The Front Iyr was as Adam recalled, though it was still vastly different from the original Front Iyr he had stepped into three years ago. Beyond the mighty walls and gate, through the valley of death, once lay the small village known as the Front Iyr. It had been a village of a few thousand at most, surrounded by a small wooden fence.

Yet the Front Iyr before him was a Front Iyr also made by the very same Iyrmen, and yet, was so different. Where once they could see the open plains which hid mysteries unknown to outsiders, there were large walls of jagged rock, like those of mountain peaks. Where where once a sparse, expansive village of wooden cabins dotted across the land, now lay hundreds of large estates. The ground floor of each estate was made of hard stone, and the few buildings with more than one story, the upper stories were made of wood. However, Adam spotted a handful of building which reached towards the sky, three stories tall, made completely of stone.

‘Did they change it again?’ Adam thought, glancing around. He was uncertain, for the Front Iyr had once been blanketed in snow even outside of nightval, and now the snow had disappeared, revealing a new Front Iyr. ‘What’s that?’

The group could hear a gentle tune playing throughout the Iyr, as though there was a distant bard coaxing them. Yet as they approached the central square, which grew more expansive with its buildings and open spaces, the music still appeared to be in the far distance. There, sitting and drinking wine together, were the forms of Burgwing and Wingburg, the bronze scaled man and the black scaled woman.

‘Where’s Wiseraith and Lord Stokmar?’ Adam thought, glancing around, but not finding them anywhere.

“I was wondering when I would see you,” Burgwing called, motioning a hand towards the group to approach.

“It’s good to see you, Burgwing,” Adam said, shaking the bronze scaled drakken’s forearm, though he was certain he was not a drakken, but a dragon in disguise. “You too, Wingburg.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you too,” she replied, her eyes calm and relaxed compared to the last few times Adam had seen her. Burgwing, too, was far more relaxed.

“How are your children?” Burgwing asked, chuckling lightly to himself. “Are the goblins growing well?”

“All children grow well in the Iyr,” Jurot replied firmly.

“Are you picking a fight?” Adam asked, glancing aside in annoyance. “They’re growing up too much! Let me tell what my daughter did!”

“We heard from Lord Morkarai,” Burgwing said, chuckling lightly. “Do not take it to heart, boy, for she does not truly mean what she said.”

“I know, she’s just bullying me, because that’s how she is.”

“You will forgive her because she is cute.”

“What else can I do?”

“Careful, or she will become as useless as me,” Burgwing chuckled.

“You must not be useless if the Iyr called upon your aid.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?” The drakken grinned wide, his eyes on the verge of tears from laughter.

“I’m not gay.”

“You’re not?” Burgwing replied, his brows raised in shock. His brows furrowed as he thought back to their previous conversations. “Yes, you did mention. I was surprised by that too.” ‘How did I forget something like that? Ah, right, it’s because he’s an outsider.’ Burgwing chalked it up to the stress of being beside Grimraith and Lord Stokmar for so long. ‘Does he not also have three other children?’

“Are you planning to cause a mess in Aldland?” Wingburg asked, the woman offering to pour Adam some wine.

“I hope not.” Adam smiled as he sipped the fruit wine slowly, letting it loosen him up, the warmth beginning to flow through him. “Though now that the Iyr is open again, I do feel more comfortable causing trouble.”

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Burgwing laughed wildly. “Some of my children have also caused such a mess.”

“Right, children do cause a lot of messes.”

“What am I to do? They all fight on different sides believing their cause to be most righteous.” Burgwing let out a sigh as though to say he truly didn’t care of the matter.

“I’m surprised to see you both here considering the Iyr’s open again,” Adam said, slowly sipping his wine as he caught their eyes. “Thought you would have left.”

“We’ll leave soon, once we finish earning our pay.”

“Ah, you’re getting paid a lot?” Adam asked.

“More than you could possibly imagine,” Burgwing assured.

“I mean, I can imagine a lot.”

“I was offered priceless artefacts.”

“So was I,” Wingburg added.

“Oh? What kind of artefacts?” Adam asked.

“Why do you wish to know that?” Burgwing asked, narrowing his eyes, his lips forming a wider smile, though not quite as cheerful as before.

“Just,” Adam replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Just?”

“Yeah. Just asking. Making small talk and all that.”

“To ask someone about their artefacts… that’s too much, young boy.”

