287. Guests In The Iyr

287. Guests In The Iyr

Omen: 3, 15

Adam stared at the numbers, a smile on his face. ‘I knew it. Telling Dunes was the right thing to do.’ He only half believed himself, understanding that sometimes he’d be lucky, and sometimes he’d be unlucky.

The guilt of not telling Dunes even for a day had pressed against him like a wave, but now that wave had flowed away, leaving him feeling light.

“Are you feeling lucky today?” Sonarot asked, as she always did.

“A little,” Adam admitted, seeing Lanarot’s sleepy face, some milk dribbling down her chin. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” Adam pulled her onto his lap and brushed her hair. “Did you sleep good?”

Lanarot yawned quietly, before humming out a groan, resting her head against his chest. Adam recalled when she had been so small, so light. She was light still, she was still a baby after all, but now there was more of a sturdiness about her.

Lanarot eventually awoke properly, and crawled around, playing with her blocks, tossing them around, and crawling over to Adam. Adam gave her all the attention she wanted, letting her stand beside him, her hands gripping his sleeve tight to keep herself upright.

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked.

“Oof!” Lanarot said, pointing up to him.

“What do you mean, oof?” Adam said, reaching down to pinch her cheek.

“Apoopoo!”

“You!” Adam picked her up just under her pits. “You’re apoopoo.”

Lanarot giggled, kicking out her legs towards him, before clapping her hands together and squirming under him.

Adam continued to hold her around, making aeroplane noises, before eventually taking her outside for some fresh air.

The Iyr felt different. There was a pressure in the Iyr, something which had taken away the comfort that he usually felt. He looked around, trying to find where the discomfort came from.

“Dunes?” Adam said, catching the sight of the young Aswadian. “What are you doing here?”

“I am a Guest of the Rot family, aren’t I?” Dunes replied, pretending to be confused.

“You know what I mean,” Adam said, joining his compatriots. They seemed ready and eager to train that morning, especially Nobby and Brittany.

“I spoke with him for some time,” Dunes said. “It is all but confirmed that he is my father.”

“Yeah?” Adam said, smiling at him.

“Even so, we do not have much of a connection together,” Dunes admitted, looking to the small fire nearby. “I was born and raised in my temple, and so my family is there.”

Adam smiled, sadly. He bowed his head, sighing. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. I’m just glad the two of you know the truth at least. I just didn’t want you to live near your father without ever knowing about it. That’s just so... sad.”

Dunes nodded, patting Adam’s shoulder. “Thank you, Adam.”

“Any time.” Adam nodded his head in return.

The training that morning was lighter than usual.

“You must be careful,” Shikan had warned. “Magic is dangerous during this month, so you cannot train too hard.”

After the light training, Adam played with the children. Sockball was the game of the day, and Adam played lightly with them, not wanting to stress them too much.

“I have defeated you,” Katool said, a smug smile on her face as she stared up at him.

“Yes.”

“I have hope that you will keep your word, Elder Gold, because I believe our feelings are mutual on the matters of trust,” Adam said. “Is there anything else you need of me, Elder Gold, or may I go and work?”

“You may leave,” she said, slowly bowing her head, letting him go. She sighed, watching him leave. “We will not ask you to donate weapons for three years, Adam.”

Adam paused for a moment. He wondered if he should fight, but let it go. There was no need to aggravate them. ‘I should have expected as much.’

She still wasn’t sure if she had made the right choice when she took the Dragon scales, and she wasn’t sure if she made the right choice now, removing Phantom from his grasp.

She sighed.

“Are you sure you wish to auction it?” Elder Zijin asked once Adam had returned. He wasn’t sure the exact details of the conversation, but he was sure the pair had exchanged their intent.

“Yes,” Adam replied. “I am more stubborn than you think I am, Elder Zijin. I need it to be auctioned off so I have enough money to make what I really want to make.”

“Okay,” Elder Zijin said.

‘Wait,’ Adam thought. ‘If I made weapons in the Iyr, can’t they also try to take them from me too?’

“What worries you?” Sonarot asked, offering him a bowl of soup.

“I just realised that I probably can’t make weapons in the Iyr,” he replied. “They’ll take the weapons away from me.”

Sonarot placed a hand against his. “Do not worry, Adam. Smith freely. We will guarantee that the weapons you smith will be yours.”

“Okay,” Adam said. “In which case, do you have any designs for axes? I need to make several designs. Swords, spears, shields, and axes.”

“Is this for your inn?”

“Yes,” Adam said, smiling. “It is.”

“We have a few designs in our family vault. I will see which design may be useful for you.”

“Thanks. If it’s the Rot family design for an axe, I’m sure it’ll be good. I’ll go and design the other stuff today then.”

Adam grabbed his book and began to sketch a number of designs in the spare room of the Rot house. He grabbed a large sheet of paper from the warehouse, and he started to sketch the design of the various weapons.

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 17 (12)

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 19 (14)

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 19 (14)

Adam had thought about using his Omen for the designs, but he decided against it. The blueprints were fine for the various weapons, and he didn’t want to tempt fate over something so small, especially during this month.

‘But then again,’ Adam thought. ‘This is for business. I should probably at least aim for a 20 in each of them. I guess I’ll continue to work on them over time then.’

He eventually stepped out of the house, stretching out his back, before he noticed a few figures nearby.

“What are you guys doing here?”

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