Later in the day, Adam met with the porters and farmers to expiuation to them. None seemed to have any issues with heading north to deal with Sir Landon’s request, though they could see the annoyance, and worry, on Adam’s face.

  ‘Seriously, I should be helping Dunes…’

  “What is this for?” Jaygak asked. Her eyes were glued to the gems Adam had pced down before her.

  “For the pte mail,” Adam replied, simply. “It’s what, a thousand and five hundred or so? I pay for at least a third of it.”

  Jaygak wasn’t sure if she should accept it, but Adam’s threat hung within her mind. “Thank you, Adam.” ‘I’ll pay a visit to the bank ter…’

  “Any time,” Adam replied, nodding his head towards the Devilkin, before leavio stew in her awkwardness. He saw Nobby in the er, his arms crossed as he thought deeply. Adam wondered why so many people were crossing their arms retly, w if he had done so too. ‘Is it because of Jurot?’

  “Hey, Nobby,” Adam called as he sat opposite the rge Expert.

  “Hello, mister boss.”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “I want to tell mother and father.”

  “Oh?” Adam smiled slightly. “Should we write a letter back to them?”

  “I ’t write.”

  “I’ll write it,” Adam said. “Your mother read it out for everyone.”

  “Thank you, mister boss.”

  “Should we keep it a secret that you woour?” Adam asked. “We write that you did well, and you send bae gold to them. When we meet them ter, you tell them properly.”

  “Okay.”

  Adam assisted Nobby in writing a letter, writing that he’s been doing well, and that he fought well iour. He kept most of it vague, though mentioned some of Nobby’s feats during his battles, and how he had assisted in fighting three hydras. Adam prepared the gold to be sent bae, a sum of fifty gold, which was around three months of det pay for a bourer, as well as a scale from one of the hydras.

  ‘Ah,’ Adam thought once he had sent the payment back to the family. ‘I think the money should be running out about now?’ Adam thought about how much he should send back to Nobby’s family, as well as to Brittany, sihey had done quite well under him. ‘Should I send baoney each month, or should I increase the length of time?’

  After thinking oter, Adam decided to send back ten gold each month into their at, ten going into Brittany’s at, and aen going to Nobby’s parents. ‘Should be alright if they get sent this much.’

  The guild worker’s face remained ral as Adam pced down so much money for the two different at they had at the guild. The payments were going to run out soon, but Adam had refilled them on time. The amount he had handed over, and the amount to be given monthly, meant it would take a while for the ats to finish settling the gold. She wasn’t sure if anyone had asked for such a request previously in her years of w at the guild.

  The Adventurer’s Guild fell silent as a heavily armoured knight appeared. She wore full pte mail, each piegraved with all manner of symbols. Her cape was thick, a deep blue which represehe Duchess’ personal guard, with golden trim also designed with tiny patterns which shimmered in the light. She carried a bde at her side with was slightly lohan a typical bde, seemingly made silver, with blue gem ats for the pommel and hilt.

  Her heavy steps had silehe Adventurer’s Guild, but her sheer size and presence forced the sileo lihe knight marched towards Adam, her shifting armour breaking the silence, before she stopped abruptly before the Half Elf who she currently towered over.

  “Fate’s Golden,” she began. “You have the honour of meeting with the Duchess in the m.”

  Adam bowed his head.

  “It is permissible to wear either a breastpte or a shirt, and to carry a simple dagger at your side,” the knight tinued.

  Adam gnced over to the Iyrmen, w what their opinions were on this matter.

  “Does that include we Iyrmen?” Kitool asked.

  The knight turned her head to face Kitool. She tensed for a moment, but upon recalling what the Duchess had stated, she paused. “No. You have been grahe rights to appear with your armour and ons, but Her Grace’s grace.”

  “We will do as requested,” Adam replied.

  “The carriages will be prepared three hours before noon. You are expected to not offend the Duchess with either yht or st. We expect every member to be present, except for extraordinary circumstances. I will personally lead the warriors sent to escort you.”

