'Damn,' Adam thought, feeling the pressure of the Grand Duchess, and her heavily armuards, Sir Wid Sir Grover. 'What did I do this time?'

  "Drink!" the Grand Duchess anded, her dark grey eyes gring at the group. Her hair, white, like fresh snow, fell down her shoulders. Her wrireaked her face with time, like falling grains of sand in an hss.

  The Iyrmen drank their tea without worry, while Lucy peeked at the liquid for a moment, before cautiously sipping it. Mara wao speak up, but she decided against it, sipping the tea. Adam, of course, drank without a moment of hesitation, with only half a thought of poison.

  'I've got enough Health to deal with most poisons.'

  stitution SaveD20 + 7 = 17 (10)

  Adam hissed slightly, feeling the chill of the tea. He bliowards the Grand Duchess, w when she had decided to betray him like this. 'So this is the real ice tea?'

  "I wao thank you personally for watg over my great granddaughter," Grand Duchess Aeda began, raising her hand, and a servant emerged from the shadows. He held a chest, aly pced it upoable, the group hearing the jihin.

  Jurot narrowed his eyes towards the woode, made up of whiteoak of the North. His eyes darted up to meet the Grand Duchess' gaze, though her eyes were closed as she sipped her tea. '...'

  “It leasure,” Adam replied, before throwing a look to Kitool.

  “I have sent parcels on boo the Guild uhe name of your party, enough to craft a on or two, and some fragments which you gift to your siblings and children.”

  “Thank you very much,” Adam replied, sitting up a little taller, smiling wide. ‘Nice.’

  “Did you have any other requests before you leave?”

  “Well…” Adam gowards Sir Grover and his gve. “If you’re willing, I was ied iurning the gve to the Iyr.”

  “What is your offer?”

  “I’m not sure what would be acceptable, sihe on is such a great on, and holds seal value to a family within the Iyr.”

  “What retion do you have to the Bak family?”

  “None, I think.”

  “Why are you so ied iurning the gve?” Aeda asked, certain he was just a seal fool, but firming it was always a good idea.

  “I just thought it would be a nice gesture to the Bak family.”

  The Grand Duchess sipped her tea, falling into thought for a moment. “If you e with an acceptable offer, I will naturally accept.”

  “I’m not so familiar with how much I should offer, so what do you guys think?”

  “You wish to procure a Greater Enhanced on, and we wish to procure a Greater Enhanced on,” Jurot replied. “It is a fair trade.”

  “It is heavily weighted in your favrand Duchess Aeda said.

  “It is not.”

  “To craft a on for our family is a great honour.”

  “To receive a on from our Enter is a great honour.”

  “ it be pared?”

  “This time we allowed your direct desdant to draw against our Wraith,” Jurot replied, sitting tall and proud, and with the arrogance afforded to him by his grandfather.

  The Grand Duchess’ eyes darkened as she held the young man’s gaze.

  “I uand my brother’s words, but at the same time, I don’t want there to be any hard feelings,” Adam said, feeling his hairs stand on end. “I appreciate you eaining our offers, so allow me to add onto my brother’s offer. We’ll also add three Basic ons.”

  “One Greater Enhanced on freater Enhanced on is acceptable,” the Grand Duchess said. “sider it my respect for the Iyr.”

  “Thank you for yrace, Yrace.” Adam’s lips twitched slightly.

  “Lady Ada and Sir Roseia will soon head southward,” the Grand Duchess said, causing Adam to shudder slightly.

  ‘No…’

  “Will you be heading to East Port?”

  “I nning on it.”

  “Then you should esy great granddaughter, and Sir Roseia, to East Port. I will deal with the matters of transportation.”

  “…”

  “Thank you,” Jurot said, though feeling the anxiousness emanate from his brother.

  ‘Damn it! Why did it have to be her?’

  The group remained with the Grand Duchess, Lud Mara both remainihly silent while the Iyrmen spoke of their tales to her, before she sent them away with biscuits and a small box of tea.

  “Jaygak,” the Grand Duchess called as the group prepared to leave. “Since you are the most dependable, take this box to Peter.”

  “The Ram?”

  “I’m sure you know where he lives.”

  Jaygak nodded, feeling the woman’s wrinkled hand upon hers. “Okay.”

  The Grand Duchess watched as they left, taking in the sight of their backs. “Did you learn anything?”

  “No,” Adda admitted.

