Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Eyeri came back to awareness moments after the crash as something shifted around him. He was still trapped between the two men, his brother underneath him and Dyn'ad above him. Cushioned between them, Eyeri had been protected from most of the damage. Still, his head hurt slightly and his chest was tight. Dyn'ad grunted above him and the man's muscles tensed for one terrifying moment. He heard Dyn'ad break through the top of debris more than saw it, the k'nairi making a war cry of effort as he did so. A hand wrapped around his waist and he was ripped from Fetmar's now loose grasp and rolled away from the stones that had fallen on all of them.
Rolling away from the scene, Eyeri ended up sprawled on the floor, this time landing on top of Dyn'ad. The k'nairi looked up at him dazed, not really holding on to Eyeri and clearly a little confused from having a something collapse on him. