110. Standing Up

110. Standing Up

“I have,” Sir Dorian said.

“There was a time when a King of Aldland executed an Iyrman,” Sir Merrick said.

“Three,” said the Iyrmen, and the Half Elf who had been poking fun of the Knight.

“Excuse me?” Sir Merrick asked.

“It wasn’t one Iyrman which was killed that day,” Aizaban said. “It was three. Akrat. Timothy. The unborn child.” Her eyes flashed dark towards the Knight. Of course Aldland had their own version of the story, at least, those who actually dared to speak the tale.

“Right,” Sir Merrick said, clearing his throat. “The King executed the three Iyrmen for treason-“

“King Solomon the Wise executed the Iyrmen because they dared to break a law in the capital city, which was to step into the inner city with their weapons,” Aizaban said, her voice firm and clear.

“Iyrmen cannot commit treason within Aldland, because we are not Aldish,” Lanban said.

“We are Iyrmen, and have never been, aren’t, and will never be, under Aldish rule.”

It was quite rude to interrupt someone during their tale, but it was far ruder to lie about Iyrmen, and so the Iyrmen had to correct the matters.

“Right,” Sir Merrick said. “The King had executed the Iyrmen under the pretext of treason, and thus began to the war between Aldland and the Iyr.”

“You’re missing quite a lot of context,” Adam said. “That particular tale is one that was told to me on my way to the Iyr. I noticed how you downplayed what the King had done, so perhaps I should speak what I heard, and we can see if it matches with what you said, even though you were already shown to be... missing a few details.”

Adam had almost called the man a liar, but he realised he couldn’t make every Knight mad. Sir Merrick was someone from Red Oak, and Red Oak was going to be one of the few places he wanted to be welcomed in, even if they did hate his pointed ears.

Adam glanced towards Sir Harvey. ‘Oh, right. I should probably be nicer to him too.’

Adam cleared his throat. “The Iyrmen and the Kingdom had signed a very specific treaty, one which was pretty much the same as which we had mentioned. The Iyrmen and the Kingdom had been at war for so long, before the first real King of Aldland formed a treaty with the Iyrmen, and had united the land, save for the Iyrmen, into his Kingdom.”

“Many years later, there was an issue to the north, a dragon and their Kingdom which had gone to war. During this war, the King went to battle, and he fought well, but it was the Iyrmen which drove back the dragon before an Iyrman, a very specific Iyrman, killed the dragon, with the help of the Royal Guard which had gone with him.”

Adam narrowed his eyes. “Do you remember the name of the Iyrman, Sir Merrick?”

“I believe it was Akrat,” Sir Merrick said.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

“Son of Ikrat,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Do you recall the name of the young Iyrman who was executed by the King?”

“I believe it was Akrat,” Sir Merrick said.

“Son of Ikrat,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Funny that, they seem to have the same name. The King captured Akrat, and called for his execution. The King was warned that he should not break the treaty, but he still broke it, because he thought he could get away with it. So, when the King broke the treaty which his grandfather had signed, what happened?”

“The Iyrmen came, slaughtering villages, and wiped out several towns,” Sir Merrick said. “Red Oak was under siege too, for some time.”

“Yes,” Adam said. “Then the King met for battle, his forces outnumbering the Iyrmen five to one, or so. The Iyrmen brought their oldest, and the King’s force was full of young men, and those in the prime of their life. Then they duelled, ten of the greatest warriors from each side, and yet, none of the Iyrmen lost. So the King, looking to the elderly Iyrmen he outnumbered, surrendered.”

“What a preposterous story,” Sir Dorian said, staring at the Half Elf. “Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Sir Merrick, isn’t that the tale?” Adam asked. “Or have I spoken a lie during my recount?”

“I did not hear that the Iyrmen brought their old, nor that they were outnumbered.” Sir Merrick had heard the tale before, but there were a few statements Adam made which he hadn’t heard before.

“That is not the tale I have heard,” Sir Dorian said.

“It is known as the Second Blackwater Crisis in your lands,” Jurot said. “The Second Blackwater Crisis is what occurred later, when the treaty was remade, though you know of it as the Third Blackwater Crisis.”

