Adam could feel the heaviness press upon him once more, and though he had felt it many times, this time it was meant for someone else.

  “What would you have us do?” Iromin asked, his eyes pierg Adam’s gaze, not allowing the half elf to look away.

  “What would be your typical response?” Adam asked, feeling a bead of sweat run down the side of his cheek.

  “We would demand justice,” the Chief stated, trying to calm himself. “Those who have killed our children must be handed over, or we will sughter their entire Order, and those who would try to stop us.”

  “The entire Order?” Adam could see the darkness within the Chief’s eyes. “Wouldn’t that mean war with the Orders? The ey of Aldnd?”

  “If it must e to it,” Iromin stated, as though it were that simple.

  “Even with the Reavers?”

  “Even with the Reavers,” Iromin firmed, his eyes remaining focused upon Adam’s.

  ‘I ’t let the Iyr go to war with Aldnd, not when the world is about to ge,’ Adam thought. ‘Not just the Reavers, but there are so many other threats, and I’m sure there are threats I’m not even aware of.’

  “Who was it that killed…” Adam tensed up for a moment.

  “The Order of the Thousand Hunts.”

  ‘Those guys?’ Adam thought. ‘Hold on…’ “Was it their Grand ander?”

  “No.”

  Adam inhaled deeply. “They’re the ohat kill monsters, right? Why are they going around killing…” Adam couldn’t bear to say it.

  “Goblins and demons are no different to monsters within their eyes.”

  Adam fshed with heat again, but he shut his eyes tight. Even through his rage, he uood that he couldn’t have the Iyr cause such a mess, not whehing was already going to hell, and not when it still existed out there somewhere.

  “I’ll deal with it alone.”

  “You ot.”

  “What?”

  “Children of the Iyr were killed,” Iromin said, the air around them growing colder. “This is a matter of the Iyr.”

  “This is a matter of the Rot family,” Sonarot said, reag up to pce her hand upon Adam’s shoulder, pulling him closer. “We will ha.”

  “Will the Family Head agree?”

  “She will,” Sonarot replied.

  ‘We have already broken so many ventions,’ Iromin thought, brag himself for all the criticism he would receive. “I will leave it within your hands.”

  “Once Vonda gives birth, we’ll discuss more then,” Adam said, clearing his throat. “I don’t want to stress her out.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you again, Chief.”

  “You should not thank me, but yrandfather and your brother.”

  “What did they do?”

  “They petitioned.”

  “So they’ve lost their rights?” Adam recalled the Chief mentioning something about it earlier, though couldn’t quite recall what he had said to Sonarot.

  “No.”

  ‘What does that mean?’ Adam dared not to ask. “I won’t ever fet what you’ve done for me.”

  “Those children, if they are Iyrmen, then we did not do this for you, but for the sake of the Iyr,” Iromin stated, before leaving them.

  Adam returned back to the shared estate with his Aunt, finding his twins glued to their greatfather, who held them so close, refusing to allow them to leave his grasp. Adam’s eyes grew wet, the young half elf g his fists tight, unsure of whe time he had seen his twins suck their thumbs.

  Adam sat beside his wife, who took his hand within her own, the pair sitting beside one another, speaking no words.

  Sonarot checked on the children, brushing her hand across Larot’s cheek, staring into the boy’s eyes. He yawned, before leaning back to sleep, ign them all.

  ‘Hmph! Do you think this is the first time I’ve died?’

  Sowards the twins once more, noting how Jirot had pulled her younger brother to her chest, brushing his hair with one hand, sug her thumb with the other. “I will call Mirot.”

  It was not appropriate to have Mirot remain at the extended estate, for she was the Family Head, but they had agreed for these children to remain within the shared estate while sending the rest of the children away to the extended family estates.

  Taygak’s voice, pining about the disaster, rung within Sonarot’s mind as she stepped out. Before returning to the extended estate, the young woman stepped towards the tral estate, finding the aide waiting for her.

  It was ohe matter was dealt with, the woman made her way to the extended family estate, finding the Family Elder and the Family Head of the Rot family.

  “The children have returo us,” Sonarot stated, causing a wave of relief to flow through the extended estate.

  “They are back?” Turot asked.

  “They are back,” Sonarot firmed.

  Turot sniffled, looking to his mother for a moment, before staring up towards his aunt. “Okay.”

