The heavy greatsword fell like the rain around them, the crimson shield barely mao tain the vicious force within the blow. The crimson shield, spttered with rain, threateo dent uhe might of the Butcher’s bde, which crackled with great magic.

  “Marmak!” Jarot shouted, raising his axe.

  The axe met the side of the Iyrman’s flesh, but he was no simple Iyrman, for he was Marmak, the Butcher. Though the axe tore into his side, it did not break through his flesh, which was as hard as the steel which struck it.

  “Jarot!” Marmak’s entire body, hot red with rage, strained as he tried to cleave the Mad Dog in half.

  Jarot’s red hot body also strained as his axe dug into Marmak’s shoulder, while the greatsword struck against the crimson shield, the red steel flexing as the blow tore through the rest of Jarot’s arm, threatening to fracture his bone.

  “Jarot! Marmak!” Zaool shouted, the fsh of lightning illuminating him, while the rumble of thunder echoed across the nd. “Stop this at once!”

  Gangak sighed, the woman clutg her bde against her chest, watg the pair fight. “Do you believe those two will listen to you?”

  ‘Are they trying to kill each other?’ an advehought, watg as the Iyrmen fought. They had been ready to fight, seeing as how Marmak charged forward to assault the Iyrmen. However, the trio of Iyrmen beside the Iyrman with the crimson shield had remaianding to one side, mostly rexed.

  “What brings you so far south?” Marmak asked, bringing down his bde, readying to bisect the Mad Dog.

  “My son…” Jarot replied, before his eyes turned white, his entire body growing so hot the rain threateo turn to steam upon toug his bare skin, “was killed.”

  Marmak’s bde cshed with Jarot’s axe, the magical steel ringing in the air as the lightning fshed, the thunder rumbling all across them. Marmak’s face held a wild, vile grin.

  “How did he die?”

  “Fryn killed him,” Jarot said, his voice trembling with sheer rage. “That bastard killed my boy!” Jarot pressed the Butcher back with the new found rage within him, the Mad Dog like a force of nature rather than a wicked Iyrman.

  Marmak stepped back, partly due to the Mad Dog’s strength, but partly because of the shock of the sheer enmity within the Iyrman’s axe. ‘Fryn?’ Thoughts fshed within Marmak’s mind.

  “Was it Fakrot?”

  Jarot’s axe threateo tear into Marmak’s chest, though his axe stopped, his arm pulsing from slowing his arm in the instant. “…”

  “I met Fakrot and Chayrot a few weeks ago,” Marmak admitted. “…”

  “Fyn killed my son and daughter,” Jarot growled, his throat clogging up, his entire body still red hot with rage. The rain fell across his face, his hair falling down to his shoulders, dark a.

  “Jarot…” Marmak said, his rage filling him once more, his entire body fshing with a rage which matched that of Jarot’s. “Your daughter-,”

  “Jarot, Marmak,” called a voice from the darkness.

  Zaool shuddered, gng back towards the darkness, watg as the dark robed figures stepped towards the group of Iyrmen and adventurers. Otkan gheir way with a look, but she kept most of her attention towards the adventurers, her arms crossed, as though she wasn’t ready to fight them.

  Only the leading figure stepped forward, undoing her hood to reveal her bald head, aattoo, a deep blue semicircle in the tre, with the ft side pointed up, with deep red hollowed ovals emanating out from the tattoo. She held a staff in hand, made of the purest of whites.

  “Have you e to stop me?” Jarot asked, his body still red hot with rage.

  “There is news,” Shaool replied.

  The adventurers he Iyrmen turned ice cold, and by the time they had e to their sehey realised they had reached for their on. ‘Did they just… kill him?’

  In the instant the blood lust filled the air, the Iyrmen had moved. Jarot luowards Shaool, who did not move to act, irusting in her aura of tranquillity to defend herself. It did little against Jurot’s rage, though her cloaked panions each stepped forward, pinning Jarot’s body with their staves. The staves shook violently as they tried to keep the Iyrman pinned.

  It was at this time she had wished she were a Paragon, for she would o be su order to deal with the Mad Dog.

  “He is our brother,” Otkan’s voice cut through the air, the woman reag for her greatsword.

  “We will subdue him,” Zaool said, his eyes meeting Shaool’s.

  Shaool bowed her head. She darted back with her panions and Jarot chased after them, only to find Zaool in front of him. The Iyrman struck Jarot against his heart, energy exploding ihe raging Iyrman, before his entire body froze still.

