“It’s so beautiful when it’s snowing,” Adam whispered.

  “It is,” Vonda agreed, her head upon her husband’s shoulder, their fingers iwiogether. The thick clothing of the Iyr warmed the pair, the snow falling all around them so gently, bing the Iyr with a white serenity.

  The half elf poured tea within the cup, and for the fear of burning his wife, he decided against holding the cup up to her lips. He stared out towards the vas of white, theook in the sight of the sky, hiding so shyly behind the fog.

  “After my prayers, I would draw in the snow,” Vonda said. “Long winding branches, leaves curling outwards. Sometimes I would draeating pattern along the snow, slowly, carefully, until I was called to assist. The m, it would be goaken by the snow, I would have a bnk vas once more.”

  “When I was a boy, I would do the same. Then, we bought a puter, and outside of pying a bit of footie now and again with my cousins, I’d stay inside, pying games, expl the i, watg videos. It’s weird. I hought I’d be able to stop and enjoy nature like this again, but…”

  Vonda led her head against her husband’s neck, ing her arms around his arm, her fingers resting against his biceps, clutg at him gently. Though her husband flushed at her touch, she was certain he did not uand the fear which gripped her heart. She closed her eyes, pinning the half elf close, not allowing him to escape from her clutches, not that he seemed to mind.

  Adam could feel the ache within his arm, but si was his wife, the ache was not annoying in the slightest, but rather, the ache of their love. The half elf smiled, resting his cheek atop her head, remaining trapped within his wife’s adoration.

  The snow tio fall upon the Iyr, and though the chill renewed aches of old bones, it hardehe bones of the young.

  “Do you see it?” Jurot asked.

  “See?” Damrot asked, gng up at his father, the tip of his nose and his cheeks red like a rose. His i eyes blinked up towards the Iyrman, whose eyes remained glued to the ndscape in front of him, and the boy looked back out at the white world in front of him. “So?”

  “Snow,” Jurot firmed. “When I was a boy, I would e and sit here, and watch the snow fall. Do you see it?”

  “See,” the boy replied.

  “This… is the Iyr.” Jurot hoisted the boy up and pced him upon his p. “This… is the Iyr. It is our home. Mine. Yours. Your mother’s.”

  “Mama?” Damrot asked.

  “Yes. It is now.”

  “So.” The boy leaned back against his father’s chest, though his small legs sunk into the snow, his thick boots still too light to sink against it. “Baybaybayboo?”

  Jurot fixed the boy’s hat, and ed an arm around his front. “I do not uand what you said, but know that I listened.”

  “Bibi,” Damrot stated.

  “Bee?”

  Damrot looked up at his father, the boy cag lightly, g his haedly. “Dada!”

  “Are you bullying me?”

  “Bi!”

  “I see.” Jurot reached down to hold his son’s , holding his son’s gaze. The boy smiled, but his smile dropped, only to return as he saw his father’s gentle smile.

  “Bibi!” The boy’s words remained full of delight, even as the shadow of his father engulfed him, their warm foreheads pressed together.

  “I know you do not uand my words, but you must know this. I am not as good as Adam when it es to showing my affe, but when it es to love for you, he only match me.”

  “Dada!”

  Jurot had so many things he wished to say to his son, but he uood it was not the right time. He held the boy’s head to his chest, before bringing the dummy to his son’s lip, floved finger was no good. As they embraced so tenderly, Jurot wondered if his father had held him like this as a boy during nightval.

  As nightval tio pass, the children bullying Adam further, all the while he tio flirt with his wife, the Iyr tio prepare.

  The Chief double checked his notes, making sure the armour and gve were returo the Iyr’s ste, and checked to see if the Prince had made his way back safely. Ohat matter was atteo, he read the letter he received back from the Thousand Hunts, and it was, as expected, filled with vitriol.

  ‘They will not e during nightval,’ Iromin thought, gd that the Iyr had the time to prepare for the real threat. He noted dowhreats, and the demands, of the Order, before tasking an aide with the draft of a response.

  ‘The King will finish his iations with the Orders soon,’ Iromin thought, writing it upon a o be handed out to remind the reat Elders and aides. ‘Should we take a light hand?’

  The biggest problem with the Iyr’s fn policy was the wild card that had been Elder Story’s as earlier in the year. Iromin was still uain as to why the Great Elder had decided to a that moment, for she could have easily requested them to a her behalf, or advised the Rot family to allow them to act.

  ‘Elder Story…’ Iromin sighed, rubbing his forehead. The Great Elder had not informed them of her reasons why, and as expected, the Great Elders tiheir business. There was a minor issue with them not uanding Elder Story’s thoughts, and how they should tiheir retionship with Aldnd and the Orders, but they tio put their trust iher Great Elders to do their job properly.

