646. Birthdays II

646. Birthdays II

Omen: 7, 8

“Cousin Adam,” Asorot called while Adam was gently rocking Jirot and Jarot to sleep.

“Yes, Cousin Asorot?” Adam replied, smiling towards the young boy.

“When I grow up, will I be as strong as you?” the boy asked, glancing down to the floor, frowning slightly.

Adam smiled. “Have you forgotten who your grandfather is?”

Asorot thought back to his grandfather, who was currently one of the highest ranking Iyrmen in all of the Iyr. As one of the Great Eld-,

“Back in the day, he was a crazy, wild Iyrman,” Adam said, thinking back to the story he had been told. “He was someone who could go toe to toe with the likes of Elder Wrath, and could cause such a mess in the Iyr.”

Asorot narrowed his eyes. ‘Grandfather? Cause a mess?’ Asorot visibly tilted his head to one side.

“He was the one who went to go kill a Dragon for killing his grandchild,” Adam said, noting the way Asorot puckered his lips, furrowing his brows in anger. “Right, exactly. He was the kind of man to cut off his arm to apologise to his family, and then... and then...” Adam frowned. “And then be the first guy to beat me up!”

Asorot realised that Adam was talking about Jarot, who was...

Right. Jarot was Asorot’s grandfather.

“Your grandfather, is that kind of guy,” Adam said. “Don’t forget, your cousin came in first place. You’re lucky, because you’re one of the few people who can say that your grandfather chose not to cause trouble for the Iyr, and that you have a cousin who is strong, stronger than even the future Grand Commander of an order.”

Asorot snorted slightly, standing a little taller. “Yes!”

“As long as you train hard, I’m sure you’ll be stronger than even me!” Adam reassured, smiling wide at the boy.

Asorot smiled wider. “I will grow strong and cause trouble for the Iyr.”

Adam grit his teeth, trying to stop himself from laughing too hard. “How can you say that, Asorot? Your brother is going to become Elder Peace, so you can’t cause him too much trouble. Just a little trouble, okay?”

“Okay,” Asorot smiled shyly in response. “Thank you, Cousin Adam.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

“Because you made me feel good,” Asorot said, flushing slightly.

‘My Cousin is the cutest,’ Adam thought. “Ah, well, thank you for making me feel good too.”

“Can I hug you, Cousin Adam?”

“You silly boy,” Adam said, leaning forward. “You don’t need to ask.”

Asorot hugged Adam awkwardly, trying not to bother Jirot or Jarot, before he stepped back. “I will grow up strong.”

“No, don’t grow up at all, my Asorot.”

Asorot flushed again, before running away.

“Did you hear that?” Adam asked, looking down to Jirot and Jarot. “I was talking about your greatfather, you know? The guy who caused a mess in the north and then retired.”

Jarot sucked on his thumb, staring up at his father. He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. Meanwhile, Jirot reached up to grab her father’s shirt, before she rolled closer to his chest, trying to fall asleep too.

‘Old man, when are you coming back?’ Adam thought. ‘Are you really going to miss their birthday?’

“The brothers have great weights on their shoulders,” Vonda replied. “I will speak with him if he still holds such weight after the twins’ birthday.”

Dunes had seen how eager Adam was to fight, but to see him so anxious, even within the Iyr, it caused him stress too. “That is a good idea.”

“Adam may fall, but he always stands back up,” Vonda said. “He is closer to the Iyr than one might realise.”

“He’s a brother of an Iyrman, so I would say he is quite close.”

“He is closer than just being the brother of an Iyrman.” Vonda’s eyes fell to his amulet around the Half Elf’s neck.

Dunes wondered if perhaps Kitool or Jaygak should speak with Adam and Jurot, but Adam seemed to trust Vonda too. He wondered if he should speak with the Half Elf, but his eyes fell to the twins once more, and he glanced aside.

Meanwhile, Elder Zijin was checking the maths behind all the movement within the Iyr. He confirmed the sheet, handing it to one of his aides, before he sat down in his chair. ‘Churot is a gift from Baktu, that is for certain.’ The Devilkin had assisted all the Elders in their tasks, and the Great Elders often had him assist too, though they had to make sure that Churot didn’t understand exactly what he was calculating since he was still a boy.

“Elder Zijin,” called the Jin Family Elder.

“How may I help you, Elder?” Zijin replied to his uncle, who he technically outranked, but also didn’t, as was the way of the Iyr.

“I need drinks to offer to Lord Stokmar,” Rajin said. “I will offer one of the first bottles I had enclosed within the family treasury.”

“What is the occasion?” Zijin asked, pulling out a little notebook before writing within it.

“A birthday.”

“On the seventh?”

“Yes.”

“It has been written,” Zijin confirmed.

Rajin turned, but paused. “How goes the war?”

“It goes well.”

“Are you replying as an Elder, or as my nephew?”

“I can only reply as an Elder,” Zijin stated.

Rajin grunted. “Are you replying to me, your uncle, or the Family Elder?”

“I can only reply to you as the Family Elder.”

Rajin sighed. “You should be flexible, or you will find that you will break.”

“I am flexible in some matters,” Zijin replied, letting out a sigh that could only be given if one was the Elder of that particular young Half Elf.

“If the war requires more blood, the Jin family is always ready,” Rajin stated.

“The war has enough blood, and it will end soon,” Zijin said, dismissing the older Iyrman. However, in his heart, he wondered how well the Iyr would fare at the end of the war.

Asa had been kind to the Iyrmen thus far, no doubt not wishing to rock the boat too much, but it wasn’t just Asa who had chosen to defend King Merryweather. Another figure had also made his bed with the King of the South, a figure which was familiar with rituals of death and blood.

Zijin kept an eye on Adam until the day of the twin’s birthday, wondering if perhaps he had done something which had caused the war to shift.

Poor Jurot.