Omen: 13, 18

“Take this, for it will be dangerous outside the walls of the Iyr,” Elder Lykan said.

Adam reached for the scroll, only to pause. “I wish this was a sword instead.” Adam smiled at his reference, only to realise he was the only one to understand it. “No, nevermind.” He accepted the scroll. “What is it?”

“If you tear the scroll, we will know that it has become too dangerous, and will assist you,” Lykan said, wondering what Adam was thinking about.

“Nice,” Adam whispered, before nodding his head. “I appreciate that, Elder Lykan.”

“I wish you good fortune,” the Front Iyr Elder said, before allowing Adam to return to the children.

There were twelve children chosen for the trip, each of them carrying a satchel with some food stuffs, and a blade at their side. One of them was a familiar face, one Adam hadn’t seen in a few days.

Asoyah’s cheeks were rosy red from the coldness which struck against them, and his lips were plastered into a satisfied smile. He had managed to somehow go on two trips in a single year, something which was rare for any Iyrman child.

Adam glanced around the rest of the Iyrmen, noting that many of them held tattoos he barely recognised, though he did spot a Gon within the group, wondering what their connection was to the brothers he knew.

A dozen teens appeared, as well as four older Iyrmen, each of them at least in their fifties, with two holding Mithril Rank tokens of the Adventurer’s Guild.

“We will be escorted to the area,” Jurot explained, simply.

“Will I be able to use magic when we get there?” Adam asked. “I was thinking about casting my tower spell…”

Jurot nodded. “Yes.”

“Great.”

The group travelled together, with many of the young children, each of them ranging from six to nine, trekking eagerly along the pathway out of the Front Iyr’s side, where they passed by the newly formed wall to the wilderness. They remained with the more elderly Iyrmen, while the teens made sure to keep an eye out for any beasties which would dare to try and threaten them, while Jurot and Jaygak pushed a rickshaw which carried their supplies. Most of the children’s stuff was carried by the teens, as well as Adam and Kitool.

A few hours later they came across an area which had been recently cleaned. There were large walls of earth, which had been snowed over, and a long cabin in the shape of a T, with a tower jutting out from the top of the intersection.

The older Iyrmen checked the area first, before the teens assisted the children in taking out their items and finding a spot within the cabin to make their own. The two small rooms which jutted out relieved Adam, for one of them was to relieve oneself, and the other was even better, a bathroom.

“There is a hot stone embedded in the ground to heat up the water,” Jurot explained. “We can bring in the snow from outside to fill the bath.”

“Right,” Adam said, though he quickly realised how futile this bath was in comparison to his spell. ‘What should I do for the tower? A bath and a bedroom? A bath and a study? A bath and a dining room?’

Adam was guided outside. ‘Damn, the Iyrmen are so smart,’ je thought, looking to the walls, which also held storage rooms. They placed most of their supplies within the storage rooms, and kept some within the cabin.

The children eventually settled their stuff away before the group created a large fire pit within the small fort, the teens assisted with the fire and clearing out the nearby area, double checking everything before most of them left with the Mithril Rank Iyrmen.

“The four will stay with us,” Jurot said, nodding to the four teens who had stayed behind. “They will support us.”

“Huh, okay,” Adam said, letting Jurot set the pace. He didn’t know much about what he had to do, so leaned on Jurot in these times.

Once the children were around the fire, and Jaygak and Kitool took the first watch, the teens approached Adam to introduce themselves.

“I am Vowuk,” a young Iyrman said. She wore the winter clothes of the Iyrmen, as well as thick gloves, and carried a bow and many arrows, as well as a shortsword at her side.

“I am Rokez,” another said, one who wore thick leathers, also carrying the same equipment as the other Iyrman.

“Fohuv,” the third said, wearing thick furs, carrying a halberd on her back, and a shortsword at her side.

“Moyah,” the last said, carrying a large greatsword on his back, and the only one to wear heavy armour, wearing chain mail over his thick clothing.

Adam wasn’t sure if he recalled their names from before, but nodded his head. “Adam, Nephew of the Rot family. It’s a pleasure to meet you all, and I’m sure you all have many stories you want to tell me, so why don’t you tell us them over the fire?”

The four settled themselves between the children, while Adam brought out the pot for the food, beginning to cook with Jurot’s assistance.

“Jurot, do I know any of their families?” Adam whispered.

Jurot paused for a moment, wondering if Adam was being serious. “The Yah family was connected to Clan Waterveil,” Jurot reminded, having met the young teen when he went to go meet them for advice about Clan Waterveil. “The Huv family is one of the newest families within the Iyr.”

