“It has been a week sihe birth, and she has shown signs of a siess,” the Shaman said, staring at the fner.

  “What kind of siess?” Adam asked.

  “It is nothing for you to be ed about.” The Shaman, who was one of the most beautiful devilkin women Adam had ever seen, narrowed her eyes at the half elf. She was adorned in long robes, with the symbol of the Shamans all along the hem, and she carried a rge staff in hand, oh a rge number of runes, mostly of Death.

  Adam’s brow pulsed, and he ched his jaw. “Nothing for me to be ed about?” The pounding in his head tinued, not just from his exhaustion, but from the rage filling him.

  “Will mother be fine?” Jurot asked, staring at the Shaman. They were almost a gre, but Jurot wouldn’t hold any animosity against a Shaman.

  “We will o form a party to find the herb, otherwise, I ot say that she will be able to survive,” the Shaman replied.

  Adam’s eyes grew wide. ‘Sonarot wasn’t si my previous life, was she? No, no. Did she get sick because things have ged in this world?’ Adam threw a go Jurot. ‘A life for a life?’

  “I will go,” Jurot said, g the bdes harder within his grip, but not showing any outward emotion. His face was statuesque.

  The Shaman nodded her head. “I will tell the Elder.” She turned, swiftly making her way to speak with Elder Zijin, to inform him of the news.

  “I will go too,” Adam said, his voice ringing clearly.

  The Shaman stopped. “You will go?” She threw a look over her shoulder, eyeing the boy up.

  “I’m a nephew of the Rot family,” Adam said, his voice shaking. It felt weird to say, but if it helped him get on the expedition, he o get rid of the jitters.

  The Shaman looked to Jurot and muttered something iongue. Jurot nodded in response, firming the words.

  “You may e, nephew,” the Shaman said. “We leave in the m.”

  “ we see her?” Adam asked, not wanting to go without seeiate. The worry ate at his gut.

  “No,” the Shaman said, turning. “Sonarot requires her rest this evening.”

  “What if something happens when we’re not looking.”

  “We are always looking,” the Shaman replied, cryptically, as she walked away.

  Adam wasn’t sure if she meant they were watg Sonarot or him. He caught the sight of Jurot, who was pletely tense. Adam sighed, pg a hand on Jurot’s shoulder. “We should rest for the journey. We’ll say oodbyes in the m.”

  Adam and Jurot pulled away, heading back to the Rot family estate. Lanarot, who had been with her mother, had already been moved to another , one of the other family members taking care of her.

  “Aunt is sick?” Turot asked, staring at the pair of them. Jurot had informed him of the matter right away.

  “She is,” Jurot said, grabbing Turot’s night clothes.

  Adam dropped down against the wall, staring at the floor in front of him. ‘It ’t be any normal siess if they’re sending out a group of Iyrmen.’

  “Will aunt be okay?” Turot’s lower lip quivered as Jurot assisted him into his attire.

  “She will be fine,” Jurot said. “I will be going with the group.”

  Adam shut his eyes tight, trying to think about his previous life. ‘No, she definitely wasn’t sick.’

  “Adam will be going too,” Jurot informed the boy, helping him rinse his face.

  “I’ll be alourot asked, staring down. His sister had gone on a hunt, his mother had goo follow his uncle, and his father was tasked with guard duty. Aunt Sonarot, due to giving birth, had been freed of all obligations for six months, and so took care of the boy.

  “That’s right,” Jurot said, holding the boy’s face so they stared into each other’s eyes. “The house of the Rot family will be left to you. you hahe responsibility?”

  Turot stared into Jurot’s eyes, his lower lip still quivering. “I ,” he said, his voice firm.

  “Good. Uncle Gorot won’t return soon, so you will o work hard.” Jurot pced his forehead against Turot’s.

  “Okay,” the boy said, closing his eyes.

  Adam remained against the wall, his knuckles against his forehead. ‘Is there a ce she was sick when I left to meet with the giants?’ A cold sweat covered the half elf. He had been rexing within the Iyr for so long, and now Sonarot was sick? Without him realising? ‘Damn it!’

  Omen: 15, 17

  When m came, the mood withiate was sour. Adam bathed in the river quickly, slipping on his mail, and double checked his items. He left behind most of his wealth in the Iyr, keeping it ed in a b i house. He took with him a couple of gems, and some of his , just in case.

  Jurot waited for Adam outside, having much less to prepare, before they stepped into the . There was a Shaman there, settled in the er. This Shaman was much older, in his mid fifties or so, and was currently writing something at the desk.

