The girl remained cuddled within the old man’s chest, sucking her thumb while one hand gripped upon his shirt, snoozing away the noonval day within the shade of her family’s warmth and affection. 

Shasen remained with the girl, an arm cradling her tenderly, meanwhile he stared up at the sky, half asleep himself from exhausting himself within the day. Due to the girl’s expectant gaze, he had swung his blade for far too long, revealing the techniques of the Sen family to the girl, the beautiful swordplay his own father had mesmerised him with when he was but a boy, perhaps as young as her, though he assumed she would not remember these days, as many would not. 

“Virot,” called a voice, before a hand brushed her cheek. “Virot, wake up, my little Vi.”

The girl started to awaken, her eyes narrowing in annoyance as she was within the depths of a peaceful, gentle slumber, sleeping in the way that was opposite of a baby. The girl let out a huff, pushing up against her babo’s chest, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand, soiling her greatuncle’s shirt with her drool. Shasen forgave her, for her sweet, warm, innocent smile could do such a thing.

“Babo…” the girl called sleepily, causing the other old Iyrman to smile. 

“Oh ho, did this greatuncle of yours awaken you from sleeping so well? Oh ho, how could he do this?” Malfev asked, reaching over to tickle her nose gently, causing the girl to giggle and smile, until she finally allowed him to pick her up, the old man planting a firm kiss upon her cheek.

“Babo.”

“It seems your kaka misses you too much, so I must take you,” the old man said, pulling the girl close to his chest, the tiny little one inhaling deeply, smelling the old man’s woody scent, while he checked her clothy to see if he needed to change it. 

“Kaka?” Virot asked, her tired eyes narrowing slightly as the fuzzy feeling filled her heart, for her kaka was her kaka, which was different to her mother, in some way, but she did not know the ways it was different, and so as far as she was concerned, her kaka was her mummy that she called something slightly different. 

“Ready?”

“Mm!” the girl replied, while the old man pulled her into his robe, then wrapped a cloth around them, tying it to the side, so the girl could cuddle up to his chest as he ran. 

“How big you have grown, my Virot,” Malfev said, her eyes twinkling. “I may not be able to run as fast?”

“Babo!” Virot cackled lightly. 

“Say bye to babo Shasen.”

“Bye bye, babo.” The girl waved her hand towards the old man, who waved in return, doing the same for Damrot, who was tied to his greatmother’s chest. 

Damrot stared up at his greatmother, the air rushing by as she ran alongside her brother. He blinked up at his greatmother, who kept an arm around him, keeping pace with her elder brother. He smiled, cuddling up to her bosom, sucking upon his thumb as he clutched at her collar, closing his eyes as he returned to his nap, until the boy’s thoughts filled his mind and he glanced up to check if his greatmother was still holding him. 

“Damrot, did you nap well?”

“Mm,” the boy confirmed. “Nap.”

“If you are still tired, you may return to your nap, you need not to worry within my arms.”

“Nano…”

The woman smiled down towards him, the boy shyly smiling in return, before they cuddled once more and Damrot returned to his nap.

Malfev glanced aside to notice how his sister kept up with him. The feeling was comforting, for it meant if push came to shove, he could send her out instead of himself, for they were of equal speed. However, he thought of how fun it could be to tease her when she would be unable to catch up to him, leaving her across the horizon. ‘Should I reach for the title of Paragon? The Peak?’

“You are moving too swiftly,” Shiool stated, the old woman clasping her hands behind her back, her hair cut short, shaved at the sides and back, barely a fingernail thick atop her head, while adorned in plain clothing. She carried upon her back a staff seemingly made of gold, the Golden Staff of Rajaput, from the far east, even further than even the Confederacy. “The young ones cannot keep up.”

Behind them, the several Iyrmen, each in their forties or so, Masters, each of the various families who fought unarmoured, and often unarmed, panted for air, having already spent some effort to keep up with them, but they would be unable to do so for long. 

“The children these days,” Malfev tutted. “I worry since the Reavers have come.”

