[976] – Y04.076 – Planning for the Future I

[976] – Y04.076 – Planning for the Future I

Elsie ate her bread, her eyes glued to Adam. She glanced towards the black armoured woman, who was special. She was a member of an Order. An Order. ‘She must be so strong? Mister Adam beat her up?’ The girl’s curious eyes remained on the pair, deep in thought.

“Look!” Adam said, revealing the small golden rings, encrusted with small gems, for his twins. “Daddy has these specially made for you! Do you know who made them?”

“Mummy?”

“No, but close. Who else do you like?”

“Nana.”

“No, no, silly, you like playing with her.”

“Kako?”

“Which kako?”

“Horny kako!”

Adam blinked, doing his best not to burst out into laughter. “You’re right! Horny kako made all these beautiful little rings for you!”

“Yay!” Jirot grabbed the ring tight in hand and rushed to Jaygak. “Kako! Kako!”

“Yes?” Jaygak asked, lifting the girl up.

“Thank you!” Jirot kissed her cheek and Jarot claimed the other cheek with a kiss.

Jaygak, letting out a long satisfied sigh, peeked towards Adam. “I bejewelled them, but it was your father who ordered these from someone and provided the gems. I already gave you your gifts before. You should thank your father.”

Jirot looked to her father, narrowing her eyes towards him. She turned her head away. “No!” She hugged her aunt tight, nuzzling against her neck.

Prince Morkarai smiled, sipping his wine, glancing to the side. ‘That is payment enough.’

“Daddy...” Jarot reached out a hand. “Daddy.”

Adam picked him up, nuzzling his nose. ‘My boy, you’re too good to me.’ “Do you like your gift?”

“Yes.”

“I love it daddy!” Jirot declared, squirming within Jaygak’s arms, reaching out for her father. She pouted and started to groan.

Adam plucked her from Jaygak, smirking at the woman, before peppering his kids with kisses. “Why don’t we listen to papo tell the tales?”

“Okay!”

Adam sat beside his wife, holding her hand, the pair looking out to their children, who sat upon their babo’s and nano’s laps once more.

“They’re so big now,” Vonda said, recalling the tiny children who had been covered in mud.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Jirot is so smart, and Jarot, he’s so kind.”

“Yeah. How he’s going to be a Rage Dancer, who knows? Ah, what am I saying? They won’t grow up, they’ll stay small and cute forever.”

Vonda placed her head on his shoulder, nestling up to him close. Adam rested his head against hers.

“Is... Konarot treating you well?”

“She is. Kirot loves to listen to my prayers. Karot does too, and he likes to draw with me.”

“How about the children, the rest of them? Are they learning well.”

“They are, but it is difficult, since they are all different ages and abilities.”

“Should I find some more teachers?”

“What of the Iyr?”

“That’s a good idea.” Adam glanced around, noting his cousins. Adam reached out to Konarot. “Konababy, go call your kakos.” Adam pointed to the twins.

Konarot looked up to the twin aunts, Fakrot’s children, and she rushed over to them, followed by Kirot and Karot.

Cirot and Sirot listened to Adam’s offer. Cirot exchanged a look with Sirot, who raised her brows, but the pair eventually shook their head.

“Is that a no?”

“We can do it.”

“Alright, I’ll pay you in coin, unless you want a magical weapon?”

“A magical shield,” the pair of them asked.

‘Is life going well for me?’ Adam thought, before realising he was actually a shield down. “One for the both of you, or two?”

“Two.”

Adam winked. “Alright.” He reached out a hand, and shook each of their forearms.

“Daddy,” Jirot called, grabbing his hand. “Toilet.”

“Okay,” Adam said, leading the twins away, before noting the other Rot twins followed him.

“Daddy.”

“Yes?”

“Is poo poo.”

“I’ll help you clean up,” Adam assured. ‘I should make a magic item for that.’

“I am,” Adam replied, smirking slightly.

“Yes.” Jirot rubbed her head against his chest.

“Daddy...” Jarot called.

“Yes, my boy.” Adam kissed his forehead too.

“I love daddy.”

“I love you too, my boy.”

“Me too! I love daddy!” Jirot declared, gasping in shock.

“I know, I know. Do you love mummy too?”

“I love so much!” Jirot stated, before crawling away from her father and to her mother, who brushed her hair.

“Hold on, you need to sleep with daddy today, you brat!” Adam called out, grabbing the girl by her ankle, causing her to squeal and giggle, trying to escape.

Eventually, Jirot and Jarot slept upon their father’s chest. The triplets allowed them to hog their father, having already spent their own time with their younger sister and brother. Adam glanced aside towards Vonda, seeing she was sleeping all by herself.

‘I know, but still...’ Adam frowned. ‘I should keep it in my pants for a while.’

The next morning, Adam realised something.