  Sonarot was ying in a pile of bs, positioned in the most fortable manner possible. She y there, s down her face, pale as a ghost, save for the green veins which seemed to pulse against her skin.

  “Mother,” Jurot said, falling to her side and holding her hand. It was near freezing cold, and so wet.

  “I’m sorry for troubling you,” she said, her voice raspy.

  “It’s no trouble, mother.” Jurot rested his forehead against the back of her hand. “We will return soon.”

  “It's dangerous south. Be careful.”

  Adam k down beside her, feeling her cold hand within his own. He wasn’t sure what to say in the moment. He hadn’t seen her so weak before, not even when she was giving birth.

  “You too,” her rasped whisper came. “e bae safely, even it it means without the herb."

  "We will return, mother," Jurot said.

  Adam nodded his head in respoo her words, but his throat was clogged up.

  "If her illness progresses, what do you want us to do?" The elderly Shaman asked, finishing with his assessment.

  "Save my mother,” Jurot said. “I will take the debt."

  “There is no need for that, Jurot,” she said. “We should be able to afford it with the family fortune.”

  “I will take it,” Jurot said. “No matter the price, I will take it.”

  "It will be so," the Shaman said, rec it in the book.

  "What debt?" Adam asked, staring at the Shaman as he wrote.

  "The price of the magic."

  "How much is it?"

  "Six hundred gold s for each casting of the spell.”

  “I afford that now,” Adam said. “I pay it.”

  "I will pay for it," Jurot said. “This is the way it must be done.”

  Adam sighed, not wanting to fight with Jurot about it. Jurot loved his mother dearly, and Adam couldn’t take it away from him. "As long as she is saved. If there's anything I do, please tell me."

  "She should be fi's best to get the herb, sihe magic has a ce of failing to cure her, and it may cause her issue to worsen.”

  "Is there something wrong with using magic?" Adam asked, curious as to why the magic would make it worse.

  "We must be careful when using magic when g this siess,” the Shaman said, simply. “She has retly given birth, and using magic so soon may harm her.”

  “A potion would be best,” Jurot said, nodding his head.

  Adam stared at the woman. “We’ll definitely return with the herb.” He squeezed her haly.

  “Return to me,” she whispered.

  Adam nodded his head, feeling her weak grip. ‘Damn it! What I even do?’

  “Won’t you call me aunt before you go?” she asked, smiling up at him.

  “Once I return, so wait for me.” He uood that he was falling uhe trope of setting up death fgs, but if Sozain dared to mess with his life, he’d have a word with the god.

  “Okay.” Sonarot smiled up at him. “I will wait.” She reached up to brush their hair, before her arms fell to her side.

  Adam sighed once he was outside. ‘Six hundred gold per casting, and it could make the matter worse?’ He shook his head and marched away from the group of Iyrmen who had been waiting.

  “Where are you going?” Jurot asked, watg the half elf leave.

  “I o say goodbye to Lanarot,” Adam said, gng back his way. “e on.”

  Jurot stared at him, fused.

  “What?” Adam asked.

  “Why would you say goodbye to a baby? She will not uand.”

  “There is always a ething goes wrong,” Adam said. “As much as romise to return safely, there are things we ’t foresee. At the very least, I have to say goodbye to my little sister.” Adam’s face darkened. “You won’t get a sed ce at it.”

  Jurot saw the darkness on the half elf’s face. ‘What is he pnning?’ He followed Adam to the Gak family house.

  “Sorry to intrude,” Adam said, noting Kitool was here, and Katool ying with Raygak, Jaygak’s younger brother.

  “Are you here to say goodbye to Lanarot?” Jaygak asked, smiling slightly.

  “Yes.”

  Jaygak threw a smirk to Kitool, who bowed her head i. She owed Jaygak a dagger for losing the bet. ‘What kind of person says goodbye to a baby?’

  Adam stared at the tiny little girl, whose eyes were so sleepy. She y in a pile on bs, just taking in the world around her.

  “Lanarot,” he said, kneeling down beside her. “Your mother is sick.” He brushed a finger along her arm gently, and then to the back of her hand, seeing how tiny it was. Her entire hand was so small, about as small his thumb tip. “Jurot and I will return and make your mummy well, okay? I promise.”

  He brushed the thin strands along the top of her head. “So make sure you sleep, eat, and poop with a clear mind. If anyone bullies you, I’ll be sure to deal with them when I return. Don’t let Jaygak steal your food.”

  “Hey!” Jaygak grumbled. How dare he call her a thief!

  “Don’t grow up too fast.” Adam stood, taking in her sight. He memorised her tiny appearance, burning it into his mind. With that, he stepped aside for Jurot.

