[1478] – Y06.378 – Adam the Father VIII
A REMINDER THAT I FIXED THE LAST CHAPTER.
A beautiful woman awaited them, adorned entirely in white, only her bronze face and hands revealed to the world. She was wrapped within layers, a golden sun laying against her chest, upon her fingers a sea of silver, her eyes a piercing green, her lips a gentle smile. She sat at a table, flanked by one figure adorned in beautiful plate, with golden gauntlets, and the other wore equally as heavy armour, the figure with salt and pepper hair, a hint of red, his moustache a red caterpillar, a finger thicker, with a blade of crimson at his side.
“I heard of your bout,” Miriam said, noting the half elf’s flinching. “There is a rumour you stepped forward to face the Amber Blade himself.”
“You know, Amira Miriam, I really thought the great warriors of Aswadasad would be different to the so called great warriors of Aldland, but I realise they are but two sides of the same coin.”
Miriam asked the half elf to explain the situation to him, the half elf, forthright was he, informed the Amira of the situation.
“The Amber Blade is well known for his want to battle, I have no doubt he only wished to prolong the fight, but to strike a figure who was surrendering, it is considered ill fortune, and quite despicable,” the young woman agreed.
Adam’s eyes fell to meet the woman’s for a long moment, for it the woman was going to go so far as to criticize the Fariq, it eased his heart.
“It is atrocious behaviour,” Kal Zahid said, resting a hand atop his blade of crimson. “To think someone like Kal Idris would behave in such a manner, how disappointing.”
“Right?” Adam grumbled, his annoyance rising further and further, though he let out a soft sigh. “If only everyone could be as honourable you, Kal Crimson Blade, then I could walk through this land with peace in my heart.”
Uli glanced aside to the half elf, hoping he wouldn’t say more to offend the Amira, the woman who would one day rule this land.
“If you wish to officially complain, I will write a letter,” Miriam offered, since it would be a good way to bring the Amber Blades to heel, and to get in the good books of the half elf.
“No, it’s fine, I’ll deal with them once the Faro, or yourself, Amira, will offer to bring us together to reconcile,” Adam said, causing even Jurot and Kitool to glance his way, for in a rare moment of lucidity, the half elf decided to politic.
“Do you have an idea in mind?”
“I’m currently thinking about how I’d like him to apologise, since at the very least, Kal Kalim is quite wise, and I’m sure they’ll follow his lead and they’ll want to truly apologise, and when that does happen, perhaps we’ll meet next year, in Arisa, or perhaps the great capital, and there, in front of my children, I will await his apology.”
Miriam considered how… calm, neutral, the half elf’s tone was, so matter of fact, something she hadn’t expected from someone who behaved a fool so overtly, but it had all but confirmed the fact that he was merely acting a fool.
“If you are willing, I can facilitate an environment for such an apology,” Miriam offered.
“I will take that offer, Amira, and we can discuss that in the future, once I know when we will pass our way through, but if I may, we have brought a few of the spears, unfortunately there are more we must enchant, and we could only bring them now due to how dangerous it is to travel these lands, so I don’t want to risk the lives of our guards, who are required elsewhere, so we, the Executives, have personally come to hand them over.“
Miriam eyed up the spears, two sets of five, realising one was a Basic set, the other Greater, certainly not what she had expected. She had expected a complete set of Basic, but for the group to bring half of each, it was their respect to her, even if she may have preferred the entire set of Basic spears.
“The personal request may take more time, I hope not too long, but it is difficult with how many weapons need to be enchanted, and how few enchanters we have.”
‘Are there multiple enchanters?’ Miriam thought, and though she wished to ask, she decided against it. “I understand, Mo.”
“However, if there are any requests you may have, though we are quite busy, we can certainly schedule an additional request from yourself, Lady Miriam.”
The woman had thought about the request she wanted to make, and considering the potential request the Faro had made, she assumed she was able to procure quite a few grand weapons. “My personal guard, Kal Kachya, has assisted me for many years, and she has far surpassed the title of Expert, and I wish to reward her for her service. I would like to procure a blade which is befitting of the Gold Hand, with a blade which glows, and strikes with righteous fury. I will pay five thousand gold, but if you are willing, I would like to procure more than just one.”
“A sword which glows and strikes with righteous fury?” Adam thought, tapping his chin. ‘Why did that seem so familiar? Ah, wasn’t that also the request of the Faro?’
The Amira judged his face.
“Uhm, how many do you wish to procure, Amira?”
“I would like to procure ten, however-,” Miriam paused a moment, to allow the half elf to gather himself after almost choking on his tea. “I understand if it is too much, so I will allow the business to consider how many would be appropriate, Mo.”
“You’re, ahem, saying you’d like ten, all longswords?”
“Yes.”
“Ten? I can at the very least promise to accept the one, perhaps two, at this time, and I will write down that the Lady wishes for ten, and then I’ll send word if we’re able to take on a greater workload.” Adam could see the glint of gold right in front of him, but he needed to temper himself, for though he could enchant ten, three sets of four at the least, each day enchanting took away time from his family. ‘Fifty thousand gold, though…’
“If it is acceptable, I can place the request next year, when you bring your children, for perhaps I could ask your daughter for assistance?”
Adam stared at Miriam, realising it was the first time he had heard a joke from the woman’s lips, furrowing his brows, a wide smile appearing on his lips. “Of course, Amira.”
“For now, am I able to procure ten more Basic longswords?”
“I would have to double check the schedule, because the last few years have been awkward for us, but I imagine it shouldn’t be a big deal, if nothing else, we could write it down and confirm it once we have a more firm answer.”
“As you say, Mo.”
“Uh, about bringing our children, Amira. There is a trip planned for the young children next year, and I’m hoping they will have the courage to come. I know we have lightly discussed it, but are you willing to meet with my children, who are very eager to meet you, especially my daughter, Jirot, who, I’m sure, will trouble you.”
“I will meet with them, Mo, as I have promised. I will send a few warriors to Arisa when you send word who will escort you, and I will ensure a few Black Lions will escort you, like Kal Uli here. I will arrange their lodging once the matter is confirmed.”
“Uh, and just to make sure, I believe some Iyrmen will be coming too, not just the children. I realised I didn't make that clear.”
“I assumed, since your children are Iyrmen,” Miriam replied simply, with the understanding that they wouldn’t be just any Iyrmen either.
“Thank you,” Adam said, smiling wider, though a nervousness kissed his lips. “I… Jirot, she was excited to meet you, but I couldn’t bring her along this time because her heart wasn’t ready. I know she’s affected quite terribly by what happened, my little Jarot as well, Larot, less so, he’s quite special though. I’m sure if Jirot is willing to come, there is no way Jarot will refuse, since he loves to stay at her side, and she at his.”
“I hope Lord Noor will remove the darkness in their hearts, Mo,” Miriam said, her lips twitching into a frown.
“Yeah,” Adam replied, growing silent, thinking about his children. He wasn’t sure what he could do to soothe their hearts, this foolish father of theirs. This was perhaps his most difficult task thus far, and it ate at his heart, leaving behind a void that continued to swallow his joy.
“Mo, I have brought a gift,” Miriam said.
“A gift?” Adam replied, unsure what she could have possibly brought, though noting the look in her eyes, such unbridled confidence. ‘Oh?’
PATREON LINK
I wonder what the gift is.
I will be writing up a few extra chapters this month because I think I owe a couple still. Also I may need to take a hiatus some time soon, but that's only if my health check up goes poorly. Here's a friendly reminder to go get a yearly health check up.