“The tale which I have heard is that of the war between giants and the Kingdom,” Sir Dorian admitted.

“First Frost War,” Jurot said, nodding his head. “We know of it.”

“I’ve never heard your tale before,” Sir Dorian said, glancing towards Sir Merrick. “It must be a tall tale of the Iyr. Who would believe such madness?”

Adam stood too, which caused the Knights to stand up, followed by the rest of the Iyrmen, and finally Dunes, who was a part of Fate’s Golden, and had been listening intently to the conversation.

Dunes and Sir Frederick had been enjoying the tale, one which they had heard before. Dunes, being a Priest of Arya, had heard a tale most similar to Adam’s, and Sir Frederick, from Eagle Wing, had heard a different tale.

“Enough!” Sir Harvey called, remaining one of the three sitting. “I said enough, damn it! If you two keep acting up, I will kick the pair of you out!”

“What did I do?” Adam asked innocently.

“You started this by calling him a fool,” Sir Harvey said.

"He started it by acting like one."

"It was unprovoked."

"So was him trying to draw his sword against me."

"Enough!” Sir Harvey shouted. “This will be the last time, do you understand?” The High Alchemist’s eyes fell to Paul. “You were the one to vouch for him, Vice Master.”

“Now you’re trying to blame Paul?” Adam said, before recalling Paul’s title. “The Vice Master, really? Which, definitely not a fool, was the one to bring along someone who had the balls to call an Iyrman a liar after being warned?”

"You!” Sir Harvey growled, before he stood and clutched his walking stick tightly. “Didn’t I already warn you?”

“Why didn’t you open your trap when someone was calling an Iyrman a liar?" Adam asked, raising his brow. "You are so happy to defend some foolish Knight, but not the savage Iyrmen, is that right?"

"It is no crime to call an Iyrman a liar," Sir Harvey said.

"Even though Aizaban was trying to stop the situation from escalating, you didn't open your mouth to stop the fool you brought along from continuing the fight!" Adam declared.

"Dishonouring a Noble typically means death,” Sir Harvey said. “I have been tolerant enough.”

"Do you think I'll just sit down all quiet when most of my party is made up of Iyrmen?” Adam asked. “Have you forgotten that most of the people here are Iyrmen too?"

Sir Harvey glanced around quickly, swallowing slightly. He looked to Paul, who would remain neutral for now.

"Due to the King’s Law, all these Iyrmen could slay the lot of you, and they’d go home to be judged,” Adam warned. “What would the Iyr do when they hear that their people were being slandered and a great Sir of Red Oak allowed it to happen? What do you think their punishment would be if they state they were defending their honour? I’m sure it’d be the same if Sir Dorian slew me and stated the same thing.

"They would never be able to leave the Iyr," Sir Harvey said.

"The Iyr is such a lovely place, but what about the after life?" Adam asked. "Are you in such a rush to die?"

The Vice Master finally sighed. “We should stop here,” he said in the Iyrman’s tongue.

The Iyrman, and Adam, dropped down.

"Do you really think-" Sir Harvey began.

"Yes," Paul said. "I really do think it can, and will, end here after everything that's happened.”

The Vice Master rubbed his forehead, shaking his head. “Do you know how much paperwork I would be swamped under having to explain the deaths of four Nobles? I would lose my position, and I’d have to retire to the Iyr.” He paused, thinking about how lovely that sounded. “I’m still too young for that.”

To him, it was pretty evident who would lose the battle, and the Iyrmen had no qualms about killing any of the Knights, nor the High Alchemist if he was going to shame them.

All the while, Jonn remained sitting, having been watching the entire time. ‘This Half Elf is fucking crazy! He really had the balls to piss of a bunch of Nobles to their faces?’ He was stone faced under his mask, but his entire body had been tense.

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Sometimes I have to make decisions.

"I know some of these npcs are stupid and arrogant, but at the same time, there are some who aren't stupid and arrogant."

I know you were waiting for them to die, because I was too.