“What brings you this far south?” the guard asked, noting the appearance of the Iyrmen. The guard was adorned in full , and wielded a spear in one hand, and held a shield iher.

  “We have business at the gathering,” Tonagek replied.

  “What kind of business.”

  “Iyrman business.”

  “You helping the Duke?”

  “…”

  “Alright, well, be careful on the way. A Hope made their way back up this way, so the travels won’t be quite as safe.”

  “Thank you for the news.” Tonagek returned back to the carriage as they made their way towards the Florian fort set upon the hills.

  He was a handsome man, adorned in full pte of finely crafted steel, and at his side he wore an ornate bde. He was fnked by two others, each also in well made full pte, with fine bdes at their side. There was little issue with the Florians, who allowed the group in, but as the ander, Alexander Silversky, he appearance of the familiar faces, he approached the group.

  “What brings you to our fort?” the handsome ander called, his eyes firmly glued upon the young man in purple and his brother beside him, rather than the demons.

  “Iyrman business,” Tonagek said, stepping before him, blog his sight. “We are headed to the gathering.”

  The ander and Tonagek exged a long gre between one another. ‘This Iyrman, who does he think he is?’ “Do you uand you are in Floria now?”

  “Do you uand we are headed to the gathering, led by your King?”

  ander Silversky narrowed his eyes, bowing his head lightly. “I shall expeo trouble from you Iyrmen?”

  “If you wish for no trouble, do not i.”

  “None from the elf or the demons?”

  “He is only half an elf,” Tonagek corrected. “You will receive no trouble from them, as long as you do not i.”

  “ander Silversky,” a voice called, and the pair turo face him. “I’d like to speak with you privately for an… importantish matter.”

  “What is this important matter?” the ander asked ohey were withione building which made up the ander’s office, the room mostly bare, save for the carpet and the ons along the walls.

  “I have…” Adam paused, gng betweewo Knights who kept a pair of eyes, like hawks, upon the half elf. “Retly, I have suffered a great… ander, I lost some people very close to me retly to some wicked fiends, and I would really appreciate it if you would allow me to summon a tower so that I bathe in peace.”

  “You wish to summon a tower?”

  “Two floors, each baths. I want to bathe, and I will up the baths, and allow your soldiers to bathe i water. In exge, I will donate some gold s to the fort, to the officers, and to the soldiers.”

  The ander remained silent for a long moment. “Is this a joke?”

  “Like I said. I’d really appreciate it if you’d allow me to summon a tower, and in exge, I will donate some , and once we’re at the gathering, I hear the Lord Marshal and the King will be there. Once we speak of business, I’ll be sure to mention how… you treated us very well.”

  “What kind of business do you have with the Lord Marshal and the King?” Silversky asked, blinking, recalling what had happe year, only then remembering that Adam was far more dangerous.

  “The kind that deals with magical ons,” Adam replied. “King Merryweather, I’m sure, has need for some magical ons, Basic, Basihanced, Greater, Greater Enhanced, and rovide such to Floria, and of course, to those who have treated us well.”

  “What misfortune has befallen you?” the ander asked, noting how thin Adam was, and the darkness under his eyes.

  “Monsters killed my sons,” Adam said, keeping the ander’s gaze in his own, the half elf’s eyes burning.

  ander Silversky didn’t dare to blink as Adam’s eyes surged with an ued fury, taken aback by the half elf’s words. “Mother’s blessings.”

  “Mother’s blessings,” Adam replied, reag up to the cool obsidian amulet. “I hope that my request does not cause you trouble, and if it does, please send word to our business, and we will expiuation. I just wish for some… grace, in this trying time.”

  The ander remained silent for a long moment, before he slowly bowed his head. “I will assign a few soldiers to watch over the tower.”

  “Thank you.”

  Lucy said nothing as Adam handed out a hundred gold to the fort, another hundred gold to the ander, and another hundred marked for the soldiers. Even if it was the most expeh Adam had ever taken, she decided against mentioning it, nor did she thank him for it, allowing the half elf his peabsp;

  Adam scrubbed at his body with his hands, his half fae hands which had grh over the years. He stared at the wall ahead, grey and bare, formed of his magic. It was one of his greatest spells. Its utility was near unmatched, allowing them a deferucture in the wild. The tower allowed them to keep their morale up during their journeys. He had so many spells, but among his favourites, Adam’s Tower was certainly his sed favourite.

  His first favourite?

  Mana: 22 -> 19Spell: Sending

  “Vonda. I love you.”

  ‘I love you too, Adam,’ came the voito the half elf’s mind, and he closed his eyes, allowing his tears to fall into the water.

  He ed up the water aed for the Priest, the Iyrmen, the demons, Bael, and the soldiers.

  Spells PreparedDivination

  The half elf stared at the spell. He held the dice, expensive as they were, within his palm. He had so many questions he could ask the Divine, daring to risk a Fate spell within the fort.

  ‘Will I survive?’

  ‘Will they die?’

  ‘Will everything be okay?’

