Omen: 2, 19

Adam began to sweat, feeling the gaze upon him. It was such a great roll, and he could enchant something amazing, but he had already promised not to enchant. Adam inhaled deeply, before letting out a soft sigh. ‘No. Today I’m going to take it easy.’

“You’re not feeling lucky this morning?” Jaygak teased.

“I’m feeling very lucky, but look at this girl,” Adam said, squeezing Lanarot’s cheeks together. “She wanted to spend all day with papa so I just had to give in.”

Jaygak wondered how anyone could be so close to a baby, but she reached up to brush Lanarot’s hair. Lanarot reached up to grab the Devilkin’s arm, but Jaygak pulled her hand away quickly. Lanarot cackled up at Jaygak.

“She is going to grow up to be more troublesome than me,” Jaygak said, smiling down at her.

“If you know you are troublesome, you should stop,” Jogak stated.

“If I don’t trouble you, where will you get your fun?”

“There is much fun to be had within the Iyr without worrying about you.”

The father and daughter pair continued to argue for a short while, each of them attacking and counter attacking one another with their words.

Kitool looked at Adam first, before looking to Jurot, and then finally to Jaygak. She sighed, understanding that she would need to take a greater role within the girl’s upbringing, for all their sake.

Asoyah sometimes peeked at Adam and his sister, watching as he showered her in affection. He remained beside Sonarot, who had taken to being his guardian during his stay with the shared family estate.

“You should spend more time with Sky,” Kitool said. “It will be good for Lanarot to be familiar with him.”

“Sky?” Adam asked, trying to recall who that was. “Oh, right.”

Kitool wondered if Adam had forgotten all about Sky. ‘No,’ she thought. ‘He definitely forgot.’

Sky panted ahead of Lanarot, who clutched onto her brother’s clothing, her eyes wide as she stared at the Awakened Wolf. He was huge, large enough for Adam to ride on comfortably. Kit’a and Jay’a were also huge, and they cuddled and rolled around with the children.

“It’s Sky,” Adam said. “Look. Wolf.”

Lanarot hid into Adam chest, before looking back to Sky, hiding herself once more. Adam reached over to brushed the Awakened Wolf’s fur, and also brought Lanarot’s hand to it, though she struggled. She stopped struggling, feeling how soft the fur was.

“See? Isn’t it nice to touch?” Adam asked. “How are you doing, Sky?”

“Good.”

“The Iyr is treating you well?”

“Yes.”

“Are you treating the Iyr well?”

“Yes.”

“Good, good. If I hear that you’ve been rude to the Iyrmen, I’ll beat you up.”

“Okay.”

Adam raised his brows to the creature, accentuating his point. “If Lanarot ends up liking you, I’ll treat you much nicer.”

Sky dropped down submissively towards the girl. Sky understood that Adam was powerful, and he wasn’t going to try and go against the Half Elf, not after he had all but killed him with just a blow.

Adam placed Lanarot down against the wolf’s side, letting her half lay against the creature as she moved with the rhythmic breathing. She giggled every so often, though mostly remained in shock and awe.

“Damn,” Adam whispered.

“What is the matter?” Kitool asked.

“My sister is too cute,” Adam said, sighing.

Kitool closed her eyes, cementing the thought about assisting in Lanarot’s growth.

The teens had been watching the entire scene.

‘He is too queer,’ Naqokan thought.

The families all had remained together during the morning since they had been inviting to attend a duel later, some while after noon. The children and teens all played with Sky and the dire wolves, riding them, petting them, and cuddling with them.

The group made their way to an arena, following through the tunnels of the Iyr. It was just the Iyrmen, plus Adam, who had been invited. A few other families had been invited too, but it was mostly children, and a few adults who had earned the right to be there.

The arena wasn’t as large as the previous stage Adam had seen, though it was easily twenty paces long and wide, with enough seats to sit a few hundred Iyrmen at the least. The floor was made of stone slabs set into the earth, while the seats were made of wood, and circled around the stage, with four gateways which led in and out.

Standing to one side was a large figure, much larger than he first appears, with dark skin and red hair. He wore plate mail made of flamedarksteel, his large greatsword leaning against the wooden wall around the stage.

Opposite the Giant was an Iyrman. She was of average height, and was well built. On her back was a greatsword, and draped over her shoulders was a scarf with her family’s pattern. She wore the scarf as proudly as she wore the scars which fell like rain across her nearly bare torso, which was only hidden by the scarf.

“That is Marmak,” Jurot whispered as they took their place at a set of seats. “She earned the right to face Lord Morkarai.”

“Nice,” Adam whispered.

“My cup,” Taygak said, proudly.

“What was that?” Adam asked.

“My cup.” Taygak pointed to Marmak, and smiled.

“Taygak’s cup was a reward for a winner during the fights, and it was Marmak who won the cup,” Jurot said.

