Inakan continued to stare at her brother curiously. His tattoo was familiar, the same as her mother and father’s. “Papa?”

“I am,” Amokan confirmed for the fifth time that day.

Inakan glanced towards Adam for support, unsure of this familiar stranger she had never met before.

“Do you like meeting your papa?”

Inakan glanced upwards towards Amokan once more, though she was swiftly distracted by the snack her brother brought to her lips.

Timojin spoke the tale of their adventures, from the bandits they faced, to the vicious beasts. The story continued, revealing greater tales, from their fight against a nightval wolf, which had almost taken Amokan’s arm, to the hydras they had come across the past two years. They spoke of the tournament too, where they were defeated by the two beside themselves.

“Jurot the Savage, Amokan the Wild. The Aldishmen are not creative at all!” Amokan complained before bursting into laughter.

“At least it’s better than Purple Adam.”

“So it is!”

The tale continued, revealing the pair having slain the creature they had set out to slay, and the rest of their adventures, which revealed them slaying several other great creatures. Of course, the children were used to impressive stories, but the adults all appreciated the stories since there wasn’t a young half elf who was a ridiculous entity which led them.

Amokan’s eyes fell to Jirot and Jarot, glancing between the pair. They were busy playing with Timojin, who allowed them to play with his hair. “Little Jarot seems too meek to be named after granduncle.”

“That’s because Jirot inherited his troublesomeness,” Adam joked, before his face suddenly turned serious. “Obviously that troublesome comes from me! Don’t let that old geezer ever tell you otherwise.”

“We have spoken our tales,” Amokan said, grinning wider. “Will you tell us of what you have done?”

“I’ll let Jurot tell you since he’s better at that sort of thing.”

Amokan glanced towards the girl who was staring at him. “You are Konarot?”

Konarot turned her head to the side slightly, side eyeing the handsome Iyrman. “Yes.”

Amokan held out his hand towards the girl. Konarot looked towards her father, who nodded, and she reached out to hold the Iyrman’s hand. Amokan rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb tenderly.

“You are the eldest?”

“Yes.”

“You must watch over your siblings well.”

“Yes.”

Amokan reached up to brush the girl’s cheek. “My sister watched over me well. Even when it is unfair, you must watch over your younger siblings. They will not forget.”

“Yes,” the girl replied, bowing her head gently, flushing slightly.

“Are you well now?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Amokan placed his hand atop her head for a moment, careful not to ruin her hair, before he pulled his hands away. “I have heard you are good at dragon chess.”

“Yes.”

“Will you play with me?”

“Okay.”

Amokan smiled. “So you can speak more than one word?”

“Yes.”

Amokan and Adam chuckled at the response while Konarot retreated to her father. Adam embraced the girl tight within his arms, leaning down to nuzzle her neck, before he sat her within his lap.

“Now that we’re getting married, are you planning on getting married soon?” Adam asked.

“My father spent so much effort to bring me back, he will need to spend more for me to marry,” Amokan joked.

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“You should also give him some grandchildren I can spoil.”

Amokan smirked slightly, having heard much of Adam’s proclivity to spoil the children. “How much of a debt will you grow between us?”

“What debt? Aren’t we friends? No, aren’t we cousins?”

“Does that mean your children are my nieces and nephews too?” Amokan asked, and though his lips formed a smile, his eyes were far more serious.

“Jurot, did you hear that?”

“I did.”

“How can he say something like that?”

“Adam’s children are my nieces and nephews,” Jurot stated.

“Since my cousin has spoken, are they not also my nieces and nephews?” Amokan asked, raising his brow.

“Yeah, which means your children will be my nieces and nephews and I get to spoil them too.”

“I will marry and children once I have made a name for myself. Timojin will not rest either.”

“You should spoil your siblings before you go.”

“We will leave early next year, but for now, we will enjoy our times within the Iyr.” Amokan inhaled the crisp air, glancing around at the rest of the villagers. “The air is clearer here, but the air is greater within the Iyr.”

“Yeah.”

Amokan’s eyes fell to Adam’s children once more. He thought of what his father had said upon their journey back.

‘The girl calls me baba.’

Amokan engraved the words deep within his heart. He glanced towards Adam once more, who had done so much for their families. While Amokan had managed to gain vengeance for his elder sister, it was Adam who had assisted Timojin’s family, finding the Iyrman’s older sister and assisting with bringing the body back. Amokan’s eyes then fell to Inakan, the tiny girl who yawned as weariness filled her heart. She smiled upon seeing her father once more, who had been travelling for the business’ sake.

