“Did you know?” Chief Iromin asked Elder Zijin, having finally decided to confront him.

“I did not,” Zijin replied.

Iromin remained silent. Mad Dog had begun exercising in the past few years, especially after he held his first greatchildren. However, the way to revive that old Mad Dog was definitely to threaten the children, and it had all played out so perfectly.

“Okay,” the Chief replied. He didn’t believe Zijin’s words because he was an Iyrman, but because Zijin, along with the Chief, and Sonarot, had worked the hardest to try and keep the idiot alive. There was no way that Zijin, of all the people, would dare to threaten the children’s lives for the sake of reviving the Mad Dog. Even if the children were only the children of the Rot family, the Iyr wouldn’t dare to play with the children’s lives.

Meanwhile, the foolish half elf continued to rant, threatening to kill the Count himself, all in front of a particular farmer whose heart threatened to explode.

Dunes remained silent, even though he could sense a set of expectant eyes upon him. He wanted to temper Adam, but he couldn’t speak up, not when it was those children who had been targeted.

Once Adam was done explaining the situation to both Jonn and Fred, and more completely to Dunes, the meeting continued.

“I’m not going to show as much favour to Red Oak any more,” Adam stated. “If she doesn’t want our favour, she won’t have it.”

Fred’s heart began to calm, glad that the half elf had managed to talk himself out of their deaths. ‘He wouldn’t be so stupid as to fight the nobles. That’s too crazy, even for him.’

“I’m not in the business of doing business with people who hate us, or my adorable little children.”

“And Floria?” Jaygak asked.

“What about Floria?”

“The Florians still feel the ache about the massacre,” Jaygak said, taking a moment to bow her head towards Fred, who glanced aside awkwardly, before then nodding her head to Jonn. Somehow, the massacre had led to the two of them joining Adam, both in similar and different ways.

“Right…” Adam inhaled deeply. “I should probably speak with King Merryweather about it, right? He’s just finished with his civil war, so bringing a gift of gold and a magical item should secure me an audience? I could ask him to make it illegal to kill goblins, or at the very least, my adorable children.”

‘Is that how that works?’ Fred thought, unsure of how noble politics worked.

“Should I send word then?”

“It is best to send a letter or to seek an audience personally,” Jurot stated.

“Alright…”

“We should adventure,” Jurot stated. “We have many weeks left before the births.”

“Well…” ‘I really do want to stay here, but I guess that’ll worry Vonda if I’m always fussing over her. Aren’t I her husband? I should be fussing over her!’

“Let’s take the month off to watch over the children first,” Jaygak said. “If they seem fine, then we should adventure.”

“Jaygak’s right,” Adam said, his neck tensing up.

Jaygak waited for the joke, but noted how hard Adam was trying in order to keep his words pure. She kept her mouth shut too, not wanting to bully Adam when he was so stressed.

“We have about three months or so, so I guess we can adventure nearby. Not Red Oak, fuck ‘em. Let’s head to…” ‘Can’t do Deadwood either, since she was a huge bitch to me too!’ Adam could feel it, the rushing heat that chipped away through his body. “Ever Green, I guess? That way we can earn some favour in Floria?”

“Adam, you should be careful with your language, otherwise Jirot will start causing more trouble,” Lucy warned.

“If my daughter…” Adam let out a quick huff, freezing in place. “You’re right.”

‘…’ Lucy didn’t like how quickly Adam gave up.

“We’ll adventure in Ever Green, but for this month, I’ll…” ‘How much work do I need to get done? I think I made a few fire blades, but… I still need Red Oak for that? Unless I start sending people out to Ever Green? That’d be too dangerous though. Damn. Do I really need to…’

Konarot stirred as her father approached. The girl nuzzled up against his chest as he held her. She trapped her father under her tiny body, though her father managed to reach out for the woman, and held her hand for a moment, before the family slept together.

Quest Complete: Home Safe

XP Gained: +500

XP: 11 100 -> 11 600

It was a little after breakfast when Adam managed to find some time with his wife, the pair sitting together, holding hands. Adam brushed along the back of her knuckles tenderly as the woman relaxed beside him. She was currently thinking on Adam’s words, having heard that her children had been in danger.

