“Vonda!” Adam called out, bursting into the room, almost knog the nurses aside, finding his wife ying within a bed, teo by at least four mermen.

  “Adam…” Vonda replied, having heard his steps from afar, already having calmed herself. She held out her hand towards the half elf, who took it within his own, uainty clouding his eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Vonda smiled warmly, though the wrinkles around her brows were more straihan normal.

  “…” Adam swallowed. He couldn’t dare to ask the other question on his mind, his heart thundering within his chest as he brought the back of her fio his forehead.

  Jurot gowards Vonda and Adam, having followed Adam so silently, he was certain his brother had no idea he was there. He stepped aside, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms. ‘It will be fine…’ Yet, the silen his heart began to fill with something else.

  “Vonda…” Adam tio hold her hand against his forehead. ‘You damn idiot! How didn’t you notice your own wife regnant? Seriously, man! You goddamn… shit! Shit!’

  Vonda could feel Adam’s grip grow ever so slightly tighter, before she also squeezed his haly, causing the half elf to e back to the world.

  “I’ll go speak with Lord Sozain.”

  “I will pray to Mother Soza.”

  “Yeah…” Adam kissed the back of his wife’s hand, before charging away, not yet spotting Jurot’s presence. “Prince Morkarai, where is the temple?”

  “I will lead you to it.”

  “I’ll go…” Adam wao go alone, but uood it robably best to take the Prih him, just in case he found himself in trouble. “Alright.”

  Several statues awaited for Adam, each made of marble, untouched by the water of the o. The details were fine, almost lifelike, save for the faces, as pin as simple stohe statues were formed in the image of the various mermen, and though some were rger than others, the total mass of the statues seemed to be simir.

  Adam dropped down in front of the statue of the small merman boy sitting atop the throne of skulls and coral, the face pinly staring towards the half elf. Adam kowtowed before the statue, his forehead pressed firmly against the floor, his hands oher side of his head.

  “I know. I know I don’t pray to you enough. I know, I know.” Adam swallowed, and even with Prince Morkarai’s gaze upon his pathetic sight, the half elf gave away whatever shred of dignity he had. “I’ve begun paying my taxes to you, and it may not be enough, but just this once, Lord Sozain. Just this once. Whatever you want, whatever you need, but don’t take them away from me. Just this once.”

  Prince Morkarai wasn’t sure how he felt. The phrase Adam used hrase he was so used to, but rather than begging the God of Death to ighe domain he possessed, it was a joke for the children around him. Morkarai watched as Adam slipped his hands into his tunic, slipping out two diamonds cut in a particur manner. He pced them upon the bowl, the diamonds cttering, eg within the private temple space, white and bare, speckled only by the patterns of marble.

  Adam clutched at his amulet, tight within his hand, his eyes shut tight. ‘Please, Lord Sozain.’ He remained upon his knees for a long while, praying with all his heart, blog out the rest of the world around him.

  Morkarai silently crept towards aatue, that of the pin faced woman who held a bowl of fruit within her p, with one piece of fruit spicuously missing. He k before it, pg a gem within the bowl at her feet, and he prayed silently too. Though his heart thought of how futile this was, a thought passed through his mind. ‘If it’s Adam…’

  Adam had no idea how long he had prayed for, but as he returned back to the world, he felt his amulet almost searing his hands with how hot it had bee. He inhaled deeply, smelling the st of almost burning obsidian, before he let out a soft sigh. ‘Okay.’

  Morkarai followed the silent half elf as he returned back to the room, finding his wife fast asleep, her hands crossed over the amulet upon her chest. Adam sat down beside her, sitting there silently for some time, not even hearing Morkarai leave. Even then, Adam didn’t notice Jurot standing in the room to one side, before the Iyrman disappeared.

  ‘It’s going to be okay,’ Adam thought. ‘Everything’s going to be okay.’

  Jurot approached the figure standing in front of the statue of the pin faced boy sitting upon a throne of skulls and coral. He stared at the boy, who was no doubt Baktu, Lord Sozain, God of Death.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Jaygak said, reag out to pat Jurot’s side.

  “Okay,” Jurot replied, staring at the statue.

