[1129] – Y06.029 – Reasons to Kill
“I was thinking about forming a guard to protect my children, not just my children, but the children of the business, not just those who are children of the Iyr.”
Chief Iromin remained silent, taking in the sight of the half elf before him. He had just slain one of the strongest figures in Aldland, but he was almost a little boy as he spoke of the topic. The Chief recalled the promise Adam had Elder Peac e make to him, and at first he thought it was serious, but humorous, but the Chief understood it was far less humorous than he originally realised. ‘I did not think it would take such a toll upon you.’
“I was thinking to expand the business with more enchanters too. Then, I want to create a unit of guards, not just typical guards, but Experts at least, maybe greater. They’ll be loyal to the business, which ans they’ll be loyal to the Iyr, since, you know…” Adam smiled knowingly. “I was also thinking about asking for more land for the business. I want us to have a more diverse spread of… well, everything. Resources from the nearby forest, preferably the Iyr’s forests, which we’ll take good care of, and the river, and so on.”
Chief Iromin remained silent, concentrating on Adam’s request. Upon seeing the half elf was waiting for permission to continue, the Great Elder motioned with his hand.
“I was thinking about how many Iyrn are around the business too. It’s not that I dislike it, but I do feel a little guilty about it. Still, I thought about it from your point of view, so I won’t ask you to reduce the number, even though I think I’m being a burden, I understand you get a large benefit from keeping a watchful eye on us. I was hoping that the Iyrn might be able to assist in training the guards, perhaps watching over them, keeping their loyalties in check too.”
Iromin thought about Adam’s request. Considering just how light the half elf tried to be, sotis his requests were so heavy. Adam would go from over thinking sothing small, to then making a request like this. Iromin sipped his tea, hiding his smile.
“You… may expand your business as you wish. Pay the appropriate compensation and the matter will be dealt with. You should speak with Elder Gold to understand the limits.”
“I have a favour to ask, and it’s a favour I can only ask you for.”
“What is it?”
“I want the Iyr to take the business in if sothing happens. Say the King marches an army to the border, or… the Reavers start showing up. I know you’ll know in advance, and I’d like for you to protect the workers.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just that-, okay?” Adam asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Adam fell silent for a long mont, trying to gather his thoughts. “Right, well… I was planning on unlocking a few more enchanters over the next few years anyway. So Iyrn. So… not.”
“Okay.”
“I, uh… I was thinking about picking up so people from Aswadasad, rcenaries, or younger people, and to train them up to guard the children. I was hoping the Iyr would train them in Jurot and Kitool’s way.”
“…”
“Please.”
“We will consider the matter.”
“Thanks. We’d pay the Iyr, obviously.”
“What would be the compensation?”
“Gold. Magical items. Enchanters. What else would you like?”
Chief Iromin sipped the tea, falling deep into thought. He poured them both more tea. “You are now able to defeat the likes of a Grand Commander of an Order, a Paragon.”
Adam flushed slightly, having blocked out the thought from his mind. He smiled bashfully, but sipped his tea, knowing the tragedy that cos with being so strong.
“Your strength may even rival King rryweather, and our Great Elders, or our Ten Paragons. Without your equipnt, perhaps not, but you are still more powerful than a typical Master.” Iromin took in the eyes of the half elf. “You are powerful. A great threat. To defeat you, we would require a great many resources.”
“You need at least two people who know Counterspell,” Adam began, keeping the Chief’s gaze within his own. “At least two Grandmasters that know the way of the Rot family, two more Grandmasters that are like Kitool, and then however many more in order to put down properly. You also need those who know certain spells, Fireball, Cone of Cold, so on, to bypass my great armour. I’m quite, very, weak to magic. It’s my kryptonite, you might say, which is a great reference, I assure you.”
The Chief shook his head lightly, for Adam had not yet told him everything from his first life.
“Plus… you have so many of my weaknesses. I an, I’ve never defeated my wife, and I don’t dare to go up against my Jirot.”
Iromin took in the look within Adam’s eyes, one of the few reasons why the half elf was still alive. “We cannot use your children against you.”
“Why not?”
“They are too young, and even if they co of age, we promised we would not.”
“You still have Kavgak,” Adam joked, flashing a wide smile.
Iromin smiled slightly, bowing his head lightly.
“I won’t act up, Chief. If I do, it’ll be because I’m chard, or mind controlled.” Adam’s smile quickly dropped, but there was sothing even darker as his eyes flashed to the eldritch horrors which threatened him in his second life.
“If you are mind controlled, it would be a catastrophe.”
“Yeah.”
“Will you accept the tattoos of the Iyr?”
Adam choked on his coffee, coughing and spluttering the liquid all around him, before he wiped his mouth and face. “What?”
“We will create a set of tattoos for you. You would not be adopted into the Iyr, though we would prefer it, to keep you restrained properly. The tattoos will hold certain wards to resist charms and mind control, and restrictions upon speech, so you cannot give up the Iyr’s secrets.”
Adam stared into the Chief’s eyes, still full of shock, but he understood what the Chief was doing. “Would…“ Adam swallowed. “Would the tattoos influence ?”
“The Iyr can send feelings through the tattoos, but you have the choice to act upon them.”
“How strong are these feelings?”
“They are not so deep. Annoyance in place of rage. lancholy in place of depression. They are ssages to we Iyrn. If the Iyr is to war, it shall be sent through in feelings through the tattoos, so that an Iyrman beyond even the Confederacy, can know of our plight.”
