“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 ot alloons to be used against us. We have taken into at your friendship, but there are limits which must be respected.”

  “What if he used the enting spires of Drakkenalia asked.

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

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

  “Then, if I request a on from you iure, will you e and ent in our try?” she asked.

  Adam sighed, thinking about the matter. ‘I guess?’ “If…” Adam tio 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 pns. I don’t want to be enting too loher, but I guess I could.”

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

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

  “On foot?”

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

  “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, make ons which are slightly higher thaer. 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 entments I’d like on the amethicule ons,” she said. ‘Legendary? How does he know how to make legendary onry? That’s fug 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 Drakkenn?” Adam asked, w 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 Drakkenn.”

  “Oh,” Adam said. “Right, sorry.”

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

  “We uand,” the Chief replied. “There are a great number of pces which possess creatures which are more powerful than the Iyr, some even holding such creatures i 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 mue.” She pulled away.

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

  “Let’s not meet ever agaialia said.

  “You’re leaving? It’s the Nightval festival, and my sister hasn’t gotten to py 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 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 pces I could have retired to. There are some with breath taking views. There are some with great fights. There are some with great pany. There are some with great food.”

  Adam smiled.

  “There are some pces which do have all of these things, but there’s ohing 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, chug quietly.

  “He has quite the story to tell,” the Chief said, w 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 iurn.”

  “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.

  “Fihen,” 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 twitd 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 his 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!” Sthed, drinking his wine.

  “ 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 pletely flush.

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

  “Right, right!” Adam said.

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

  “That’s what I’m saying!” Adam smmed 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 iing as you,” Strom said.

  “Right? I’m pretty iing, 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, ying 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 ’t leave the wine unfinished,” Strom said, before drinking the rest of the wine. “Is there any more?”

  The Chief pced 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 folloarticur pathway, headihe gate of the Big Iyr, but into a tunnel, which ed around a upwards on a light ine. They walked for a few mihe path illuminated by tiny gems which gently glowed in the dark, runes ected each together. Then they came to a courtyard, ner 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 tig deep within his mind, before pulling away, leaving Strom alone.

  No, he was not alone.

  “It’s been quite some time since we st spoke,” Strom said, pg down the cups, before p into them. “What do you mean you don’t drink? I’ve e 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 ’t remember much of the past. It was so long ago. To think that, sihen…” 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 ed around his arm, before lig 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 wheuro me.” Strom ughed. “He was so cute, I almost thought he was a baby.”

  Strom tio drink in sileer, until the wine was finished, and only the air apahe 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?