“Adam, am I an Executive too?” Amokan asked.

“If you want the position, I’ll keep it open for you.”

“How can I be an Executive when I will be the Chief? Timojin, you should become the Executive.”

Timojin let out a low growl, causing Jirot and Jarot to freeze, before they quickly rushed away to their father. “Since I will become Chief, you should accept the position.”

“Jirot, Jarot, come,” Amokan called, holding out his hands.

Jirot looked to her father, who nodded. She cautiously walked up to Amokan, who took their hands within his own. “I am told you cause much trouble.”

Jirot pouted slightly as her eyes grew wide, trying to deflect the blame with her cuteness.

“Has Jaygak corrupted you so?”

“Kako is so silly,” Jirot confirmed. “Always joking, always joking.”

“Kako is puhretty, but she is silly.”

“Yes,” Amokan confirmed, smiling wide again. “Do you think I am handsome?”

“Daddy is handsome,” Jirot replied. “Papo is handsome too.”

“Right, I am handsome too.”

“Noooo! Papo Juroh.”

“I am your papo too.”

Jirot blinked. She cackled lightly. “Noooo!”

“He’s your papo too, but you can bully him a lot,” Adam confirmed.

“You are papo?” Jirot asked, curiously.

“Yes.”

Jirot narrowed her eyes. “You ah baba’s son?”

“Yes.”

“I am daddy’s dohta.”

“That is right.”

“Yes.” Jirot smirked wide. “My babo is stuhrong.”

“My grandmother is strong too.”

“Your nana?”

“Grandmother is called Otkan. Do you know of my grandmother?”

“Nano is your guhrandmother?” Jirot asked, gasping.

“That is right.”

“Nano is quiet but she is nice,” Jirot confirmed. “You are nano’s guhrandson?”

“Yes.”

Jirot narrowed her eyes. “Okay. You can be papo.”

“I am glad.” Amokan held out his arms and the pair embraced him close.

Jurot glared towards Amokan, who was so effortlessly good with the children. “It is not fair if you are so handsome, strong, and likeable with the children.”

“Jurot, I don’t want to hear that from you,” Adam said.

“You cannot say so.”

“Yeah, but I’m stupid, so it’s okay.”

Jurot nodded.

“Don’t agree so easily.”

“Daddy, you are smart,” Konarot reassured, rubbing her father’s hand gently with her own.

Kirot and Karot both stared towards Amokan and Timojin, who wore the tattoos of those they were familiar with. It was the first time they had met, but they understood it was similar to the situation of their father, when he left and returned the Iyr, but they stayed out much longer.

“Excuse me,” called a voice. The older woman, in her fifties or so, smiled warmly towards the Iyrmen, though her eyes eventually settled upon Adam. “Are you free to talk?”

“Yeah,” Adam said, and after a pause, he realised he wanted to speak alone. He stood up, following the woman away, feeling the presence of the Seventh Hope following him. “It’s good to see you again, Mother Florence.”

Mother Florence smiled warmly, but the kind of practised warmth of one who was a priest. “I was not surprised Ray Vonda wished to marry. I was surprised she wished to marry this year, and that she would marry you.”

“It wasn’t me who charmed her so, but my children.”

Mother Florence remained silent, having already heard of Adam’s children from Vonda previously, especially their particular heritage. “I will not say I approve wholly for the marriage, but Ray Vonda is a grown woman, and though she has always been a hopeless romantic, I have complete faith in her.”

“I’m sure she appreciates your faith.”

“Ray Vonda is still a Ray of the order. Though she may become your wife, she is still a daughter of the order.” Mother Florence caught Adam’s eyes with her own, a deep darkness within her eyes.

“She can be as close or as distant as she wants to be with your order,” Adam replied, his eyes slowly moving to the Seventh Hope, who tensed up upon Adam’s sight. “You should consider it a boon for your order that she’s married me, since I’ll consider your order well through the business.”

“Your favour is appreciated.”

“Although your order has some issues with me, I won’t hold it against you. We will prioritise your order, and if you ever need anything, Mother Florence, I will always consider your words. If I can’t do that much for Ray Vonda, what am I good for?”

Meanwhile, the last Iyrman, an old fellow with a familiar set of tattoos, sat within the corner, drinking away with the other older Iyrmen.

“You have grown old,” the figure said, his eyes falling across both Jarot and Gangak.

“You have grown old too,” Jarot replied, grinning wide.

“How was your adventure within the Confederacy?” Gangak asked, having not seen him since the time she had been exiled from Aswadasad.

“Bloody,” the Iyrman replied, saying no more of his tale before he met the Chief.