“An enemy of the Iyr?” Entalia repeated, cautiously. “Do you think I am stupid enough to make that mistake?”

“We do not care if you are intelligent or stupid,” the Chief replied. “We must refuse. We cannot allow weapons to be used against us. We have taken into account your friendship, but there are limits which must be respected.”

“What if he used the enchanting spires of Drakkenlan?” Entalia asked.

Adam’s ears twitched. ‘Enchanting spires? No, stop it Adam! You can’t be seduced by anything.’

“That is a matter between yourself and Adam,” the Chief said. “He may not use our shrines to create weapons which may be used against us.”

“Then, if I request a weapon from you in the future, will you come and enchant in our country?” she asked.

Adam sighed, thinking about the matter. ‘I guess?’ “If…” Adam continued to think. “If you provide me transport from and to the Iyr each time, probably. I’d need some time to prepare, in case I have other plans. I don’t want to be enchanting too long, either, but I guess I could.”

“Those are agreeable conditions,” Entalia replied. “What is the limit of your ability?”

“First,” Adam said, raising a hand to pause the conversation. “How long does it take to get to Drakkenlan, or rather, the enchanting spires from here?”

“On foot?”

“Let’s be clear,” Adam said, firmly. “I will not be travelling on foot from the Iyr to Drakkenlan. If the journey takes more than a week, I am not interested.”

“A week?” Entalia said. “If you travelled on Wyvernback, it would take roughly a week, maybe ten days?”

“Then that’s fine,” Adam said. “I, apparently, can make weapons which are slightly higher than greater. Legendary, right?”

“Legendary?” Entalia almost choked. “What?”

“If it’s really basic, I mean only the legendary bonus, no other extra stuff.”

‘What the…’ Entalia stared at Adam. “Are you messing with me?”

“No.”

Jurot and Sonarot threw him a look, and Elder Zijin, who was standing some ways away, rubbed his eyes. 

“I’ll… I’ll spend some time thinking about the enchantments I’d like on the amethicule weapons,” she said. ‘Legendary? How does he know how to make legendary weaponry? That’s fucking crazy. I only know a handful of people who know that ability, and one of them is an Iyrman.’

“Say, Entalia, how many Dragons are there in Drakkenlan?” Adam asked, wondering if he should make meeting with a Dragon a part of the deal. 

“At least one,” she said. “The Iyr will have to assume how many other Dragons are in Drakkenlan.”

“Oh,” Adam said. “Right, sorry.”

“The Iyr is such a scary place,” she said, looking to Strom, before her eyes fell to the Chief. “Though, the Iyr should remember, there are places which are scarier than the Iyr.”

“We understand,” the Chief replied. “There are a great number of places which possess creatures which are more powerful than the Iyr, some even holding such creatures in great numbers.”

“Yet, none are as blessed by Baktu as you and yours.”

Chief Iromin nodded his head slowly. 

“I should leave,” Entalia said. “The smell is getting too much for me.” She pulled away. 

“Toodaloo,” Strom said, waving his fingers at her. 

“Let’s not meet ever again,” Entalia said.

“You’re leaving? It’s the Nightval festival, and my sister hasn’t gotten to play with you,” Adam said.

“I have matters to attend to before Twilight Month, and I’m cutting it too close,” she said.

“Good luck,” Adam said, shaking her forearm. 

Entalia was escorted away.

“Now that the missus is gone, we can finally talk,” Adam joked, scooting up to Strom. “Why did you retire to the Iyr?”

“The Iyr is…” Strom closed his eyes, remembering the Iyr of the past. “There are many places I could have retired to. There are some with breath taking views. There are some with great fights. There are some with great company. There are some with great food.”

Adam smiled.

“There are some places which do have all of these things, but there’s one thing the Iyr also has,” Strom said.

“What’s that?”

Strom smiled. “My old friend.”

“Whose your friend?” Adam asked, having no clue. 

“You are quite the youngster,” Strom said, chuckling quietly. 

“He has quite the story to tell,” the Chief said, wondering if Adam had picked up the hint.

“A story, you say?” Strom’s lips grew wide. “Will you tell it to me?”

“If you tell me who you really are,” Adam said.

“That knowledge is dangerous and bound to get you killed,” Strom said.

“Really?” Adam asked, looking to the Chief.

The Chief did not respond.

