637. The Tale III

637. The Tale III

“I have such a nice, long block of wood,” Adam said, revealing another item from his leather satchel. “I wanted to make it into a staff, but I’m not really good at wood working, and I know Jurot’s busy.”

“I am not,” Jurot said.

“Jurot,” Adam whispered. “You’re busy, right?”

“No. I am not busy.”

“Jurot,” Adam said, raising his brows. “The twins babo are gone, so they’re going to need another positive role model to follow.”

“Grandmother can take that role.”

“Yeah, but Jarot needs a male role model too,” Adam stated, raising his brows further towards his brother.

“You are a good role model.”

“From the Rot family, I mean.”

“You are a member of this family,” Jurot stated.

Adam looked to his Aunt, before taking a moment. “Jarot needs a male role model from the Rot family, who is tattooed, so that he feels welcome by the family and well taken care of.”

Jurot inhaled deeply, ready to retort, but he could see that way his mother was looking at him, and then Jaygak’s expectant eyes. There was something he was missing for sure. “I may be busy...” Jurot finally said, glancing between everyone, still uncertain of what was going on.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” Adam said, looking to Saygak. “This wood can be made into such a nice staff for you, but we’re going to need to find someone to help with carving it.”

Saygak squirmed shyly under the sight of Adam’s gaze, before he looked over to his elder brother, Laygak, who was sitting right beside him, breaking apart a pepper for the boy. Laygak looked up at Adam with a half smile on his face, shaking his head lightly.

“I am sure my brother can find someone who can work the wood into a staff,” Laygak said, ruffling Saygak’s hair, before offering the boy a pepper.

Saygak bit it from his brother’s hand, eating the pepper with a small smile on his face. Taygak inhaled deeply, and pointed up at her elder brother, before stopping, looking to Adam. She narrowed her eyes at him, and then slowly nodded her head. She gave him a thumbs up, as he always did to her.

Adam smiled, returning the thumbs up, before Jaygak continued their stories, mentioning how they had met with the other Iyrmen, and then the stories began.

“I met some guy named Sir Gregory, I think it was?” Adam said. “Order of the Ice Blades. I fought him in combat, and I managed to beat him.”

The children stared up at Adam, waiting for more, but that was all he said.

“Ooooh!”

“But then, right as I beat Blade, I had to face an even greater foe!” Adam stated, sitting up straighter as he stared down at the children with a deep seriousness. “I was escorted to the arena owner, a Devilkin woman by the name of... Layla? I took off my axe and shield and placed it to the side, and she checked to see whether I was lying about my age. Lying, me? Adam? Adam the Honest? I might joke sometimes, but I do not lie!”

The children nodded their heads, mumbling between themselves in agreement. Katool wanted to speak up, but realised every time Adam had lied, it was for a joke. Is that still not lying, though? She narrowed her eyes.

“So she had a spell cast on me to speak only the truth.”

“Zone!” Taygak said.

“That’s right, Zone of Truth,” Adam confirmed. “She threatened me with a poison, Widow’s Tears. Apparently, a very powerful poison, something that can kill people quickly.” Adam looked to Sonarot. “An easy way to go.” He winked, before smiling at the others. “Then she paid me my bet and let me go. It wasn’t the last time I’d be speaking with her, I assure you.” Adam chuckled.

“Cousin Adam, strong!” Taygak stated, pointing up at the young man.

“Ho? I’m strong? Just you wait until you hear the rest of the story...”

The Iyrmen each spoke of their own fights, and how well they had fought, as well as how well Timojin and Amokan had also fought. As Jaygak mentioned her fight with Kitool, her father placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

“Good fight,” Taygak said, patting Jaygak’s thigh.

“Yes,” Raygak confirmed. “My sister is strong too!”

“Kitool, is scary,” Adam confirmed. “I’d rather face anyone else but Kitool.”

Katool looked up to her sister, her cheeky little grin pointed up towards her sister. “Yes.”

“Who is that?” Adam said, staring at the young Katool.

“I am Katool,” she replied, smiling wide at Adam’s joke, before realising it wasn’t her birthday.

“What happened to your hair, Katool?” Adam asked. “It’s so long!”

“Yes!” Katool shook her head and let her hair bounce. “It is nice.”

“Hmmm,” Adam slowly nodded his head. “When you’re right, you’re right.”

They continued the tale, with the others not realising what was to come.

Jaygak, one day you'll become a monster too.