  “The Iyr will help.”

  Jurot remained silent.

  “They must.”

  Jurot didn’t reply.

  “I’ll cause a mess.”

  Jurot sighed. “We ot cause a mess.”

  “You do not o cause a mess,” Kitool said, approag from the shadows. “Ray Vonda is a Priest of Mahtu. A child of a Priest of Mahtu is born full of life.”

  Jaygak sighed, but even she couldn’t make a joke at this time. She stared at the statue, allowing Jurot and Kitool to add their diamonds to joihree other diamonds within the bowl. Jaygak inhaled deeply.

  ‘Please, Baktu.’

  Prince Morkarai sighed while he sat within the foot of the rge bed. He csped his hands together, resting his forehead against his fists. ‘I’m sorry, Adam, Vonda.’ He pressed his knuckles harder against his forehead, gritting his teeth, the shame flooding through him like the heat of the voloes. ‘I ret anything more.’

  “It’s going to be okay,” Lucy said, ying atop her bed, staring at the ceiling. “It has to be.”

  “It has to be,” Mara agreed, evehoughts preoccupied with the Adam, Vonda, and the troubled fate of their child.

  The Princess bathed, her own thoughts falling upon the new guests who had e to her city. She thought of her betrothed, who seemed to be far more pyful than she inally expected, but also meeker in many ways. She still didn’t uand what his gift truly was, though her thoughts then fell upon Adam.

  ‘Even his arrogance be stemmed by his seality.’ She thought of his needless as for her younger sister, but then thought of the unborn child whose life hung upon a thread, finely bang between life ah. The Princess was gd she had called upon the Priests to check upon the woman. ‘An unborn child bears no sin.’

  Darkness fell across the merman city, apanying the thoughts of those yearning for hope.

  Omen: 9, 19

  ‘Damn,’ Adam thought, staring at his Omen as he awoke. He had hoped he wouldn’t o use the good luck bequeathed to him by Fate. The young half elf remai his wife’s side before her eyes opened suddenly, and the young woman squirmed, befng to the side, shock within her eyes as she he body beside her, before she smiled.

  “Good m,” Adam said, reag out to hold her hand.

  “Good m.”

  “Nice dreams?”

  “I do not remember.”

  Adam brushed along her haly. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.”

  Adam slowly nodded his head, swallowing slightly. “I think everything’s going to be okay.”

  “I think so too.” Vonda smiled warmly.

  “Let’s stay a few more days and then head back to the Iyr.”

  “Ok.”

  “I’m sorry, Vonda.”

  “You do not have to apologise.” Vonda squeezed Adam’s haly. “I should remain at home now that I have married.”

  “A stay at home wife, eh? It feels awkward for you to do that sidering, ya know?”

  “sidering what?”

  Adam paused for a long moment. “I guess we’re pretty rich, so you do that?”

  Vonda smiled, her tired eyes narrowing slightly as she fought off the call to sleep.

  ‘Seriously! We ’t adventure because I ’t keep it in my pants? Where’s my husband and wife adventuring power couple fantasy? Damn it! Isn’t this meant to be a fantasy world? So why ’t babies just be born from magic?’

  Vonda tio brush along Adam’s hand tenderly with a finger, noting how he was thinking of something stupid. ‘Home…’ Vonda wondered if the Iyr was truly her home, quickly feeling the stress of her worries creep into her heart. “I would like to sleep longer. You should walk and clear your head.”

  “Alright,” Adam said, not wanting to go, but also not wanting to refuse his wife. The pair kissed one another’s cheeks before Adam slipped away, brimming with prideful annoyance. ‘I’m not whipped, I’m just wise enough to listen. I’m only listening to you because you’re so smart, aiful, and you’re the best, that’s all.’

  Once Adam stepped outside the room, a chill seeped within him, and suddenly whatever stupid jokes he had to protect himself crumbled, like a sandcastle against the waves. He shut the door and inhaled deeply, trying to still his nervous heart.

  ‘Everything’s going to be okay.’

  Adam walked through the halls, though his eyes barely saw aails around himself, uo admire the marvellous architecture around him, to smell the wonderful smells of the new nd he was expl, or hear the new, strange, curious sounds.