  “Sister, may I deal with it?” Sonarot asked.

  “You may,” Mirot replied, without a single ounce of hesitation.

  “Thank you.”

  “What need of there for thanks?”

  “They are yrandoo.”

  Mirot closed her eyes, trying to push away the anger. “I ot take this from you.”

  The wave of relief rippled through the Rot family estate, beginning to reach other extended family estates. It had been just another day for many withiher extended family estates.

  “Do you think one or two hydras are impressive?” Ritol asked, reag up to rub her , the old woman grinning wide. “These greatchildren of mihey grew up hearing of my tales.”

  “Are you still annoyed I slew a drake when I was a year younger?” Tayzar replied, returning her own wide griusks jutting out mischievously.

  “A year younger? It was a month younger!”

  “I recall es being different by at least a year.”

  The children watched as their greataunts argued once more, smiling as the women tio bark between one another. It was at that time, the Family Elder of the Tol family received a slip, stained bck, the end of the slip marked red. There she read the names, and the request made of the family.

  “Sister, take the children to sleep,” Sitol said. “Sister Tayzar, you should return to your estate to assist.”

  “What is the matter?” Tayzar asked, hoisting herself up, grabbing ontve, before noting the slip within the woman’s hand. “…”

  “Martol, bring me Dang River,” Ritol ahe boy, also seeing the slip within her sister’s hand. Martol hopped onto his feet excitedly, eager t the greatbde to his greataunt.

  “No,” Sitol called. “They have called upon the Family Heads and the Family Elders to deal with the matter.”

  “Who would deny us hts?” Ritol growled.

  “I will take your iions,” Sitol assured, while the women stepped back, but the blood lust withiates began to rise. The Family Elders stepped out, carrying their ons as they followed the path to the assembly, meeting the other Family Elders along the way.

  “Did they cause you trouble?” Rehjyn asked, the woman shaking her head, gd that her elder sister had been at the Tol estate.

  “She did not wish for the responsibilities of the Family Elder, so she ot cause trouble wheters are only for the Family Elders,” Sitol replied, a gentle smirk appearing on her face, marred by the rising rage within the Iyr.

  The hundreds arrived, each possessing the title of Family Elder and Family Head, or those ag in their stead. Only a handful acted in their stead, for even while sick, the Elders and Heads wished to eet at the assembly for a matter that was to do with ained ihe edge of the slip red.

  The assembly was made of stone, had been built upon the sed story, uhe open sky. It had beeed in such a way that water could not wear the stohe woodes flowed out of the tral podium, which could stand a dozen Iyrmen with ease, but only two stood within, and flowed out only in a semi circle. Each seat held the family symbols of the Iyr’s families, one for the Elder, who sat upon the right, but slightly behind, and one for the Head, who sat upon the left, and slightly ahead of the Elder. As the minutes tio pass, the distant Elders and Heads began to take their seat, the gentle chattering falling away to the sky. Then, when only a pair of seats remaiy, the chatter fell away, leaving only the silence.

  “My grandchildren, my grandsons, Larot and Jarot, were killed. We have decided to deal with this matter with only those of the Rot family, and those closely reted to the children. I hope you will respect our wishes.”

  “I also agree with the Ag Head,” Mulrot said.

  A silence fell across the Iyrmen, before several Iyrmen raised their hands, and Sonarot picked the Iyrmen closest tht.

  “What is the reason for the Rot family to deny us hts?” the Family Elder of the Ruk family asked.

  “It was the choiy son.”

  “What right does your son have to deny us hts?”

  “It was his children who were killed.”

  Mulrot blinked, and as a moment of silence passed, the Iyrmen dealing with the fusioween one another. She pced a hand on Sonarot’s shoulder, squeezing it for a moment, before allowio take and once more.

  The Family Elder of the Ruk family stood, holding his sheathed sword in one hand, before resting it against his chest. He bowed slightly. “I misuood the situation, I apologise. We of the Ruk family will assist if called upon.”

  Following the lead of the Ruk family, the other Elders and Heads stood, bowing slightly, before taking their leave, allowing the Rot family to deal with the situation as they pleased. Though they wao draw their bdes, it was not within their rights to ighe will of the family if they were going this far.