“Never mind then,” Adam said. “Though, I still want something in return.”

“What would you like for this tale of yours?” Strom asked.

“I want…” Adam said, before thinking about what he should ask for. “I want you to reward me something after hearing my story then.”

“If it is a good story, I will reward you,” Strom said. 

“Fine then,” Adam said. “I’ll tell you it.”

“We shall leave you,” Sonarot said, taking Lanarot, who dropped the spear. She hacked and began to whimper and cry, but Sonarot tickled her cheek with some snow, which caused the girl to twitch and giggle up at her mother. 

“Adam,” Jurot said. “Tell the story well.”

“That’s up to the dice,” Adam said. 

‘He is too taken with Warriors and Wanderers,’ Jurot thought, leaving.

The Chief brought some snacks, as well as some wine for them, before taking a seat nearby. He had to stay near this Guest at all times.

“It was a dark and stormy night,” Adam began, causing Strom to lean in forward, regaling him with the tale. 

“That is quite the story!” Storm laughed, drinking his wine.

“Can you believe it?” Adam asked. “What an asshole! Two times! Twice! Deus! Killing me once wasn’t enough?” Adam sipped the rest of his wine, his cheeks completely flush. 

“How dare he kill you twice!” Strom said. “Even when I slaughtered my foes, I only killed them once!”

“Right, right!” Adam said.

“He should have let you live in peace, especially after you managed to seduce the little lady back then. Then there’s that Winterdotr, what’s going to happen to her now?”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Adam slammed the table. “You know, Strom. You’re not so bad after all. Even if Entalia doesn’t like you, I think you’re alright.”

“It is rare to meet a young man as interesting as you,” Strom said. 

“Right? I’m pretty interesting, right?” Adam grinned wide, sipping more of the win, before he started to sway. “That doesn’t matter to me. I just want to make sure… this time… this…” Adam almost fell forward, but Strom caught him by his chest, laying his head gently on some thick furs. 

“Oh dear,” Strom said. “It seems I’ve taken his time away from the festival. I’m too old to be doing that sort of thing away.”

An Iyrman took Adam away to return him back to his home. 

“I can’t leave the wine unfinished,” Strom said, before drinking the rest of the wine. “Is there any more?” 

The Chief placed down some wine for him, which Strom picked up, as well as another cup, before he began to trek through the snowy Iyr, with the Chief following behind him. He followed a particular pathway, heading near the gate of the Big Iyr, but into a tunnel, which wrapped around and went upwards on a light incline. They walked for a few minutes, the path illuminated by tiny gems which gently glowed in the dark, runes connected each together. Then they came to a courtyard, no larger than those he had seen thus far, with a field of various flowers and herbs all about them. The wall opposite was covered by vines. 

The Chief stopped, a whisper tickling deep within his mind, before pulling away, leaving Strom alone. 

No, he was not alone.

“It’s been quite some time since we last spoke,” Strom said, placing down the cups, before pouring into them. “What do you mean you don’t drink? I’ve come all this way after how long, and you won’t share a drink with me? So what if it’s from the Iyr, that’s beside the point!”

The cup disappeared into the vines, and Strom sipped some of his wine. “Do you still go by, what was it, Elder Story? I’ve always thought it was a cute name.” Strom chuckled. “Yes, yes, I know. Which reminds me, that boy, isn’t he…” Strom paused, listening to Elder Story’s response. “I have to admit, I can’t remember much of the past. It was so long ago. To think that, since then…” Strom sighed, sadly. 

The cup reappeared, empty, and Strom poured some more. “It seems I’ll be leaving first. Will you be lonely without me?” A crimson snake wrapped around his arm, before licking the back of his hand. “There’s no need for that. I’ve lived a long life, in no small part thanks to you and yours. Some might say I’ve lived too long.” He sighed. 

“I know that one of mine was quite rude to you back then, but I hope that you won’t bully him too much. He cried so much when he returned to me.” Strom laughed. “He was so cute, I almost thought he was a baby.”

Strom continued to drink in silence after, until the wine was finished, and only the air accompanied the pair. “You’ll look after them, won’t you?”

The crimson snake licked the back of his hand. Strom smiled at the response, before closing his eyes, falling fast asleep. 

 

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Who is this old man? How does he know Elder Story? Will Adam really marry Entalia?

Who knows?