“This is insanity!” Viander Harrison shouted. “You must answer for this, Iyrmen! Our First Viander, sughtered like an animal before us! His life remains in Lord Sozain’s hands!”

  “What must I answer for?” Chief Iromin asked, as though it were not at all obvious.

  “This is no game!” Harrison growled, having caught his breath from his bout with Amokan. The young Iyrman was impressively powerful, but thanks to his magic, Harrison had mao go toe to toe with him. Unfortunately, going toe to toe with someone around half his age, and someone who had yet to reach the strength of a Master, was already a great loss for him.

  The shame of the athered here today could only be tained if they mao gain something to keep it at bay.

  “Chief Iromin, you uand the situation clearly, so please illuminate us,” a woman in heavy armour called out. She wore full pte, and unlike most of the figures here, she did not wear an amulet. At her side she carried a bde, formed seemingly from silver. It was not any bde, but Rolling Thunder, a Greater Enhanced bde, ohat surpassed most other bdes. She had dark eyes, dark hair that was short, but curly, and her skin ale, like milk.

  Iromin stared into the woman’s eyes for a long while, trying to gather insights from her stone like face. As much as he wao cause trouble, the Chief decided against it, since she was one of those. “Why are you askio answer for this matter?”

  “I merely wish to uand the situation,” Sir Jessica replied, the Fifth Bde of the Order of the Three Hundred Bdes.

  “Adam’s children were harmed and killed by those he has killed,” Iromin replied.

  “Are you saying the responsibility does not lie with the Iyr, but with the man in purple?”

  Iromin remained silent.

  “If that is the case, then he must pay for the crimes he has itted.”

  Iromin tio remain silent.

  ‘What is he doing?’ Sir Jessica thought.

  “This is a matter of the Rot family,” Mulrot said upon notig the sileween the pair. “Elder Pead Chief Iromin have nht to speak upoter.”

  “Do you uand why we must draw our bdes?” Sir Jessica asked, her eyes darting to the old woman who spoke, she who wore the same tattoos as the Mad Dog.

  “It is because you believe my greatchildren, children not yet four, are worth less than those who kill children,” Mulrot replied simply, her eyes filled with a terrible gre.

  The Order tried to uand just what the Iyr was trying to achieve out of this situation. They could end the matter here ly if they handed over one man. Surely they didn’t want to die for the sake of one young man?

  “You said Adam is yrandson?” King Merryweather asked.

  “Yes.”

  “If we wish to cim him, you will fight for him?”

  “Yes.”

  “He must answer for his crimes.”

  “What crimes has my grandson itted?”

  “They were guests under my prote.”

  “What of the children who were killed? My Jarot? My Larot? Even my Jirot, who bears the marks of a bolt through her stomach?” Mulrot’s eyes moistened with shame, before she narrowed her eyes towards the King, suddenly burning with anger.

  “Those childrehey were truly Iyrmen?” King Merryweather asked, cautiously.

  “Yes,” Mulrot stated, but her voice was nearly drowned out by the rest of the Iyrmen who responded, all save for the Great Elders.

  King Merryweather’s eyes thehe Chief’s. “If they were Iyrmen, why did y so few?”

  “Did we more for the sake of three Orders, banished from their homes?” Iromin asked.

  King Merryweather had hoped the Chief wouldn’t pick such a fight with all the Orders, especially since he was currently responsible for them. However, could he push further against the Iyrmen sidering their role in allowing Floria to take root?

  ‘Why are they going to far for this…’ King Merryweather stopped the thought as quickly as it appeared. It was obvious why they were trying to save Adam. He was a young man who had mao sy a Viander and his apprentice, an impressive feat only matched by oher within the fort, who just so happeo be on the same side.

  “King Merryweather,” Iromin called, breaking the King out of his thoughts. “We are the Iyr.”

  King Merryweather held the Chief’s gaze.

  “You are thinking too deeply,” the Chief stated.

  “Are you truly saying that you caused all this trouble for the sake of two children, Iyrmen, in the forms of a goblin and a demon?”

  “Adam, stand up,” Iromin anded.

  Adam inhaled deeply, slowly pushing himself up, the half elf’s body stiff from the fight.

  “Remove your helmet.”

  Adam reached up to his helmet, but Mulrot grabbed his elbow, his eyes full of fury towards the Chief, though she quickly masked it.

  “What are you doing?” the woman asked iongue.

  “Even now, do you doubt me?” Iromin asked.

  Mulrot’s brows raised high with arm, feeling the words cut through her. She paused for a moment, sidering the Chief. He had defended her grandson from the Iyr for years up until this point, and had taken responsibility for him from the reat Elders. She squeezed her grandson’s arm gently, before withdrawing her hand.