  “You are Adam?” called a voice, filled with the holier than thou attitude only the children of the worst criminals could possibly hold, or as one might call them, royalty.

  Adam stopped, closing his eyes, inhaling deeply, before he turned his head. He took in the sight of the rge merman, with a single guard beside him. He had long curly hair, and carried a golden trident upon his back, adorned in golden scales which shimmered shtly almost threatening to blind those too close.

  “You do not look s,” the merman said, grinning wide to reveal his wide teeth, each pointed like daggers.

  Adam’s forehead pulsed, reag up to his forehead, pressing his fingers against the pulsing bulge. “I’m not in the mood.”

  The merman narrowed his eyes, the smile fading from his lips and eyes. “Not in the mood? Why do I o care of your mood?” He reached up to pull his trident up, before smming it into the ground. “e. Draw your bde. I will see whether there is truth to my sister’s words.”

  “Hey,” Adam said, his eyes gring into the merman fool’s eyes. “I’m. Not. In.”

  Adam closed his eyes, turning his head as the merman threw water which seemingly appeared from owards his, feeling the ess against his cheek and neck, before it dripped onto his seasilk attire, which allowed the water to fall onto his feet.

  The merman spoke words in aongue, but Adam could already hear the barbarism that was noble civility.

  ‘They say he fought Sir Safu,’ the merman thought, staring at Adam, grinning wide towards him. ‘Heh. Let us see if he is any good.’

  The merman had heard a rumour from his own servants of this half elf, but there were some things he hadn’t heard. He hadn’t heard of Adam’s current worries. He hadn’t heard of how Prince Morkarai had asked Adam to step back. He hadn’t heard that Adam loved to relieve his stress by puttiing up nobles, with royalty being his absolute favourite. He hadn’t heard of who his grandfather was, who lived so many thousands of miles away, within rge walls whiot even the mermen dared to covet.

  Dawn weled the Iyr and its mighty walls, the light engulfing the walls. Many Iyrme about their lives, w little of the outside. Many Iyrmen teo the fields, others carried bits and pieces elsewhere upon their Elder’s and, their payment not gold as the Aldish or Aswadians, but the pride of building something greater.

  A particur one armed, one legged Iyrman, awoke early in the m, as the elderly teo. He walked along the perimeter of the extended family estate, though he hated walking so slowly, the g of his metal foot only heating his heart with a greater stubborhan he inally held. After his walk, the Iyrman began his workout, the same workout he pleted every m, from his various squats, to his push ups, to his pull ups, to utilizing the kettlebells, dambells, and barbells his grandson had created.

  Zirot inhaled sharply as she carefully lifted up the heavy barbell, one which remained in the same spot, weighing more than the average Iyrman, and only lifted in a particur way. There were many barbells upon the earth, each along various ns, each heavier tha. The er of the dead, the Iyrmen had dubbed it, for the so aptly named lift which had bee a favourite for the Iyrmen. There were few Iyrmen which could lift those towards the end, but many Iyrmen hovered around that se in particur.

  Zirot dropped the weight, it g against the floor, with the ft edge of the weights falling upon the soft earth beh, which had hardened uhe many lifts. She stretched out her back, befng to the side to see her brother, who was her husband’s brother by blood, and hers by marriage.

  The pair approached the field where many Iyrmen pleted their m spars, the soft wind cooling their sweaty bodies. The pair stretched their bodies, swung their axes, meditating within the feeling of w their old bodies.

  “I feel it,” Jarot admitted, breaking the silence. “It has been some time.”

  “I feel it at the ends of my axe,” Zirot agreed.

  Jarot gnced aside to his sister, smiling wildly. “It will grow harder for me to defeat you.”

  Zirot smiled. “I ot allow Tarot to beat me so easily.”

  Jarot thought of his brother who had left for quite some time. “I ot allow him to return more powerful than me. What will I say to Sarot when I go see him?”

  “You will have many years to think.”

  Jarot inhaled sharply, feeling the air rush through his lungs, his body crag as he warmed himself. “Yes.”

  “Yreatchildreoo young for you to leave just yet.”

  A back to back cliffhanger?