“How was it?” Jurot asked once they had returned from the show.

“It was pretty good,” Adam said. “You know, I think you sent me there to remind me to remember my place.”

“What do you mean?”

“You guys are pretty scary,” Adam said, recalling how the old Iyrman punted the Twilight Fox back to die. He managed to kill a Twilight Fox only because he had Phantom and a bunch of cheat like abilities, but that Iyrman had only used their great strength.

“Yes,” Jurot said. “We are.”

“We can play Warriors and Wanderers now?” Turot asked, looking up at Adam expectantly.

“Oh. I did promise that, didn’t I?” Adam looked down at the children, noting their excitement within their tired eyes. “I’m really tired tonight, so let’s do it another time.”

Turot frowned. “You said we can play today.”

“I know, I know, but I am really tired. You will not enjoy it if I do it today, because I will not be very good. Like how I can’t enchant well when I am sleepy, I cannot run the game when I am sleepy.”

Turot nodded at the logic, but sighed. “Okay.”

“Good things come to those who wait, but that’s a lie, so just trust me that I will definitely run a game for you soon, okay?” Adam ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Okay.”

“You will get vengeance on those Orcs, and it will taste all the more sweeter.”

Turot’s nostrils flared, obviously annoyed at the imaginary Orcs who had dared to betray him. “I cannot believe they have betrayed us.” He shook his head and stormed off to his parents.

‘Damn,’ Adam said, noting the way his parents looked at him. ‘Right, I still need to seduce them.’

“Are you thinking something stupid again?” Lucy asked.

“No,” Adam replied. “I’m thinking about how to seduce Mirot and Gorot.”

“That’s so…” Lucy stopped. “Smart. You weren’t thinking of something stupid for once?”

“What do you mean for once?” Adam asked. “I’ve thought smart things before, at least twice.”

“Like what?”

“Like becoming a Nephew of the Rot family, and being your friend,” Adam said.

“I can’t argue against that.”

“Wait, only one of those things was smart.”

Lucy narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re on thin ice, Adam.”

Adam smirked.

“I’ve done it,” called a voice, a stumbling Tinkerer appearing. “Adam. I’ve done it.”

Adam stared at Filliam. ‘I forgot all about him.’ “You’ve done the task?”

“Yes,” he managed to say. Filliam’s eyes were drooping, barely able to be kept awake, and he was half slumped over.

“Great,” Adam said. “How many can you make?” The capitalist nature combined with his brotherly nature to care about the toys before the exhausted Tinkerer.

“At least fifty,” Filliam replied, nodding his head, a smile on his face.

“Fifty? How much for each one?”

“A gold coin for each one,” he said. “If Jurot is willing to help me, it may be cheaper, but they will not last as long.”

“Stick with the gold coin,” Adam said. “How many can you make a day?”

“Five for now, but I’m sure I can make double that sooner or later,” he assured.

“Cool. I’ll leave it to you, then.”

“Leave it to me,” Filliam said.

“Who is this?” Kaygak asked, eyeing the Tinkerer suspiciously.

“This is Filliam, a Tinkerer,” Adam said. “He’s been making me some stuff for the children.”

“What stuff?” Kaygak asked, her eyes now suspiciously glaring at the Half Elf.

Adam smiled. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“Is it like the Dragon?”

“No,” Adam said. “I can’t afford that.”

“Adam, have you been winding up the watch weekly?” Filliam asked.

“What? I needed to do that?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” he said. “You did.”

“Oh.”

The children had been paying attention to hear what the Tinkerer was making, though Adam had not yet let it slip, and Filliam could feel their gazes on him, but refused to say.

“Take care of yourself,” Adam said, patting the Tinkerer’s shoulder. “Why don’t you…” Adam caught the dropping Tinkerer, who closed his eyes and fell dead asleep. “How rude,” Adam said. “He didn’t even let me finish my sentence.”

“He may sleep in the spare room,” Sonarot said, swapping Sonarot for the Tinkerer, a good trade in Adam’s eyes, as she carried the thin Tinkerer away to another room where he could sleep in peace.

“Hello babby,” Adam said, brushing her hair gently. “Did anyone bully you?”

Lanarot pointed up and squealed, before nestling herself into his chest. She sucked against her hand, still smiling up at her brother.

