Omen: 14, 14

“Hey, Jurot, whose that?” Adam whispered.

“I do not know,” Jurot replied, though he was certain he recognised the figure.

The pair was sitting within the Chief’s courtyard. Sitting beside Strom was a short, stout Dwarven woman, with long sideburns which fell down to her chin. Adam was sure it was a Dwarven woman because she didn’t have a beard, but then he wondered if Dwarven women had beards. He had met a Dwarven girl and she didn’t have a beard, but she was a girl and not a woman.

Adam had brought Asoyah and Bavin, along with the teens, to meet with Strom. However, seeing the pair drinking and chatting away happily, Adam thought it was best not to disturb them.

“Sorry, you guys can meet him properly another time,” Adam said. Though Asoyah had technically met Strom before, he hadn’t spoken to great figure before. He had been too shy, and so had Bavin, but Adam had brought them here so they could speak with him properly.

Adam and the others enjoyed the festival. It was on this day that the Rot, Gak, Ool, and Kan families all made some food for the stalls. The group ate the food, listening to the music, watching the wrestling. Eventually they all returned to their estate a few hours before dusk.

The families made a large fire, and they all gathered together to relax, drinking wine, eating the food they had brought back from their own stall, as well as from the nearby stalls.

Adam had been wondering why it hadn’t been ridiculously hot as it normally had been, but he was caught by another thought. He watched as the Iyrmen danced around the fire, but that wasn’t what had caused him to stop thinking.

The Iyrmen were wearing masks.

They were made of wood, each styled to a different animal, and though there were only a dozen of them being passed around, Adam wasn’t sure he had ever seen Iyrmen wear masks. It felt so wrong.

“What’s with the masks?” Adam asked.

“They are made of supple wood,” Jurot replied.

“No, I mean, what’s with them?”

“They were carved well.”

“No, I mean, I thought you didn’t hide your tattoos?” Adam asked.

“We do not,” Jurot said. “We do not wear them to hide our tattoos, we wear them because they are fun to wear.”

“Oh.” Adam expected a story as to why they were significant.

The Iyrmen danced close to the fire, and the adults attacked it, swiping their fists and feet through the fire.

“You can’t do that, Lanababy,” Adam said, ruffling her hair. “It’s dangerous.”

Jaygak donned a mask, before she danced next to the fire. She wore only a skirt, something Adam had only seen on a dozen Iyrmen even during the festival, and she danced next to the fire, sometimes cartwheeling around the fire, passing her legs through the flames. Her body moved as though she was being pushed by the breeze, sometimes jerking awkwardly, before she hummed a song.

The children had been watching intently, but upon hearing her humming her song, they sat up excitedly. Within moments, Jaygak brought her hands together, and chanted. A sea of flames assaulted the fire, before mixing together, and the children squealed and howled excitedly.

Lanarot clapped her hands excitedly and squealed.

‘Damn it, Jaygak.’

Jurot reached over and placed his hand on her head, causing the girl to sit up straight, before her eyes followed the arm to see her brother. She stared up at him before smiling.

“What are you doing?”

“I do not know,” Jurot admitted. “She is very excited.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, before raising his brows, offering Lanarot to him.

Jurot picked the girl up. “You like fighting?”

Lanarot babbled in response, laying against him.

“Of course she does. She’s our sister.”

Jurot brushed her hair gently. “Yes. You will grow big and strong, one day.”

“No,” Adam said.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Adam made a face at Jurot. “This betrayal shall never be forgotten.”

“Do not forget it,” Jurot replied, kissing Lanarot’s forehead. “You will bring great honour to our family, Lanarot.”

“She’ll do whatever she wants,” Adam said. “I’ll pave the way to make sure it happens.”

Jurot nodded.

Adam sipped some wine, before noting the figure in the corner. “I’ll leave Lanababy to you.” He picked up a bottle of wine, and brought it to Sir Vonda, who was sitting in the corner, away from the fire. A lantern flickered nearby, providing her some light as she worked.

“What are you sketching?” Adam asked, pouring some wine into her empty cup, before sipping his own.

“Thoughts,” Vonda said, revealing the picture to Adam. It was a crow, neatly sketched.

“How ominous,” Adam joked.

Vonda smiled. “We are in the Iyr, where Lord Sozain is most present.”

“Is that true?” Adam asked. “Is he most present within the Iyr?” He wondered if Sir Vonda could feel that, being a Priest.

“I am certain. The Iyr and Lord Sozain have been tied together for centuries,” Vonda said, before correcting herself, “millennia.”

“Fair enough.” Adam glanced around. “I’m pretty sure he can hear us too.” Adam had been informed of the matter by the God himself. He noted Lucy in the corner, staring up at the stars. She was nearby, however, having moved towards the pair when Adam had sat down. “Lucy, do you want to sit with us?”

“Sure,” Lucy said, sitting between the pair, crossing her arms.

“Want a drink?”

“Sure.”

