113. Adam’s Slander

113. Adam’s Slander

“What did you just say?” Sir Harvey’s eyes widened as he stared at the Half Elf.

“I said you are smoking some good shit if you think I’m stupid enough to fall for your bullshit,” Adam said. “I did leave while a Dragon was nearby, leaving behind the rest of my party, and taking along those who were tasked with escorting me. You were left behind with Sir Merrick, Sir Enna, Sir Frederick, and Sir Dorian, though I understand why, perhaps, you could have felt that you had no one who could properly defend you considering some of the company you keep beside you.”

Adam’s eyes were twitching as he glared at the High Alchemist, who was shaking with utter fury towards the Half Elf.

“How dare you!”

“Vice Master Paul!” Adam shouted, clenching his fists so tight that the knuckles cracked, and he inhaled deeply. “The White Dragon, which apparently was threatening the High Alchemist, was slain, was it not?”

“Yes,” Paul said.

“Just who was it that landed the killing blow onto the creature?” Adam asked.

“It was either you or Lanban,” Paul said.

“It was Adam,” Lanban said. “It was dead before my maul struck it.”

Aizaban nodded. “I saw it too.”

Sir Harvey remained silent, understanding that, within his anger, he had slipped up.

“Aha!” Adam said, pointing at Sir Harvey. “So not only did he state that I was the one to disrupt the group cohesion, when it was in fact the Knight he had brought along, be he dared to claim I abandoned him when he was under threat of a dragon, and claimed so after I slew it.” Adam stopped pointing, partly because it was quite rude, but secondly, it was to form a fist to stop his rage.

“If you had left it at punishing me and not my party, I would have left the matter be, but now that we’ve come this far, I’m going to have to bury this matter here once and for all,” Adam said. “Vice Master Paul, have you witnessed the matters so far? Do you see how the High Alchemist of Red Oak has created numerous situations in order to cancel the contract against my good party?”

Paul threw a look to Sir Harvey, swallowing slightly. “Right.”

“I would call him a liar and cheat to his face, but that would be aggravating, wouldn’t it?” Adam said, only to gasp, and then his eyes fell to Sir Dorian. “No, it can’t be aggravating, because it would be the truth. I am ever so glad that Sir Dorian has opened my mind into accepting such a view, and he is absolutely correct that Sir Harvey, High Alchemist of Red Oak, is a liar and a cheat, and that he can’t be aggravated because it is the truth, a truth which we have all heard today.”

“A liar and a cheat?” Sir Harvey’s throat closed up, and he threw out a hand towards Adam. “How dare you! I want his head!”

The Knights around Sir Harvey quickly drew their weapons, causing the Iyrmen to quickly step closer, drawing their weapons, wild grins on their faces. Paul raised a hand, standing between the two groups.

Unfortunately for the Vice Master, near the High Alchemist were also three other Iyrmen, and a Priest. Though they were far weaker than the Knights, and with he and Lanban taking a blow, the fight would be far more even.

Except Aizaban, who was quite a powerful Priest of Wahtu, was still ready and eager to fight, no doubt with nearly all her spells, and what powerful spells they were.

‘Gods damn it.’

“How dare I?” Adam undid his gauntlet and slammed it into the ground, purely to release part of his anger. “I dare quite easily, oh High Alchemist! I hope that the Adventurer’s Guild will be able to deal with the situation, protecting my innocent name in this matter.” Adam’s eyes fell to Paul, glad that he had come along. ‘Wasn’t it you who wanted to come along, oh dear Vice Master?’

“Do you think the Adventurer’s Guild can protect you?” Sir Harvey asked.

“I want to make it absolutely clear,” Adam said. “The people who the Adventurer’s Guild are protecting, are the bunch of you. If Vice Master Paul wasn’t here, there would be no one here who would vouch for a bunch of dead Knights and a High Alchemist.” Adam spat on the floor. “A White Dragon came and killed you all. We managed to kill the White Dragon, and as we tried to recover the bodies, a stampede appeared, and so we had to leave the bodies behind, which were then trampled and picked apart by animals.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “We’d have enough time to make an alibi.”

“You dare to threaten my life?” Sir Harvey spat, unable to contain his rage.

“No,” Adam said. “You dared to threaten me, you fucking moron. I am not threatening you, I am merely telling you the facts of the matter. I know that those four behind us would help me, and I know that those two,” Adam said, motioning to Lanban and Aizaban, “would love to slaughter you all. I wouldn’t even raise my blade, and because I won’t, even if they find out the truth, they wouldn’t be able to punish the Iyrmen, because that’s what the treaty says, no matter what dumb fuck boy from Central Aldland who doesn’t know his history thinks.”

Sir Dorian snarled, and leapt forward, only for Paul to tackle him to the ground. Sir Frederick and Sir Enna had stepped forward, but Sir Merrick had quickly raised his blade across them to stop the pair.

“This calls for his death, Vice Master!” Sir Dorian growled. “He dared to slander me!”

“Enough!” Paul shouted.

“It’s not slander if it’s true,” Adam said.

“Enough!”

“I’m just saying, I didn’t mention any names anyway,” Adam said.

“No more, Adam!” Paul shouted, standing glaring at him like a father would do to a child who was about to do something terrible.

Adam sighed. He turned on his heel and made his way to the Dragon. “Oi, Jurot, come on. Help me find the best scales for our sister.”

Aizaban turned to her husband, catching his eye. “Is it done?”

Jurot waited for the matter to be over, also looking to Paul.

“The matter is done,” Paul said, turning to the Knights. “It ends here.”

“He has said too much,” Sir Harvey said.

“Said too much?” Paul said, drawing his sword, stepping in front of Adam.

Adam had stopped to watch what was happening, but had also grabbed his shield, and held his die tight in hand.

Tough Spirit: 1 -> 0

2D6 + 4 = 12 (2, 6)

Health: 27 -> 39

“He has called to question a fair number of issues which you have to deal with, Sir Harvey,” Paul said. “It is well within my rights to warn you, if you wish to escalate this situation, I will hold back not to kill, but the Iyrmen may not. If you are willing to accept the risks for those who will revel in your death, all without any consequences from our laws, then you can be my guest.”

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Adam has snapped.