Adam spent the next day with his children, taking them around the festival. He made sure to feed his daughter as much as he could, pampering his eldest daughter, who melted against her father with all the attention she was receiving. He also cheered her on with the games, though she rushed them before she returned to her father to hold him close.

‘Oh, my Konarot…’ Adam held her close after realising how little the girl cared for the various games, instead embracing her and carrying her around.

The older Jarot remained with Jurot and Pam, finally giving the pair his attention.

“You are built well,” Jarot said, nodding his head approvingly. “You will birth many strong grandchildren.”

Pam raised her brows with alarm, feeling a redness fill her cheeks. “Thank you?” ‘Is this the Mad Dog?’

Jarot nodded, before a hand struck him upside the back of his head.

“Ignore my husband, he is still a fool,” Mulrot said, her eyes taking in the sight of the young woman Jurot had managed to seduce, or rather, had been seduced by.

“I am right,” Jarot said.

“You are right, but you should not say it.”

Pam flushed deeper red, reaching up to try and hide as much of her face as she could as she pretended to scratch above her brow.

“Grandfather is like Adam,” Jurot said.

“Ah,” Pam replied, slowly nodding her head.

“He is my grandson.”

“He is my brother.”

Mulrot wondered if Pam would be fine when she was surrounded by idiots. She reached out to hold the girl’s hands. “Thank you for accepting. Jurot spoke of you so warmly.”

“He did?” Pam glanced to Jurot, her cheeks flushing the same colour as Jurot’s ears.

“He has spoken of your worries. Your father will be treated well within the Iyr. You will be treated well too, and your children will grow well within our walls.”

“Please take good care of my pa. He’s taken care of me so good after my ma’s death.”

“We will,” Mulrot assured.

Pam exhaled. She thought of Adam and his children, thinking of the twins in particular. She supposed she could compromise since it meant her father would be taken care of in the Iyr, knowing full well of the rumours of how the Iyr treated its guests, and those who married within the family.

As the hours passed by, the late evening brought a quieter day. Konarot’s cries cut through the air as she embraced her father.

“I do not want it!” Konarot sobbed.

Adam embraced the girl tight, who had waved goodbye to her siblings but a few minutes ago. “Oh, baby. It’s okay. It’s okay! It’s the Iyr!”

“I’m scared, daddy.”

“Oh. Why are you scared?”

“Iyr is stuhrong!”

“That’s right, so you don’t have to be scared.” Adam brushed her hair along her cheek. The Iyr won't do anything to you, if they do, daddy and babo will come!” Adam embraced her tighter, rocking gently. “The Iyr has lasted all this while because it’s strong and smart and wise. It’s not going to give that up for a gem, my dear.” ‘Hey, Baktu, don't put me in an awkward spot, please.’

“Hmph! The Iyr will not hurt you! Babo is here! If they bully you, you must tell me, and I will cause them much trouble. Let us see if they are so shameless to steal my greatdaughter’s gem!”

“Babo!” The girl hugged her greatfather’s leg tight, sniffling.

“Where is my vicious Konarot who dared to even glare at me? They cannot harm you, they are so afraid of you!” Jarot held her close, kissing her cheek and neck, pulling her closer with his one arm. Even he didn’t wish to surrender his greatdaughter, but he understood it was for the good of the child. ‘If they harm you, let them see how mad this dog will be!’

Konarot glanced towards where her grandmother had left with the rest of the children, before sniffling. She glanced towards Elder Shaman, who held out her hand. The old woman looked so different, no longer quite as sharp, more softer like her greatmother.

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Adam watched the girl as they took her away, the various Shamans following Elder Shaman. The girl continued to look back towards her father, who smiled with a tense jaw and wiggled her fingers. Once she was gone, Adam’s eyes turned to the Chief.

“Chief.”

“Yes?”

Adam swallowed. He wasn’t sure how deeply he should threaten the Iyr. “I hope no mistakes are made.”

“There will be none.”

“I’m going to remember that.”

“I will continue to watch over your children as I already have,” Iromin stated.

“I appreciate that.”

Iromin could feel something emanating from Adam he hadn’t felt before, the eyes of the half elf holding something Iromin hadn’t seen from the boy before. ‘How Iyrmanly.’

Adam returned back to the shared estate, where Jirot and Jarot were babbling away towards Vonda, before they noticed their father embracing their older siblings. Adam’s thoughts were solely focused on Baktu, hoping he wouldn’t get himself killed this year.

When it was night, Adam sipped away at the wine, though he could barely taste it.

Jaygak pat his shoulder. “It will be fine, Adam.”

“Yeah.”

“Your eldest daughter is strong,” Vonda said, smiling warmly. “She will be safe.”

“Yeah.”

“If anything happens to her, grandaunt will cause a fuss with your grandfather,” Jaygak assured.

“Whose grandfather?” Adam replied with a gentle huff, though his heart was not within the outburst.

