Adam stood tall before the Great Elders, who gazes oppressed upon his shoulders. He had no idea what to do with his hands, so crossed them over his navel, like Mara whenever she was ready to fight, though Adam instead csped his left wrist with his right hand, feeling that was the least threatening way to stand.

  “I want to thank the Great Elders for their assistan this matter. I know that without you, things would have been more difficult, and I probably wouldn’t be standioday, so truly, thank you.”

  “You do not o thank us for matters of the Iyr,” Iromin stated.

  “I know, but still. I wao apologise too. I… didn’t want things to escate for the Iyr. I know that things will be difficult for you now, and it was my fault that I… allowed my children to be in-,” Adam’s voice cracked, and the half elf blinked away the burning in his eyes. Even now, the half elf couldn’t bear to think of it. “I’m sorry. If you o, you offer me up, though I would appreciate it if you didn’t.”

  “We will o discuss the matters of education,” Elder Teacher said, bowing his head lightly.

  “You must also speak of the theories behind the children’s appetite,” Elder Forest added.

  “Of course,” Adam replied.

  “You should have allowed the Iyr to hahe situation,” Elder Wrath said. “We would have dealt with the matter ly.”

  “It had to be me,” Adam said, catg the Great Elder’s eyes, the Iyrman slowly nodding his head.

  “The Rot family has allowed us to hahe fallout created,” Iromin said. “We will take responsibility, for the as that day, and whatever will e iure.”

  “If you need any help, I’m always open to help.” Adam bowed his head, unsure of what else to say, befng between the Great Elders. “I’ll never fet your help.”

  “Even if you do, the Iyr never fets,” Elder Gold stated, half a warning, half a reassurance.

  “With the matter of the Reavers… is there anything you need me to do?” Adam asked.

  “We are still preparing for the threat of the Reavers, and the ck of care the nations will take when trying to hahe Reavers,” Iromin replied. “We may require your assistan the future.”

  “You have o worry of your family,” Elder Gold stated, meeting Adam’s gaze, holding it with her oppressive aura. “No harm will e to them.”

  Adam smiled slightly, and bowed his head. “Thank you again.”

  Ohe half elf stepped out, the Great Elders exged gheir eyes darting to Elder Peace, who rubbed her beads, praying lightly over them. She heir looks, but said nothing, since what had e to pass, had e to pass, and whatever came upon the horizon, would be dealt with as effitly, maximising the most joy, and the most safety.

  ‘He returhe axe immediately,’ Elder Peace thought, who had long decided to rid of the on. It was ahat was too dangerous to remain upon the nd, for it was already s in the hands of a nobody, but it was terrifying within the hands of someone like the Chief of the Iyr. It was such a powerful axe, she was certain Adam had wao keep it.

  Elder Wrath leaned ba his chair, crag his back lightly. He closed his eyes, recalling the se before him.

  ‘I have to go,’ Ashmir had said, having goo see the Great Elder, to ask his permission to go.

  ‘Why have you e to me?’

  ‘I am a member of the Mir family now.’

  ‘Whether you are a member of the Mir family, or the Ban family, or the Rot family, it does not matter. I will not treat you any different because the family you have joined, was once a family I cimed to be a part of.’

  ‘Are you saying… I ot go?’

  ‘I am saying that you should go to the appropriate Great Elder.’

  ‘Who would that be?’

  Iromin reached up to rub his forehead. ‘They may e this season…’ Iromin wasn’t sure if he wahe trouble this particur season, sihere was so much to do. ‘We should threaten them.’

  Elder Forest checked her he Iyr would have fewer warriors they could utilise in fn affairs, sidering how many Iyrmen would be o watch the perimeter. She would o request support from the hidden vilges, though they o be careful, since Adam and a few others remained in the Main Iyr. Though Adam had already met someone from the hidden vilges, he didn’t know what the hidden vilges were. How could he? Uhe Family Elders or Family Heads informed him of the hidden vilges, but even they wouldn’t go that far.

  Would they?

  Elder Forest sat up a little taller. No. She couldn’t doubt them. They uood the depths of their powers, their rights, and they wouldn’t abuse such, even for Adam.

  “Okay?” Elder Gold asked.

  “Okay,” Elder Forest replied, rubbing the side of her neck, letting her guilt flow through her. Ultimately, even though things had ged, the Rot family always acted in accordao the Iyr’s ws.