Adam raised his brows. “Taygak, wow. How cool are you?”

“Hot,” the girl replied.

“How amazing is our Taygak?” Adam asked.

Taygak continued to smile, sitting up straight. The Iyrmen around called for her and congratulated her on such a great honour.

‘The Iyr’s pretty cute,’ Adam thought.

Nearby, Adam noted a small group of familiar Iyrmen. Bavin was sitting beside his grandfather and his twin sister. He hadn’t seen the Iyrmen for a short while, but remembered that he needed to get the Iyrman used to being with the others.

The Iyrmen filled the seats, and the slow rolling thunder of drums began to fall all across them. Lanarot looked around to try and find where the drums were being played, finding they were being played by the Iyrmen between the walls and the stage.

“I am Marmak,” the Iyrman said, drawing her blade. “I thank you for the honour, Lord Morkarai.”

“The honour is mine, Marmak,” the Giant said, donning his helmet, before drawing his own blade. The long blade began to glow redder, before flames rose from the steel.

“Do you want to bet?” Adam asked Jurot.

“I will bet on Lord Morkarai,” Jurot said.

‘Damn.’ “You don’t believe in the Iyrman?”

“Lord Morkarai is stronger.”

“Fine. I’ll bet on the Iyrman then. One gold?”

Jurot nodded.

Not moments later, the pair were in a heated battle. The sound of the greatswords meeting rang through the air, only adding to the drumming. The cheers of the Iyrmen, and Lanarot’s screams, soon joined the sounds.

The Iyrman was swift, like an arrow, darting from side to side, but Morkarai was nimbler than his size suggested. His greatsword cut through the air with such might that Adam could even see the air press together, though it was no doubt an illusion thanks to the fire.

The Iyrman tried with all her might, clashing with the Fire Giant, but it was fairly obvious she was being pushed back by Morkarai. She brought her blade up to defend herself from a mighty chop, and steel rang together. Her muscles tightened like a rippling wave, from her arms to her powerful thighs, which had been built over decades.

The Iyrman’s entire body was red hot with from her rage, though the flames along the Fire Giant’s blade had caused her skin to crack. She growled, forcing the greatsword away, causing even the great Morkarai to step back from her ferocity, but the pair fell forward again.

The fight lasted a minute, a very long minute, but eventually the woman dropped down to a knee, leaning against her blade as she panted heavily. Her body was shiny, sweat covering her from head to toe, and her arms were like soft noodles, unable to lift her sword any longer. She hadn’t taken any wounds to her body, for she had been informed that a deaths were denied due to a decision from the Great Elders.

The Iyrmen clapped, and Lanarot howled, clapping her hands excitedly. The Iyrmen nearby glanced at Lanarot, smiling towards her antics, all the while Adam sat taller, glad they were praising his little sister.

“I didn’t expect to lose my gold so one sidedly,” Adam admitted.

“If there were two Iyrmen of Mithril, then even Lord Morkarai would have found it difficult,” Jurot said.

Adam whistled. “She was Mithril?”

“Yes.”

The Iyrman had clung on to dear life, all the while Morkarai had been rather casual in facing her. Adam recalled the Iyrmen he faced, and wondered if the Fire Giants were also as crazy as the Iyrmen.

‘Damn.’

Many Iyrmen went to greet Morkarai, who had shrunk once more, and they shook his forearm. Once Adam approached with his group, Lanarot hid away into her mother’s bosom.

“You were so excited before, so why are you so shy?” Adam asked, ruffling her hair. “You fought well, Lord Morkarai.”

“It was a good fight,” Morkarai said, shaking the Iyrmen’s forearms, letting them swing his greatsword once.

“I didn’t think you were that strong,” Adam admitted. “I mean, I knew you were strong, but you beat a Mithril Rank Iyrman like I beat Experts.”

Morkarai smiled. “We Fire Giants have not fought a war for some time, but it is not due to the lack of ability.”

“Yeah?” Adam laughed. “I’ll be sure never to anger any Fire Giants then.”

“A good idea,” Morkarai said, holding out a large finger to Lanarot. She looked at the steel, and reached for it. It turned from black to light red under the sun, and she was mesmerised by it. When she touched it, it felt so warm. “Do you want to swing my sword?” Morkarai asked the girl.

Lanarot looked back up towards him, before she quickly hid away from him once more.

“I do not think she likes me.”

Adam sighed. ‘What am I to do?’

“That is because you are too big,” Strom said, having appeared from nowhere.

“I should have expected you were around,” Adam said.

Strom picked the girl up. “I heard your screaming during the fight so I came.” He reached out with a finger, letting her grab it. “Did you like the fight?”

Lanarot squealed in response, before cackling with joy. She babbled excitedly up at Strom.

“Should I fight him too?” Strom asked. “Would you like that?”

Morkarai’s face was taut, and he hoped that Lanarot wouldn’t put him through such a traumatic experience.