“Nice,” Adam whispered, nodding his head. “Wasn’t the Yah family a big deal at one point? I feel like I recognise the name?”

Jurot remained silent for a beat. “During the time Wujyn’s ancestor made a name for themselves, Miryah, the Dragonslayer, fought alongside Great Brandon and Atol Giantsbane.”

“I feel like I recognise the names,” Adam said. “Great Brandon is Brandon the Bold, right?”

“Yes.”

“Right, right, I remember now,” Adam nodded, recalling the stories. ‘What a romantic thought.’ He sat down beside Asoyah, placing a hand atop his head. “Aren’t you a lucky boy, Asoyah? Isn’t this the second trip of the year for you?”

Asoyah smiled, nodding his head. “Yes.” The other children nearby looked his way, surprised to hear that it was his second trip. They quickly began to talk with him about his previous trip, but Asoyah shook his head, looking up to Adam.

“You can’t tell all the Iyr’s secrets in front of me,” Adam said, chuckling lightly.

“Yes.”

“Let’s do our best, shall we? I’ll try and make this really fun for you, and you won’t have to worry one bit since I’m here.”

“Yes.”

“You are Unrivalled,” a child accused from nearby, pointing at Adam.

“That’s right,” Adam said, wincing. ‘Seriously. I’m never going to live that down…’

Fish was roasted, a soup was cooked, and bread was baked, filling the area with the smell of spices. As darkness approached, they lit the torches, which provided ambiance for the teens as they recited their tales.

When night eventually fell, the children were taken inside, while a pair of teens stood on watch at the tower, until the first formal watch would begin. Adam noted that the children remained as pairs, sometimes going off to meet another pair, but they did not leave the side of their partner.

‘How cute.’

“I will read,” the oldest of the children said, holding up a small stone which Jurot had provided. It glowed gently, filling the room with soft light.

The children gathered together, allowing the teens and adults to meet in the corner to relax together. They each shared a small portion of their ale, allowing themselves a single drink that evening.

“So, we’ll take them out to gather stuff tomorrow?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

Adam slowly nodded his head. “I’m going to let you lead us, Jurot.”

“You must be the one to lead us, Adam,” Jurot said.

“I don’t know anything about this sort of thing.”

“You have done well when we left the Iyr with our group,” Jurot reminded.

“I suppose you’re right…” Adam frowned. “Alright, alright.”

The pair of teens kept their eyes on Adam, Rokez and Moyah remaining within the cabin as their companions kept watch.

“Ah, right,” Adam said, looking to the pair, whose eyes were glued to him. “Let’s pair up a teen and one of us. You guys can pick between yourselves.”

“I will stay with you,” Moyah said.

“Alright,” Adam said, wondering why Moyah wanted to be with him specifically. ‘Does he not like me?’

Soon the children were put to bed, with Moyah and Rokez assisting them, before Adam and Moyah went to go take watch, taking with them a horn and a bell.

‘How awkward,’ Adam thought, remaining silent while on watch.

Omen: 4, 18

Adam and Jurot, along with Moyah and Vowuk, guided half the children around the area, allowing them to scout around the white snow. The children found traces of tiny creatures in hibernation.

“What are you doing?” Adam asked, noting how the three Iyrmen were helping the children with their blades.

“We must guide them in their task,” Jurot said, holding one of the children’s hands, who was staring at the creature eagerly as it squeaked and squealed.

Adam winced, before nodding his head, walking off as he glanced around, trying to keep the terror filled squeaks from entering his heart, as well as the joyful glee. ‘Iyrmen are so scary…’

“Why can’t I go out?” Jaygak complained. “You and Jurot already went out, so why are you going out?”

“That’s because I’m the strongest, so I should be the one outside of the fort,” Adam replied, simply.

“So why does Kitool get to go and not me?”

“She’s quicker on her feet, like Jurot,” Adam replied, simply. “If there’s danger, they can grab the kids and leave, and I can fly.”

“Yes, but I…” Jaygak frowned, realising she had nothing special about her movement. “This isn’t fair.”

“Alright, alright. How about we take a quarter of the kids now with Kitool, and then the last quarter can come out with you and me?” Adam offered.

Jaygak puffed out her cheeks, annoyed that Adam had compromised so quickly when she had the need to complain further, but she relented in front of the children.

“Stormdrake,” Asoyah said, pointing to the blade at Jaygak’s side, bringing the children’s attention to it, helping Adam take care of Jaygak.

‘Good job, Asoyah,’ Adam thought, nodding his head to the boy, who returned a nod with his yeah. “Thank Baktu for Asoyah.”

“My cousin is intelligent,” Moyah agreed.

Adam nodded his head.