Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Ryraso dragged his heels as he was forced down some hidden passengers, not likely where this was going. Ton'enth was walking in front of him and one of the priests had already stabbed him with something. At first, Ryraso had been worried it was poison and the priests had really lost their patience with him and were going to go for assassination. Ryraso struggled, trying to escape but the priests' grip were too firm for him to pull out off. He managed to get one to let go by slamming his elbow in their ribs, but the other refused to let go and there were a few moments of mild rough-housing as Ryraso tried to break free.
"Enough!" Ton'enth hissed, turning to face Ryraso, his cloak swirling around him dramatically. His pale complexion with the darkness of the passage made him look vaguely like an evil ghost rather had a High Priest. "It is time we had a talk Healer about your role here and the will of the Goddess. Stop making this so difficult!" he scolded like Ryraso was a child rather than an adult with a very respectable career.
"The will of the link seems to be for me to be here," Ryraso growled back, glaring darkly at Ton'enth, not about to show fear to him of all people.
"The will of the link is centred on someone who loved you beyond reason," Ton'enth pointed out with the tone of someone who could not figure out why this was the case. "The Goddess has other plans. What they are currently, is a mystery but together we will find out," he grinned with dark intent, clearly hoping the plans were not good for Ryraso. "Now. Let's go to the temple, shall we?"
Ryraso narrowed his eyes at the man. Ton'enth was planning something, and Ryraso could tell from the air around them that it was going to go badly for him. He continued struggling but the priest either side of did not let go. Suddenly he was aware of what the potion's effect was. The link was muted slightly. Or rather he was in the link, he could not form words which was very worrying. "I don't trust you," Ryraso said cautiously.
"Trust is not my concern Healer. The Goddess wishes to talk to you. This time, you can not call for help," Ton'enth explained. "Relax Ryraso. I truly mean you no harm. I am simply carrying out the wishes of the Goddess."
"You may not mean harm, but you wish for it," Ryraso argued. "Now let me go. I will walk on my own two feet!"
Ton'enth and Ryraso stared at each other for a few tense moments before Ton'enth lifted his chin slightly. The priest's let go of Ryraso. Ryraso pulled away from them, rubbing his shoulder and walked with his head held high as he was led to the sacred temple of the k'nairi.
"For it is worth, I truly do not wish you harm," Ton'neth said almost softly. "You are a good person and an excellent healer. if it wasn't for the fact your blood has harmed the Goddes in the past, I would be happy for you to exist here. I would happy you to exist now, just far away from Navat and the Winglord." His words were sincere. It was a strange explanation but one that Ryraso could actually understand, unlike most of the actions of the priesthood.
"You all must have been very angry when I saved the Winglord in Isavine. All that planning to keep me hidden from the Royals when I graduated and he still found me," Ryraso said quietly. He was not stupid nor naive. Not anymore. The fact he had the beginnings of a link had been missed for other reasons than his mentor Umin's death.
"We weren't pleased, no. Then the Winglord went and fell in love with you," Ton'enth shook his head in disbelief, pausing outside of the temple doors. Unlike most of the palace, the temple was built from black marble, marking it as different from the rest of the grey rock and tree grown palace. It had been built for the glory of the Goddess, not formed from the base of the lands. "While you were oblivious to his feelings, we hoped it would fade but it did not. Even we will admit, we had no idea how bad it had gotten. When you left, the hold that opened in his mind was unexpected."
"Good thing I'm not leaving again," Ryraso said carefully. This was not the way he thought things would go. He knew the link wanted him to stay but it sounded like the priest were also now in favour of him reminding for the Winglord's santanry.
"No," Ton'enth nodded in agreement. "You're not."
Ryraso looked at him sharply as Ton'enth confirmed his suspiciously. Whatever the High Priest had planned, it was not for him to leave Navat or disappear. It was that thought alone which gave him the strength to take the final steps forward to enter the sanctum. Apart from the Royals, only the Priests entered the temple. The faithful prayed in chapels dotted around the palace. The temple was for sacred rites.
