HBWnovel [1139] – Y06.039 – Answers I
[1139] – Y06.039 – Answers I
[1139] – Y06.039 – Answers I
“She wants to see me?” Adam asked, tapping the table with a finger, while rubbing his chin lightly. ‘On today of all days?’ “I won’t be able to, though?”
“It would be difficult to refuse,” Jurot replied, his arms crossed, the Iyrman tapping his bicep in thought.
“I want to go see,” Lanarot said, her eyes beaming up towards her brother expectantly. The girl pouted before her brother could respond, but her eyes revealed her excitement.
“Why don’t you stay here and I’ll go invite the Countess here?”
“It would be difficult to invite the Countess,” Jurot said.
“I have a title too, you know?”
“It is not the same.”
“She’s the one who wants to speak with me, isn’t she?” Adam replied, with the audacity that came from wanting to bully the Aldish. “She should put in the effort to come and see me then!”
Jurot fell silent, allowing his brother to act so audaciously, especially since it was that day today. He peeked down at his sister, who remained mesmerised by her elder brother, the girl giggling lightly. His eyes fell to the girl’s forehead, painted with the tattoos of her family, adorned in the thick attire of the Iyrmen.
‘Although, I guess it is a little awkward to bring the Countess here, since she’ll be surrounded by so many guards, and the kids might be a little sca-,’ Adam thought about how frightened his children may have been, only to recall the appearance of all the Iyrmen around. ‘I probably should go since otherwise the Countess will be scared.’
“I will come too,” Vonda said, approached the half elf, the woman adorned head to toe in her modesti, her silver amulet sparkling lightly under the dawnval sun.
“If you come along, I’ll want to show off,” Adam replied.
“You will show off if I am there or not, but I will have to calm you before you go too far,” Vonda replied.
“It is a little scary how you know me so well.”
Vonda smiled innocently, before she and Jurot exchanged a look, both understanding how hard they’ll need to work to keep Adam alive when meeting the Countess. As they stepped out, Kamrot approached the group, exchanging a look with Jurot, who just nodded in return. The older Iyrman watched them go, before sending word along the grapevine until it reached Sonarot, who already knew for her son was not such a fool. Jurot, Adam, and Vonda were enough to protect Lanarot from the likes of a Countess.
The guard stared down at the little girl, who stared up him expectantly. Those small eyes were full with the pride that was often found in noble children, except he could see something even deeper within the surface of those eyes, something only Iyrmen children possessed.
“The Countess requested a meeting only with the half elf,” a guard said, before tipping his helmet slightly towards the Ray. “I mean no offence, Mother.”
“Please send our apologies in advance,” Vonda replied calmly, smiling warmly towards the guard.
With no other response, the guard slipped away to inform the Countess, not wishing to offend a Ray.
“I am not allowed?” Lanarot asked, pouting up towards her elder brother.
“So what? You met an Emperor, a Queen, a Prince, and someone who is even greater than all of those.” Adam shrugged his shoulders far too casually. “Really, you should be meeting with a Duke or Duchess, since that’s about the level of a Prince, and then a Marquis, then a Count, and finally a Baron.”
“Adam,” Vonda and Jurot both said, causing the half elf to stop.
‘This will be difficult,’ the Countess thought, already cursing her terrible luck. “I wished to speak to you about the matter with the Grand Commander.”
“What would you like to know?”
“Did you truly kill the Grand Commander?” Countess Lottie’s eyes pierced deep into Adam’s, judging his eyes to see if he would lie.
“It was a lawfully sanctioned duel under the eyes of Sozain, one that was to the death. The winner got to keep their life, and as you can see, I’m alive, and he’s dead.” Adam shrugged his shoulders.
“How did it come to pass?”
“He wanted to kill me because he was angry. I was forced to defend myself for protecting my children.”
“Will you explain how you defeated him?”
“I’m a Priest of Death.”
“I would like to hear the tale in greater detail,” the Countess replied, slowly growing more annoyed by Adam’s vague answers. Who did he think he was? A noble like her?
“Jurot can tell you the tale.”
“I wish to hear it from you.”
“I don’t want to,” Adam replied, his voice clear, growing louder, causing the Oakguard to straighten slightly. “Especially not in front of my wife, Ray Vonda of Life’s Rose.”
The Countess glared at the half elf, her mind racing as she thought upon his words. It was already foolish enough of her to believe his words, but there was so much of the situation which made little to no sense. The Village Chief had informed the Countess of what she had seen, and it was one thing for the Chief of the Iyr to speak of Adam, no doubt emphasising his tale for his own plots, but it was another for the Village Chief, supposedly loyal to Aldland, to speak of such a farce.
Except, it was true enough the half elf had slain the Vice Commander and his apprentice. It was a stretch for him to be able to slay the Grand Commander though, wasn’t it?
“Would you be willing to spar with my Oakguard?” Countess Redoak asked, motioning a hand to the Oakguard beside her. “Sir Juge Cherrytree, First Branch of the Oakguard of Red Oak. It would be your honour.”
Adam furrowed his brows lightly, before a small smile crept upon his face. The smile turned into a light chuckle, before it grew into a laugh, the crescendo a cackle, which proved he was his daughter’s father. “Jurot! Jurot, did you hear that?”
“I did,” Jurot replied, though uncertain of what Adam meant exactly.
The Countess remained silent as the half elf continued to laugh, the young man slapping his knee, while his sister also began to laugh, unsure of why she was laughing, but she clapped her hands excitedly.
‘Oh, Adam,’ Vonda thought.
Adam being able to troll the nobles is peak.