The clothing merchant blinked. He had only opened his stall an hour ago and yet he saw the familiar purple mass appear once more. This time, the young man with the turban, placed down a pouch, containing about as many gems he had paid previously.

“We don’t have much time,” Adam said, his face stone cold, as though preparing for war. “The moment Kavgak complains, we’ll have to leave.”

‘What does that mean?’ the merchant thought, but his hands were already working upon finding the clothes for the half elf.

“What do you think?” Jaygak asked.

“She looks so cute,” Adam replied, nodding his head sagely as Kavgak stared down at her frills.

Jaygak wasn’t sure what she was expecting, since that was all Adam said about any of his cousins’ attires. Even when they prompt him about the colour, he repeated the words, in such a way that was so matter of factly, even the passing townsfolk understood it to be a universal truth.

Kaygak wondered how she could thank Sonarot, since she had been at the forefront of forming good relations with the half elf. Halikan, too, was glad Adam had been adopted into the family. Citool and Shikan couldn’t help but feel good since they had supported Sonarot from the beginning.

‘Is it time?’ Sonarot thought.

Gurot squirmed slightly as he wore the uncomfortable set of clothing, before he noted all the gazes of his aunts and uncles upon him. He smiled with delight upon the attention, but then he noted the look within his aunt’s eyes. It was that kind of look.

Jurot didn’t entirely understand why everyone was so glad to see the children wearing all these different clothing, but he could feel something beside him. He dared to look to the side, noting the intense look of focus upon Jaygak’s face.

‘How much should I tease aunt?’ Jaygak thought.

Indeed, Jurot didn’t understand, and nor did Gurot.

They didn’t understand that Gurot was the only boy between them all. They didn’t understand why Adam sighed a pained sigh. They didn’t understand why Adam placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. They didn’t understand why Adam said those words.

“As a member of the Rot family, you are known for your toughness, our Gurot.” Adam closed his eyes, his heart already weeping for the boy.

“Kaza?” the boy asked, not understanding the treachery that was about to occur.

“You must endure it, okay?” Adam could only hope the boy would forgive him.

However, this was his Fate, as the only boy born within the first set of children.

Jurot wasn’t sure why everyone was making a fuss, but it was then he froze up. He stared beyond the group, towards the past. ‘No.’ He blinked. ‘No.’ His eyes darted upwards the boy, who was about to get changed into a most terrifying outfit. Even now, the Iyrman recalled how uncomfortable the clothing had been.

“Adam, we…” Jurot felt a hand on each shoulder. ‘You too, Kitool?’

‘It is not the skirt which hurts the most,’ Shikan thought, recalling back to when he was a boy. He was glad Otkan wasn’t here, for he remembered when his mother used to force him to wear that.

The men all understood.

‘It was not the skirt, but the tights.’

It was not the skirt, but the tights.

Adam held Gurot upon their return, the boy sucking his thumb, a pout across his lips. “My chonky boy, do you want some food?”

Gurot perked up at the mention of food, forgiving Adam for his betrayal, just this once.

Upon their return, Adam spoiled each of the children within the inn, making sure to feed them. Kavgak, who had managed to save Gurot from his fate with a defiant shout, allowed Adam to feed her, but she continued to glare at him. Of course, she wasn’t glaring at him for any particular reason, she was just tired, though Adam continued to pray within his heart for forgiveness.

‘I can’t just keep playing here, I need to do some work too.’

“What do you think of Red Oak?” Sonarot asked.

“Big!” Jirot replied, holding up her hands. “So big!”

“Small,” Konarot said.

“Small?”

“House. Is small.”

“The houses are small,” Sonarot agreed. “Do you like the houses here or home?”

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“Home.”

‘Home…’ Adam thought. His worry quickly dissipated as Kavgak grabbed his collar.

“Kaza.”

“Yes, my Kavgak?”

“Mik.”

“What’s the magic word.”

“Pease,” the girl said, tapping her chin.

Adam could feel how heavy the girl was, and realised he probably shouldn’t have spent so much on clothes for the children since they’d outgrow it quickly. ‘It was only about sixty gold this time, so it’s not like I wasted money.’

Adam had forgotten the worth of sixty gold, slowly slipping into the wicked territory of getting used to being rich.

Vasera sipped away at the alcohol, finally being able to drink now that she was set free. She threw a look towards the little Iyrman girl to the side, who held up a spoon of food, which splattered across her father’s clothing.

“Sorry!” Inakan gasped, before she giggled with delight.

“It is fine,” Shikan said, spooning the food for his daughter, wiping himself down.

‘…’ Vasera watched the interactions between father and daughter for a long while, before glancing aside once more. ‘Why does everyone love their children in the Iyr?’

“Thanks again for treating us,” Rook said, nodding his head to the half elf, raising a toast.

“Of course.” Adam smiled. “When you come and join us next time, don’t forget how well I treated you, okay? Ah, and next time, hopefully, I’ll have some more gifts for you.”

Rook smiled. Although technically they owed Adam for the bet from the tournament, Adam had been paying them fairly every time he hired them. Even though their contract was over, and the group was about to spend the next month in the town wasting away their gold, Adam had offered to pay for their rooms for the next week. Even after he had heard the price, he committed to his words.

