650. Reasons To Kill II

650. Reasons To Kill II

“For a moment, I thought you had come to kill me,” Adam said, sipping the orange juice the Chief had offered. They were sitting in the Chief’s gazebo. Iromin had told his assistants to step out, and had motioned for those lurking in the shadows to leave them be.

“I apologise for interrupting your time with your children,” Iromin said, reaching for his dried dough snacks, which were lightly salted, just as he preferred.

“As long as you understand it was something bad, then it’s fine,” Adam joked, sipping more of the orange juice. It was was sweet and pulpy, with the slightest tangy after taste. ‘These oranges are definitely the freshest.’

“Does it pain you to stay out of trouble?” Iromin asked, staring down at the boy. “Is it a hobby of yours to try and get yourself killed by speaking so terribly?”

“I need to make sure you have some spice in your life, Chief.” Adam chuckled lightly, his lips forming the most playful smile.

“There is enough spice within my life now that the Iyr’s gates are closed.”

Adam’s lips quickly dropped, and he sipped at his orange juice awkwardly. “Yeah, and I really appreciate what you did for me.” Adam placed down his cup, staring at it for a moment. He realised that he should be a little more serious now that he was speaking to the Chief, especially considering they were alone. “I won’t forget that the Iyr did me a great favour.”

“That is how our relationship is.” Iromin pushed the jug of juice closer towards Adam. “We do not forget the favour you have shown us, and you do not forget the favour we have shown you.”

“Right, right.” Adam poured more juice for himself. “Thanks for accepting everyone else within the Iyr even though it closed its gates.”

“The gates are harder to open, but as long as the Front Iyr Elder agrees, it is little issue,” the Chief stated, though his tone of voice was serious.

“Elder Lykan holds that much power?”

“Each Great Elder holds supreme authority over their domain,” Iromin explained. “Elder Gold over the wealth of the Iyr, used for the Iyr’s sake in internal and external affairs. Elder Forest over the resources of the Iyr to build the Iyr, for infrastructure and so on. Elder Teacher, who guides over the next generation. Elder Peace, who declares wars, and Elder Wrath, who commands the army during times of war.”

“You too, right?” Adam asked. He knew the general authority of each of the Great Elders, but had no idea how some of the other psuedo Great Elders.

“I hold great authority in all matters, and allow each of the Great Elders to work smoothly in their own domains. The position of Chief, in some ways, may be the second most important position in the Iyr. The position of Elder Peace, though, is the most difficult.”

‘I guess Elder Peace being the most important makes sense, but what about Elder Story?’

“The Front Iyr Elder, and Elder Shaman, each also hold great authority over their domain,” Iromin continued to explain. “Elder Shaman, though not a Great Elder, is in charge of the Shamans of the Iyr. We defer to their authority in most matters, but they are least free when it comes to their authority. The Front Iyr Elder is important too, for reasons I am sure you understand.”

“It’s the first line of defence?”

Iromin smiled, bowing his head. “There are votes to veto against the supreme authority of the Elders, but it is easier to veto the likes of Elder Shaman and the Front Iyr Elder, than it is to veto a Great Elder. A veto against a supreme decision also forces that Great Elder to step down, even if they believe in their heart that they were correct.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Adam said, quietly. ‘So if the Great Elders need something to be done, the Front Iyr Elder can’t choose to cause trouble. If every other Great Elder refuses the Chief’s order, then it means that his decision was too risky, and so he’d need to step down? They’ll want someone with a clear vision, one which agrees with theirs, and so that they will accept it as theirs wholly?’

“The Iyr has evolved its laws over time, and has been able to react accordingly to the great calamities which have come to plague the world,” Iromin said, hiding none of the pride he had for being an Iyrman. Iromin recalled the times when the Iyr had reacted to the calamities, and had ended them before they had even surfaced. They may have been good stories, but if Elder Story stated something needed to be dealt with, it was dealt with, with Iyrman efficiency.

“You have to be that good if you want to survive beside great kingdoms and empires,” Adam stated, nodding his head slowly. “The Iyr’s influence probably can’t be understated across the land, though I’m sure you keep it as invisible as possible so you aren’t bothered by the other kingdoms.”

Iromin let slip a smile, one which Adam was certain he showed on purpose. “Perhaps that is the case.”

“Yeah, perhaps,” Adam replied, recalling how terrifying the Iyr was. A bead of sweat formed down the side of his forehead. Adam understood that if the Great Elders all decided to kill him, they could vote against the Chief and deal with him. ‘I really gotta be careful...’

Adam sipped more of the drink, but could no longer taste the sweetness. “So, what did you want to chat about, Chief?”

“Do you wish to return to work?” Iromin asked.

“Most likely,” Adam replied.

“What of other magical items?”

“Most likely,” Adam stated.

Iromin clasped his hands together as he fell deeper into thought. “Then, is it easier for you to create recipes?”

“I think so?” Adam replied. ‘Bell?’

[...]

“I’m not actually sure,” Adam continued. “Speaking of recipes, I’m hoping to create recipes for rings of protection, and other items that might be useful. I think there’s also gauntlets that can be enchanted for defence, and also archery too? I think they might be useful. Certain other items that are less about beating people up and more about utility, like things that could allow me to fly, or other stuff...”

Iromin was certain he couldn’t allow Adam to act too freely to create such items, or he really wouldn’t be able to stop the Great Elders from wanting to kill him. It was a good thing Elder Wrath was out leading the one hundred Iyrmen.

“Right now the goal is Basic weapons, armours, and stuff like rings of protection, maybe even cloaks of protection too,” Adam admitted. ‘+1 weapons, +1 armour, rings of protection, those three alone are enough for a pretty basic set of gear.’

“You wish to create recipes for such items?”

“Yes.”

“Which you will gift to the Iyr?”

“Of course.”

Iromin remained stone faced, but Adam could see the question flash within his eyes.

“Obviously, I’ll grant many such recipes to the Iyr,” Adam said, quietly, sweating a little harder. “I know how dangerous these items would be, but I’ll pass them to the Iyr, so they can be kept safe.”

“No,” Iromin said. “The existence of such recipes could be too much for the world.” They already existed within the world, and the Iyr already possessed many, but having more copies, each a different recipe, may lead to unintended consequences in the future.

“Then I guess I won’t make recipes for it, since I can just passively enchant?” Adam said, tilting his head.

Iromin was glad Adam had picked up on what he was thinking about. The Chief sighed. “Adam, should I keep you alive?”

“You’d really kill me after my children’s first birthday?” Adam joked.

“You’re an existence which threatens this world more than any other,” Iromin stated.

“I heard you guys hunted Gods before,” Adam said, meeting Iromin’s eyes with his own. “If I get out of hand, you can just ask me to calm down, and I’ll probably do it.”

“Are there times you will not give in to the Iyr?”

“Sure, probably.”

“What are those times?”

“If I’m too angry, to say it lightly. It really does depend, though, but there isn’t a lot that would make me go against the Iyr.” Adam smiled, sipping more of the juice. “Anyway, doesn’t the Iyr have access to my weaknesses? All six of them?”

Adam trying not to die seems a lot like him trying to live.