Beyond Chaos

He was a mountain of pride. Battle ready, his well polished yet worn breastplate gleaming under the noonval sun. A turban covered his head, though the black and white locks curled behind his ears, his moustache almost like two blades pointed along the contours of his thin lips. A long blade at his side dangled comfortably, ever at the ready to perform its duty. The blade was unlike many others Adam had seen, curved slightly, sheathed within simple leather, but the handle of the blade, wrapped in green, the silver engraved with various Aswadic runes, and the tiny green gem settled within its pommel revealed it was no simple blade.

"Whirlwind Death," Jurot said. "It is a good sword."

'If that's all he's going to say about it, it's probably pretty amazing,' the half elf thought, pondering on what abilities the blade possessed. It was beautiful enough, and the half elf hoped it was as deadly as it was beautiful.

"A day with the brightest of suns, for how many Iyrmen am I honoured to host!" The Malawi almost exclaimed, holding up his hands, as though praying to Lord Noor, though one might have been cut down for such a thought, considering where they stood. His voice was clear, deep, and oppressive with its lightness. The old man's laughter filled the air, revealing rows of pristine white teeth, bright and strong, as one might a warrior of Black Mountain to be. "Asaym, Iyrmen!"

"Walay," Tanagek replied, since he had been briefed to take command, for now.

"That tattoo," the Malawi said, his dark eyes staring at the purple and yellow so clearly. "Are you of the Gek family?"

"I am. My name is Tanagek."

"Aryahabi! You share the same name? How we are blessed this day!" The older man laughed, haughty, so full of life. His smile continued to radiate outwards towards them all, threatening to pin them in his delight. Those dark eyes of his darted to the side swiftly, sizing up Tanagek's companion. "A relative of Bloodblade too?"

"I am Chosen, his grandnephew," the Iyrman replied, standing taller and prouder, daring to match the Malawi's pride.

"An honour indeed, for we are familiar with the Geks and Sens, for many years, though not as much as we recall the Dons," the older man joked, chuckling towards the Iyrmen, reaching out a hand to greet them one by one. "I am Mo Hassan, the Malawi of Black Mountain, I am but its humble Fariq."

"I am Jurot," Jurot said, shaking the man's forearm as he began to greet the group, starting with the Iyrmen. "I am the grandson of the Mad Dog and the Rising Swallow."

"Shukhur, I know of this name, Mad Dog, but I do not remember how," the old man admitted.

"He's like the-," Adam began, noting how many figures all turned to face him, and the half elf blinked. 'I can't believe I did that.' "He's like… the Butcher, Marmak, but for Aldland."

"Yes, I remember now," the old man admitted, his eyes completely fixated upon the half elf who had spoken up, taking him within his sight. He almost swallowed the half elf whole within his gaze, a pressure falling upon the young man. "Who are you?"

"I am Adam Fate," the half elf replied. "From my brother's side, I am the grandson of the Mad Dog and the Rising Swallow, and from my children's side, I am the grandson of Flame Brand, and from my wife's side, herself, Ray Vonda of Life's Rose."

The Malawi noted how the half elf had stood so tall and proud opposite him when he spoke of his family, and upon his silence, instantly deflated, feeling the awkward gazes of his companions, from the Iyrmen to the Aldishmen. Even the merman child covered her face within her hand, peeking aside to the half elf from beside the half dragon, who was certainly a dragon in disguise.

"I see," the Malawi replied.

"Kitool," Kitool finally said. "My grandaunt is one of the Ten Paragons."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The Fariq turned to face the woman, blinking towards her in surprise, Samra also doing the same, having no idea that the young woman had been related to one of the real monsters of the Iyr.

"Which of the Ten Paragons?" the Malawi asked.

"Shaool," Kitool admitted. "Her name is not well known within these lands, however, last year she confronted the Platinum Shield."

"I had not known so many grand Iyrmen wished to visit us," the Malawi replied, surprised to hear someone who was related to one of the Ten Paragons here. He had expected news of them if they had arrived, but had not even Samra known of her relation to such a monster?

"Laygak," Laygak finally said. "Flame Brand is my grandaunt."

"Flame Brand," the Malawi said, nodding his head, for a moment his eyes fell upon the half elf, realising he had mentioned her too. "Gangak, yes. A woman who was like a sandstorm, who arrived quickly, blazed brightly, and… she wrote her name into history."

"Tagak," Tagak said, shaking the man's forearm, holding his gaze firmly. "I am also her grandnephew."

"I, Taygak," Taygak said. "Flame Brand, grandniece."

"Taygak, use your words," Laygak said, patting her back gently.

"Shukhur," the Malawi said, before switching to the crackling fire of their speech. "It is my honour to meet you, Taygak, grandniece of Flame Brand. It is a name I have not heard in many years, but I will never forget it."

Taygak held the hint of a smile as the old man spoke in the fiery speech.

The Malawi continued to greet all the figures one by one, including the little merman girl, and he even allowed Bael to show such blatant disrespect, since he seemed to have taken the visage of an azure half dragon, and as far as he was aware, they preferred to remain in another Realm entirely, and so decided against prompting more from the half dragon.

"Ashmir," Hassan called, clasping the old man's forearm. "The spear, too, is one of the Lady's favourite weapons. You should have retired here, in our humble mountain."

"It was good fortune to retire in the Iyr, for I was able to finally meet my son," the Lion King replied, causing Dunes to raise his brows in surprise, the Mo turning to face Anka, who exchanged a look with the Priest, though the Malawi and the Kal hadn't noticed.

"Your son? Shukhur, you should have brought him along, we would have welcomed him too," Hassan said, clasping over the old man's hand, bowing his head gently.

Ashmir glanced aside, noting the half elf raising his brows, urging him to speak. "I wished to speak with you of that matter."

"I will, of course, make time for you, Lion King," Hassan promised, before welcoming Sokikez, glad to see her return, and exchanging a small greeting with Kal Uli.

"It is good to see you, Mo Hassan, in these trying times," Kal Uli stated respectfully, bowing his head, before stepping away.

Once the greetings had passed, the old man greeting even the likes of John, Jonn, and the others, he led the group to a garden nearby, where flowers welcomed them in, the long tables, each of simple design, filled with freshly made food, the steam still rising from the assortment of fruits and vegetables, the rice, the soups, the curries, the hardy vegetables, and the various flat breads.

"I apologise for not greeting you earlier, but I lead the morning prayers and morning tutoring for those within Jabal Adh Aswad," the Malawi explained.

Adam bit into the flat bread with the raisins, surprised Dunes hadn't spoken about it to him, the half elf chewing it slowly, his eyes darting back to the Malawi. He tore off a piece for little Kizwolima, while Ashmir brought a small piece for Amal to chew, pausing a moment to think if she should eat such, before realising she was quite the chonky girl, and they had plenty of Priests around, so it should be fine.

"It is wonderful to see so many Iyrmen within Black Mountain, Iyrmen are always welcome to visit, but what is the nature of your visit?" Hassan almost said more, but noted Taygak, so decided against saying something that made him sound stupid.

Tanagek inhaled sharply, the Iyrman glancing towards Jurot for a moment. "We were to take Taygak out to explore the world, for it is her right. The business of the United Kindom thought it was best to accompany us, and Dunes wished to return to speak of a matter."

Dunes smiled awkwardly. 'Malawi, please…'

"I assume this is the matter about Dunes wishing to join your business?"

"I am not a member of the business," Tanagek admitted. "Jurot."

"If it does not offend you," Hassan began, smiling gently. "I will speak to the one known as Adam."

Adam swallowed. "Of course, Malawi."

Hassan remembered what Korin and Sara had said, but then recalled what his elder brother had stated after drinking tea with the young half elf. "I hear you have quite the tale to speak."

"Is there any chance I can pray to Lady Arya before we continue? I have some donations for her, but also, it's to calm my nerves."

"Why are you so nervous?"

"Ah, well, isn't this the oldest temple to Lady Arya? Even if I follow Lord Sozain more closely, Lady Arya is someone I owe a great debt to."

"What is this debt?" the Malawi of Jabal Adh Dahab asked curiously.

"It's hard to explain, but when I was in need, she provided me great assistance. It was during a rather terrible time. I won't forget that, so I make sure to honour her as I can, and now within this temple."

"How honourable," the Malawi stated, trying to judge the half elf. 'Just what did your eyes see, brother?'