30. Late Arrival

30. Late Arrival

“I didn’t expect him to know the silverdrakken,” Argon said in their tongue, throwing a glance back towards the half elf.

The group were trekking their way along the river, through the dense forest. The rushing river provided them just enough cover that their words wouldn’t be caught beyond the group. Adam was currently talking with Dargon and Jurot, not paying attention to the Iyrmen.

“Who would have expected that?” Tazwyn replied, shaking her head. “He may have come to the Iyr on her behalf.” Someone meeting a dragon so close to the borders of the Iyr had alarmed the Iyrmen. They would need to pass along the information soon.

“I don’t think so. She wasn’t acting when she revealed her surprise.” Argon recalled the reason why Adam said he had come, which seemed to set off some alarm bells. If he was going to meet Entalia, he would have been more forthcoming after meeting her.

“Could they really just be friends? Who is just friends with a dragon?” They both knew many people who were just friends with dragons, but they were those highly skilled or powerful.

“Old flames?” Argon suggested.

“With him?” Tazwyn asked, her voice dismissive.

“He is handsome enough.”

“He is, but is that enough for that woman? She has a pick from more than a million men where she’s from, several thousand who could snap the boy like a twig, by steel or sorcery. Why would she pick some half elf still wet behind the ears? His blade is still unmarked by the blood of a worthy foe.” Tazwyn restrained her voice, trying to not sound too harsh, though Adam would most likely not understand what she was saying.

“Isn’t there a tale about an elf and a dragon?” Argon asked, half serious. It was one of the most popular tales in the Iyr, one of the few which had become the oral canon within the Iyr.

“There are more tales about Iyrmen and dragons,” the heavily armoured Iyrman refuted. She grew up hearing a dozen stories about Iyrmen and dragons, and the offspring they produced. There were many half dragons which walked with Iyrmen blood, though very few ever stepped foot in the Iyr. “He’s also a half elf, not an elf.”

Argon shrugged his shoulders, conceding the point. “He has also said so many ridiculously things.”

“Perhaps he’s just stupid?” Tazwyn tried to remember all the things he had said to her, like how he had died several times before. “Or crazy.”

“Or too smart for us to comprehend.”

“Dangerous.”

Argon couldn’t help but agree. “More importantly, he seems to know Sonarot’s condition.”

Tazwyn could hear the worry in the man’s voice. “Which is impossible,” she reassured.

Argon could feel something within his gut which was telling him something was wrong. Though, when he had been grabbing his blade the night before, his gut had told him not to draw it.

Tazwyn had been with him for so many years, that she was in tune with his thoughts. She knew he wouldn’t draw his blade that night, but she was fully prepared to try and stop him. If he had wanted to kill Adam, it would have been difficult for her to stop it alone.

“Unless he had been to the Iyr previously...” Argon whispered. He thought about the recent news in the Iyr. “Which visitors have we had recently?”

“No half elves,” Tazwyn replied, confirming his thoughts.

“Unless he was disguised.”

“...”

Argon conceded the point again. It was the stupidest thing he had said for some time, but he wanted to cover all the bases. There was something he was missing, something which was gnawing at him. ‘Should I really bring him to the Iyr?’

“Let’s leave it to your brother for the moment,” Tazwyn said, patting his back. He had been thinking too much.

Argon nodded his head. “We’ll keep a closer eye on him too.”

Eshva and Kandal had been listening in on the conversation, taking on the words. Dargon had kept Adam and Jurot busy by talking about various different Iyrmen materials for weapons, having recalled Adam could smith. Since his brother needed time to speak with Tazwyn privately, he had to provide a distraction.

“I still hope to work with Iyr Ivory,” Jurot said. “It is beautiful. I’ve held it once, when I was first learning my trade.” He recalled learning under his mentor, who had allowed him to touch all kinds of previous wood. Iyr Ivory felt so heavy, more like marble than wood. He tapped the wooden boar in his pocket, which was still quite rough, though it was coming along well.

“Once you reach Mithril Rank, eh Jurot?” Dargon chuckled. “Though you might want to reach Gold Rank. Iromin has become so stingy with it.” Dargon frowned, recalling how his mother had tried to redeem some wood, but had been denied for a few years. Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com threw a glance back to Dargon’s tag. Steel Rank, which was below Mithril and Silver. “Mithril? That’s some time away, isn’t it? Just how many Mithril Rank Iyrmen are there that you don’t have enough Iyr Ivory for them?”

Dargon just smiled, winking at Adam. He wouldn’t be able to reveal the number, even if he wanted to. He didn’t want to scare the boy, but it was also because Adam’s threat rating had increased.

Adam stared up at Dargon, wondering what that had meant. He wondered how many people were in the Iyr too, but asking that question after meeting with a dragon did seem a little suspicious. ‘Should I have explained it better to them? Meeting with a dragon isn’t the craziest thing in this world.’

“Nothing,” the Chief replied.

“Excuse me?” Adam asked. He shook his head, furrowed his brows, and then prepared himself. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” the Chief said. “She didn’t charge us.”

“Are you sure?” Adam blinked. ‘What?’ He glanced around the village. “Are you missing any people?” Had she stolen a few people to toy with? Perhaps some children as payment?

“Other than the dead, no.” The Chief shook her head, staring at Adam’s face curiously.

“She... she didn’t ask for anything?” Adam blinked repeatedly. ‘Entalia. Not charging?’ She was a dragon, and dragons weren’t the most selfless creatures. “I can’t believe it...” he whispered under his breath.

“She didn’t ask for anything. We tried to pay her for her service, but she didn’t accept anything. She didn’t even accept any of the furs we offered her, or the food, or even some of our wooden instruments, make by Mo himself.” The Chief shook her head.

“...” Adam narrowed his eyes suspiciously, deep in thought. He looked up to the sky, looking at the clouds overhead. His lips formed a taut frown.

“Why? What’s wrong?” The Chief stared at Adam, wondering what he was thinking. ‘Is the beautiful elf woman going to come back and demand something outrageous?’ The way Adam was reacting caused her to think twice about the matter.

Adam reached up to rub his eyes with the sides of his wrists, shaking his head slightly. “I get the feeling she’s going to charge me.”

“Why would she do that?” The Chief furrowed her brows and tilted her head slightly. She wasn’t following Adam’s logic.

Adam stared at the Chief for a moment. “It seems I can’t escape her in this life either.”

The Chief glanced to the Iyrman but then looked back to Adam. “You should be glad. She is beautiful and a great fighter.”

Adam blinked again, wondering how the conversation had turned. “I’m not looking for someone beautiful who is a great fighter.”

‘What did he just say?’ Argon blinked.

The Chief narrowed her eyes slightly, and stood a little taller. “What are you looking for?”

“I’m not looking for anything. I’m still young.” He could see the look in her eyes, and it was not he liked. “Shouldn’t I go around to various inns and sow my seed into a thousand fields or something?”

The Chief looked at Adam as though he were made of cow dung. “I see. You’re one of those.”

“I-I’m not! I just don’t want anyone right now!” Adam’s cheeks took a rosy flush, slightly embarrassed by his crudeness.

“You should settle down quickly,” the Chief said. “You’re a grown man, and handsome too. You might be a half elf, but there are many women who dream of being with an elf. You’re no Iyrman, so you don’t have to prove yourself. It’s about time you find someone, settle down, and have four or five children.”

“I’m an Adventurer,” Adam said, wondering why he was currently having a talk about marriage with the Chief. “I, you know, adventure.”

“In this day and age, even Adventurers settle down young.” The Chief threw a look to Argon, who had figured out what she was trying to do. He decided against assisting her, keeping himself out of the conversation.

“I don’t want to,” Adam grumbled. “I want to explore the world with Jurot. I want bromance, not romance.”

“Well, if you’ve chosen an Iyrman to be with you, then that’s fine too. They’re quite strong and dependable.” She smiled at Argon, who nodded his head.

“I don’t mean it like that either!” Adam turned red hot in the cheeks and stormed off. “I’ll go and help.”

“What a shame,” the Chief said. “I have two granddaughters his age.”

“I didn’t expect you to marry an elf into your family,” Argon said, looking at the back of the half elf. “Considering you’re a part of Central Aldland.”

“He doesn’t seem too bad,” she replied. “As if the King holds much sway here. The Iyr is just a hearty leap away. Even if we live near the Iyr, it’s always nice to have something else going for us. You are equally as impressive as you are terrifying. A half elf would be mysterious enough to bring in visitors. Have you seen my great grandchildren? They’re cute, but they aren’t going to be making anyone swoon when they’re older.”

Argon shook his head, understanding that the woman was going to drag him into a conversation he would be ill equipped at handling. “We will go find some food for you. Tazwyn will remain behind to assist with the village.”

“Thank you, as always.” The Chief smiled, and pat Argon’s head as he bowed down for her.

The Chief was twice his age, and he had met her when he was still a teen. He always swung by the village on the way back, regardless of which way he approached the Iyr, making sure that everyone here was fine.

‘I let down my guard,’ the Iyrman thought. ‘I will ask to be stationed at this village next time.’