“Is it not our fault for not teaching them well?” Mulrot joked.

Malfev sighed. “Virot, I will teach you to be swift of foot, so you may cause greater trouble.”

“Damrot, I will teach you to be swift of foot, so you may watch over her.”

The older Iyrmen chuckled, the middle aged Iyrmen focused upon their own breathing, so unable to laugh, but thankfully the older Iyrmen decided to take it a little easier upon them. The dozen or so Iyrmen, three of whom who were near Grandmasters, the rest at least Masters, continued to speed along to the Front Iyr. 

It would be typical for them to take half as many, when it came to taking this many children, perhaps just a third, but since the Reavers had been spotted so close, the Iyr took no chances at all, so the Fev, Ool, and the Rot, who was once a Fev, each escorted the two children, as though they were the Prince and Princess of a nation, but within the Iyr, they were greater.

While the two were taken to the Front Iyr, their father greeted the guests, waving goodbye to the pair as they stepped away. 

Jeras stepped out, bowing his head to the guards he had troubled not long ago, perhaps a little too foolishly, but he had smelled the opportunity to make a mountain of gold, and in a city like Jabal Adh Dahab, such was worth much more. 

Except, somehow, the half elf had not taken to him, a cousin, but his wife, who had been taught by Flame Brand. Jeras hadn’t been ignored, exactly, but the half elf had spent much more time speaking with the older woman, who also greeted the other Gaks within the group, and when the other Iyrmen returned, had spoken with them too, speaking of her tales, and listening to theirs. 

“What is wrong, my leaf?” Insaf asked. 

“I was just thinking about what my dear cousin had said.”

“What?”

Jeras let out a small sigh, furrowing his brows, growing in annoyance. “How could he say he married the most wonderful wife when he met-,” Jeras ducked under the woman’s hand, though it grabbed the back of his shirt, and pulling him up, the older woman narrowing her eyes towards him. 

“If you are thinking of such troublesomeness, then think of something useful at least!” Insaf grumbled at him, for her heart was burdened by the silver token the half elf had handed to her. 

‘You let this nephew of yours know what kind of magical weapon you want and I’ll make sure the Enchanter makes you a nice one!’

While at the estate, John noted the half elf, and how satisfied he seemed. It was that kind of satisfaction, as though he had spent too much gold, in the best way possible. 

‘Don’t worry, grandmother! Just you wait!’ Adam beamed so brightly that evening, his companions left him be, glad he was out of his slump. Even when the stranger approached, the half elf seemed to eager to fight them, calling Jonn to bring his armour, even though they had yet stated their intention to fight. 

It was that evening when trouble met trouble. 

Indeed, for how else could anyone describe such a scene?

“Virot!” Jirot almost screamed, the girls almost slamming against one another, though Virot had stopped to allow Jirot to hug her tight, the pair squealing and bouncing as they greeted one another, Jirot peppering the girl’s face all over. 

“Kaka!” Virot squealed with joy, hugging her sister tight as the pair exchanged kisses and their affection. 

Little Jarot also waited for his turn to hug his little sister, the boy beaming so brightly, one might have thought he would seem eager to fight someone, though they had yet stated their intention to fight. 

“Papa!” Virot finally called, allowing Jarot to embrace her, also to kiss her all over, for though the boy was hesitant to eat food, he did not hesitate when it came to adoring his sister. 

Konarot picked up Damrot, hugging the boy tight, the boy shyly smiling up at his older cousin. The girl’s tail swayed from side to side, brushing his hair gently. “Okay?”

“Okeh…”

Konarot kissed his forehead, allowing the others to greet him too. 

Mulrot and Vonda exchanged looks between one another, for though Jirot had certainly missed her sister so, they all had missed the two toddlers. Vonda was glad to see her daughter’s mind off the darkness of missing her father, for if anyone could keep it away, if it was not Vonda, it was Virot, for it was probably not her father’s presence, but the presence of his trouble.

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I hope they never grow up, these adorable children of ours.