“What do you mean?” Adam asked, blinking. “I’m the one who made her the potion.”

Miza tilted her head slightly, suddenly taken aback by Adam’s words. Adam’s name flashed through her mind, and she recalled back to years ago. “You are Adam, son of Fate?” ‘He’s the one that saved that runt?’

“So you’ve heard of me?”

“You slew Vandra?”

“Well, I helped,” Adam replied, shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve killed another dragon more impressively, but Vandra, well, there was a lot of help from stronger Iyrmen and the Vice Master of the Guild.”

“A Vice Master of a Guild,” Jaygak corrected.

“Right, yeah.”

“I had not realised you were within my betrothed’s company,” the Princess replied, still judging Adam and his words, noting how casual he was even upon the end of a trident.

“I was surprised to hear he was marrying into your family too,” Adam said, his eyes quickly meeting Morkarai’s, the young half elf smirking slightly. “It was like Fate.”

Morkarai let out a sigh, not wanting to hear anything more dangerous from the half elf, but understanding it was a tall order.

“My sister is well.”

“Who cares about your sister?” Karza snarled. “You killed Vandra?”

“Who cares about Vandra?” Adam replied. “I’m glad Princess Mina is well. I hope she’s growing up well, though, I wouldn’t mind if she remains so small and so cute forever. Her laugh is the cutest.”

Miza threw Morkarai a look, wondering if Adam was like that, and if she’d need to send her guards to eliminate him within the night, but Morkarai shook his head.

“You should be careful with your words, Adam, you are speaking of Emperor Moto’s granddaughter.” Morkarai’s attention went from trying to make sure Karza didn’t get herself killed to making sure Adam didn’t get himself killed.

“What? Do you think Emperor Moto’s granddaughter isn’t cute? How could you say something like that? I’ll have you know she’s very cute! Even the way she bit my finger was so adorable. How dare someone curse-,”

“Adam,” Jurot said, stopping the half elf instantly, doing his best to stop him before he said something that really would get him killed. “You cannot speak of their business so openly.”

Adam could feel his brother’s gaze upon him, and it was then he realised he was truly dancing on a knife’s edge. “Right, of course, sorry about that.”

“You have done much to assist our family,” the Princess stated, her voice filled with a practised warmth. “Is there anything you wish for a reward?”

“A reward? Well…” Adam almost thought to refuse. “Is there a chance I can meet her?”

“You wish to meet Princess Mina?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

“…”

“You do not wish for a reward?”

“What’s a greater reward than seeing her healthy and well?” Adam asked.

‘What?’

“Although, if you can keep her small and cute forever, than I’d like that as a reward.”

Miza wondered how she should take that information. Either Adam knew that her family was related to her curse, or he was indirectly asking her to curse the tiny Princess, or he was just a damn fool. She was certain it wasn’t the second, but there was an equal chance for it to be the first or third thought, both equally as dangerous, and the uncertainty even more dangerous.

“I will send word to her council that you wish to meet with her,” the Princess assured, managing to gather herself. “How did you come to meet with the Iyrmen?”

“I owed them a great favour in a past life of mine so I went to go see them. Jurot and his family accepted me as their own.”

‘A past life?’

‘Oh, man… I shouldn’t have said that. She knows I’m strong now so things sound more believable now.’ Adam let out a soft sigh.

“I didn’t expect you to be so strong,” Karza said, grinning wide. “I didn’t expect you to marry a damn Priest.”

“That Priest is Ray Vonda, my wife,” Adam replied, his voice growing lower. “I hope you’ll refrain from being rude to or about my wife, miss Karza.”

“What will you do if I am rude?”

“The last blue dragon who acted cheeky to us didn’t have that nice of a lair, so I hope your lair is nicer,” Adam said.

“I’m sure your lair is nice,” Jaygak said, raising her goblet of wine, as though she wasn’t threatening the blue dragon right to her face.

“I’m not sure how you defeated Vandra, but I’m not quite as stupid as her.”

“We can agree to disagree.”