  “Who are Jurot’s retions?”

  “The Mad Dog and Duteous Dogek are his closest retions.”

  “Kitool?”

  “Shaool.”

  “Jaygak?”

  “Fme Brand.”

  “What are the retioween Jaygak aer the Ram?”

  The young woman recalled it vaguely. “She said one of her family members khe Ram.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t recall.”

  “Her great grandfather once faced against Peter the Ram in a tour, and often came to watch our tours.”

  ‘Right?’

  “Do you uand?”

  “I do not.”

  “I see now that I ’t die yet,” the old woman said, huffing out. “Who is the weakest within the group?”

  “Jaygak?”

  “Jaygak informed me that among her panions, she was the weakest. Even within the Iyr, she is sidered only average at best. Average at best, a she defeated Sir Roseia?” Aeda turreat granddaughter. “Do you uand now?”

  “The Iyr is dangerous?” Adda replied.

  “We must treat it that way. Allies, perhaps, but that is only as long as we do not point our bdes towards them.”

  ‘Why would we point our bdes towards them?’

  “How I die when that fool is King?” Aeda almost growled, causing even the Prio raise her brows in arm. “You o think since I ’t depend on your father, the fool that he is, just like the King.” She reached over to rub the young woman’s back. She tio fight off the cold that threateo invade her old bones.

  ‘I don’t get why she showed them so much favour,’ Adda thought. ‘Giving them the gve was a little too much. If the other families find out, what will they think?’

  “You have to keep them in mind. Adam, Lucy, and Mara too. Their cousins, Amokan and Timojin, are also making a name for themselves. You have to keep them in mind for the future.”

  “Yes, Yrace.”

  “Taygak too.”

  “Taygak?” Adda asked, blinking slightly. ‘The girl’s cousin?’

  The Grand Duchess had he pliments the group had given to Taygak, who was the oldest of the children. However, it was the spee which she was mentiohat had ted the young Iyrman’s o the Grand Duchess’ mind.

  Meanwhile, Fate’s Golden made their way through North Amber, from the rge estate of the Bows, through the long winding roads within the mountain town.

  “We should check with the smiths,” Adam said.

  “Okay,” Jurot replied.

  ‘I should check the sword too,’ Adam thought, his thoughts then falling to Jaygak.

  Jaygak made her way to the outskirts of the Bow’s estate, though still spotted the various guards, some whom kept an eye on the Iyrman. She approached the stone building, knog on the wooden door. She spotted the mark etched into the stone door frame, that which had been marked by an Iyrman’s hand many years ago.

  “What?” called the old, raspy voice from within.

  “Peter the Ram, I am Jaygak! I have brought tea from the Grand Duchess.” She heard a grunt, the start of an argument, then unhurried steps, apanied by a e striking the floor.

  Tall and lean, speckled with time. He swam within heavy furs, his hands within thick gloves. His dark eyes, mostly unfocused, fell upon Jaygak’s red skin, aattoos, a red x in the tre of her forehead, with three yellow tilted kites emanating from each side.

  “Ha. Yes. Jaygak.” The old man smiled, revealing a yellowed smile, and his pale gums. “e in. e in.”

  Jaygak smiled, bowing her head to Peter, and then to his servant, a young teen, who went to go brew some tea. The room within was warm, with a firep the er crag away. The room within was bare, save for the many books lined upon the desk and the shelf to one side. Three doors quarahe rest of the house from Jaygak.

  “Gak. Gak. I remember,” Peter said, dropping down to his seat with some effort, before sinking into it. “I remember.”

  Jaygak smiled slightly, brimming with pride. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

  “No. No. Others? They intrude. You? I wao meet. You.” The old man’s breaths came boured, though his voice was strong, holding only the hint of a rasp. “Jaygak. Jay. Gak.” He nodded his head approvingly. “Yht. Sir Roseia. Great fight.”

  “Thank you,” Jaygak’s lips tio twitto a wider smile. “It’s my honour to meet you.”

  “Ha!” The old man ughed, almost hag. “Honour? Me?”

  “I heard tales of you when I was a girl,” Jaygak said. “Greatfather spoke of you often.”

  “He was. Great.” Peter smiled wider. “Shame. We only fought. Few times.”

  “Greatfather said the same.” Jaygak smiled even wider, upon the fact she could show off to the others by meetier the Ram without them.

  Jaygak getting the flowers she deserves, finally.