“The Arcarius Gem may be a great artefact, but the Iyr would not covet it so easily.”

“I don’t care if they take it if it means Konarot is safe and sound.”

“It belongs to her.”

“Well, you know… the Iyr is the one taking it out.”

“It’s still within the Rot family.”

“Is it?”

“Who would deny it?” Jaygak asked, punching Adam’s arm gently. “If my grandaunt isn’t enough to cause trouble, then Jirot and I will cause a greater mess.”

“I’m not sure we have to go that far,” Adam said, almost smiling.

“It will be fine,” Jurot stated, his arms crossed. “They Iyr has its rules, and it will not surrender it for any artefact.”

“Yeah.” Adam sighed.

The days of the festival continued to pass by.

Adam was surrounded by his friends, his children, and all of his adorable cousins. He watched over them as they napped, with his Aunt beside him. He had forced the others away so he could monopolise the children, though he wasn’t going to send his Aunt away.

“They’re so cute,” Adam whispered.

Sonarot bowed her head.

Adam looked to Sonarot and then back to the children. “If Surot, I mean, Uncle Surot, was here… would I have two more siblings?”

Sonarot nodded, her ears twitching slightly. They had almost never spoken of the man. ‘He must miss her so much.’

“One day they’ll be so big,” Adam whispered.

“Just like my Jurot.” Sonarot smiled. “Gurot and Murot will grow up so hearty.”

“They’re our chonky boys,” Adam said. “Kavgak and Tavgak too.”

Sonarot smiled, nodding her head once more, glancing towards her nieces, who were built chonkier than any of the children.

“Inakan should at least stay within the Iyr, all small and cute.”

“Inakan may.”

Adam let out a long sigh, his lower lip quivering slightly, fighting away his tears. “Do they have to grow up?”

“They must.”

“Why? Why must my adorable cousins grow up?” Adam scrunched up his face, inhaling sharply to stop himself from tearing up. “You little rapscallions, how can you do this to me?”

“Will you protect them so they may stay small and cute forever?”

“Of course I will,” Adam said, pretending as though he was going to raise his voice. “Stay small and cute forever, I’ll protect you, you smelly little boys and girls.”

“You have always treated the children so well.”

“Yeah.”

“I hope you will continue to do so.”

“I will.”

“You are a boon for our families.”

“Yeah?” Adam glanced aside.

Gurot twitched and squirmed, opening his eyes. He glanced around and saw his aunt in the distance. He smiled.

“Sssh,” Sonarot said, going to pick him up, before settling back down slightly away from the children. “How lucky you are my Gurot, your cousin will look after you. You must behave well.”

“Kaza,” Gurot said, his tired voice quiet, the boy rubbing his eyes gently.

“Gurot, you’re going to grow up to be such a troublemaker, aren’t you?”

Gurot smiled innocently, a smile which was so much like his niece.

“Why?” Sonarot asked.

“It's because his brother will become Elder Peace and he’ll show off.”

Sonarot smiled wider. “You taught the older children to play with their younger siblings.”

“They'll regret not doing so in their future, so I made sure they learnt it quickly.”

“Now even my Jurot yearns for children. My Jurot who did not understand, and yet now…”

“I’m sorry I’ve made him into an idiot.” Adam smiled wide, as though to say he wasn’t quite so sorry.

Sonarot reached up to rub Adam’s head. “I hope you do not change.”

“I’ll try.”

It was during an evening Jurot and Adam drank together, the peach wine the Rot family loved so much.

“Thank you, Adam.”

“For what?”

“You have done so much for me.”

“You’ve done a lot for me too.” Adam poured his brother a drink.

Jurot raised his cup to Adam, sipping it. “Jaygak and Kitool too. We all owe you so much. With your assistance, we have managed to achieve things we would not have been able to, not this quickly.”

“It is what it is.”

Jurot remained silence. “I keep dreaming the same dream. I dream of being a father. I have a son who I carry on my shoulders as I walk through a field. He tells me he wishes to become a Rage Dancer, like me. I do not recall his voice, but I feel his weight upon my shoulders, the grass against my knees. I worry I will not be a good enough father, but I know it will be fine. I have mother. I have Kitool. I have you.”

“Jaygak won't be too bad.”

Jurot nodded. “I can only say that Baktu has blessed me with such great family.”

“You'll make me blush.” Adam said, feeling his cheeks warm, and his heart tingle.

Jurot poured Adam a cup of wine. “No matter what happens, you and I are brothers.”

Adam raised his cup and the pair drank back their shot of wine, with Adam finally able to taste the wine for a moment.

“Jurot?”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any idea of what you'll name your son?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“You must wait and see.”

“What if I die before then?”

“Then I will name him after you.”

Adam smiled. “I won't name any of my children after you. You're the only Jurot in my heart. No homo.”

“No homo?”

“It's a saying you say after you say something gay to make it not gay.”

“Is it a spell?”

“No, just a stupid, cringe joke.”

“Ah.”