543. Questing IV

543. Questing IV

Omen: 7, 10

“Jurot?”

“Yes?

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“Are those...”

“Yes.”

Adam slowly nodded his head, staring out towards the large creatures, which had been spotted by those on watch. The group had one person on watch at all times, with Zeus and Hades also keeping an eye out, ready to make noise.

The creatures were large, the size of brown bears, and though they were bearish in both form and size, their faces were different. They had the faces of birds, and their upper third was covered in feathers, which shifted as though they were blooming flowers.

“Owl-,”

“Hawkbears,” Lady Sara gasped. “I thought our teachers were jesting, but there really are hawkbears in Aldland!”

Korin’s eyes were wide too, nodding his head slowly. Dunes eyed up the creatures, barely able to believe it. There were times when their mentors had spoken of great beasts in Aldland, but sometimes it would be purely to jest.

“Oh,” Adam said, nodding his head slowly. “Yeah, they do look more hawkish, I suppose.”

As the seconds passed, the hawkbears noted the outpost which had been built over the last evening, and even more appeared. Adam counted them as they approached, each from one side of the forest. They had made towards the other side of the forest, but had stopped upon seeing the group.

“A baker’s dozen,” Adam said, counting thirteen.

“A baker’s dozen?” Jurot asked.

“Thirteen.”

“Is that a saying from where you are from?”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, casually, donning Strong Shield. “It means thirteen, probably because bakers didn’t want to get their heads lopped off for not providing enough bread.”

Jurot blinked, donning his own shield. He wasn’t sure how to respond, so responded as he always did. “Okay.”

“I’m not sure if that’s true,” Adam admitted as the group readied themselves. ‘Should I go in and fight with just the teens and Nobby? How would the XP be split then? Bell?’

[If the others do not wish to support you, then it would be split between the active participants.]

‘Hmm...’ Adam eyed up the creatures. He could probably kill a handful of them by himself, and if the teens dodged, he could probably take out enough of them to force some away. ‘Each would give what, 500? So that’s 6500XP, split about 700 each or so? That should make a dent in increasing their XP. What if I can’t kill enough? Then my precious Cousins would be in danger.’

Adam could feel it, the glare from his companion, who was eager to spill blood. He sighed, and raised his axe. “Brace yourselves!”

Mana: 21 -> 18

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 35 (2, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 6)

Mana: 18 -> 15

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 25 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5)

“What are you doing worrying your uncle like this?” Adam asked, frowning at the young man. “I don’t want you to charge in to every enemy we face, alright?”

“Sorry, mister boss.”

“Nirot, good work on protecting Nobby.”

Nirot nodded her head in return and went back to assisting her cousin in bringing in the bodies.

Adam’s eyes fell to Bavin. “You don’t have to charge in either, Bavin.”

“I am an Iyrman,” Bavin replied, simply.

“I know, but still.” Adam wasn’t sure if he should be telling Bavin off. He may have been meek, but he was still an Iyrman. “Alright, if you’re going in to fight, stay beside Nobby. I want you two helping each other out from now on.”

“Okay,” Bavin replied.

‘Seriously, how is this kid that guy’s grandson?’ Adam thought. As the group returned to the fort, beginning the butchering, Adam mumbled aloud. “I wonder how hawkbear meat tastes.”

“I hear it tastes like chicken,” Korin said, readying the large pot, grabbing his pouch of spices.

“Then we’re going to be eating good tonight,” Adam said, unable to contain his smile. “If only we had some...” Adam furrowed his brows. “Do we have oil?”

“We do,” Korin said, the one who had been in charge of procuring ingredients before they left.

“We have chicken. We have flour. We have eggs...” Adam narrowed his eyes. “You bought some salt and spices?”

“I did,” Korin replied.

“Hmmm.” Adam thought deeply. “Let’s cook a little bit of the meat to confirm whether it cooks like chicken, and then I have something I’d like to make.”

Jurot cut a small slab of meat, while Korin cooked it, only seasoning it with some salt. He spoke aloud, counting each second as it passed by, and once it had been cooked on both sides, he cut into it, feeling how easy it was to cut, before biting into it. “It’s a little tougher than chicken, but tastes similar enough.”

“Good,” Adam said. “Let me use a pot and some of the spices. I’ll also need some flour and some eggs.”

Korin looked to Dunes, who shrugged his shoulders, but they allowed Adam the ingredients. Adam cooled the pot repeatedly over the next few hours, while the group ate in peace, some of them relaxing, while others kept an eye out.

Adam bit into the crispy concoction he had formed. “Oh yeah,” he said, licking his lips. “Not quite as I remember it, but this would kill with some sauce.” Adam bit into the fried chicken again. It was slightly dry, but he had missed the taste regardless. ‘I’d love some salad cream right now. Sweet chilli? Oh man, oh man.’ Adam could feel the burn in his eyes as he reminisced.

“I thought you were going to make chicken tikka masala,” Jurot admitted, biting into the crispy fried chicken.

“I need to taste different spices for that,” Adam admitted. “Though, then again, I’m not entirely sure how it’s made. I think there’s cream and yoghurt, but, it is what it is. Actually, if I want to make it, I probably want to go to Aswadasad. I assume the spices would be found there, so...”

“It does need some sauce, but it is good,” Korin admitted. “I did not know you could cook.”

“Ah, barely,” Adam said, waving his hand dismissively. “You should swing by the Iyr for some pizza, though. It’s probably the best thing I’ve invented since we’ve arrived.”

“I will have to,” the Aswadian Guardian said.

Adam looked up towards the sky, falling into thought. ‘I do miss it...’ He made the same face he always made, one which Jurot recognised. Adam was thinking about that thing, the thing he swore not to bring into the world. His twin cousins had mentioned they had tried it before, but they had disliked it. Jurot supposed, however, that everyone had their own tastes.

I'm craving some fried chicken...