  Adam removed his helmet, revealing his handsome face, and his leaf shaped ears. The various figures around him shifted, suddenly on edge.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Sun Sword Zachary called out, restraining his voice, though he gripped his bde tighter in hand.

  Adam could feel the killing i surrounding him, though it was nothing pared to what two of his panions could feel.

  “Sir Harrison of the Thousand Hunts, I want you to look carefully at this young man’s face,” Iromin said, ign Zachary’s anger, while Rajin took a half step around to stand in front of the Sun Sword. “The First Viander and his apprentice killed his sons, and wounded his daughter.”

  “Beasts,” Harrison corrected, only to feel Iromin’s gaze steel, and for ohe Chief, who had been pyfully serious up until that point, suddenly darkened.

  “Iyrmen,” Iromin stated, firmly, before his eyes took in the sight of the various ures around him. He could see it in their eyes, the annoyahe disbelief, and more importantly, the shamelessness. The Chief’s jaw tensed, and his face flushed a deep red as his body began to heat up. Though he had wao state the matter clearly, and to show them the ws of the Iyr, he couldn’t help but feel the rage rising within him. ‘How dare they!’

  “Chief Iromin,” Elder Peace called, trying to calm him down, for of all the things which could rile up an Iyrman, the death of their children was it. ‘Not in front of them.’

  “Mulrot, I will clear the path,” Iromin said ioaking in a sharp breath, before closing his eyes.

  Mulrot could see it, the rage building up within the Chief, whose hands were tied, because Adam didn’t want the matter to escate. Her eyes darted around, and she could see it too, within the eyes of the Order.

  The politig of the situation which would be them if Adam took all the bme. Her grandson had wished for it to shield the Iyr, but could she let the hyenas tear her grandson apart? She gripped her spear tighter in hand.

  Malfev watched the stress upon his sister’s face, his eyes dartiween the Chief and his sister. He closed his eyes, his mind pulsing. He should step forward and assist, but his hands were tied. ‘I should have given up my position!’

  “What of the demons?” King Merryweather asked, breaking the silen the air, only to cause the various members of the Order to turn their attention to the pair whrey of skin, with ram like horns curling out of their skull.

  Lucy gripped her greataxe tighter, gng around to see how many members there were who focused upon her, while Mara shifted slightly towards her.

  “What of the demons?” Mulrot asked.

  “If we make them take responsibility, will you protect them too?”

  “The girls py so well with my greatchildren,” Jarot replied, grinning slightly.

  Lucy’s heart quied, while the words of the crazy Iyrman soothed her heart. ‘Is this because I let you steal them away from me?’

  Mara could see the joke written within Lucy’s eyes, the woman smiling slightly, grippiroyer harder within her hand.

  “What of the Aswadian?”

  “What of the Aswadian?” a voice called out, before he stepped forward. He was an older man, of average height, and muscur, though he had gained some weight in the Iyr. He had long hair, like that of a mawo braids falling across the front of his shoulders. His skin was dark, littered with scars born by many battles. His eyes were dark, and full of life, and over his shoulder, he carried a well made spear casually, as though he wasn’t surrounded by dozens of Oathsworn ready to fight.

  After all, he had forced the previous Elder Wrath to retire.

  Duilted his head towards the side, where he saw the figure step forward. ‘What is he doing here?’

  ‘Hmm?’ Rajin thought, noting the spear, which was certainly the spear of the Mir family. Not a spear, but the spear.

  “Will you step forward for the Aswadian?” King Merryweather asked.

  “Since he has given me grandchildren, I must,” Ashmir replied.

  Even the Aswadian guards nearby filled with shock upon hearing the words. The Lion King had a child? A child as old as Dunes? It was impossible, wasn’t it? Why else would he step forward?

  “Why did you fight, young Aswadian?” King Merryweather asked.

  “Those children are like aftel to me.”

  ‘Aftel?’ Merryweather thought, finding it awkward to attack the young Aswadian. He was no doubt a member of an Aswadian Order too, and drawing them iheir tries were currently flirting with an alliance was awkward. “I see. What of you, figure in the wondrous armour?”

  Viander Joshua prayed to all the Divihat he would no longer face the rge figure before him, his entire body pulsing, even after healing himself. He was certain of it, this figure was far strohan himself, the gap between them like himself and the raining clouds above.

  “He came on behalf of the Rot family,” Iromin said, his tone low, ign Elder Peace’s gaze.

  “Who are you?”

  “…”

  “He is too big for you,” Bael warned, grinning wildly.

  King Merryweather gowards the drakken felloas no doubt a dragon. “May I know your name?”