“They are not allowed to kill my children, but it may be difficult for even my name to protect them,” Vonda admitted. “The Order of Life’s Rose advocates for life, but it’s difficult to enforce such when it comes to goblins.”

“I know…” Adam continued to hold her hand. “It’ll be okay. They can stay at the business and in the Iyr. The villagers are used to them, and I don’t think they’re stupid enough to do anything to my kids when they know I’m crazy strong, and that they’re so close with Iyrmen.”

Vonda smiled sadly, resting her head against his shoulder. “You’re going to adventure?”

“Yeah. Ever Green. Need anything?”

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“No. Nothing.”

“We’ll return around the middle of the ninth month, so a while before when… you know.”

“I know.”

“Can you still paint and sketch?”

“I do, sometimes.”

“You need to be careful with painting, since it might be toxic. The gem lead stuff should be okay, since it’s not actually lead. If you need any help, just ask Nobby or Jonn. No, Brittany, I guess?” ‘I did promise for her to join us adventuring, though…’

Eventually, the pair returned back to the central fire, where many of the children sat, eagerly listening to Amira. He sat off to one side, his wife taking her place beside him.

“Mummy!” Jirot called out, half shouting, but having taken the warning to heart so it was more of a loud whisper. “You are eating?”

“I ate already.”

“You are comfotiby?”

“I am very comfortable,” Vonda assured.

Jirot narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You are lying to me?”

“I am not.”

“Your mother would never lie to you,” Adam said, raising his brows.

Jirot smirked playfully. “Yes, I know, I know!”

“Mummy, you need help?” little Jarot asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Aren’t our adorable kids so dependable?” Adam asked, smiling wide.

“Yes.”

“Daddy, I am big girl.”

“No, you’re a little girl.”

“No, I big like mummy.”

“One day you’ll be big like mummy, but right now you’re small.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“I have baby in my tummy?”

Adam chuckled lightly. “Well, I suppose, when you find someone?”

“I am Demon Load, I have baby?”

“I think so.”

Jirot thought for a moment. “I do not want baby, I want Demon Load.”

Adam snorted lightly, picking up his daughter, rubbing her tummy. “I see, I see, well you’ll have to work hard.”

“Daddy! I can have magic?”

“Yes.”

“I can have magic and I am Demon Load?”

“Yes, you can.”

“I learn magic!” Jirot declared, throwing out her fists. “Fyahball!”

“What about other magic that’s nicer?” Adam asked. “Daddy knows lots of nice spells too.”

“No!” Jirot cackled.

“You smelly girl.” Adam kissed her cheek. “When you grow up, daddy will teach you.”

“I learn so good.” Jirot sat proudly. “I am Demon Load, and I going to potec mummy and daddy, and daddy, you are not working because I am Demon Load, okay?”

“Okay,” Adam tickled her cheek gently.

“I am strong like babo,” Jarot said. “So strong.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Adam pulled the pair close to his chest, only to find his eldest pouting at him. ‘Oh dear.’

Morkarai waited until noon to have a drink with Adam. “I’m sorry, Adam.”

“What do you need to apologise for?”

“I should have been there to protect them.”

“You’d steal all the glory from their babo?” Adam joked. “You did well protecting the fort, so don’t worry about it.”

“My offer still stands, Adam. Should you wish to become a Hill Lord, I am but a Sending away.”

“Yeah, I’ll remember it,” Adam replied, pouring him a drink.

‘He’s definitely crazy,’ Jasmine thought, glancing between the pair and then to the goblins, who were enjoying their time with their mother, and their greatfather.

Soon, the children of the Iyr were returned back to the Iyr, save for six children, who remained within the fort with their parents. Adam complained since he didn’t get to spoil his cousins much, but he needed to begin enchanting.

“Are you going to work?” Jarot asked, before he was about to leave with the children.

“I am. I’ve got a Count to please.”

“What is it this time?”

“Greater Enhanced. Fire.”

“Is it a sword?”

“Yeah.”

“You should also do the same for two greatswords,” Jarot said.

“Greatswords?” Adam replied, but noting where the old man was looking, he nodded.

While Adam enchanted, the others busied themselves, finally focused on the business.

