“A Hill Lord,” Morkarai repeated, smiling down at Adam.

It was a great deal to offer Adam, who was a Nephew of the Rot family. Even as a Nephew of the Rot family, there was much more that being a Hill Lord provided. Although many wished to be a Nephew of the Iyr, being a Hill Lord was something many people could only dream of. Only those who were the rank of Prince or Dukes could create Hill Lords, a title formed by the Ancient Giants, who had eventually evolved into the various Giants of the various realms.

Adam threw Jarot a look, the old man raising his brows in response, before he looked back to Morkarai.

Morkarai’s lips twitched from a smile to a frown. “You do not wish for it?”

“I don’t even know what it is,” Adam admitted.

‘Oh,’ Morkarai thought, realising what Adam had asked moments ago. “A Hill Lord is a position of privilege within our Kingdom. It is similar to the rank of a Guest within the Iyr. You and the next two generations of your family would be taken care of well, while those beyond would be given greater access to positions of power, if they are capable.”

“Ah,” Adam said, nodding his head slowly. “I sort of understand. So I’d be some kind of Lord?”

“There are two types of Hill Lords. Major Hill Lords, those who are given status of nobility, and Minor Hill Lords, which are guests, with little to no expectations of them, but to enjoy their lives freely.”

“I see,” Adam said, slowly nodding his head, painting a picture within his mind. “So I’d be a Minor Hill Lord?”

“Yes.”

“I see, I see,” Adam said, thinking about the matter. “So my children would be taken care of?”

“All five of them, yes,” Morkarai said, smiling.

“I see…” It sounded like a great deal. It seemed to be something similar to that of a Nephew of the Iyr, but with a clearer definition. “What about the children?”

“The children?”

“Yeah,” Adam replied. “You know, Lanarot for example.”

Morkarai remained quiet in thought, trying to understand what Adam was asking. Then he remembered who he was talking to. “She…” He thought about the matter. Some Iyrmen had become Hill Lords previously, those who wished to leave the Iyr and live outside of it. Then there was Emperor Hadda, who had hinted at Lanarot to him. “I could grant her the title too.”

Morkarai felt the embarrassment fill him. Offering the title of a Hill Lord to a baby Iyrman? They would all poke fun at him, no doubt, and even his father would have to check his mind, but considering Adam was Adam, it was more than worth it.

“What about Gurot, my chonky little Cousin?” Adam said, causing Morkarai to stop his thoughts. “There’s Kavgak, Tavgak, Inakan, Minakan, Maool, and Jitool too.”

‘What?’

“Then there’s Jurot, Aunt, and my children’s greatfather too,” Adam said. “Look at him. There’s not even a moment he can bear away from my children, you know?”

Morkarai looked to Jarot, who had picked up baby Jarot and had placed the tiny form against his chest while they had been talking. The Iyrman blinked, as though he had been caught red handed.

“How could I deny my children their rights to their nana and babo?” Adam asked, shaking his head. “They’re treating my children so well and now you want to steal them away from them?”

“They would not have to…” Morkarai managed to stop himself as he noted the look in Adam’s eyes, realising quickly the mistake he had almost made. “You are right. It is a shame, for you certainly would have been the greatest Hill Lord I had invited, and perhaps the greatest since before my father’s time.”

“Really?” Adam asked. “I’m not that good, am I?”

“You have been vouched for by the Iyr, and more,” the Prince of the Fire Giants said. “I’m certain you are greater than even I imagine.”

“What do you imagine?” Adam asked.

“I imagine you do not want me to say,” Morkarai said, smiling slightly at the Half Elf.

“I appreciate your kind words and your offer, Lord Morkarai,” Adam said, bowing his head. “I will not forget them. However, I really can’t accept your offer, and I hope you understand it’s nothing against you. I’m sure if I wasn’t within the Iyr, or so close to the Iyr, I would have instantly accepted, but the Iyr has welcomed me and my family in, and they’ve treated me well so far. They’ve shown me a lot of trust and a lot of faith, and I can’t betray that.”