  Zaool froze ioo, shocked it had worked so suddenly.

  Tangak and Otkan both struck Jarot with their bdes, pierg into his iron flesh, barely managing to cut into him even as he remaiill ihanks to Zaool’s abilities. Marmak watched as the trio of Iyrmen brought the Mad Dog down, until he was beaten unscious.

  ‘It’s been too long since I’ve been at your axe’s mercy,’ Zaool thought, panting lightly, his entire body wet with sweat.

  Shaool reached into her cloak and brought out a small vial filled with a light blue liquid, a glowing white strand floating within the light blue. She poured it into Jarot’s lips, the unscious Iyrman’s body swallowing it with the help of her guiding the liquid through his throat with her energy.

  “What is it?”

  “It will help with his ragefever,” Shaool replied, saying no more about the liquid.

  Marmak stared at the unscious Iyrman for a long moment. He turned aurned back to the adventurers.

  “Kal, why did we have to leave?” an adventurer asked, hearing the gentle rain dropping against armour, his eyes towards the Kal beside him, who looked towards Marmak.

  “It is best to leave them alone for now,” Marmak replied.

  The adventurers gnced between one another, befng towards their noble leader. The leader did not reply. He could still feel the blood lust which had filled the air and had caused his heart to stop for a moment.

  ‘How terrifying!’

  ‘Fryn…’ Marmak thought, his eyes narrowing.

  It was at that time, Marmak had made a decision which had ged the meaning of his niame. A year ter, and he had disappeared from Aswadasad, thought dead.

  ‘He’s still alive?’ Korin thought, his eyes glued to the Iyrman before him. ‘The Butcher!’

  “You want to fight me?” Adam asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I want to see if you worthy of my granddaughter.”

  “What do you mean worthy of yranddaughter?” Adam replied back, pointing at the Iyrman. “Is yranddaughter…” He ched his fist. ‘Stop being an idiot, damn it.’

  “Are you threatening my grandson?” Jarot growled towards the older Iyrman.

  “Whose grandson?”

  “I wish to fight him.”

  “There is no need for you to fight him.”

  “It is only fun.”

  “Fun?” Jarot’s eyes narrowed. He switched to the Iyr’s tongue. “Do you believe the words you’re saying?”

  “Since he’s asked me to fight in front of my kids, I guess I have to fight,” Adam joked, before noting the looks he received from both Jarot and Gangak. ‘Eh?’

  “If yrandson wishes to fight, then we may.” Marmak’s lips formed a small smirk.

  “Although, I have to warn you… I’ve never lost in front of the kids.”

  “If you defeat me, it is only an honour for you. If you are defeated by me, it is still your honour.”

  “I don’t io lose.”

  “Good!” Marmak began to chuckle with delight, already feeling the heat flood through his entire body.

  “Although, let’s be clear… whether or not I marry your daughter, it’s not up to you or me. It’s up to whether she marries me, and whether my children end up accepting her.”

  “My granddaughter will be accepted by your children,” Marmak assured.

  “I hope she doesn’t feel too bad about her grandfather beien by some kid.” Adam’s eyes twinkled mischievously.

  Marmak roared with ughter, though it was cut short by Gangak’s words.

  “Step back, Adam,” the old woman said iongue, her gre serious. “If you are so eager to fight, I will fight you.”

  “What need of I to beat you in front of yreatchildren?” Marmak replied, his eyes meeting Gangak’s.

  “It is no dishonour for me to lose against you.”

  “Hey,” Adam interrupted iongue. “Let’s just stop this.” ‘They really don’t wao fight?’ Adam wasn’t sure why he was being asked to step back, sidering the reputation of Iyrmen. He also didn’t want Gangak to fight, sidering she was so certain she would lose against this Iyrman. ‘Gangak’s the best of the Gaks. If she loses…’

  Taygak watched the se with a hint of excitement within her eyes. She looked up towards her mrandmother, fight?”

  “She may,” Kaygak firmed, sipping her milk. Her thoughts were very different to Adam’s, who did not want Taygak to watch her grandaunt’s loss. ‘The fight will inspire Taygak.’

  “Grandaunt, I’ll fight,” Jaygak called. “It will be my honour!”

  Raygak gasped, his eyes darting to his sister. ‘She is to fight Marmak?’

  ‘Who is this old man anyway?’ Adam thought, suddenly feeling like he was out of his depth.

  Adam is finally the fused one for onbsp;