479. Nightval Festival I

479. Nightval Festival I

It was at that time that Elder Zijin sat opposite the Chief, accepting the fried dough snacks and fruit wine. These snacks had never tasted better, and the wine, never so rich. The Orcish Elder sighed, placing down his cup, his eyes meeting the Chief’s.

“I am glad it was not squandered,” Zijin said.

Iromin smiled. He had never felt so good after being proven so right. Perhaps it was his greatest victory as Chief, and would define his entire tenure as a Great Elder within the Iyr.

Not long ago, the Great Elders had been so awfully unruly during the conversation about Adam, as they always were. Elder Wrath and Elder Teacher had revealed their doubts, but did not push as hard as Elder Forest or Elder Peace, who were far more suspicious about Adam. Iromin had remained silent, along with Elder Gold.

“It is my family’s name which will go down in the books for this story,” Iromin said to the Great Elders during their meeting. “Chief Iromin, who had made the most grave mistake of destroying a great boon for the Iyr, on behest of the wise counsel of his Great Elders. Though Baktu had graced the Iyr with a Half Elf by the name of Adam, who had been adopted into the Rot family, who had awoken the first Scribe Mage, who had the ability of a Chaos Enchanter, who had the ability to create Legendary weapons for the Iyr, which could be completed by even novice Enchanters, the Iyr still squandered his grace. Truly, a shame on their families, a shame on their name.”

“You are going too far, Chief,” Elder Peace said.

“In a time like this, when a Year of Silence will befall us, you would choose to weaken the Iyr,” the Chief began, before his lips formed a sneer. “If anyone else would hear, they would think you were an Aldishman.”

The Chief had only dared to say such a thing to Elder Peace because she had the greatest patience of any Iyrman, save perhaps Elder Story. She rubbed the beads within her hand, the same beads she had inherited, rubbing along the white bead which was one of two beads shaped as a cube.

“I will not have my name sullied by such foolishness,” Iromin said. “The matter of Adam, and his life and death, will be a matter shared between myself and Elder Story, alone. The matter of Adam, and his children, is no matter for the Great Elders, who have been blinded by shamelessness. To lose the ability of a Half Elf who could create Legendary weapons. He, who holds Baktu’s favour? I will not allow it. Not while I am Chief.”

The Chief had only raged once before like this, and it was recently too. It was the matter of Adam’s children, but thanks to both Zijin and Jarot, Iromin had fought the Great Elders about the children. After Adam’s reported cowardice, the Great Elders couldn’t help but feel that Adam was showing off, having caught on to their scheming.

Yet, there was someone else who had been brought to the Great Elders towards the end of the meeting. The young boy stared nervously at the Great Elders, but Iromin held out his hand towards Asoyah, who took the old man’s hand in his own.

“What do you think of Adam?” Iromin asked.

“Adam is very cool,” Asoyah said, a shy smirk on his face.

‘Very cool?’

Iromin picked the boy up, kissed his forehead, where his tattoo would be placed when he would become a man, and let him go. The young boy quickly rushed away, going off to spend time with the Guests of the Iyr, as had been promised to him.

“Would you deny the words of little Asoyah?” Iromin asked.

The Great Elders sighed. Asoyah had been used to keep an eye on Adam, something Iromin had planted to show his sincerity to the Great Chiefs. Since the boy had come and vouched for Adam, it was obvious what Iromin would declare from it.

Iromin’s threats silenced the matter, which had been entrusted exclusively to him, with unanimous approval from the other Great Elders.

Zijin smiled as he stared at the sky above them. He had no idea what had been said during the meeting, for only the Great Elders and Strom knew what was said, but Iromin had declared the matter over.

Jarot led his grandson and greatchildren through the festival, greeting familiar faces, before introducing his greatchildren to them. The older Iyrmen each smiled and greeted the babies, cooing over them and how cute they were.

“They will grow big and strong,” they all had said without fail, causing Adam to frown, and Jarot to refute their statement.

“How you have grown,” Gangak said, reaching out a hand to rub their heads gently. “Look at how you smile. Is Jarot treating you well, or would you like nano to deal with him?”

“Deal with me?” Jarot asked, raising his brow at the Gak Family Elder. “Even if I have retired, I would not lose to you.”

“If it is for their sake, you would,” the elderly Iyrman replied.

Adam noted she did not smell like a smoker any longer. “If it’s for their sake, I’ll beat up their babo.”

“Would you like revenge?” Jarot asked.

“You’re lucky they like you, old geezer, that’s the only reason you haven’t lost to me yet,” Adam stated.

“You are too young to face me yet,” Jarot said.

They continued exploring through the festival, with Jarot stopping them to grab some food, before they sat down within a shared family estate and Jarot began to feed the babies some baby food.

“Look at how well you both eat,” the old Iyrman said, his eyes beaming brightly down towards them. “You do not need to rush eating, little Jirot, no one will steal your food from you.” He cleaned up their faces once they were done. He held the babies one by one, alternating between them every so often, each of them enjoying the time they spent passing between their father and greatfather.

“Jarot,” came a familiar voice. Adam looked back to see Sarot. “We must speak.”

Jarot stared at his younger brother, his eyes filled with a great fury, though they softened as baby Jarot reached up for his face. “We will speak later.”

Sarot sighed, before looking down to Adam, who sat opposite his brother. “Adam, it is-,”

“We will speak later,” Jarot repeated, cutting his brother off.

Sarot remained quiet, but bowed his head, retreating away.

‘Why is it all so awkward?’ Adam cried within his heart.

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Damn.