  Adam’s entire ensed up as he refrained form making a joke, almost grinding his teeth. “We feel reassured that someone of such great importance is willing to escort us.”

  “Yes,” the knight replied, simply. She turned a abruptly, with a gait which suggested she had more important pces to be.

  ‘She hasn’t started a fight with us yet?’ Adam thought. ‘How scary…’

  “You should n y,” Jurot said.

  “My what?”

  “Y.”

  “…”

  Jurot switched to their tohe ring of Wraith.”

  “Ah,” Adam replied. “Right.” ‘I don’t really feel fortable not having Wraith with me, though.’

  XP: 14 500

  ‘Hmmmm.’

  XP: 14 500 -> 13 000Gained on Bond!

  ‘I’m going in without a way to defend myself,’ Adam thought. ‘Especially since she’s invited Lud Mara.’

  “…” Mara’s eyes fell to Adam for a moment, before her attentiouro the surroundings.

  Adam could feel the geingle in the back of his head. ‘It’s all going too well. Should I have really picked the Duchess? If it was anreat noble family, we could have worked just as well with them. If we end up fighting our way out…’ Adam sighed. ‘Who am I kidding? There’s no way we fight our way out of the Duchess’ estate. If she wants to kill us, then it’s really up to her. I should probably send word back to the Iyr…’

  Once evening fell, Adam rexed in his bed. He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts full of the potential dangers in the near future.

  Mana: 21 -> 18

  “Hello there. I hope you’re all well. We have such a story to tell you. Please tell Lanababy and my children I love them. Night.”

  “We are well. We will wait for the story. Okay. Please send Jurot my love. Thank you. Good night, Adam.”

  “Jurot,” Adam said, as Jurot opened his door. “Your mother sends her love.”

  Jurot blinked. “Yes?”

  “I cast Sending,” Adam said.

  Jurot nodded. “Please tell her that I love her.”

  Adam waited. “Okay.”

  Adam returned back to his room to cast the spell once more.

  Mana: 18 -> 15Spell: Sending

  “Hello there. Jurot says he loves you too. Please also send it to Lanababy and the other children too. Also my love to Gurot and-,” Adam noticed the magic fade. ‘ht, twenty five words.’

  “Okay. I will. Please take good care. We will wait for your return. Konarot, Kirot, and Karot return your love.”

  Adam smiled upon hearing the names of his triplets. ‘Those little rascals! How could they do this to me? What an adorable set of brats! I love you all so much! Should I cast some more to you?’

  Jurot remained in bed, staring at the ceiling. He wondered if there was a way for him to learn Sending too. He tried to remember the price of the stones.

  Omen: 9, 14

  The entire group bathed in the m. Adam wondered if he should have brought some sted soap from nearby. He had spent some of the m assisting in ing their clothes and armour with his magic, before he went to bathe.

  He donned his puthral breastpte over himself, padding his ned shoulders with extra cloth so they chafed him less. He carried no ons, but had spent some time meditating with Wraith, befiving Jurot the ring to wear.

  “I don’t really know where else to put it,” Adam said.

  Jurot held the ring. He supposed that it was fine for him to wear the ring, since Adam was the one who couldn’t bring it with him, but he, as an Iyrman, could. He wondered how Adam would have reacted if the Iyrmen couldn’t bring their armour or ons. Jaygak, out of respect, wore just her breastpte, but carried Stormdrake at her side.

  “We will guarantee your safety,” Jurot assured the pair of Demons. “The Duchess is no fool.”

  “Mother Soza will watch over us,” Sir Vonda added, smiling from under her scarf.

  “I have a duty to my liege,” Mara replied, simply. “If we are not able to take our ons, then-,”

  “Fine,” Lucy grumbled quietly. “If yoing to guara, then I’ll go.”

  Mara fell silent, and handed over the rings to the Iyrmen. Kitool took the rings, slipping them onto her fingers.

  ‘Hmm. I should really guarantee our safety…’

  Mana: 21 -> 18Spell: Sending

  I o write in my notes how long the payments will st.