  “Bael.”

  “I do nnise your family…”

  “I’m too big for him,” Bael replied, motioning his head to the figure in the dark armour.

  “The Iyr defends them, but only out of preserving your Kingdom,” Iromin warned lightly, but the smirk upon his face revealed the truth of the matter.

  King Merryweather was not in the business of ign the Chief’s warning, especially now, but he still o assist the Orders, otherwise…

  “The Iyr defends demons, and who knows what kind of monstrosity hides behind that armour,” Viander Harrison said. “We were brought here to fight against a threat which the Iyr thought to be so important, a my rades have died, sughtered like animals! Tell me, my friends! Where is the justi this?”

  “Who is it that speaks of justice today?” shouted a voice, as a figure marched forward. He had long white hair, green eyes, and was shorter thaypical Iyrman, but the rge bck bde, with a bde like a row of shark teeth. He stormed onto the se, wearing annoyan his face as ready as he wore the lust for blood.

  Iromin sighed, having hoped that he would have resisted the urge to step forward until they were truly ered, rather thahey had finally gained permission to act freely.

  “Who are you?” Baztam asked, marg up to the Bellflower Sword, barging past even the members who had tried to step in his path. “Is she bullying you?”

  Gorot remained silent as his uncle ruffled his hair, flushing slightly. ‘Not in front of the Aldishmen…’

  “Wyvern got your tongue?” Baztam asked, smag his nephew upon his back, and for a moment, his eyes fshed with pride towards the young man. “This is what happens when you allow the Aldishmen to run amok, Iromin! Look at their gazes! How are they not begging for their lives?”

  “Who are-,” Harrison began, only to be stopped as Baztam growled, though the Iyrman wasn’t growling at him.

  “Why did you have to beat her?” Baztam asked, gring at Shaool, ready to fight the old woman for daring to take such a great prey from him.

  “She wished to harm my grandnephew,” Shaool replied, narrowing her eyes towards Baztam.

  Baztam clicked his teeth, but let the matter drop, sihe Ptinum Shield was about to harm their grandnephew. His eyes then darted to the Fifth Bde. “Will you draw your bde?”

  Jessica remained silent, unsure of how to respond to the Bck Shark, though he seemed ready and eager for a fight, even surrounded by so many figures.

  “I no longer care for this py,” Baztam decred, his eyes darting around the figures around him who had suddenly shifted their attention upon him. “e quickly and teach them some manners, or I will start killing.”

  “You should have waited for the Chief to ha,” an Iyrman said, stepping forward beside his nephew. “Did she trouble you?”

  “No,” Mosen replied, the pair having fought too little for them to have a definitive ao a winner.

  Bloodbde Shasen gred down at the Viander, before his eyes fell upon a more powerful prey, a different Viander from another Order.

  “Okay?” called a voice as he approached his cousin.

  “Okay,” Dogek replied.

  Shagek, Silver Sword of the Wastes, slowly nodded his head. He had never expected that his cousin would give up the Family Elder position. However, it was the beating of the Sky ander, which had been especially vicious, which had surprised him most. ‘It was for the best?’

  “Sister Mulrot, you should have called us out earlier,” Marmak called, rubbing the side of his neck. “It is not embarrassing tle against Sun Sword, but tle against Sir Iris?”

  Rajin threw a look to Marmak, before his eyes darted over to the other Marmak. The woman was of average height, and was well built, and she too carried a greatsword upon her back.

  ‘Isn’t she the woman who earaygak’s cup?’ Adam thought, noting that her tattoos matched the Butcher’s, before he noticed the other pair. “You’ve e too?”

  “We have e as the Chief’s aides,” Okvar replied, smiling ily, though how could he remain in the Iyr when he had held the twins against his bare chest when they had been born?

  “Even if the Iyr has not accepted responsibility, we fight too, since we cared for those children?” Rasam asked, the woman trying to find a worthy prey.

  The various Orders each eyed up the figures they reised, and wly, if they swallowed their pride, they would reise how many were sidered equivalent to the Grand anders of their own Orders.

  The King had inally thought some of them would stand by, but Rasam had stated the words that caused a great pain to his heart. Even knowing the great might the Iyr had brought, the King had thought it was too little. Yet, if it was truly the case the Iyr had only prepared to deal with three of the Orders, then it made sense, sihis many would have certainly dealt with the members of the three Orders here.

  ‘What are the ces they would all fight?’ King Merryweather thought, but the blood lust in the air answered his question. As much as the Iyr was an incredible force, they were still vastly outnumbered.

  Every Iyrman here has some retion to the situation, but...

  Baztam is mostly here food time.