The Iyrmen teens continued to move through the shared family estate, cleaning the various rooms, as well as bringing food back to eat. They worked hard, as expected of them, and none complained about the matter though they were missing out on the festivities.

Jirot began to squirm and cough, before she began to cry in Adam’s arms. The Half Elf tried to soothe her, rocking her back and forth gently.

“When did she last feed?” Otkan asked.

“A couple of hours ago,” Adam replied.

“I will feed them,” she said, taking the girl from him, before she began to feed her.

Adam faced away, awkwardly, staring at Dunes, who sat far more comfortably, even though he could see Otkan breastfeeding out of the corner of his eye. He was holding Jarot again, and stared down at the Goblin, deep in thought.

“Just because you regret what you did, doesn’t mean you can steal my adorable children from me,” Adam warned. “They’re mine.”

“I would be unable to steal them from you, Adam,” he said. “Even with my sword, Dunes’ Sword, I would be unable to defeat you to take them.”

“Even if you were stronger than me, I wouldn’t let you take them from me,” Adam said.

“Even if I was stronger than you, I wouldn’t dare to take them from you,” Dunes replied, smiling at Adam.

“Are you saying my children are not worth taking?”

“I am saying that I’d be too scared to take them.”

Adam smiled once more. “You’re a funny guy, Dunes.”

“I must be, for I am Black.” Dunes smiled at Adam’s face, which had dropped into shock at his words. “What does it mean to be Black?”

“It’s just your skin colour,” Adam said, rubbing his forehead.

“I am not black, I am dark brown,” Dunes replied.

“Well, yes, but in my-,” Adam had almost let slip his secret, but quickly cleared his throat. “Where I’m from, we call people with your skin colour, Black. Although, I suppose there’s a deeper meaning behind it, one which is more sinister, though people won’t like to admit it.”

“Why?”

“It’s difficult to say, considering the history of how Black people were treated across the entire world. Their circumstances weren’t unique, but it was something which affected them to the present day, something which people don’t like to admit. In fact, they go the opposite way, stating that…” Adam paused, wondering if he should state how British people like to pretend they had paid reparations, but decided against it. He felt the shame and the anger of how cowardly it all was, and sighed, letting it all go. “No. It’s not something I should talk about, since I might will it into being just by talking about.”

Dunes could see the look in Adam’s eyes, and quickly dropped the matter. There were so many queer things Adam liked to say, and many things which would even get him killed, but if this was something which bothered even him, then there was no point in continuing to press into it.

“Goblins and Dragons,” Dunes said. “It’s very much like you, Adam.”

Adam smiled. “Is it?”

Dunes looked down at the tiny boy again. He didn’t want to keep holding the boy, feeling it awkward to hold him since he had tried to kill the tiny boy, but it was even more awkward in trying to ask Adam to take the boy from him, in case he thought it meant something else.

“Dunes?”

“Yes?”

Adam held out his hands, and Dunes wondered if Adam had seen how awkward he was, but then realised it was probably just that. Adam took the boy and held him tenderly, pressing the boy’s cheek against his own. Whatever Dunes originally thought about the matter, he couldn’t help but admit that Adam loved the Goblins truly.

“Do you not love the Goblins?” Gangak asked, her eyes glued to the Half Dragons, who held silver scales.

“Have you forgotten who you were speaking to?” Jarot asked.

“A Rot, are you not? The same Rot who has refused their Nephew’s children?”

Jarot could feel the blade of her words strike through him. “They are too young to enjoy the festival. I had remained with them all day before, but now it is time to shower my other greatchildren in affection.”

Gangak inhaled from her pipe, before letting the smoke fall out of her mouth. “Adam refused my own grandchildren, and now I can see why. He certainly was close with Queen Silvari.”

There were only a few who knew the truth of half of the children’s parentage, and Jarot was one of them. He hadn’t told his closest family, not even Otkan and Gangak, though they knew of how ridiculous Adam was, and with how intelligent the pair were, it was a simple matter to deduce. However, they still didn’t understand the full picture, of how truly ridiculous it was. Adam who had adopted Goblin children would no doubt have adopted the children of his friend, Entalia.