“Sorry, Lanarot, but even I can’t beat God,” Adam said. “Yet.”

The Iyrmen and Lucy stared at Adam, wondering if he was joking. They were certain they had heard something ridiculously crazy, but decided against engaging with it.

Strom snickered from afar, trying to stop himself from laughing so hard.

“What is the matter?” Iromin asked.

“That young man sure says some crazy things,” Strom said.

“What did he say?” Iromin asked, skipping the most obvious question of how the man managed to hear Adam from hundreds of metres away, with hundreds of Iyrmen all chatting between them. ‘This is the Iyr,’ the Chief thought, certain. ‘Only Elder Story has such a great ability.’

“He can’t beat God, yet,” Strom said, howling with laughter, drinking more of his alcohol.

‘That does sound like Adam,’ Iromin thought.

“It’s a shame I won’t be alive to see it,” Strom said, drinking more. “I wonder if I should spend Twilight Month with him instead.”

Iromin wasn’t sure which would be more favourable for his heart. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been so stressed before trying to keep Strom reigned in.

‘Elder Story, please help.’

Omen: 2, 16

“Will you enchant today?” Sonarot asked, noting how Adam held the same look as when he was lucky.

“I probably should, but…” He picked his baby sister up. “Though I did say I wouldn’t.” He nuzzled her nose, before holding her in his arms. “No, no. I should spend the last day with Lanarot at least.”

“Then will you take her around?”

“Sure,” Adam said. “Should we go and have some fun together? Do you want to go with your big brothers? I’ll bully Jurot until he says he’ll come with us.”

“You should spend some time with your Guests,” Sonarot said. “It may do you well.”

Adam recalled his date with Vonda, and threw a glance to the side, avoiding his sister’s gaze. “I suppose I should.”

Once they had finished breakfast, the group gathered together and went out to explore the festival together for the last day. Adam dragged Filliam along too, who had worked through most of the festival.

“I will be unable to make the toys today!” Filliam protested.

“There is time to work and time to play,” Adam said, sounding like an Iyrman. “As much as I am a Brit, we should at least respect the Iyrmen while we’re within their homes!”

Filliam grumbled, but followed the group along.

Adam could feel Vonda’s gaze against the back of his head, but he ignored it, instead enjoying the festival as they continued moving about. They watched the fights, with Lanarot screaming as though she was possessed by the incarnation of an unholy being.

“Lanarot, chill,” Adam said, bringing some bread up to her lips for her to bite. She chewed on the bread happily, pointing at the fighting, and babbling.

“She truly is an Iyrman,” Sir Vonda joked.

Adam smiled. “That’s right. She’s growing up so well, though I think it is a little too zealous.” He brushed her hair. “You should be enjoying colouring at this age, and I don’t mean colouring the snow with the blood of your enemies.”

Lanarot bit into Adam’s finger as she tried to eat the bread, causing him to pull back.

“You bad girl,” Adam said, pinching her cheek gently and wiggling it.

“I did not know you could enchant,” Vonda said.

“It never came up,” Adam said. “Plus, I’m not sure I should tell you, in case you tell the other Priests.”

“I will keep your secret,” she said. “As you have kept mine.”

Adam slowly nodded his head. “I didn’t tell Kitool and Jaygak about your thing, I just told them that they should probably listen to you about your task since it would be good for them.”

“You wanted to share the glory with them?”

“I don’t care about glory,” Adam replied, simply. “I mean, sure, maybe a little, but not that much. I have so many other things to worry about, and the glory might be a little awkward for me, considering my ears.”

“You’re so strange, Adam.”

“Yeah,” he replied, simply.

“Do you have any other secrets?”

“Many.”

Sir Vonda nodded her head. “Everyone has their secrets.”

“Yeah.”

“The Iyr has so many too.”

“Yeah,” Adam said, smiling. “I understand why, considering, you know.”

“Considering what?”

“They’re freaking crazy.”

Sir Vonda smiled. “They are, aren’t they?”

The group explored the festival together, before sitting down at several tables out of the way.

“About the plan from before,” Sir Vonda said. “You said you wanted to make a protection agency of sorts, or a group of inns. You mentioned dumping money into it. Was that money coming from your enchanting?”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “Most likely.”

“You can enchant?” Filliam asked, staring at Adam, his eyes full of shock.

Adam smiled.