night clothes, softer clothing forming a onesie for each of his children, with their feet covered by the clothes, though their hands were free.

“Did you have fun today?” Adam asked, planting a kiss on his eldest daughter’s forehead.

“Yes,” the girl replied.

“What did you like about today?”

“I eat yummy food.”

“Which yummy food did you eat?”

“Mmm…” The girl thought. “Meat.”

“How nice.” Adam kissed her forehead once more, before moving on to speak with Kirot, who spoke of her love of the tossing game, while Karot spoke of the music.

“I like puhlaying with Ray Vonda, and I liked, ummm, when nano pick me up,” Jirot said.

“I like when babo pick me up, and nano, and nana,” Jarot said, nuzzling against his father’s neck as they embraced.

“I’m glad…” Adam’s heart thundered once more in his chest as he felt the overwhelming force of his children’s adoration. “I love you all so much. You have to remember that, daddy loves you so much.”

“I love you too!” Lanarot said, storming over to embrace her nieces and nephews. “I love you so much!”

“That’s right, even your kako loves you this much.”

“I love kako too,” Jirot said, embracing Lanarot tight.

“Do you like kako Jaygak too?” Adam asked.

Jirot smirked, before cackling.

The next morning, the chill in the air increased. There was no rain, save for gentle showers far in the distance, across some of the Iyr’s land, but not upon its people.

Dunes sat opposite Adam, having finally worked up the courage to step into the Main Iyr and the shared estate. Adam glanced aside, noting Fred had come with him.

“How’s the others at the business?”

“Well. How are your family?”

“They’re good too,” Adam said, and though he tried to stop, he went on a long tangent about the children. “How can they do this to me? How can they be so cute?”

Dunes smiled. Listening to Adam speak of his children soothed all the worries in his heart. Dunes inhaled deeply, and his eyes fell onto Adam.

Adam felt his gaze, and slowly, their eyes met. A silence fell between them. Adam narrowed his eyes towards Dunes, whose lips formed a small smirk.

“Dunes?”

“Adam,” Dunes replied, the smirk slowly encroaching upon his lips. “I have heard a rumour.”

Adam’s heart began to quicken and he sipped his tea. “What rumour is that?”

“Did you really deny her?”

Constitution Save

D20 + 6 = 25 (19)

Adam managed to swallow down the tea without choking, though unable to taste its flavour.