The door did not open. As his hand touched the stone, it swallowed him up. The stone seemed to pull him through the door and deposited him on the other side. It was a strange sensation, not completely unlike when Nel'os transported with a person but considerably more erry. It was like being pulled through cold mud. He shivered and rubbed his arms, slightly disturbed by the feeling, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
"Healer Ryraso," a calm voice greeted warmly, a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Come."
It was one of the temple caretakers. Priests who once they had heard the call had never left after. Ryraso let the man pull him forwards, the doorway had led to another corridor. It was oddly bright and a slight whisper of chants moved through the air. Plants grew along the corridor and walls were covered in murals of the gods. Not just the Goddess of the k'nairi but the Gods who had thrown her out of paradise too. They were beautiful, colourful things that had Ryraso slowing down to try and get a better look at them. The caretaker gently pulled him along with a hand on his elbow to steer him. He finally stopped Ryraso in front of a mural of the first Winglord.
It was slightly different to the ones they had been passing. It was made from bronze and covered in jewels. Flowers and vines were around the sides and there was a pool of standing water in front of it. Below the craving of the Winglord being given a crown from the heavens was four small figures. His mates, Ryraso presumed. The first Winglord was famous for having four. It was a small number compared to his successors.
"You know the story of the first Winglord," Ton'enth commented, having caught up to them.
"He united fractured clans into a whole and recieved the Goddess' gift," Ryraso said soflty, unable to shake a strange feeling from his stomach. He was in a holy place, the entire atmosphere screamed it. There was also a strange desire to reach up and touch the gem in the mural crown.
"And in return for his continued service, he was granted four loyal mates," Ton'enth added.
"Rumours say there was a fifth," Ryraso said idly.
"One we always deny," Ton'enth smiled.
"But that doesn't make it false," the caretaker chuckled, moving the branches of a plant slightly to reveal the fifth figure. Or rather what should have been a fifth figure but it was scratched out, the marks deep in the bronze. "We hold secrets here, Healer. You must understand, your existence endangers them. That won't stop the plans of fate, however."
"All secrets will eventually come out," Ryraso said, his eyes locked on the fifth figure. Something in the pit of this stomach.
"Not today though," Ton'enth said firmly. "This is not why you are here but it is something you needed to know. The Royals are always told about his existence but not the story."
"The fifth's existence proves that things can be hidden from the link but hints will always remain," Ryraso acknowledged.
The caretaker chuckled. "You are a clever one," he said approvingly. "Come," he added, taking Ryraso's arm again. "The history can indeed wait a little longer. The Goddess is no doubt growing impatient. The sanctum awaits," he said with an added tone of something unworldly to his voice, like the Goddess was cancelling through him.
Ryraso silently walked, feeling strangly out of it now with the new information he had received. The chanting grew louder but they passed by the room where it was coming from. The voices grew quiet again and they kept walking until they were in front of another fountain. This one considerably bigger, in the centre of a large courtyard. The caretaker, pulled him gently so he was standing in the water. He obeyed, more out of confusion than consent. Water filled his boots and the caretaker smiled at him with a peaceful expression.
"Remember to be polite," the caretaker warned.
Suddenly Ryraso was falling. It oddly didn't hurt as his back hit the stone bottom of the fountain. It was just a dulled feeling. He looked up, his head engulfed by the water. Instinctively he tried to sit up. He breached the water and realised he was somewhere new. The fountain was the same but the rest was different. A blue light instead of yellow. Dimly he reached out for Tai'ray with the link. He found him easily and Tai'ray sent a wave of concern back. Ryraso smiled and waved it off. He didn't feel in danger.
"You're late. Or possibly early," a female voice commented from the side. "I always get those confused."
Ryraso looked over and saw her. It was impossible not to know who she was instinctive. It didn't help that he had seen her face so many times in the chapels. She was Tyventa. The creator and mother Goddess of the k'nairi. Her skin was almost purple in tint and she had green hair tumbling down her back. Her eyes didn't seem to remain one colour, flickering between the colour spectrum calmly.
"I apologise for both and admit I was unaware I was expected," Ryraso said softly. Inai's words on how to deal with Gods running through his mind.