Morkarai bowed his head as he sipped his wine, exchanging a look with Jarot. The old Iyrman smirked towards the Prince. They had made a bet of words, a bet for the sake of betting, and Jarot had won on all fronts. Morkarai was certain Adam would not be swayed, no matter how many benefits the title of Hill Lord would confer to him. Adam gained many such benefits from the Iyr, but the Iyr had something the title couldn’t give him.

Jirot cooed happily up at her father as he lifted her up, and Adam nuzzled against her stomach, causing her to laugh quietly, before she rested against his chest. Adam’s strong arms covered her, and he hummed quietly as he waited for the food to be made.

“Papa,” Lanarot called, reaching up with her arms.

“You silly girl, papa is holding Jirot,” Adam said, blowing a raspberry at her. Lanarot smiled and giggled, before storming off, making her way to her other brother, who lifted her up onto her lap.

“Are you married, Lord Morkarai?” Adam asked, gently patting Jirot’s back.

“No,” Morkarai said. “I am to marry in the next decade.”

“Do you have your eye on a woman?” Adam asked.

“I am engaged.”

“Oh? To who?”

“Princess Miza’tu’rea’wyz’wyl,” Morkarai said. “A Princess of the Sea.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, throwing a look to Jarot. He swore the name sounded similar, but couldn’t quite place it.

Intelligence Check

D20 + 3 = 19 (16)

‘Oh.’ “Does she have a younger sister?” Adam asked.

“I have heard that she has several,” Morkarai said. “Why?”

Adam threw a look to Jarot again, who shook his head. “No reason.”

Morkarai understood Adam knew one of the younger siblings, but he decided against prodding the Half Elf for more.

“Will I be invited to your wedding?” Adam asked.

“Only if you invite me to yours,” Morkarai replied.

“It’s a promise.”

Adam continued to enchant for the next few days, using his Omen twice towards the end of the week. He spent the day before the end of the month with his children, though he also helped around the estate, assisting with cooking.

Jurot had also taken the day off at his mother’s insistence, and assisting around the place too, as he used to when he was younger. He noted the triplets relaxing in the snow, and stared at them. Konarot say up from the snow, feeling a gaze against her skin, and noted her uncle staring at her. She climbed around her siblings to hide them from his gaze, protecting them with her body.

‘She does not like me,’ Jurot thought.

Omen: 8, 19

Adam returned from enchanting in the evening to find Elder Zijin waiting for him, holding baby Jarot in his lap, with an annoyed Jarot sitting beside him, holding Jirot.

“Elder Zijin,” Adam greeted, before holding out his arms for baby Jarot.

“Adam,” Zijin replied, handing baby Jarot over to his father. “You have worked so hard for us during the past two months.”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I believe you said you wanted me to enchant for a while and that I won’t be bothered during the Twilight Month.”

Zijin bowed his head. “I have come for a request.”

“What is it?” Adam asked, sitting beside the Elder, feeling his son’s breath tickling his neck.

“Tomorrow there will be a trip for the children of the Iyr, and I hope you would be willing to take them,” Zijin said. “They are to live within a cabin for two weeks, without their parents, and the protection of the Iyr. They will be guided as they try to live off the land and fend off whatever beasts may come, though that responsibility lays on the shoulders of their escorts. We will provide barrels of food in case there is little to hunt. If they stay there for two weeks, they will receive a reward from the Iyr. It is something which the children enjoy.”

“Oh?” Adam said, nodding his head slowly. “Sounds like fun.”

“If you assist in this matter, then you will be considered to have assisted in teaching the children, and we will reward you accordingly,” Zijin assured.

“That sounds like a lot of fun, but what’s the catch?” Adam asked.

“There is no catch. You must take the children and look after them, along with your companions, and you must protect them from whatever may threaten them.”

“What would dare threaten children of the Iyr within its walls?” Adam asked.

“They would not be within the Iyr’s walls.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, thinking about what Zijin was requesting. It was such a weird request, considering how they were currently in the process of creating such giant walls against some unknown threat. Adam realised how futile it was to figure out the Iyr’s motives.

“Alright, sure.”

“Thank you, Adam.” Zijin smiled, before saying his goodbyes to the children, including Adam’s children. He stepped away, standing taller than before, glad that the Iyr had decided against using Adam’s children for their plots. The stress which had eaten him for the last two months had finally disappeared.