Adam poured her a drink, sighing quietly. “You okay?”

Lucy looked to Vonda for a moment. “I’m fine.” She didn’t want to admit it in front of a Priest.

After a short while, Adam excused himself. It felt awkward to have a good time when his friend was suffering. Adam left, not telling anyone where he was going. He followed the path towards a set of estates to the side.

“Adam,” Iromin called.

“Chief,” Adam said, before his eyes fell to Strom and the Dwarven woman, both of whom were passed out from having drunk so much. “Are you okay?”

“I am fine,” Iromin replied. “What is it that you need?”

Adam was going to make a joke, but he decided against it. “Are there any Dragon hearts in the Iyr? Those of greater Dragons, you know? Adults.”

Iromin had wondered when Adam was going to bring it up to him. He had expected it back in dawnval. “You should speak with Elder Forest and Elder Gold, they would know best.”

“So I have to make a deal with them?” Adam asked, groaning quietly.

Iromin bowed his head.

Adam sighed. “Okay.”

“You wish to make another deal?” Elder Gold asked. She, and Elder Forest, had both appeared when the Chief called for them.

Adam sat opposite the Chief, who was flanked by the other two Great Elders. “Yes.”

“We made quite the deal previously,” Elder Gold said.

“Yeah.”

“Is it my turn, then?” Elder Forest asked, smiling at the Half Elf. She, like the other Great Elder, wore a breastplate, though a greatsword rested at her side.

“That depends.” Adam cleared his throat. “I would like to trade for an Adult Dragon heart.”

“It is an invaluable item that you request.”

“I’m sure we can make a fair trade,” Adam said, swallowing once more. He could feel the eyes of the three Great Elders stare deep through him. He was sure they knew how much it meant to him.

“Does the Iyr have a need for gold?”

“Gold. Knowledge. Power. The Iyr has a lot of each, but it doesn’t have everything, right?” Adam asked. “I’m sure there’s something you want.”

“What can you offer?” Elder Forest asked, still smirking at the squirming Half Elf.

“Well, what do you want? You know what I want, but what do you want?”

“We have need for very little, Adam,” Elder Forest said. “However, that does not mean it has need for nothing. Though, we must know what you can offer.”

Adam had thought about it. He had wanted to take a while to think about it, but he had already thought about it for a few days. “Let’s not pretend you don’t know what I can do. Speak honestly, Iyrman.”

Elder Forest smiled. “Your enchantments will be handed directly to the Iyr.”

Adam tapped his knee, waiting for what else they wanted. After a long moment, he slowly bowed his head. “I need the escort of some Iyrmen so the Dragon heart can be handed over safely. It wouldn’t do well that a Dragon heart ends up being stolen, even if you do gain the enchantments.”

“For the escort of Iyrmen, you must trade a magical weapon,” Elder Forest said.

“I recall I bet against you for a magical weapon,” Adam said, smiling at her. “Since you want it returned, I’ll hand it back to you.”

The Great Elder smiled, nodding her head.

Adam glanced between the rest of the Great Elders. “An Adult Dragon heart for me to pass the enchantments I create for my business directly to the Iyr, and a magical weapon to have an escort of Iyrmen on the way to, and back, from handing the Dragon heart to Big Ivory.”

The Iyrmen noted how he had phrased the statement, but Elder Forest bowed her head to accept the deal.

“Thank you,” Adam said, shaking their forearms, before returning back to the shared family estate.

Elder Forest smirked at Elder Gold, understanding she had gotten the best deal out of Adam.

“He will favour me more,” Elder Gold said, simply.

Once Adam returned back to the estate, he threw Lucy a smile. “I’m just letting you know now, I will not be getting married to you, no matter how much you beg.”

Lucy shot him a glare, but he smiled.

Adam wondered if giving up such a concession was good, since he did have other things he could have offered. However, he hoped the Iyrmen realised how much he had traded for the Adult Dragon heart.

‘No. It’s definitely worth it.’

Adam sighed. He had so many ideas for enchantments, some of which were too dangerous to let loose in the Iyr. He had wanted to entrust them to Sonarot to keep safe and secret. However, the guilt of not being able to help his friends had ate away at his heart for too long.

He had wanted to help Dunes and Lucy, but he had forced them back to the Iyr for the noonval festival. After almost dying to the Beast Wave near Red Oak, he had wanted to return to safety.

Yet, they had spent more than two months in the Iyr now, basically doing nothing. ‘I’m such an asshole.’

“Do we have to?” Adam asked during the late evening. He clutched the lantern to his chest, which soothed his heartache. “Lanababy loves her lantern so much!”

“We must,” Sonarot said, smiling at the Half Elf. “To guide them back home, Adam.”

Adam looked to his Aunt, and sighed. He relinquished the lantern to his Aunt, not having the heart to do it himself. She tossed the lantern into the fire, which began to tear away into the lantern. The flames engulfed the lantern, turning it to ash.