“Elder Wrath had been chosen last month,” Jurot explained, once they had all gathered around the centre fire.

“Did you know?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I was informed by the Guild.”

“Oh…” Adam wondered if he was really that stupid not to have guessed something so simple.

“It was the closest vote to date.”

“Really?”

“There were over one thousand votes, and Shamir, Elder Wrath, won by two.”

“Two?” Adam’s eyelashes fluttered. “Two votes?”

Jurot nodded. “The Mir family is on the rise. I would have bet Zardon would have been chosen.”

“Damn…” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “That’s crazy.”

Jurot looked to Ashmir, who was once known as Lion King, and then to Dunes, the Lion King’s son. Elder Wrath had been chosen because the previous Elder Wrath had lost his bout to the Lion King.

The reason he had lost was because of the tournament held in Aswadia.

The reason the tournament was held was because the Iyrmen killed so many soldiers.

The reason why the Iyrmen killed so many soldiers, was because their Shaman had been tortured.

The reason why their Shaman has been tortured, was because they had claimed the Awakened Forest.

The reason why they claimed the Awakened Forest was because of…

Jurot looked to Adam.

“I’m really glad for you,” Adam said. “Congratulations on the pregnancy and the Mir’s family fortune!”

“I knew I smelled you!” called a boisterous voice.

“Oh no,” Adam whispered, before turning to see the handsome old man. He was slightly thinner than before. “Hey, Strom. How are you?”

“I am well!” Strom laughed, quickly approaching the group. “Have you all been well?”

“All good,” Adam replied.

“Do you have a story to share?” Strom invited himself to sit. He still had free reign in the Iyr, which had surprised even Elder Lykan, who had been told that even his authority couldn’t reach Strom.

“Eh, nothing much,” Adam said, shrugging his shoulders.

“We dealt with an Outbreak.”

“Oh?” Strom glanced between them all. “None of you seem injured.”

“Adam was with us.”

“Ah!” Strom laughed. “How could I forget?”

As food was being cooked, Jurot began to tell the tale of what they had done since leaving the Iyr. As the tale was told, another great figure emerged at the shared estate, as Morkarai, who had doffed his armour, had appeared. He seemed a little taller, and he more importantly, he was a mass of muscle, causing Lucy to pinch her thigh.

‘If the Iyr paid respects to someone like him, then I’d better behave.’

Morkarai was about to greet everyone when he saw Strom’s tattoo, causing him to freeze for a moment.

“Ho!” Strom raised his brows. “You’ve grown up so much, though not as much as I expected.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Gra-,”

“You’re so big and strong now!” Strom interrupted, quickly. “How is your father? Is he well?”

“Yes he is, Yo-,”

“My, my, hasn’t it been so long? I’m sure you don’t remember me since you were just a babe back then.”

Morkarai swallowed. “Ah, well, it was my honour that you had accepted the invitation.”

“Come, sit,” Strom called, before saying something to the man in another language.

“Ah, yes, Lord Strom,” Morkarai said.

“What’s this Lord business? I’m just an old man now.” Strom huffed.

Morkarai sat down. He wasn’t sure he could dare to drop the honorific. He could see that the old man had lost much of his strength. ‘Did he give up his Spark?’ At first, Morkarai had no idea why the Iyr had activated the Edict, but after seeing Strom like this, it began to make sense.

“You know each other?” Adam asked, noting just how much reverence Morkarai was showing.

“Well, perhaps not so intimately. I had heard that his mother was pregnant, and I was bored at the time so I invited myself to the banquet.”

Morkarai had always heard that Strom had been invited, but having heard the tales growing up, this version made far more sense.

“Your grandfather had quite the way with his greatsword,” Strom said, recalling the time. “Is your father any good?”

“They say my father is as great with the blade as grandfather was.”

“Ho?” Strom asked. “What about you?”

Morkarai began to sweat slightly, seeing the gaze of the older man, like that of a predator, piercing deep into him. “I can only hope that in fifty years or so I too can wield my blade as well as my father.”

“What a shame,” Strom grumbled. “I’m getting a little rusty.”

“In the Iyr?” Adam asked, unable to control himself, as he quickly shut his mouth. He forgot that they had ascertained that Storm was fairly powerful, perhaps as powerful as the Gold Dragon which protected the capital. ‘Come on! I’m just a day away from seeing Lanarot! Stop trying to kill yourself!’

“Since we have met, I would be remiss if I did not offer you some wine from our family,” Morkarai said.

“Is it firewine?” Strom asked, leaning in.

Morkarai reached into his robe, before pulling out a bottle, which certainly did not fit in his robe.

“Haha!” Strom laughed, with boyish glee. He held out his cup, allowing Morkarai to pour him in some firewine, before sipping it.