Karza narrowed her eyes. “Careful, half elf, or I might have to teach you a lesson.”

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“That’s your mistake, miss Karza, I don’t learn too good,” Adam joked, winking at Morkarai.

“My brother always acts like this when it comes to his family,” Jurot said. “You should not take it personally.”

“Adam’s an idiot when it comes to his family, and his friends,” Jaygak admitted. “It’s why we follow him, and so far it’s led to the death of two dragons, and hopefully more.”

“I have never met someone who was so eager to start trouble with a dragon, one who wasn’t an Iyrman,” Karza quickly added.

Adam smiled, sipping his sea milk, noting the looks he was receiving from the Coralguard and the Princess. “If it’s one thing you should all know it’s that I’m an idiot. An idiot who threatens dragons, nobles, royalty, and even some of the Divine.”

Miza’s brows raised in alarm. “I shall hope you will not make such a mistake within my presence.”

“It’s only some of the Divine. I have a great respect for almost all the Major Divine, but…” Adam felt his brother’s hand upon his shoulder and he stopped. ‘Is it the wine that’s got me acting up?’

“You really must be a fool.”

“Of course. I’m the one who threatens dragons and nobles, and sometimes noble dragons.”

“Noble dragons?” Karza asked, thinking of the far east. “Even if I’m not a noble, I can play with you as much as I like. Even if you’re surrounded by other little boys and girls of the Iyr.”

“You should be careful, Karza,” Morkarai warned, noting how she was playing with fire. “They drew their weapons against Emperor Shama.”

Karza’s head snapped to Morkarai, her eyes flashing with uncharacteristic shock. “That Emperor Shama?”

Miza almost choked on her wine. “The Lord of Flames?”

Morkarai bowed his head. “Adam was quite cheeky with Emperor Hadda, too.”

The eyes fell on Adam again, who had stopped eating and drinking after the mention of Shama, recalling the flames. He glanced towards Lucy for a moment, catching her eyes, before the pair drank together.

“The only one Adam shows respect to is Lord Stokmar.”

“You know Lord Stokmar?” Karza asked, having heard that the Iyr had a special guest from Morkarai’s own lips, but she couldn’t drag it out of him no matter how much she had tried.

“We met her a while back,” Adam admitted. “I didn’t offend her too bad so I managed to live, and Jurot here made sure everything went well. Lord Stokmar does like my kids, though, so I’ll do my best to treat them well.”

“You have dwarven children?” Karza asked.

“No. They’re cute little goblins.” Adam smiled proudly.

Karza blinked, and even Miza reached up to press her fingers against her forehead. The dragon fell silent for a long moment. “What?”

Adam smiled wide. “My precious little Jirot and Jarot. They’re so cute. They’ve got little dagger teeth like Princess Mina, but only for their eight canines. They eat potatoes so well, no one can eat potatoes like my twins.”

“You-,”

“Yeah, and not even Shama could dare to lay a hand on them, so you better watch your damn mouth,” Adam said, smiling as politely as he could, but his neck was tense.

“You should be careful speaking of Emperor Shama like that,” Karza quickly stated, ignoring his blatant disrespect.

“Oh yeah?” Adam could feel the flash of heat deep within him. “What’s he gonna do? He’s too old to be playing with children for now. Once I’m older, stronger, I’ll go pay him a visit.”

“I will face him too,” Jurot said, his body tensing for a moment.

“I will not fall so easily,” Kitool added.

Jaygak glanced between her companions, sighing. “I suppose I’ll have to be there too.”

Karza stared at the four, suddenly unable to speak, her eyes wide. ‘They’re crazy!’

Miza was also silent from the utter audacity of their words which brought a silence through the air. The mermen were not quite so familiar with Shama, but even they knew he was comparable to Emperor Hadda, who had slaughtered so many mermen in a rage so many generations ago, far before even their empire’s time. The name of Emperor Hadda brought terror even now, and though he had a hand in allowing many of the mermen to rise, even they spoke of him like a nightmare.