  Only a handful of families remaihose Sonarot had expected, and those she had hoped to remain, like those of her uncles and aunts, and those who were reted to her sister by marriage, but there were more than she expected. She hadn’t realised the Var and the Sam families would stay, nor a few of the others, but she gnced across towards the Gek family, where her u, along with her brother, who had no doubt been forced to take the role of Ag Head. The relief filled her, though she was uain if she could five her uncle in this moment.

  “Those of you who remain may speak with Adam,” Sonarot said, unsure if she should refuse so much assistance, but she uood Adam may have had his own pns.

  One Family Elder hopped onto the stage with ease, his hands csped behind his back, gripping his staff tight. He was bald, with a long beard. He reached out to his niece first, rubbing the top of her head, before rubbing his sister’s shoulder.

  “You should e visit,” Mulrot said.

  “I will e tomorrow,” Malfev assured, smiling from behind his thick beard.

  Dogek remaiill for a long while, until everyone else had given their dolences, before he stood. He approached the podium, taking the step up, before he reached out to touch her shoulder, squeezing it once, before he stepped away.

  Sonarot bowed her head slightly, gd the man hadn’t said anything, unsure if she could speak with him at this time.

  “Let us return to our estates,” Mulrot said, after a long while of allowing Sonarot to think.

  “Okay.”

  Sonarot returned back to the shared estate, finding her grandchildren preparing for bed, the others having already been put to bed. She took Jirot and Jarot within her arms, embrag them tight, her heart swelling with joy and relief, the kind only an Iyrman could feel thanks to the existence of their home.

  “Hey,” Adam whispered. “Thank you.”

  “What did I do for such thanks?” Jarot asked, reag out to pat Adam’s back for a moment.

  “Do you wish to sleep with your babo?” Sonarot asked.

  Little Jarot looked to his greatfather, then his father, then to his grandmother. “…”

  “Jirot, Jarot, you may sleep with your babo, and I will sleep with Larot,” Sonarot said, making the choice for the boy. “If you do not, your babo will cause a mess.”

  “So troublesome,” Jirot accused her greatfather, smiling wide, the redness around her eyes amplifying the amber within her pupils.

  “I cause this much trouble at least!” Jarot cackled, pulling the twins close to him once more, peppering them with kisses.

  Sonarot leaned in to whisper to Jarot’s ear. “Jirot has awoken with nightmares. You must rock her to sleep.”

  “Okay,” Jarot replied, feeling his neck pulse, the old man gritting his teeth as he grinned wide. “This greatdaughter of mine does not o worry within this arm of mine!”

  Adam reached out to grab Jurot’s arm, squeezing it tightly for a moment. “Jurot. Thank you.”

  Jurot felt the squeeze against his arm, and though he had spoken the words many times before, he was uo say them. The Iyrman stared into his brother’s eyes, recalling the half elf’s words. “Any time.”

  Adam swallowed, blinking away the wetness, before nodding his head. He lifted Larot up, bringing the boy to his chest, pnting more kisses. He gnced down at his daughters and son. “Stay with nana tonight, okay? Daddy o sleep with Larot.”

  “I have to kiss,” Konarot said.

  “Oh, of course,” Adam said, dropping down to kiss his daughter’s head, while she leaned in to kiss her brother’s cheek, hugging him close. ‘You knew who to kiss? Right, you are your sister’s sister too, aren’t you? My Konarot, you are too smart!’

  Kirot and Karot hugged their you brother, kissing him too, and Lanarot also embraced and kissed each of her nieces and nephews, hugging both Jarot and Larot for a while longer, before finally surrendering them.

  “I will sleep with Larot too!” Lanarot stated.

  “You must sleep with me,” Jurot said.

  “Okay!” The girl held her brother’s hand, allowing him to take her away.

  Vonda watched as Adam took Larot to another room, holding the boy close to his chest. She took her eldest triplets away, each who cuddled up near her, but giving her enough distance so that they didn’t actally trouble her during her sleep.

  Konarot stared at the ceiling, recalling how her father appeared. ‘Small.’

  Adam wao sleep beside Vonda that evening, but he couldn’t tain his rage. He slipped away to a nearby , holding his you son close to his chest, allowing the boy to feel his father’s rage.

  “Thank you,” Adam whispered, his voice quiet and dark, just like the Iyr that evening.

  You have no idea how excited I am.