  There were so many questions, and though he stared at the spell, ready to cast it, he couldn’t bring himself to t the words.

  ‘Yes,’ Adam thought, clutg the die tighter in hand. ‘Yes. Yes.’

  Bael listened in upon Dunes’ spell too, though ig. He tio y against the wall, feeling the cool duskval air against his skin, and even the gently rain that he had smelled upon the air. He go the side, staring at the Iyrman who stepped out, ready to swing his bde in the rain, while another watched him.

  Bael stood, stretg out his back, winking towards the nearby guards. He walked around the tent, feeling the gentle rain against his fabsp;

  There it was.

  He looked down at his hand, staring at the creases of his palms, and he ched his fist, noting the scars upon his knuckles. His eyes darted up and around, feeling it once more.

  ‘Am I a child again?’ Bael thought, feeling the excitement build within him as the overwhelming pressure struck his shoulders.

  It was difficult for them all to sleep that evening.

  The m, there were many others who could feel a signifi that day. Terry stared at the shield and the staff, both magical, items which had been gifted to him by a particur half elf. He ran a finger along it. They had been given to the Chief for the most expensive price, free, or rather, blood.

  However, Terry recalled the appearance of the half elf, gaunt, dark eyed. He recalled the way the creature had ripped apart his people. He recalled the way the being, Starsword, had so easily dispatched his people as though they were bugs. Adam was not quite so overtly terrifying, but there had been something there. Not just with Adam, but the others around.

  Terry recalled when the Orders had passed through the vilge from the north. ‘Did they really…’

  Meanwhile, within the Iyr, little Jarot shook his head, before his sister spooned pe into her mouth.

  “No,” little Jarot said, turning his head away from his elder brother, who offered him a slice of cucumber.

  “Hungry?” Karot asked.

  “No…” Jarot sipped at his milk, before throwing a look to Jitool, who also offered the boy a cucumber. “No…”

  “We go see nano?” Jirot asked, raising her brows trandmother.

  “Whiano?” Sonarot asked.

  “Mm…” The girl reached up to her . “Nano Mulrot?”

  “She is not in the Iyr.”

  “Nano Gangak?”

  “She is not in the Iyr.”

  “Nano is w?”

  “She must plete her duties,” Sonarot said, reag down to wipe the girl’s face .

  “How they do this to me?” Jirot asked, letting out a long sigh. “Daddy is back?”

  “Your father will return soon.” Sonarot smiled, brushing the girl’s hair.

  “I going to bully daddy so much,” little Jarot said, before sitting up taller, his eyes darting to his grandmother to see if she’d tell him off.

  “You only bully him a little,” called a voice from nearby, and the handsome older man approag, wearing a greatsword upon his back, a wore a seriousness upon his fabsp;

  “…” Halikahe figure who wore the same tattoos as her. “What brings you here, uncle?”

  “I… am bored,” the Iyrman replied with an accusatory look.

  “Babo?” Jirot called.

  “Yes?” Tarukan replied.

  “If you are bored, y today?” Jirot asked, her brows raised expetly.

  “Okay,” the old man said, dropping down beside his grandniece, whose eyes bulged from through her gsses, only surpassed by her toothy smile. Tarukan reached down to brush Inakan’s hair. ‘How could they not allow me to go?’

  “Babo,” little Karot called, the old man one of his slices of cucumber.

  “Thank you.” Tarukan plucked the cucumber from the boy’s hands, before feeding him with it. “Should they call me Silver Strike instead of Steel Strike?”

  Karot bli the old man, unsure of his joke, though the nearby Iyrmen chuckled, causing him to smile shyly.

  “I know your stories!” Jirot decred. “You are fighting so far away!”

  “Yes,” Tarukan replied.

  “You are s, babo, s!”

  Tarukan’s lips twitched upwards slightly. “I am… acceptable.”

  “You are sed pce?” Jirot asked. “Babo tell me you ot beat…” The girl thought of the name. “Skull.”

  “Skullcrusher,” Tarukan said, reag up to his head, rubbing the phantom pain. “I could not defeat him, because he is to.”

  “Is okay, babo.” Jirot pat his knee. “My papo is first pce.”

  “…” Tarukan blinked.

  “What of daddy?” Vonda asked, smilily towards her daughter.

  “Hmm? Daddy?” Jirot asked, before closing her eyes. “Oh dear, oh dear, I don’t ‘member?” The girl gnced away from her mother.

  “Daddy is first pce too,” little Jarot said.

  “I remember now,” Jirot said, reag up to brush her brother’s forehead. “Daddy is strong too.”

  “When your father returns, he will tell you a greater tale,” Sonarot said.

  “When daddy e back, I will bully him, only a little bit?” Jirot said, partly asking the old man who had appeared.

  “You should bully your babo, Jarot, more,” Tarukan said, still ahat the old man had told him that tale of all tales to his greatdaughter. ‘You have not ged at all, cousin Jarot.’

  “I will not bully babo,” Jirot said, befng towards her grandmother. “Just little bit.”

  Just a little bit.