546. Questing VII

546. Questing VII

Omen: 6, 20

“Should we expect anything stranger than three hydras?” Adam asked, cleaning the various scales. They left the hides over the walls to dry out, with Lady Sara and Dunes watching over them. They used their magics to speed up the process of drying the hides.

Jurot began to list a large number of creatures, some which Adam was familiar with, and others which sounded like jibberish. Meanwhile, Korin was making all manner of facial expressions upon hearing the names of the creatures.

“Noonval elks are prized, but we should not expect to come across them until next month,” Jurot said. “There are also flamehounds, which are extremely common, and hold great fiery magics innately. Most possess cores, and some possess more.”

“More?” Adam asked.

“They possess Living Fire, but that is rare.” Jurot gave Adam a pointed look, as though he fully expected to come across such an item with Adam at his side.

“I see,” Adam replied, slowly nodding his head. “What’s the most dangerous creature we might come across?”

“A Dragon.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

“They will not wish to face us unless they are powerful, since we are too many, and we possess such great magical weapons.”

“Will we really split the hide with the other Aswadians?” Korin asked.

“I said we will, so we will,” Adam said, simply.

“You’re quite honest.”

“I have to be,” Adam replied, firmly. His lips formed a coy smile. “My brother’s an Iyrman.”

Jurot nodded, confirming the words. Korin smiled in response, nodding his head slowly in return. He stared at the pair, glancing between the Half Elf and the Iyrman. He had heard the tale of how they had met, though there seemed to be something greater between them than just what he had heard.

“I wonder if Lanarot is enjoying the festival,” Adam thought aloud. “You think she’s watching the fights?”

“She may,” Jurot replied, thinking about his little sister. The tiny girl who enjoyed watching the fights more than perhaps any other Iyrman he knew. “She will scream well.”

Adam threw a look towards Jurot, frowning slightly. “Jurot, you can’t corrupt my children like you’ve corrupted Lanababy.”

“I have not corrupted her.”

“How can you say that when she’s so thirsty for blood?”

“She is an Iyrman,” Jurot stated, as though it were obvious that she would be thirsty for blood. “Even the most docile Iyrmen become thirsty for blood if the situation calls for it. If the Iyr is threatened, or if a child of the Iyr is killed.”

“When was the last time a child of the Iyr was killed?” Adam asked, cautiously.

“The last time was Churot,” Jurot said.

“Oh...” Adam remained silent.

Adam stared at Korin, and then his eyes fell to Jurot, whose smile had grown. He understood there was more to the story, and wondered if he should ask for more. ‘The Iyr is so scary...’

“The war against the Aldish lasted some time, and by the time it was over, a draw that was considered a win by both sides, the matter of the Iyrmen was mostly forgotten. A new family, appointed by the Shen, ruled over Severtain, while she paid a visit to the eastern capital, making sure the transition to the Faro went smoothly.”

“It wasn’t smooth?” Adam asked.

“There was a minor uproar cause by some local rulers who tried to complain about the new Faro, but the nearby towns quickly fell into line when recalling how close the forts were. There are three so close to the eastern capital, and they have always been fiercely loyal to the Faro’s family, for many of the leaders there are related to the Faro’s family. There have been times that a family member has made a play, but such would have brought much danger from the Shen.”

“A parade was sent to mourn the Faro’s death,” Jurot said.

“It was also used to usher in the new Faro,” Korin admitted. “When one rides beside the East Scimitar, and five thousand soldiers, it is hard to remain steadfast against such an appearance. Then, of course, there was the West Scimitar, and another five thousand soldiers beside the Shen.”

“That went by smoothly then?”

“Yes. The situation with the Iyr did not resolve for some years, and when the ten years passed, they brought a sack of salt to the town, and thanked the order of Ten Blades for their blades. It was the only acknowledgement the Iyrmen made about the situation, and they returned back to the Iyr.”

Adam inhaled deeply. “You Iyrmen are savage.”

Jurot threw Adam a glance.

“Ah, I mean, not that you’re savages. It’s a saying from where I’m from. It’s like if someone took my dagger from me, and then I took it back, but before I did, I made sure to carve thief into the thief’s chest, you know? I got my revenge, but damn, I didn’t mess around, you know?”

Jurot slowly nodded his head, thinking he understood.

Adam cleared his throat. “So, uh... are you guys cool with Severtain?”

“The matter was resolved,” Jurot confirmed. “It was a shame so much occurred to the town and region.”

Korin knew of the Iyr and its many rules and stories. Some stories were no doubt exaggerated, but there were many stories in which the Iyr was mentioned, but it was always vague, like smoke.

Yet, where there was smoke, there was fire.

When the order was established, it had come to blows with the Iyrmen. He recalled a story, long old, about the Iyr, and how it was almost reduced to nothing. It was a time before history. The order had its own rules, and many of them had been placed due to the Iyr. It was partly because they worshipped the same Goddess, in a way, but one of the rules was always clear.

Do not kill any child of the Iyr.

It was a rule etched into the stones by Brandon the Bold, Lady Arya’s greatest Champion, who had retired within the Iyr. He had returned once to etch the rules, and it was before the order was established within Black Mountain. He had carved it with a great weapon, which had been gifted to the temple. The very same blade had been lost several times, and every time the Iyr found it, they either sent word of where it was, or retrieved it themselves.

“Manticores!” came a shout from Laygak, who donned his shield.

Adam looked out to see four manticores in the distance, flying towards their outpost. He stood up, grabbing his axe and Strong Shield. “Man, the Iyr is so scary.” Adam marched his way towards the while.

Korin bowed his head to Jurot, grabbing his own shield. “Let us kill some manticores.”

“Yes,” Jurot said, nodding his head towards Korin, seeing the question in his eyes. His lips slowly twitched into a smile, confirming Korin’s suspicions.

I forgot how crazy the Iyrmen were.