  As nightval tio pass, Adam greeted all the visitors roached the shared estate, from the Iyrmen who wished to pass on their gratutions to the half elf, to the various babos and nanos who wao spoil the children.

  “What are you doing here?” Adam asked, reag out to shake Dunes’ forearm.

  “I came to check upon you, to appease the worries of the business who has not heard from you in some time,” Dunes replied, fshing a smile warm smile, though pletely ed with thick clothing, pulling up the scarf to warm his face again.

  “Ah, sorry.”

  The pair sat and drank tea, going through the pleasantries, speaking of their families, the business, and nothing in particur. Adam snue crisps for the Priest, making plenty every other day for his son.

  ‘Wait…’ Adam gnced around, feeling the chill in the air. “Remio make my son a baked potato.”

  “Okay?” Dunes replied, and as he bit into the crisp, he fell still. The awkwardness and shame filled him, the Aswadian slowly chewing the crisps. ‘Should I eat it?’

  “Anyway, you know, I was thinking about increasing the number of enters. I wasn’t sure who, I don’t knoeople who know magid then I realised…” Adam raised his brows.

  Dunes raised his brows iurn, sipping the tea, waiting for Adam to tinue.

  “I already taught Vonda, and I thought…”

  “…”

  “Dunes. Do you want to learn enting?” Adam finally asked.

  Dunes smiled slightly. “You have done so mue already. I am the business. If I am enting, I will be uo plete my tasks.”

  Adam clicked his teeth. ‘He’s right.’ “It would be nice if you were a back up enter, though.”

  “Perhaps iure?”

  “Then…” Adam’s eyes remained gnced aside. “Say Ranya and Enisa learn magic…”

  “I won’t stop you, but Amira might.”

  “Why would she stop me? What? It’s not that expe won’t take me that loher!” Adam huffed, for how dare aop him from spoiling his hough he still heir mother’s permission.

  “…” Dunes smiled slightly. “I wish to go to Aswadasad year, to… inform the Priest ander of my… situation.”

  “Your situation?”

  “That Amira and I wish to remain at the business.”

  “Ah…” Adam slowly nodded his head. “I guess that’s a good idea. I should go to some gifts to smooth things over, and if he wants to punish you, I’ll accept it.”

  “The punishment may be too severe.”

  “Will he kill me?”

  “No.”

  “Then it’ll be fine,” Adam said, shrugging his shoulders, as though it were truly that simple. “Jurot will make him think twice about doing anything too bad.”

  Dunes let out a low sigh. “He will be ied iing you…”

  “Yeah?” Adam smiled. “What have you told him?”

  “Not enough, and too much.” Dunes shook his head. “I informed my mentor that I was going to…” Dunes paused. He blinked. “I fot to message my mentor that I was alive.”

  “…”

  “…”

  “We should probably go another year,” Adam joked.

  Dunes chuckled, the pair tinuing to drink away at their tea, eating their snacks.

  ‘Should I switch to a sword?’ Adam thought, thinking of his new axe. ‘If I keep ag up, the Rot family and the Iyr will be…’ He reached up to scratch his cheek. He gnced aside to his twins, who were pying with their nano from the Tam family. His eyes fell to his son, who smiled so adorably. Jarot joined in on their m training, but he also copied his uncle, squatting in such a way that Adam couldn’t help but think his son was the cutest.

  ‘Ooofookurkuh!’ Jarot would groan aloud whenever he finished his squats, holding onto his hamstrings.

  ‘What am I thinking? I should use an axe…’ Adam sipped his tea with a smile.

  “Pahpuh,” Damrot called, rushing up to Adam, his hands swinging wildly as he urged himself forward.

  “Damrot?” Adam lifted up Damrot onto his p. “What’s the matter?”

  Damrot smiled up at Adam, before his eyes darted to Dunes, his smile quickly dropping. He withdrew to his uncle’s chest shyly, while Adam ed an arm around him.

  “How my son call me papo? Am I that terrible of a father?”

  Dunes raised his brow, sipping his tea.

  “You should say something encing, Manager!” Adam lifted Damrot up with his bicep, pnting a firm kiss on his warm forehead. “Damrot, you see? He thinks he is a big man now that he survived certaih!”

  “Ooo!” Damrot cooed.

  “Where is your dada?” Adam asked.

  “Dada…” Damrot peeked over his shoulder, furrowing his brows. His father had told him to e to see his papo, but he was gone?

  Elder Zijin leaned ba his chair, raising his brow at the Iyrman. “Are you certain?”

  “Yes.”

  “…” Zijin thought for a long moment, his thoughts falling upon Jaygak, who tinued her interaining. ‘It may be best for them to go this year.’ “Okay.”

  “I am sorry for ing so te.”

  Zijin raised a hand, bowing his head lightly, before dismissing the Iyrman. ‘You have all grown so much.’

  Our adorable Iyrmen are all growing up!