Adam’s ughter echoed through the near empty roads. He could still feel the gaze of the Baron pierg through his back as the group began their walk back, though first escorted the Minister back to her carriage, which was surrounded by five knights, each wearing full pte, each wielding an aura of altertness.

  “Executive Adam, creating a public disturbance is punishable by a fine,” Minister Floreated. “A public disturbanear a noble’s estate is a greater crime.”

  Adam ched his jaw, but he still let out quite the snicker, almost tearing up from the sudden burst of joy within his chest. “Executive Jurot, Executive Kitool, please escort the Minister back, I will esanager Vonda back to the guild.”

  Jurot wasn’t sure if both Iyrmen should leave him aloh the priests, though it wasn’t as though Vonda’s background with the order couldn’t deal with most issues.

  “Minister Florence, I hope you’re willing to take our words of gratitude at the moment,” the young half elf said, bowing his head lightly to the Minister. “reciate the assistance of both the Minister and the Duchess in this matter.”

  “I merely pleted the role of a Minister,” Florence replied, pushing up her gsses. “I am certain the Duchess will appreciate your kind words.”

  ‘I guess I’m going to o make sure the Duchess gets a few mifts when we plete her order,’ Adam thought. ‘I ’t have her think we’re just using her authority without paying for it.’

  The Minister pushed her gsses up once more, her eyes glued to Adam for a few moments longer, still trying to settle her thoughts, before she approached the carriage with Kitool. Kitool bowed her head to Jurot, allowing him to escort Adam, while the young woman would remain with the Mio make sure she uood how the situation came to pass.

  Ohe carriage made its way out, Adam let out another soft sigh, the tension in his shoulders releasing almost pletely. The group began their journey away from the long line of ates.

  “Hoo!” Adam let out a noisy sigh, a sigh to break the sileher than for any other particur reason to sigh. “Man, that felt so good.”

  “Do not enjoy it too much, or you will find yourself with an addi to beating nobles,” Dunes said.

  “It’s already too te for that,” the half elf replied, chug lightly.

  Dunes smiled slightly, though his mind wandered, focused on a particur ent Adam had already made. As far as he knew, Adam didn’t lie, so one ent had shocked him more than any other. ‘What title do their children hold?’ The first thought which came to mind was that they held the title of Iyrmen, though Adam had never ht stated such a thing before.

  “Don’t talk like you didn’t enjoy watg me beat him,” Adam accused. “Why else did you e to watch?”

  “Jaygak requested I should apany Jurot.”

  “Jaygak?”

  “Yes,” Dunes replied, fshing a smile. “She spoke a statement which is true even in Aswadasad. Those who make a mess in front of the nobles are priests. Two priests cause a rger mess than one.”

  Adam almost fell into a cackle from the joke, grinning wide. “I suppose Jaygak’s right. That’s why she’s aive.”

  Dunes let out a light chuckle. “How it be that even now you still joke.”

  “Is there any reason why I shouldn’t be joking?”

  “You’ve offended a noble.”

  “He isn’t the first, he won’t be the st.” Adam’s eyes darted to Vonda, who remained silent as she walked, with Jurot following after her, the Iyrman’s eyes sometimes darting about, cheg for uhreats.

  “…” Adam decided against bringing her into the versation, allowio stew ihoughts.

  Dunes pat Adam’s back gently, causing the young half elf to eye him up curiously, before noting the look in the Aswadian’s eyes. “I have pleted my task here.”

  “Right…” Adam smirked slightly. “Well, I suppose I’ve finished my task here too.”

  “Tomorrow, I shall take the Iyr Squad to adventure,” Jurot said. “The wolves will wish to stretch their bodies too.”

  “Alright,” Adam said, waving his hand dismissively. “Do what you like.”

  The group returned back to the guild, which was so noisy, though Vonda could barely hear the hrough her thoughts. The food they ordered had never been so fvourful, and the wine, never so sweet.

  “You should have seen his face,” Adam said. “When he saw Jurot, you could see the memory return, back whe hit by Phantom. He shouldn’t have acted up, otherwise I wouldn’t have beaten him with Wraith!”

  “You shouldn’t speak so loudly about the matter, Adam,” Jaygak said, p him more wihere are many ears here.”

  “Then they think I’m a braggart! Who else would believe this humble young man could beat the likes of Sir William!”

  Jaygak was gd Adam had removed his armour when he had returhough he had been walking around with his face out for people to see, and sidering the number of people with purple armour could be ted on one hand across the nd, he had probably painted a target on his ba some way.

  “If you weren’t so handsome, I wouldn’t be so worried,” Jaygak admitted.

  “What?” Adam flushed slightly, before noting the look in her eye. “Jaygak, stop flirting with me, it’s beh you.”

  Jaygak smirked. “You’re not my type.”

  “Is Vasera your type?”