"No one ever does," Tyventa smiled amusedly. "You may get out of the water. It is an annoying way to travel but the only way I could make," she explained, sitting up on the chair. "My brother had far more useful ways to travel between the planes of existence."
"Inai mentioned falling," Ryraso mused.
"Falling? Certainly possible. I thought it a little too scary, however," she paused and tilted her head. "Inai... He is the currently the Speaker, is he not?" she asked, her eyes flashing red for a moment.
"Yes. He also a friend of mine," Ryraso said, slightly concerned with how she had said that.
"I would like to meet him one day," the Goddess mused. "But for now, we are here to talk about you," she smiled without real emotion in her eyes. Her eyes fixed intensively on Ryraso, flickering between several colours before settling on a light blue. "My loyal little healer."
"I was told you had a plan for me," Ryraso said almost awkwardly.
"A plan? In a way, I guess. I have watched you for a long time. Your father left but he was still mine. In ways, you do not yet know. When you alone of your siblings came to my lands, I decided to keep you," the Goddess said calmly. "Like so many others who come. Then people tried to remove you and they succeed. I was not angry with you as it was not your fault, so I interfered." A smile grew on his face. "You did not disappoint."
"You let Tai'ray be poisoned, so I could return," Ryraso murmured.
"Poison?" she blinked her eyes and waved her hand with a clear air of unimportance. "The way was not important. The end result was and you were worth it. You helped keep Tai'ray alife and on the right path. Then you left again, this time of your own accord," She looked at him with her eyes, now orange, full of disappointment.
"I had too," Ryraso said softly.
"You did not. You broke him. Mind you, you also fixed him. Another few months and the link will be whole again. You reminded him of his duty," she smiled again. "I am sorry that this interferes with your own duties. It was never the intent for your charge to be brought into this. Sadly, by the time I could have an impact. He was in too much danger with every other option."
"Eyeri will learn to live here," Ryraso said truthfully. "Once the brand is dealt with."
"The brand," her smile turned sour. "Is a mockery of my gifts. Still, the people demand it," she scowled unhappily. "Options are limited but there is something about to happen. The end result is uncertain, fate is still playing her hand. I will say, regardless of what happens, Eyeri will be safe You, on the other hand, must swear you will not come between Tai'ray and his duties again," she said firmly.
Ryraso looked at her. She was serious. "You know I can't promise that," he said slowly, almost painfully aware he was speaking to a Goddess.
"You will Ryraso or I will make every friend of yours who comes onto my lands suffer. I accept it will be hard, but you must put Navat and the K'nairi people first from now on. I can't have my champion stuck between his lover and his duty again," she warned.
"I can swear not to willingly do it," Ryraso offered.
"But it's not a choice," the Goddess stated, standing up from her seat and walking over to the pool. "You are not your father, nor your Grandmother. I am not cruel, Ryraso. As long as you try, I will not harm the innocent for failure. You need to have it in your mind, however."
Ryraso moved over and looked down at the images which had now appeared in the waters. Eyeri walking down a corridor holding a book, Tai'ray looking bored in a meeting, Dyn'ad training with Herymi and then Nel'os kissing an unfamiliar k'nairi on the lips. A flash of something moved through him. He pushed the emotions away, now was not the time to deal with them. Not while dealing with the Goddess.
"I need you to remember that all of this," the Goddess gestured over the images. "Is part of something bigger. You once said to Tai'ray that you accepted he must whip you as part of his duty and it was your duty to protect Eyeri. It isn't anymore. Your duty is to Tai'ray and his bonded, to the k'nairi and it's people. As long as you fulfil it, I will look after those who are yours."
"I'm not sure I want that duty," Ryraso whispered.
"Tough, it is yours," The Goddess smiled almost warmly and reached over to cup his chin. "You are strong enough to play this role. You also love them. Do not let the past dictate your actions. Tai'ray was put into his place unexpectedly too. Now, swear it," she ordered.
Ryraso took a deep breath and spoke the words, dreading what the repercussions of this were going to be. When he finished, the Goddess kissed him on the forehead and the world turned to black.