Jurot tested the newcomer, making him complete all manner of different exercises, from running, jumping, swimming with supervision, to carrying heavy objects. Jurot also tested the young man’s balance, as well as his memory, and various other abilities.

“We’ve finished collecting the information,” Dunes informed the Iyrman, placing down a book before them.

Jurot flipped through the book. He noted the underlines of the people that Dunes, Amira, and Jonn had picked out especially. Though almost every orphan had some ability in a way, some of them surpassed others in various ways. A few were decent in multiple different attributes, not just strength, but their toughness or nimbleness, not just intelligence, but wisdom, as well as their ability to talk to people well, or a mixture of any of them.

One thing which surprised him was the oldest woman, Luna, who was still younger than some of the oldest men, was extremely intelligent.

“It was difficult for some of the others to keep up pace with her,” Dunes explained. “In the span of a few months, she’s managed to learn how to read and write, beyond a satisfactory level.”

“Okay,” Jurot said with a nod. Jurot noted some of the other women also held special notes, and some of the men too. While many were slightly above average, some were further above average. Comparing the notes, it seemed there were a couple who were some better than Freddie, though Freddie had one advantage over any of them. Alfie, who was in his mid twenties, was great. Tommy, who was about ten, was also great. Except, Freddie, was at the perfect age to be taught. He was fifteen, almost sixteen, so Jurot could begin today, just like with Alfie, but Freddie would have ten years longer to perfect his abilities, while Tommy would need to wait roughly four to six years before he could be honed into a great blade.

Dunes eventually spoke with Adam too, informing him of the issue of payment.

“We did promise to pay them after the sixth month, so it’s fine,” Adam replied, writing the note in his book.

“You ended up spending a lot on your children, are you sure we have enough?” Dunes joked.

“I’m sensible. I spent my own coin on them, the business’ coin was spent on business matters.”

“I found that George has a new book. He said,” Dunes paused, realising what he said. “He informed me Fred bought it for him.”

“How cute,” Adam whispered.

“Is that something the business funds?”

“If I was to decide, sure. I think that buying books for George, or anyone in the business, sounds like a business expense.”

“I’ll be sure to refund him the coin.”

“You!” Jirot held up her fist towards her father. “You are always working!”

“Daddy needs to work so he can play with you during the festival.”

Jirot raised her brows, before she turned her head, catching her mother’s eyes. She crossed her arms, and pouted towards her mother.

“Dear, how long must you work?” Vonda asked, smiling slightly.

“I need to work… well, I can work up until the festival, and then I can work a little after it, but I won’t work during it?”

“Will you play with Jirot the entire festival?”

“Daddy will play with Jirot as much as she wants, and with the other children, during the festival,” Adam promised.

Jirot inhaled deeply, but she climbed up beside her mother, cuddling up beside her. “Smelly boy.”

Adam did end up keeping his promise, though he did want to finish up the work. He also felt guilty, since they were at the fort for the festival, rather than the Iyr. However, seeing the businessfolk excited with all the food and drinks, most of which had been prepared by the villagers nearby, with Dunes dealing with the flow of coin, and Kitool dealing with the negotiations, he supposed it wasn’t so bad.

‘I wanted to spend it in the Iyr, but I guess this is fine too,’ Adam thought, eating and drinking with his children, while also playing games with them, from kicking a ball, to tossing items, to Warriors and Wanderers.

“Hmm,” the one armed Jarot growled. “How could you make me come all this way to see my greatchildren during the festival?”

“What’s this? Babo doesn’t want to play with Jirot and Jarot today?” Adam replied, gasping.

Jirot opened her potato filled mouth, the sadness filling the girl, her eyes snapping to her grandmother, who had returned during the festival.

“I did not say such a thing!”

Adam spent his days with the children, and he spent the nights with the adults. He took special care of his wife, who could not drink, and so Adam refused to drink too, and since her diet consisted mostly of vegetables, Adam did the same. Every so often, his eyes would covet other foods, but he knew he couldn’t cheat on his wife like that. She had eventually noticed he wasn’t eating as much meat or cheese, so she decided to eat some meat, at least allowing him that much pleasure.

‘What a fool of a husband,’ she thought, a smile across her face.