  “Her horns are beautiful,” Jaygak admitted. “She’s to.”

  “To?” Adam asked. “Just train a little more and use Great Moon to beat her up.”

  “Only you could say something so stupid.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  “No, but-,”

  “The only kind of butt we should be talking about is my adorable…” Adam paused. Any way he fihat sentence souerrible. “Do you think Larot is missioo much, Jaygak?”

  “I am sure all your children miss you, Adam,” Jaygak said, expertly defleg Adam’s versation about his most dangerous child. “Jirot and Jarot are being doted on by my grandaunt, and Konarot, Kirot, and Karot are being doted on by their grandmother.”

  “You Iyrmen are so smart,” Adam said. “You guys work hard and then stay back so you watch over the children. I’m so jealous.”

  “You could stay back too,” Jaygak admitted. “Nothing is f you to act.”

  “Hah? I still have to save Freya and there’s probably a few more things I o deal with.” Adam thought about the Frost Giants. He wondered if they were doing well. ‘Damn, did I fet their names? No, Prince Aksak, and then there’s his son, Goti or something? The Helm guy, he was cool. Or was it the other one who was cool?’

  ‘Freya?’ Jaygak thought, her eyes meeting Jurot’s. She had only ever heard the name from Jurot, who had mentioned Adam had wao save someone by that name, but had said no more to her or Kitool.

  “Anyways, now that we’re mostly doh our tasks, we might as well adventure and stuff. I’ll try and find more people for the business, some kids or something, who will bee the business’ work for a decade or so.” Adam sipped the wine lightly.

  “What of your children? Will they grow up to beembers of the busioo?” Dunes asked. Adam’s children, who held a vague retionship with the Iyr, were in trouble. Half dragons, goblins, a demon, each were in danger for different reasons. If Adam could raise the United Kindom into a business with great power and influehen his children, as officials of the business, would hold a certain level of prote within the nd.

  “Are you pig a fight?” Adam asked, narrowing his eyes towards the Aswadian. “My adorable children, my cute kids, my… they’re going to stay small and cute forever.”

  Dunes smiled, sipping his wine slowly, patting Adam’s back. “Of course.”

  “What do you mean of course?” Adam replied. “Say it like you actually mean it, Dunes.”

  “…” Dunes smiled.

  “You’re lucky you’re a priest, otherwise I’d cause trouble.”

  “We cause trouble for nobles, but you cause trouble for us,” Dunes joked.

  Adam chuckled. “Well, now I’m not going to cause trouble for any more nobles, cause we have none among us.” Adam gnced over to Vonda, who was slowly sipping away at her drink. “Hmmm. You seem so different, Sister Vonda. Ah, is it because you have no more fws?”

  “Everyone has fws,” Vonda replied.

  “Seriously?” Adam raised his brows. “What fws do you have? You’re powerful, pretty, prestigious, and…” Adam tried to find out more words beginning with the letter. “A great pal?”

  “Perceptive,” Dunes added.

  “Yeah, yeah, everyone knows that skill is worth so much,” Adam said, nodding his head. “You’re, you know, you persevere, and you’re persistent, got a good personality, and uh, philosomething, I’m sure there’s plenty of words that work, phenomenal, that’s a great word, and…”

  “Prepared,” Dunes added.

  “Yeah, proper too.”

  “Punctual.”

  “Yeah, time’s important, just ask Filliam,” Adam joked.

  Vonda let out a soft, embarrassed sigh, trying to keep her cheeks from flushing too much. “You’re too much, Adam.”

  “Me? You’re the ohat’s so… I don’t know, you’re one of the few people, who aren’t Iyrmen, who make me feel so…”

  “Ie,” Jaygak said, sipping her own wine.

  “Yeah…” Adam’s eyes fell to Jaygak, who had closed her eyes to avoid catg anyone’s eyes. “It’s why I couldn’t give you up.”

  Vonda flushed harder from Adam’s words, uanding they were mostly quite pyful. She stared down at her drink, brushihumb along the cy cup, a cup which she had received from a little Iyrman who always enjoyed her stories.

  “Plus, if I let you go, wouldn’t Jirot tell me off?” Adam asked. “Jirot and Jarot both adore you so much, so I ’t just let you run off without saying goodbye to them.”

  Vonda stifled a ugh into her scarf, before pulling it down, revealing her burnt fad neck. The marks fell from her lower lip and made their way down towards her neck, disappearih her shirt. She folded her scarf in half, before tying it around her waist.

  Adam only smiled. He wished he had so much ce, but with those ears of his, he decided against doing so. He was sure that East Port had little prejudice against half elves, but he decided against seeking that kind of attention. “Although, I don’t really need an excuse to-,” Adam tensed up as Vonda’s face came into view, and their lips pressed together.

  ‘???’

  The ship is setting sail, I repeat, the ship is setting sail!