321. Shashasha

321. Shashasha

“How was I meant to know that?” Adam asked, his cheeks flush with embarrassment. No, if he had thought about it, it would have made sense. Farot, who was Jarot’s youngest son and the one he doted on the most, had married a Devilkin, who apparently he was sweet on since he was young. It made sense that he’d get together with a Gak, since they grew up together.

“You really didn’t know?” Jaygak asked, half thinking it was a joke.

“No,” Adam replied. “Though it does seem really obvious now. I think Jarot mentioned that there was a Gak who had some personal business with the dragon, and now it makes sense.” The story became far sadder knowing that Tangak had gone to avenge her daughter, and her grandson. ‘Right. Raygak mentioned something on my birthday too.’

“What is the matter?” Jurot asked, noting Adam’s face.

“Jurot, I’m such an idiot,” Adam stated.

Jurot pat Adam’s shoulder. “We all have our strengths, Adam.”

“We need someone smart to balance us out, otherwise Lanababy will be as stupid as us,” Adam said.

Jurot nodded his head, understanding that he wasn’t the brightest Iyrman around.

“Jaygak...” Adam said, but his eyes then went to Kitool. “Kitool, we’ll leave our sister’s intelligence to you.”

Kitool bowed her head.

“Why can’t-“ Jaygak began.

“Thank you, Kitool,” Adam said, cutting the Devilkin off.

“Wait, I-“ Jaygak tried to protest.

“If it’s Kitool, we can trust her, right Jurot?” Adam said.

“Yes,” Jurot replied.

“Jay’a, he’s bullying me!” Jaygak cried, causing her dire wolf to poke up her head from the meat, before she came over to the Devilkin.

“You’ve grown so big, Jay’a,” Adam said, reaching up to pet her head gently, brushing her hair. “What did they feed you?” Jay’a had grown almost twice her size since he had last seen her. It wasn’t long ago she had been just a little cub, her mother having been clawed apart by a dragon.

Jay’a panted, dropping down nearby. Adam tossed her some meat, which she tore into.

“Seriously though, what the hell happened? It’s only been, what, two months at most?” Adam asked. “Are they okay?”

“They are fine,” Kitool said. “They will soon be fully grown.”

“That quick?”

“It was a Great Twilight,” Kitool said, as though that explained everything.

“If you say so,” Adam replied, sipping more of his wine. “Oh! Right! Jaygak.”

Jaygak scowled towards Adam.

Adam raised his brows. “Give me Bloodseeker.”

“My Bloodseeker?” Jaygak asked, reaching down to her sword. “Why?”

“I’ll trade you your Bloodseeker for another weapon.”

“But it’s my Bloodseeker,” Jaygak said, hugging her sword.

Jurot held her up ahead of her. “Did you have fun at home?”

Lanarot babbled in response, kicking up her legs. She waved her arms about excitedly.

“That is good,” Jurot replied, before pulling her down onto his lap. Lanarot sucked her thumb and rested her head against his chest.

Adam yawned, stretching out his back. “It must have been rough for you the last month, so take it easy, alright?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, glancing over towards Adam. “Have you been working hard?”

Adam smiled. “I’ve been thinking a lot.”

Jurot shook his head. “Thinking too much is bad for you. Sometimes you must do.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Adam replied, smiling. “Lanarot, come.”

Lanarot looked over to Adam, hearing her name. Adam held out his arms for her, and she crawled towards him.

“I’m still your favourite, aren’t I?” Adam said, kissing her cheek, letting her lay beside him.

“For now,” Jurot replied, laying back onto the thick blanket.

“From now until forever,” Adam said.

“We will see.” Jurot smiled.

Omen: 5, 9

“You guys are leaving?” Adam asked, surprised.

“It is time we go,” Elowen replied. “The curse has been lifted, and we must return with good news.”

She and the rest of White’s Grace, Ylra the Half Elf Fighter, Redboulder the Dwarven Priest, and Rojer the Wizard, were surrounded by at least two dozen Iyrmen, each twice Adam’s age. They were at the gate of the Iyr, which loomed over them.

“Damn. If I had known that, I would have hung out with your guys more, and I would have played with little Princess Mina more too.” Adam reached over to tickle her cheek, but she bit his finger gently with her shark like teeth and giggled wildly.

“We were too poor of health to speak with you much this time, but hopefully our next meeting will allow us to speak freely,” Elowen replied. She had wanted to speak with Adam more, though hadn’t found an opportune time.

Adam shook each of their forearms, sighing. ‘I really have been working too hard.’ He reached down to pet the Princess’ head gently. “Princess Mina, don’t be a stranger, okay? You’re always welcome around here.”

Princess Mina cackled at him, reaching up to his beard to grab it, pulling it roughly with her tiny hand. “Shashasha!” came her bright voice. She was so much bigger than the first time he had met her, and far more lively.

“What a silly girl you are.” Adam smiled, tickling her nose. “Grow up well. I’ll try and pay a visit one day, if you’re still willing to see this low born Half Elf.”

The group made their way away, with the nearby children of the Iyr shouting after them, wishing them well on their journey. Adam hoped their journey would be easy going too, though understood that the Iyrmen around them would make sure they would be fine.

“She will be safe,” Jurot assured, patting Adam’s shoulder. Though there were a handful of Steel Rank, most were Silver and Mithril, and the oldest was Gold Rank. “The Whirlwind Terror is with them.”

Adam nodded his head, but watched them as they left. The gates were left open for a short while, but Adam stayed, even as the gates were about to shut, he watched until the last moments.

‘Good luck and stay safe, little Mina.’

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Adam! I wanted to do more with them but why did you not meet them more often?