Beyond Chaos

"Noor bless you, Uli," Adam greeted the Black Lion, who stood tall and proud, with long black hair, braids which then loosened at his shoulders, his beard short, but neatly trimmed, his skin almost as black as obsidian, his striking hazel eyes glaring down at the half elf.

"Noor bless you, Mo," Uli replied, his voice soft, withdrawn, but more like a blade that remained sheathed.

The Black Lion wore full plate, as dark as death, his breastplate fashioned with countless engravings in Aswadic, and as Adam peeked in closely, each was a sentence. It was after a single sentence Adam understood what it was.

'A blade born of my father, born of my mother, born of Noor's light.'

Adam's eyes darted away from the rest, just in case it was rude to read the Oaths engraved within his armour, admiring the long black cape, embroidered with golden thread, but then he couldn't help himself. His eyes drifted downwards, towards the dark blade he wished to handle. Jeticule, black, save for the silver engravings across the hilt, a cross which tapered towards the end of the three sides, the fourth melting into the handle. It was no doubt magical, for certainly the figure did not wield a simple jeticule blade, not when his helmet, fashioned into a lion's face, was silver with golden trim around the eyes.

'What did Dunes say? He's a Master?' The half elf continued to beam brightly, suspiciously, towards Uli.

'He defeated our Fariq?' Uli remained uncertain of how to take such admiration from the queer fellow, who apparently was a monstrous figure.

"I assume you want to sit within our carriage," Adam said, motioning to himself and Jurot, winking at the Aswadian, who followed after them. Adam swapped out Jonn and John, allowing them to settle in the other carriages, which were beginning to grow increasingly cramped. "Kizwolima, tell me if you need the bathroom or anything, okay?"

"Okay!" The girl smiled as Adam fussed over her.

As the carriages began to slip away, Adam stopped them a short while later. Tanagek and Chosen slipped outside, knocking upon the other, and after a short conversation, Naqokan and Uwajin swapped places with the pair, and the carriages continued along towards the horizon once more.

"Why did they swap?" Fariq Agadun asked.

"There were no women within the carriage," Mustashalur Ellani replied, waving towards the little girl, who waved back towards the woman, though quickly retreated away shyly.

"Ah," Agadun replied, his eyes darting aside towards the Mother of Lions for a moment.

The carriages continued eastward, through and along the hills, travelling through to the towns, approaching ever closer to the capital. They remained within the first town for a day, with Adam noting how small it was. The next town over was also rather small, though much larger, yet it did not reach quite the expanse of even Red Oak, the smallest Aldish town.

'Ah!' Adam thought, peering his head out, holding Kizwolima up to let her see the capital.

Jabal Adh Dahab, the Mountain of Gold. The capital was almost entirely circular, expanding out from the hills, Adam scanning the horizon, seeing only the city across the hills for miles. The walls were dusky gold, large and imposing, towers dotting along the hills, ever watchful spires. The domed buildings stood proudly and tall, the sea of hundreds of thousands of sandy gold buildings reached the horizon, with trim of lush green, which followed along the river and streams.

As they approached the walls, the carriages coming to a halt, the guards stepped forward, each in their light chain, wearing a scarf around their helmet and shoulders. Adam noted the way the guards stood within the gates, the wooden fence rising just high enough that it provided them shade when the sun crested westward, behind the carriages.

Dunes hopped out, drawing the attention of the guards, who stood taller, saluting the Mo, only to quickly spot the dark armour of the Black Lion, the pair instantly turning upon their heel, striking the ground with a boot as they saluted the Black Lion more aggressively.

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"Naqib!" the pair exclaimed, addressing the Black Lion.

"Noor blesses you," the Black Lion greeted, undoing the tab that kept the silver face, with the golden eyes, in place. "Kal Uli of Black Lion."

The guards glanced between one another, and bowed their heads. They waited for Uli to reveal his orders, the Black Lion revealing his silver plaque, passing it between them, allowing them to check.

"Numun!" a guard called, passing the plaque to the young guard, who eyed up the Black Lion in surprise for a moment, greeting him respectfully, accepting the scroll from the Black Lion, before darting away.

"Noor bless you, Kal Uli," one of the guards said. "Once it is confirmed I will escort you to an inn. Do you have a preference?"

"Mo, what was the place called?" the fool called, glancing aside towards the Brother of Black Mountain.

"Which place?"

"The really expensive place."

"Dakun Manzil?" Dunes asked, raising his brow.

"Yeah, yeah, that place," Adam said, but the hand on his shoulder, and he turned back to see his brother shaking his head.