  Elder Gold checked her notes, and while she had far less to deal with in parison to Elder Forest, for ultimately the Iyr was the priority, there were many other, fn businesses, she o deal with. The most trouble would e from the business upon the Iyr’s border, but si was so close to the border, she could react quickly if anythio happen.

  Elder Teacher excused himself from the meeting, since he had the least to do in regards to the Reaver issue. He would bee busy after the Reavers arrived, and even after they were dealt with, for he would o add their stories into the Iyr’s curriculum. Although, he had spent the st couple of years remaking the curriculum, and doing so again. Then there was the matter of the children which he had wished to poach for the Hundred, but he was refused time and time again.

  “Elder Zijin?” Adam asked.

  “Yes,” Jirot said, pointing to the archway out. “You must go now, daddy.”

  “You will not even kiss me now that I’ve e home?”

  “You must go.” Jirot gnced away from her father, still pointing to the archway.

  “When I start w again, you’ll regret it.”

  “W? Why?” Jirot gasped, her eyes shooting towards her mother for support. “How he say this, mummy?”

  “Hello there,” Adam called as he approached the Elder in his estate, the Iyrman already p Adam tea.

  “Good m,” Elder Zijied, allowing the half elf to sit and drink, before smiling towards the half elf. “How was the meeting?”

  “It went fine, I think. I could tell they each had a lot to think about, and I’m gd they took the time to meet me.”

  Zijin nodded his head slowly. “Do you wish to keep the axe?”

  “I don’t.”

  “Okay,” Zijin sipped his tea lightly, taking a moment to think. “I have a request.”

  “What is it?”

  “Please Awaken another enter, one who will possess all your enting abilities.”

  “Already pnning to kill me off?” Adam asked, but he noted Zijin’s look, and his smile dropped. “Sorry.”

  “The Reavers are a great threat, and if you are to do, then the Iyr shall only possess two others, both of the same family. It will be difficult to ighe Iyr’s pints if the Rot family tio hold such treasures for themselves, so we wish to Awaken another enter.”

  “Sure. Who?”

  Zijin smiled, sadly. He had wao Awaken Saygak, who would have been the perfect didate, but the Gak family was too close to the Rot family, and if it was Saygak, Zijin wouldn’t be able to show the Gak family favour in ways that could lead to their rise in the near future. “Shamezi.”

  “Oh, that makes sense,” Adam replied. ‘I mean, they are enters, so…’

  Zijin smiled slightly. “Romaezi is still annoyed you did not marry into his family.”

  “Tell him to get in line, I still get that from granduncle Rajin.”

  Zijin smiled wider, uo trol it. “I know how he bee.”

  “He says the same about you.”

  Zijin’s ughter filled the estate, the Elder reag up to wipe his eyes. “Even through you, it is difficult to face him.” It was times like this, Zijin uood he had made the right decision, even now, as he pnned his retirement. He had already po send away Raygak and Saygak for more interaining, and by the time they returned, he would no longer be their Elder.

  “When do you wao start?”

  “When I informed Jirot, she raised her brows towards me, and I could see it in her eyes. For a moment, she thought to speak treatfather. If you started today, I could not hahe trouble. You may start tomorrow.”

  Adam smiled. “You know, Elder Zijin. I’m gd you’re our Elder.”

  “If yd, do not cause me such trouble!” Zijin roared with ughter again, this time joined in by the half elf.

  Once Adam returned back to the estate, he lifted up his twins, with Jirot raising her brows expetly at him.

  “Let’s py Warriors and Wanderers!” Adam decred.

  “Yay!” Jirot hugged her father’s head and kissed his cheek, before they went to tiheir tale, wanting to face even more hydras.

  Elder Zijin hadn’t expected to see Vonda that day, especially not within minutes of sending Adam away. “How may I help you?”

  “I require your permission,” Vonda said, revealing her paper, which had been signed by the Family Head, not to give the ermission, but to state that she had read the request.

  Zijin stared at the request form. He gnced up towards Vonda, holding her gaze for a long moment. ‘You truly are Adam’s wife.’

  The Elder wondered if Adam uood how lucky he was to have Vonda as his wife, but before the thought finished, he was certain Adam uood, sidering how much he flirted with his wife, and with how many times all his panions would inform the Elder of such, even as they adventured.

  Imagine flirting with your wife.

  ge.