‘He really wants to leave a good impression.’ It wasn’t the best they had been treated, but not once did Adam show any disdain for their assistance, and not once did he show them off to others. Rook glanced aside to Jurot and Kitool, and understood why the half elf didn’t show them off.

The next day, Adam decided to complete the little bit of work he needed to complete, although a particularly troublesome little girl had caused trouble in order to come along.

‘Seriously…’

The young girl opened the door, only to look up towards the fellow in the scarf who wore purple and a child, her eyes darting aside to see the other scary looking man. No, he wasn’t a man, but an Iyrman. She quickly pulled back, while an adult stepped forward, a young woman.

“Yes,” a man asked, his eyes holding a touch of suspicion, apprehension, and focus to try and make out the faces properly.

“Good morning, is Ted here?” Adam asked.

“Executive?” called a voice from within.

‘Executive?’ the man thought, pulling back to allow the group in.

“Morning,” Adam said, waving a hand.

“Good morning!” Lanarot declared, waving her hand too.

Jurot just nodded, placing down the small basket to one side.

“How can we help ya?” Ted asked, wondering how the pair knew where they were.

“Just here to see how the discussions were going, and to deal with that other thing we talked about,” Adam said.

“Right…” Ted slowly nodded his head.

“I didn’t mean to be so rude. I brought some food to make up for it. I hope I’m not intruding.” Adam noted the older man laying in the bed, the handful of children nearby, some in the middle of chores, as well as the middle aged man and the young women who remained at home. The building was small, and smelled as one might have expected, full of sweat, but not too terrible.

“No, no,” Ted said, smiling awkwardly a moment, nodding his head. “Ruby, pop the kettle on.”

“Ah, no need for that. Just some water. I can heat it and flavour it so you don’t need to waste anything on me.” Adam waved his hand dismissively.

“Uh, right, this is Executive Adam, and Executive Jurot, and…”

“Little Boss, Lanarot,” Adam added.

“Hello,” the girl said, sitting up taller within her brother’s arm. “I am daughter of Sonarot!”

Ted introduced the family to Adam, who ended up shaking forearms with each of them, including the old man, Henry, who tried to sit up.

“I didn’t mean to be laying down for you, Brother,” Henry said, the old man speckled with wrinkles and marks across his face and arms, certainly far older than Adam had imagined.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” Adam replied, chuckling lightly. ‘I guess that’s why they couldn’t make the wedding.’

“We’ve been hearing about your offer from Ted,” Archie, Ted’s brother, said. “Pa’s in no place to be movin’ about in his age, and I don’t wantta leave him.”

“You’re right,” Adam said, nodding his head. “I didn’t realise this was the situation, otherwise I would have offered something else.”

Archie glanced to Ted, whose eyes urged his brother to say more, but Archie felt too embarrassed.

“Well, Executive, you see…” Ted began, feeling his brother poke him in the side. “Even though my brother can’t leave, some of the children, we were hoping you’d take them in.”

“I feel bad taking children away from their parents,” Adam admitted. “Although, I guess we could send them back now and again to make sure they don’t miss you, or maybe we can send them back during the times when you need to plant and harvest?”

Ted hadn’t expected Adam to think that far ahead. “Well, it’s no bother, really. Some of the girls, they’re good with their handiwork, and some of the boys, they’re too small to help much here anyhows.”

“What exactly are you interested in from us?” Adam asked. “I mean, obviously we’re offering you to join us, but what about our offer is most enticing?”

“Well, the reading’s all good, but we’ve never been smart folk, us,” Archie admitted. “Payin’ for their housing and their foods good, and training them too, that’s real important. If they can work at a business like yours, the pay’s good, and they can send some back without worrying.”

“How much would you like them to send back?” Adam asked, pulling out his book. “I’m not good with the numbers so I need some paper to help me.” He winked.

“About five gold,” Archie said. “It’ll help us work a little less to look after pa, and help with the taxes, especially with all the wars.”

Ted cleared his throat. “Some of the older boys would be good at the business. No point sending them to war for half the money.”

“Aye,” Archie agreed. “They’re not cowardly, my boys, but there’s no need for them to go out fightin’ like that. They’re not boys who dream of war.”

“If I take the older boys, will your farming be alright?”

“I can still work just fine, same with my siblings and my in laws, they take care of pa alright. It’s my sister’s turn tomorrow, so I can work the fields then. I only did it today cause there was some business at the mill she was needed for.”

“You don’t have to worry about me for long,” Henry joked, causing Ted and Archie to glance back in shock.

Adam let out a laugh, unable to contain himself. “Ah, sorry! Sorry! Excuse me.” Adam cleared his throat. “Well, even if I am a Priest of Death, it’s not like I want to see you go so soon.”

A knock at the door caused them to pause, until the large form of Nobby stepped in, followed by another fellow, slightly younger, in his mid teens, who was still tall and well built, holding a basket. Jurot eyed him up, narrowing his eyes slightly.

‘Hmm…’