ocean-life [1140] – Y06.040 – Answers II
[1140] – Y06.040 – Answers II
[1140] – Y06.040 – Answers II
“Man, you guys are so funny,” Adam said, reaching down to ruffle Lanarot’s hair.
“You are in the presence of the Countess,” the First Oakguard stated.
“What? You think I’m wearing some kind of helmet so I can’t see?” Adam replied, his eyes narrowing towards the First Oakguard. “Are you some kind of Paragon, talking to me like that?”
“Adam,” Vonda said, reaching out a hand, placing it upon Adam’s.
Adam’s eyes darted towards his wife’s, and the half elf’s demeanour relaxed once more, the young man smiling wide. “It is really funny, though. I mean, I showed you guys, Red Oak, so much favour. It was... it is a beautiful town. I remember walking into it for the first time and just being in awe. Vice Master Paul, he’s always been nice to me, so I did my best to show your town favour, Countess.”
‘What kind of connection does he have with the Vice Master?’ the Countess thought, the flashes of that bronze skinned fellow filling her mind, his gaunt face, his exhausted eyes.
“When we formed the business, I was the one to make sure Red Oak received the Enchanter’s favour, sending all those weapons to be auctioned. Even after how poorly I was treated by the High Alchemist. Man, I...” Adam sighed, as though already exhausted of the Aldishmen. “I remember, I wanted to buy some wood, the titular red oak. I wanted to buy it for my handsome brother here. Each time I was rebutted, rebuked, rebutted and rebuked. I thought, fine, you know, I haven’t done enough for Red Oak, that’s fair. I remember, though, we had that situation, you remember Jurot?”
“I remember,” Jurot replied.
“I was trying to buy... I want say it was saddlebags for my horse. I went to buy some, and after taking my money, the woman wouldn’t make them for me. Someone had been going around, making sure I couldn’t buy stuff, but thankfully, I was able to procure something eventually, I think in Ever Green, but it might have been someone else in Red Oak.”
“What an unfortunate circumstance,” the Countess replied, narrowing her eyes slightly at the half elf. “What does that have to do with my request?”
“I... wanted so much from Red Oak. I wanted to give so much to Red Oak. I was constantly... rebuked, rebutted. Rebutted, rebuked.” The half elf’s eyes glazed over slightly as he reminisced, before a smile slipped across his lips once more. “Now? Now the Countess herself comes. All this way. Wow. Just for little old me?”
“I came for the bodies of the great warriors.”
“Hmm! Right, of course! How could I forget!” Adam grinned wider. “The Countess herself, she came for the bodies of the great warriors of the various Orders, sorry, the one Order now isn’t it? High Garden, what a beautiful name for an Order too, might I add. Anyway, you came for the Order, and then you heard something interesting. This young kid. This no good, filthy leaf ear that I kept hearing-,”
“Be wary of your words,” Chloe interrupted the half elf, taking a step beside the Countess.
“That I kept hearing about!” Adam raised his voice lightly, glaring at the Oakguard. “Huh! Who is this brat? This punk? He keeps showing up again and again, and now I’ve heard he’s killed the Grand Commander? Isn’t he just twenty something? Twenty four, to be exact, like my wife, and my brother.”
Jurot held onto his sister, fairly certain the half elf was joking, but even he was shocked. If Adam was going so far as to speak such words, it was bad.
No, it’s wasn’t bad.
It was terrible.
‘What?’ the Countess thought, unsure of how to take it, for she had no idea who the Frech were.
“Watch your tongue, young man,” Juge stated firmly. “You are no Iyrman.”
“Heh,” Adam replied, his lips forming a gentle smile. “You are just a Paragon?”
Lanarot went from shock to incredulity, smirking slightly towards the Aldish fellow, the girl cackling lightly up towards Jurot.
‘...’ Juge filled with annoyance, but he knew better than to draw his blade, especially not in front of the child. The Countess had warned him well enough.
“You’re smart enough to know you need a bigger army if you want to take a shot at me, Lady Redoak. The Marquess learnt that lesson the hard way.”
“If I were to deal with you, I would plan appropriately.”
“Double it,” Adam said.
“Adam!” Vonda raised her voice, her face stern, the woman glaring up at her husband. Her eyes then darted towards Countess Redoak. “Lady Redoak, I expected this much from Adam, but you have allowed this joke to go too far. Adam, I expect you to respect the customs of my culture, as you would your brother’s.”
Adam turned beet red, the half elf’s face full of the heat of shame. “Right... sorry.”
“Adam must step back because he is no Iyrman, but you may do as you wish,” Jurot said, ruffling his sister’s hair.
“I know! It is because I am an Iyrman!” Lanarot exclaimed, cackling with delight, not a single hint of fear filling the woman.
As the girl exclaimed, a horn blasted in the distance, and Jurot stood, reaching for his axe, while Adam reached down for his dagger, and Vonda stood swiftly, the pair of blades before her not deterring the woman.
Sorry for missing the last two days, I've been going through some health issues recently.