  Jurot stared down at her. “You are Lanarot, daughter of Surot. Do not fet.”

  Adam stared at him long and hard. ‘What the hell are you saying to your little sister, you idiot?’

  “I will return,” Jurot said, “so you need not worry.” For some reason, he could feel his heart pound quickly. “Don’t grow up too fast, it will be bad for your bones.” With that, he turned, leaving.

  Adam followed Jurot to the group of Iyrmen who were waiting, all eight of them. He narrowed his eyes towards one of them, one he hadn’t expected to see.

  “I didn’t expect to see you,” Adam said, shaking Dargon’s forearm.

  “I had heard st night, and thought it would be best I go.” Dargon smiled. “I have many tales to tell you.”

  “It would be a pleasure to hear them, as long as you don’t take too long.” Adam narrowed his eyes. “I have many recipes I am preparing.”

  "We will head to the southern pins on our ship,” the leader of the expedition said. He was an older orcish Iyrman, wearing the clothes of the Iyr, and s up to his forearm. At his forehead was a tattoo of a red cross, with yellow hollowed ovals to its sides. At his back ear, which was made out of a blue steel, with runes which glittered in the m sun.

  There was also a Shaman, the same devilkin he had seen the day before, who remained silent.

  “Are you going to be wearing that?” Dargon asked.

  “What?” Adam replied.

  “Your mail.”

  “Yes?”

  “On a ship?”

  “A ship?” Adam said, gng towards the orcish Iyrman. ‘Right, he did say…’

  “We will be travelling by river. You should not wear your armour.”

  Adam stared at Dargon, blinking at him. ‘Oh.’

  “It would be a mistake,” the leader said, staring at Adam.

  Adam pulled his mail off, feeling naked without it. “I keep my shield, though, right?”

  Dargon nodded his head. “You worry,” he said, pg a hand on Adam’s back. “We will make sure you return.”

  Adam hat the orcish Iyrman was quite old, and so was another of the Iyrmen who had e with them. “Just how strong are those two?”

  Dargon smiled in the same way Jurot had.

  ‘These Iyrman are all so damn annoying with their smugness!’

  "You are a nephew of the Rot family,” the leader said as they made their way to the ship. “How did you mahat so quickly?"

  "I told a great story." Adam smiled.

  "A great story?” Dargon said, staring at the half elf. “Tell us!"

  Adam shook his head. "I 't, not yet."

  "Why not?" Dargon asked.

  "It is not a story I tell anyone."

  "You have told Sonarot? Though we had met first?” Dargon pouted, only to grin immediately after.

  "I trust her."

  "You do not trust us?"

  "Hmm.” Adam stared at Dargon for a moment, before smiling. “I trust you all too, for you are all Iyrmen, but she... I owe her a debt from another life." He winked.

  "Another life?" Jurot asked. ‘Was he serious?’ The pieces of the puzzle began to fit together in his mind.

  Adam just smiled. "I'll tell you wheime is right, Jurot. I just don't think you trust me enough for it."

  Jurot stared at him.

  "So, I’m sure you were all adventurers. What rank did you all reach?”

  “Steel,” came the voice of two of the Iyrmen, though Adam khat Dargon was Steel too.

  “Silver,” came the voice of awo.

  The Shaman did not state her rank, but the st two, the leader of the expedition and the other older Iyrman, remained silent.

  ‘They must be strohan Silver,’ Adam thought.

  They grabbed their things a out, heading towards the front gates of the Iyr.As they approached, Adam noted a few familiar faces. Turot stood there, along with the other children of the three families. He was adorned in his Iyrman garb, arms crossed. His eyes were a steely gre.

  Jurot dropped to a squat and pced his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “You must take good care of the family while we are gone.” He squeezed Turot’s shoulders gently.

  “Yes!” Turot said, his voice clear.

  “If its in your hands, I don’t have to worry.” Jurot smiled wide, ruffling the boy’s hair.

  The Iyrmen then marched towards the wall. Adam gave Turot a nod, who replied with his own nod. They headed to the gate, which shuddered open as the Iyrmen ope.

  “Cousin Jurot!” Turot’s voice rang in the air. “e home safely!”

  Jurot did not respond as he stepped out the gate.

  “Cousin Adam! e home safely!” Turot shouted.

  Adam hadn’t expected to be called by the boy. ‘e home safely,’ Adam thought, before smiling.

  “e home safely!” The other children cried, with the group of childreing the phrase, even long after their voices could not be heard.

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  Will he e home safely?