“Enough with the jokes, child,” Karza said, her voice stern. “Youthful fancy is one thing, but to speak of Emperor Shama that way, it’s suicide.”

“It’s not like he’s the strongest guy I’ve fought,” Adam replied, sipping his wine, the annoyance on his face evident.

“What?” Karza asked, before another voice cut through the air.

“Adam?”

Adam’s head snapped to the side, suddenly feeling the annoyance escape him, as quickly as an Aldishman would resort to treachery against the Iyrmen. Vonda approached, adorned within the seasilk which covered her from her neck down, while wearing a scarf to hide her hair. Her amulet lay against her chest, the silver sun beneath the amulet of Life’s Rose contrasting the shimmering blue, like the rippling waves of the sea under the dawnval sun.

“Vonda,” Adam said, his voice completely relaxed, as he stood, pulling out the chair for his wife.

Vonda smiled, slightly confused, but she sat down upon her chair. “Thank you for your hospitality, Princess Miza.”

“It is a pleasure to host a Ray,” Princess Miza replied, her eyes having scanned her amulet, along with the rest of her body. She was built well, like a Priest of War, rather than a Priest of Life. The woman wore gloves, hiding away her hands, but the Princess gathered they were calloused and rough, like those of the Priests of Life’s Rose, so different than the Priests of Life elsewhere.

“The food here is great,” Adam said, suddenly far more relaxed. “Want some wine?”

“No thank you,” Vonda replied, staring down at the food. She inhaled deeply, before forcing herself to eat, finding herself eating more of the vegetables than much else.

Princess Miza motioned a hand towards her servant, her eyes darting between Adam and Vonda. Instead of a young fool who wished for death at the hands of Emperor Shama, Adam looked more like a foolish husband, his eyes full of delight upon Vonda’s arrival.

“You fought?” Vonda asked, raising her brows towards her husband.

“Prince Morkarai, you wanted me to fight, right?” Adam replied, asking for the Prince’s support to defend against his wife’s accusation.

“I requested the fight as a gift to my betrothed,” Morkarai said.

Vonda remained silent for a long moment, their eyes meeting for a long moment. Vonda frowned towards the Prince. ‘It’s too late to stop it now…’ “I’m sure it is a good tale for our children.”

“Ah, well, it ended up as a draw,” Adam said, though the smirk on his face revealed what kind of a draw it was.

Vonda sighed, suddenly filling with worry, her stomach pulsing with the stress. She picked away at her food, trying to ignore the pain in her stomach, which passed a short while later. ‘How difficult it is to have such a handsome fool of a husband…’

The Princess entertained her guests for a long moment, before they finally retired to their rooms that evening, each large enough to house an entire family, with a domed roof which held a different pattern with its mosaic, the floor also carpeted with a rug that was softer than even a cloud.

Adam glanced aside to the bag of wine, reaching over to feel how thick the bag was, and yet it gave in so easily to his finger.

“Adam!” Morkarai called, daring to step into the room without knocking. “Adam!”

“Yeah?” Adam replied, holding the bag of wine in hand, turning around to show the Prince the bag. “I’ve heard of bagged milk, but bagged wine.”

“Adam, I’m sorry!”

Adam let out a soft sigh. “I’m sure you had your reasons for revealing my secrets, Prince Morkarai. I expect you to…”

Morkarai’s eyes remained glued to Adam’s, the fire giant feeling his throat close. “Your wife… is with child.”

Adam gripped the bag of wine tighter, blinking. Adam’s lips formed a wide smile across his face, the half elf staring past the fire giant, and in that moment, as the nerves flooded through his body, his heart pounding wildly, he lived another life time within his day dream. ‘Whoa.’

“Adam!” Morkarai shouted, snapping the half elf back to reality. “If I had known, I would not have brought you in such a way.”

“What are you talking about?” Adam’s smile and heart dropped.

Morkarai wasn’t sure what he feared most, Adam’s ability to ask for death so easily, or for the look upon the half elf’s face, as though he were staring death in the face. Morkarai’s body filled with a great shame, one which couldn’t be wiped away with just his death.