"Mo Dunes, do you have a recommendation?" Jurot asked, squeezing Adam's shoulder reassuringly, for though he did not speak Aswadic, he heard Dakun Manzil.

"We can stay at a temple," Dunes offered.

Adam let out a sharp inhale. "We can stay at a temple, for night."

Dunes shook his head slightly, a small smile encroaching upon his lips. "One night."

"Shukhur, Mo," Adam said, causing Dunes to chuckle.

"Noor bless you," a guard greeted Mo, reaching out a hand.

"Arya bless you," Dunes replied, greeting the pair.

"Business?"

"We are going to spend a few days, a few weeks, in the capital, and then we will go to Black Mountain."

"Aaah," the guard half groaned in understanding. "It is said they sent two of the Blades, and eight of the Sheaths."

"We will see if the Reavers can deal with so many," Dunes replied, flashing a wide smile.

"Hah! The Reavers will stand no chance, no chance at all," the guard stated proudly. "Our army is already dealing with them as we speak. Shukhur, by the end of noonval, all these Reavers will be dealt with."

"Our army, two Blades, eight of the Sheaths, they will stand no chance," the other guard agreed.

"Mo, where are you from?" the guard called, eyeing up the puthral armour.

"I'm from a land long perished," Adam said, undoing his helmet, revealing his tattoo, though the guards had already assumed he was not an Iyrman since he did not proudly display his tattoo immediately. "I call the Iyr my home now, though I am no Iyrman."

"Is that the Iyr's Lord of Death?" the guard asked.

"Baktu, yes."

"Are the Iyr sending warriors soon?" the guard inquired.

"Uh…" Adam turned to Jurot. "Are the Iyr sending anyone?"

"Soon," Jurot promised.

"Soon," Adam explained.

"Shukhur. Many Iyrmen pass through out great capital, and, most of the time, they cause no trouble. There are many with you now?"

The other guard pat the guard's back and motioned a head to young, red skinned, horned Iyrman, before speaking in devilkin. "Are you enjoying Aswadasad?"

"The weather is wonderful," Taygak replied, causing the guards to laugh.

"Shukhur, we are blessed. Which family is yours?"

"I am Tay of the Gak family."

"Taygak here is the grandniece of Flame Brand," Adam informed, and the pair of guards grew slack jawed in surprise.

"Flame Brand?" one guard asked.

"Your grandaunt fought alongside my grandfather," the other guard said, reaching up to his heart, bowing his head gently.

"She almost killed mine," the other replied with a chuckle. "I hear him complain almost every day. Betta, betta, my shoulder, it hurts. Flame Brand, her sword still ails me this day. I send him to the temples and let the Priests deal with his complaints, and I make sure the bring him plenty of rice."

"Are you both Gaks as well?" the guard asked.

"Yes, I am Laygak, brother to Taygak," Laygak said, reaching up to hold the girl's shoulders. "My sister is travelling through Aswadasad, but one day, she will cause greater trouble than even our grandaunt."

Adam burst into a chuckle, Dunes flashing a wide smile, and the other Iyrmen who could not speak devilkin assumed what he said, some also smiling.

"Flame Brand is my grandaunt too," Tagak said, shaking the guard's forearm, and the trio continued to chat for a short while.

The young Numun returned back to the group, finding the guards chatting with the Iyrmen, and he was about to call out, only to wonder what the procedure was with dealing with Iyrmen.

The Mulazim, a middle aged woman with bronze skin, stress silvered hair, cut short for conevience, and lips painted white stepped forward. She wore half plate, and carried a long blade at her side, and unlike the other guards, she wore a cape of golden cloth. "Kal Uli, Noor bless you."

"Noor bless you, Mulazim Aisha," Kal Uli replied, tapping his heart twice with two fingers, letting her know there was a matter, but he had control of it.

"So many Iyrmen?" the Mulazim asked, before bowing her head to Dunes. "Arya bless you."

"Arya bless you," Dunes replied. "They are escorting myself, and Taygak here, to Black Mountain."

"Taygak?"

"Mulazim, they are related to Flame Brand," the guard said, motioning to the red skinned Iyrmen.

"Oh!" The woman raised her brows in surprise, almost smiling. "Noorshukhur, we are so fortunate this day!"

Taygak stood taller, brimming with pride, her entire body tingling with excitement as they acknowledged their grandaunt. Adam stood tall and brimmed with pride too, but allowed Taygak and the other pair of Gaks to enjoy the attention.