Jaygak watched, wondering what the firewine of the Fire Giants tasted like. She couldn’t possibly ask. Could she?

Strom sighed, and placed down the cup. “Ho! What great wine it is! There’s nothing like firewine in this world, truly!”

“I’m glad that it was up to your standard.” Morkarai sighed with relief, before pouring himself some.

“Though, I do have to ask…” Strom’s eyes narrowed. “Why is my Stormdrake in your possession?”

Morkarai had forgotten that he had carried the blade, which was stuck to his side. He felt the pressure of Strom’s gaze weighing him down. “I had asked to study the blade while I remained in the Iyr.”

Strom continued to glare at the young Fire Giant.

“Of course it will be returned back to the good Iyrman, Jaygak, once I begin my journey home,” Morkarai assured.

“Hmmm.” Strom stopped glaring quite so harshly, and continued sipping his firewine.

“Why don’t we all partake in the firewine?” Morkarai asked.

“Are you trying to kill them?” Strom asked, still glaring.

“Can I?” Jaygak asked.

Strom slowly nodded, pulling away his glare and his killing intent from the Fire Giant, who poured in the wine for the Devilkin, the Demon, Strom, and himself.

“Hey, Jurot,” Adam whispered in their tongue. “Do you think Morkarai could beat me?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, without even thinking about it.

Adam’s eyes fell back on Strom. ‘I should have realised he was strong when Entalia had warned me.’ He wondered who the pair were, glancing between Strom and Morkarai.

Jurot continued the tale, as food was cooked and shared between them all. All the while, there were a few Mithril Rank Iyrmen around, those who were tasked to look after Morkarai, as well as Shaool, who was tasked to keep an eye on Strom. It wasn’t as though she could have stopped him doing anything, but she could move swiftly, and if it ever came down to it, she could probably survive for long enough against Strom to retreat to the Iyr, which couldn’t be said about most other Iyrmen in her position.

When the tales were finished, the group remained together, talking, eating, and enjoying each other’s company.

An older Orcish Iyrman approached, a man with long hair, which was braided, and a large beard which hid his mouth.

“That’s Romaezi,” Jurot whispered to Adam. “He is our greatest enchanter.”

Adam looked at the older Iyrman, who approached Strom and Morkarai, bowing his head towards them. Romaezi also managed to catch Adam’s eyes for a moment, nodding towards the Half Elf.

“Good evening,” Romaezi said. “I am Romaezi.”

“I suppose it’s time to talk business?” Strom stood with a grunt, feeling his old bones crack. It was a feeling he was getting used to, though every so often, it became worse.

Morkarai also stood, following Romaezi out. This was a part of the Edict which had been called.

“What was that about?” Adam asked.

“Enchanting?” Jurot mused, before he looked to Adam.

Adam pouted slightly, but he understood that he couldn’t join the big boy club. ‘Does Strom know how to enchant then?’ He looked to Stormdrake, which was disappearing out of sight with Morkarai.

“It is granduncle Rajin,” Jurot said.

Another older Orcish Iyrman appeared, wheeling a rickshaw full of barrels and gourds. He was tall and thin, though well muscled, and carried a greatsword on his back. He set the rickshaw down nearby, before picking up a long rope of gourds, which he brought over to the group.

The three pregnant women sighed together.

‘Ah! The alcohol grandpa,’ Adam though, recalling the name.

“I had heard my grandnephews and grandnieces had returned,” he said, his voice small.

‘What? Didn’t this guy think about becoming Elder Wrath?’ Adam thought, wondering how a sweet old man like him could have become Elder Wrath.

“We have returned,” Jurot said, greeting his granduncle, who shook the young man’s forearm and handed him a gourd, doing the same for all the people about.

When he came to Adam, who reached out with his hand to grasp the old man’s forearm, Rajin slapped the Half Elf’s shoulder, and grabbed it, though not too harshly. “Come,” he said. “Marry into my family.”

Adam blinked. “I’m sorry, but I am not interested in marriage at the moment. I am married to my work.”

Rajin sighed, but handed Adam two gourds. “Jarot said I should not ask, but I still had to.”

Adam nodded.

After the tale had been told, and they had eaten, and drunk, their fill, they returned back to their own estate, where they’d be sleeping at during their stay in the Front Iyr.

Jurot, Jaygak, Kitool, and the boy, all left, leaving Adam alone in his thoughts.

Quest Complete: The Royal Visit

XP Gained: +100

Quest Complete: The Royal Visit

XP Gained: +100

Quest Complete: The Royal Visit

XP Gained: +100

Quest Complete: The Royal Visit

XP Gained: +100

‘Eh?’ Adam thought. ‘Did you glitch out, Bell?’

[…]