“Hmm…” Adam wasn’t sure just how deep these feelings went, and he tensed, trying to form a castle within his mind. That is how it should have been, right? A man’s thoughts should be his own, but… “The Iyr won’t be able to mind control ?”
“I, as the Chief, may request the Rot family to hand you to for your death. It is their choice whether they wish to act upon my words. If they do not, unless I utilise one of my keys, I cannot force them to hand you to .”
“Keys?”
“We Great Elders possess keys to amplify our powers during tis of crisis. Unless I bring forth a key, I cannot force the Rot family to hand you to . If I use a key, even if the Mad Dog may aim for my neck, the Rot family would kill you if I asked for it. The tattoos are not a key, but a recomndation, an acknowledgent.”
“Would you use a key to kill ?” Adam asked.
“If you were to turn against the Iyr, we would not need a key to kill you. If you were not to turn against the Iyr, there would be no reason to use a key.”
Adam frowned, still unsure of what the Great Elder ant. “Maybe?”
“I would recomnd you should accept the tattoo, otherwise, I cannot bring the matter before the Great Elders.”
“They don’t know?”
“No. It is the first ti we of the Iyr shall have created a tattoo for an outsider in this particular way. It would be best to aid against falling under the mind control of another, so that I do not have to fight off the Mad Dog if we must kill you.”
“I always appreciate you keeping alive, Chief Iromin. Alright, if you think it’s a good idea, I’ll accept the tattoo. I trust you at least that much, and, well…” Adam smiled nervously. “I’m Greyish, so I love to lick the boot of my monarch.”
Iromin raised his brow as Adam laughed, the half elf stopping, opening his mouth as if to explain the joke, but making the wise decision to decide against it.
“Anyway… since we’re talking about trying to keep alive, is it okay that I know Fifth Gate spells?”
“Yes.”
“I realised I didn’t tell you when I said I beco a Master, so…”
“Which spells have you taken?”
“Raise Dead and Steel Wind Strike.”
Iromin blinked, slowly nodding his head. He had expected other spells, but if Adam had changed his mind, he was fine with it. Steel Wind Strike? That did increase the level of danger, but it was within his expectations of the young half elf.
Adam sipped his tea as silently as he could, since it was the deepest the Chief had thought during the conversation.
“Do not reveal such,” Iromin said, forcing away the stress. “Before you learn Sixth Gate spells, co speak with .”
“How do you know I’ll learn Sixth Gate spells?”
“I know because you are Adam.”
Adam smiled slightly. “Sorry, Chief.”
Iromin dismissed the half elf’s worries with his hand, sipping more of his tea, the Iyrman leaning into the chair.
“If I’m going to get tattooed, should I ask Vonda?”
“You should not.”
“Why?”
“She is a Ray of Life’s Rose.”
‘Ah, right.’ Adam sighed. “My wife should trouble you that much at least.”
Iromin began to smile. “So she should.”
“As always, if the Iyr needs , I’m always up to help.”
“The Reavers will co soon. The land has expanded during the Great Twilight, and we have claid our land, but the Aldish may take issue.”
“The land has expanded? What do you an by that?”
“Sotis, land is born anew, or it springs up from the sea beneath. Such an event is rare, and is usually temporary, but this ti, it may be more permanent. Due to the death here, Aldland may wish to take the lake from us.” Chief Iromin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile growing wide upon his lips. “They can try.”
‘Damn…’ Adam let out a sigh. “You know, have you thought of creating your own rcenary group? You could send them out to do your bidding, while pretending you’re keeping your hands clean. It’s a very popular tactic, and I haven’t heard the Iyr using it.”
“That may be what you are,” Iromin joked.
“Yeah, but I’d rather not get sent to my death, especially to the Aldish.”
“We have considered it, but it is dishonest, and if we refused such fun, the Family Elders and Family Heads would rebel.”
“Even more fun!” Adam joked, laughing wildly at his joke.
Iromin furrowed his brows, but his lips twitched slightly. “We can only have fun if the Iyr is safe.”
“Yeah. I suppose you have underground connections, though?”
“All countries do.”
Adam slowly nodded his head. “I, uh… I find that I love the Iyr. It’s my… ho. Though I’m no Iyrman, and I’ll never be an Iyrman, and though I don’t agree with everything you guys do, it’s… it’s got my family. It has welcod . It…” Adam’s eyes burned up slightly. “Thank you, Chief. Really.”
Iromin placed a hand upon Adam’s head, rubbing the top of the half elf’s head. “Do not worry, Adam. Your children are safe. Your wife is safe. You are safe. You have defeated the Grand Commander lawfully before the eyes of the Divine. It was a fair, just duel.”
“You know how the Aldish are.”
“We know, that is why we will take full responsibility.”
“Why?”
“It has always been the Iyr’s responsibility, and… if I refuse the fun, the Family Elders and the Family Heads will rebel.”
Adam chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Though, it may be different to travel within Aldland for this year.”
“Yeah, well… I was planning on heading through Floria to Aswadasad anyhow.”
“A wise decision.”
“Thank you.”
“Perhaps I should stab you again to see if you are truly Adam.”
“Please don’t.”
“Okay.”
Adam overthinking things and the Iyr offering to stab him.
So things never change.
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