“How fortunate that you have horns,” Gangak said, reaching down to brush their hair, though Konarot bit the Iyrman’s hand when it came too close. “I need someone with teeth likes yours within my family.”

Konarot made the same face Asoyah had when he heard he would no longer be an Iyrman if he were to become Adam’s son, though it held a much greater fear. She quickly pulled back, hiding behind Jarot.

“They will marry who they will marry,” Jarot said. “Though they will not marry until I am dead, for they will remain small for years to come, and I will not allow them to leave my arms while I still breathe.”

Gangak sighed out smoke. “What are their names?”

“Konarot, Kirot, and Karot,” Jarot replied.

“What of the twins?”

“Jarot and Jirot.”

“How could they curse the boy so?” Gangak asked, sighing once more. “I will need to keep an eye on him.”

“Will you continue to bully me in front of my own greatchildren?” Jarot asked.

“Will you keep them all for yourself? First Churot, and now them?” Gangak retorted, reaching up to ruffle the teen’s hair. She had been unable to spoil Churot as much as she had wanted to, though they shared the same blood. “If you will not share them, then perhaps you will share Jirot and Jarot? The very same children your family has refused.”

Jarot could feel his rage begin to build within him, but he forced it away. “Enough, Gangak. Do not ruin their day with their greatfather.”

Gangak puffed from her pipe once more. After all these years of Jarot acting so spoilt, she could finally put him in his place, especially after what his family had done.

“Let us go watch the fights,” Jarot said, taking the triplets to the fights. The children squirmed, covering their ears and looking away from the fights. They made small noises which hurt the old Iyrman’s heart.

“What is the matter?” Jarot asked. The triplets looked up at him, whimpering quietly. He reached down to rub their heads. “Are you afraid? They are Iyrmen, and they wish to fight. They will not harm you, not while I am here, my little greatchildren.”

Konarot frowned, and he could feel how she had grown cold, much colder in comparison to her siblings. He lifted her up in his arm. “You must be strong, Konarot. I am the oldest, like you. It is your responsibility to grow strong to look after them, okay?”

The girl looked up at him for a moment, before he pulled her to his chest. He placed his head on hers, thinking about his son, who had been lost before his time. “You must grow strong, Konarot. It may scare you now, but there are many things which will frighten you in this world. You will be most afraid when you are unable to protect them.”

Konarot sniffled, clutching at his shirt, before hiding her head into his chest.

“I know,” Jarot whispered. “Stay with your greatfather and watch the fights. You must all be scared, but there is no need to be afraid. We are in the Iyr, and you hold the name Rot.”

Gangak sighed, unable to tease him now, not when he was thinking about that time, when their fate was forever changed.

Dunes watched as Adam spent the entire day with the Goblins. He lay beside them while they slept, his eyes glued to their tiny forms. He played with them when they awoke, allowing them to rest on his chest one at a time, for he was too afraid they’d fall.

“What do you mean you don’t like my ears?” Adam asked, causing Jirot to twitch against him. “You have the same ears, isn’t that right, Jarot?” Jarot stared up at the sky, ignoring his father. “Do you see this, Dunes? They’re bullying me. How could they do this to me?”

Dunes smiled. “Isn’t it because their ears are cuter?” He wondered if the face Adam had just made was the same face Asoyah had made last night.

“You can’t have them,” Adam said, placing a hand on Jirot’s back gently, reaching out to press his finger against Jarot, who lay right beside his father.

Dunes nodded.

“Shouldn’t you be enjoying the festival?” Adam asked, wondering why Dunes was spending his hours here. The Iyrmen kept sending Adam queer looks, wondering what he was doing almost at all times, and Dunes would get caught in the crossfire.

“I’m sure there is much I am missing, but…” Dunes fell silent. “What is more important than making sure my friend and his children are well?”

Adam remained quiet for some time. “You can’t have them,” Adam repeated.

Dunes smiled. He remained distant with the Goblins, until Adam forced him to play with them too. Throughout the entire day there had been a thought that perhaps Adam was faking his love, but with how much attention and affection he was giving them, Dunes knew that Adam was just like that.