‘Did I really make a Oathsworn of the Order of the Wings wait for me just to beat them up and look cool in front of my kids?’ Adam thought. ‘Man, that’s pretty tyrannical... and cool as hell.’

Adam spent the next day making the rounds, glancing aside to the Order members, who were preparing to leave. ‘Oh, oops.’

“Executive Adam,” Magpie called, reaching out to shake his forearm. “Thank you again for your generous donation.”

“Of course, any time,” Adam said. “It completely skipped my mind yesterday, but we had a little bit more to donate.”

“More?”

Jurot brought over a chest, about the size of a large skull, one that was a little too unwieldy, unless of course one rode upon a magical steed brought by one’s oaths. The chest was carved with Iyrman precision, specifically his own.

“If you don’t mind, could you check if the denominations are appropriate?” Adam asked, motioning a hand for her to open it.

The woman undid the latch, checking inside. There were five rows of ten columns total, with two columns full of copper, five of silver, two of gold, and finally, one row of obsidian, each stacked about ten high.

“Roughly six hundred and twenty six gold,” Adam said, as though he hadn’t triple checked the numbers. “I hope it’s enough to keep you going until the rest of the year.”

Magpie stared into the half elf’s eyes for a long moment. “You’ve donated so much to us. The weapons were already more than we expected, and more than I ever would have thought, but coin too?” The half elf hadn’t just given her flat gold, but different denominations of coin which were useful in different contexts, silver being fairly important, but copper had its uses too. Then, of course, gems to keep things light. “Why?”

“The business handed you the weapons,” Adam said, before tapping his finger on the chest. “My brother and I, we came together and set this up.”

“I crafted the chest,” Jurot said, standing proudly.

“Like I said, we came up with the coin and the chest personally, him more personally than I, I suppose. I want to say, thank you. You do great work, and even though the land might not appreciate it, we do. I have only the greatest respect for you, truly.”

“...” Magpie slowly bowed her head. “Thank you again, Executive Adam, Executive Jurot.” She reached out her hand to shake their forearms once more, before they mounted their magical steeds, and rode away.

Adam watched alongside the villagers, watching as their magical mounts kicked up dust as they rode into the distance. ‘Alright, well, since they’re gone, might as well go get some work done.’

Adam finished enchanting the set of weapons, one he’d definitely need to sell off. ‘We’re running out of money quick.’ Adam inhaled deeply. ‘I have so much more work to do...’

Unfortunately for Adam, he needed to politic the next day. Adam pat Nobby on his shoulder. “Happy birthday, Nobby.”

“Thank you, mister boss.”

“I don’t want you thinking that the business forgot about your birthday. I pulled some strings and managed to acquire you a magical shield, that we’re still only lending to you, but still. I know you have a magical shield already that we’ve lent you, but... a Greater one is better, isn’t it?” Adam held up the shield. “Go on.”

Nobby held it, feeling it tingle.

“You have a Greater axe and a Greater shield. The axe? That’s yours, part of the payment for delaying the proper payment on our end. The shield? We’re lending it to you until you finish up some more great work. With those two items, you’re among some of the best equipped, I mean, I’m the only other person with a Greater shield, and well, it’s made me into one hell of a monster.”

“Thank you, mister boss,” Nobby said, feeling the magic tingle in his hands.

“Now remember, we’re lending it to you for now,” Adam winked. “However, what we’re not lending you is...” Adam held out his hand and pat Nobby on either shoulder. “I hereby pronounce you... not a Lead, but you earn as much as a lead now, thirty whole silver coins a month.”

“Gold coins,” Jurot corrected.

“That’s what I said,” Adam reached up his fist to his mouth, stifling a yawn. ‘Damn. I have been enchanting and stressed out of my damn mind for a while.’ “Three hundred silver, thirty gold, a month.”

“Thank you, mister boss.”

“Alright, well...” Adam pat the young man’s shoulder for a third time, then made his way to greet Merl nearby. “Young Chief Merl, How are you?”

“Well, thank you,” the woman said, sitting down, knitting away.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Would you be willing to allow Nobby to stay by my side until the birth?” Merl asked, smiling warmly towards the half elf who had helped them so much.

“Of course,” Adam said. “Nobby, for your birthday, and for all your hard work, stay with your wife and keep her company. You can stay for at least two weeks after the birth, no, make it a whole month. We can consider it your paternity leave, alright?”

“Okay, mister boss,” Nobby said, having no idea what paternity leave was.

“Thank you, Executive.”

“You too, Young Chief,” Adam smiled wide. “Just give birth to a happy and healthy child, one that is as big as Nobby, so that I can spoil them even more.”

Merl let out a laugh, about to reply when she winced, and gasped.

Adam’s smile dropped as he blinked. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

These rolls are funny as hell.