“Alright, sorry,” Adam replied, before his eyes fell to Burgwing, but instead of causing more trouble, he glanced around. “Where’s Wiseraith and Lord Stokmar?”

“Why do you wish to know where they are?” Wingburg asked.

Adam sighed, sipping more of his drink, before standing up. “I’ll just go bother Lord Morkarai.”

Burgwing chuckled. “There is no need to run from us, we won’t bite you.”

“I know, you’re not that-,” Adam slapped his knee, inhaling deeply as he stopped his foot from entering his mouth. “You are both such wonderful guests of the Iyr, so I know you’re decent.” Still, the half elf continued to make his way out. ‘Dragons, man.’

“He seems annoyed,” Burgwing said, eyeing up the half elf’s brother.

“Larot was recently born, but Adam left quickly after to adventure,” Jurot said.

“Larot?”

“Adam’s sixth child.”

“Another?” Burgwing asked. “How busy has he been?” The bronze scaled man howled with laughter, flashing his pearly white smile for all to see.

Wingburg’s eyes fell across the group, noting their gear, their magical weapons, armour, and even how much wealth they carried, smelling the scent of gold and gems which clung to the group. Adam had held the most of any of them, but these Iyrmen were also carrying great wealth with them. ‘What are they planning?’

Adam made his way towards Lord Morkarai’s estate, where an Iyrman stood at attention. Adam nodded towards the Iyrman. “Is Lord Morkarai inside?”

“He is working,” the Iyrman replied.

“Oh.” Adam stood awkwardly for a moment as he thought.

“Lord Morkarai will finish soon.”

“Right. Sure. Would you let him know that I, Adam, am in the Front Iyr and would love to chat with him.” Adam sighed, before going for a walk.

“Adam,” called a familiar voice.

“Dunes,” Adam replied, as though he were heartbroken. “Finally!”

As they approached, Adam ignored Dunes’ arm, instead embracing the Aswadian, who hugged the half elf awkwardly, patting his back.

“What is wrong?” Dunes asked, fairly certain this was the first time they had hugged.

“Dunes, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you replying with such a questioning tone?” Adam let go of the hug, huffing out in annoyance.

“I am confused as to why you would ask such an obvious question.”

“How can you be confused by something like that when it’s me?”

“…” Dunes slowly nodded, before they clasped forearms. “What is the matter?”

“I’m annoyed, Dunes.”

“Why?”

“Why do we have to leave the Iyr? It’s such a wonderful place? Little Larot is going to be so lonely without me, you know? What about the old geezer? He’s going to steal my children away from me!”

Dunes pat Adam’s shoulder. He understood what Adam was doing. He was getting rid of all the pent up cringe before they were going to leave the Iyr. ‘Hopefully it will reduce the trouble on our travels…’

“Dunes?”

“Yes?”

“If I…” Adam fell silent for a moment, feeling the tension in his neck. As he stepped out of the Main Iyr, it meant he was stepping closer to death. “If I go too far, you need to stop me.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I… you know… start killing people, you have to stop me.”

“…” Dunes blinked. Adam? Kill people? “Shouldn’t you ask Sir Vonda?”

“I’m sure she’ll speak up, but just in case she’s not around at the time,” Adam replied.

“Is something wrong?”

Adam let out a sigh, feeling the tension pulse within his shoulders and the rest of his body. “The Iyr has corrupted me, Dunes. I… I can’t say much more than that, I’m afraid.”

“I don’t believe you’ll go too far, but if you do, I will be sure to stop you.” Dunes realised how ridiculous it sounded, considering he had almost killed the goblins when they had first met, while Adam had stopped him. ‘Just what has the Iyr done to you?’

Adam inhaled deeply before he let out another exhale. “I’m serious, Dunes.”

“So am I.”

Adam nodded his head slowly. “Thanks. Oh, and here.” Adam pulled out the diamond from within his robes, handing it to the Aswadian priest. “Just in case.”

“I already have three,” Dunes replied.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“I thought you only had one or two?”

“I procured a diamond during our travels,” Dunes stated.

“Oh. That makes sense, yeah. I thought you and Sir Vonda only had two, so I brought enough to make sure we at least had three each.”

“I believe Sir Vonda also has three.”

“Oh? You’re rather close with Sir Vonda, aren’t you? I thought you were-,”

“Sir Vonda and I often speak of the trouble you cause,” Dunes replied, flashing a charming smile towards the half elf.

Adam smiled, slowly nodding his head in response. “That was a good one.”