“When do we give our gifts?” Adam asked, noting that the other Iyrmen were beginning to stand. It was as though they knew when to give their gifts.

“First it is the left, then it is the right, then it is the centre,” Sonarot said, motioning to the three sides full of people.

“Come,” Taygak said, beginning to form the line for the children. Katool was up first, and it went up in order of their ages, from youngest to oldest, with Taygak at the end.

Once they had given their presents, it was time for Jurot and Adam. Adam followed Jurot up, who placed down the box before the four. The oldest bride, who seemed to be in her early thirties at most, opened the box, revealing the bones of some creature.

“The bones of a bronze wyvern,” Jurot said. “It is a fine material to be made into a weapon.” He was careful not to say sword or spear, as to not show favouritism.

The brides seemed quite pleased with the bones, which would make quite the weapon once they were carved and treated.

Adam placed down the smaller box first. “Some tea to enjoy.” He hoisted then placed down the long box, before opening it for the four to see.

It was the spear which he had taken from the Rot family vault, and had spent time enchanting.

Ashmir narrowed his eyes as the spear, noting the faint runes. “Is this a magical spear?”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I brought it since the Mir family uses spears.”

Ashmir wasn’t sure about accepting a magical spear. It was quite the gift, and he wasn’t sure anyone else would have the audacity to hand over something worth so much gold.

“I still think that swords are cooler and more romantic, but I’m a Nephew of the Rot family, so I have to represent.” Adam winked. “Anyway, about the spear…”

Lion’s Roar

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

This weapon holds three charges. As an action, you may expend a charge to cast Thunder Wave as a first gate spell. The Difficult for this spell is 13. This weapon regains D3 charges at dawn.

Ashmir felt even more awkward. He had first thought the spear was a basic spear, but to hear it was a basic enhanced spear, a spear with an additional enchantment, suddenly he felt more awkward about it. In his home territory, such a weapon would sell for close to two thousand. No, not two thousand. If it could truly cast multiple spells in a single day, perhaps it would be more than two thousand.

“This is such a heavy gift,” Ashmir said.

Even the brides felt awkward accepting the gift.

“You are Adam?” the youngest of the brides asked.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Unrivalled Under The Heavens?” She stared at Adam with quite the sparkling gaze, as though she were meeting a legend.

Adam winced. It was still weird that Ashmir was marrying someone so young, so he wasn’t sure how to feel about the situation. However, he was in the Iyr, and he had to behave with their rules. Chances were, there were probably plenty of rich folks marrying kids like this.

“I’m not that strong yet,” Adam replied, simply.

“This is a gift we cannot accept,” Ashmir said, eventually. He was the oldest, and though he was marrying into the Iyr, he would still need to extend his power as the leader of the family. He, who was perhaps the strongest out of the entire Mir family, would need to behave appropriately.

“I don’t care if you don’t accept it,” Adam said. “If it’s not for you, then it’s for your kid.”

Ashmir wasn’t sure what Adam was trying to do.

“Ashmir, Lion King, you may use a sword, but the Mir family uses a spear. It’s a decent enough spear to train with, for you or for your children. If you don’t want to accept it for yourself, or your brides, then accept it for the Mir family.”

Ashmir sighed, but bowed his head. “Thank you, Adam.” Ashmir realised what Adam was trying to say. He, who had refused to use the Mir family weapon, should at least accept this for their sake. Since Ashmir had been accepted by the family, he should at least give them that much respect.

The gifts continued to be given, and once they were done, the food was brought out for everyone to eat. Grilled meats and vegetables were brought out, some of which had been lathered with a butter and herb dressing. Sonarot tore the meat for her daughter, allowing her to eat a little from her fingers.

It was after the main meal of meats, that sweet rice was brought out. It was multicoloured, and there were also small cooked fruits which was a part of the dessert. Lanarot tried to eat the rice, but when she tasted the fruit, she was far more interested in the cooked fruit. She grabbed her mother’s hand so it couldn’t pull away and leaned in to bite the soft yellow fruit, which reminded Adam of cherries in both taste and texture, though it looked more like a small yellow tomato.

Adam sipped the water and milk which had been brought, before noticing a figure approaching them. It was an old Iyrman, whose forehead was covered, which caused Adam to narrow his eyes. Almost none of the Iyrmen he had met covered their tattoos, not even the scary Iyrman who had stood by Shaool when they had first met. Even though they wore a skull to cover their face, their tattoo could still be seen.

“A Shaman?” Adam asked, noting their attire of a heavy cloak, dark green with a golden hem.

“A Shaman Head,” Jurot said. “They work under Elder Shaman.”

“There’s an Elder Shaman?” Adam asked.

“They are not a part of the Great Elders,” Jurot said, understanding why Adam seemed confused. “Elder Shaman works closely with the Great Elders, but is not a Great Elder.”

“What’s Lokat then?” Adam asked, speaking of Elder Peace’s relative.

“Shaman Lokat is a Shaman.” Jurot’s words were blunt. “Then there are the Shaman Heads, who hold a greater power, and finally Elder Shaman.”

Adam slowly nodded his head, throwing a look back at the Shaman Head.

The Shaman head stepped onto the stage, which caused the music to stop. Adam noted the backpack against her back, which was made of wood, and was no bigger than his head. She placed the backpack down onto a stool which had been brought to her. The brides and groom moved, sitting on their knees before the Shaman, who sat down on another stool before them.

The Shaman Head opened up her backpack, bringing out a small vial which was filled with a liquid. She poured a drop into six cups.

“You may share your first drinks,” the Shaman Head said.

The youngest drank with him first, the pair drinking at the same time, to the Shaman Head’s command. As they shared their drink, the Shaman hummed a small prayer. Adam could hear the names of Mahtu and Baktu several times.

“You may share your first touch.”

The pair then held one another’s forearms while sitting in front of one another, as the Shaman Head hummed a prayer.

“You may share your first blood.”

The pair stopped holding their forearms, and were offered a freshly forged dagger by the Shaman Head. The pair pricked the other’s finger, before dropping their own blood onto the dagger they had used to cut the other.

All the while, the Shaman Head continued to hum a prayer. She placed a hand on each of their heads, before blowing atop their heads, three times, at the end of each of her prayers.

Ashmir repeated this process until he had completed it with each bride, with new cups and new daggers. The cups were left with the brides and groom, whereas the daggers were taken by the Shaman Head.

“May Baktu bless you,” she finally said, and as quickly as the Shaman Head had come, she left. The moment she stepped off the platform, the music began to play again.

In order to keep Lanarot quiet throughout the ceremony, Sonarot breastfed her, though sometimes Lanarot had turned her head towards the humming.

“So… they’re married now?” Adam asked.

Jurot nodded his head. “The rites have been performed.”

“Cool.” Adam wondered if he ever married in the Iyr, if they’d do it the same way, or if he’d marry in a way more common in his own world, rings and all. “What were the three different actions?”

“The three vows,” Sonarot said, smiling slightly as she thought to her own wedding. “Water, representing life. The touch, a closed ring, representing eternity. Blood, representing death.”

Adam stared at his Aunt. He wondered if Surot was really dead, or if he was just on a longer adventure than normal. ‘Either way, I’m going to teach you a lesson for missing your daughter’s birthday.’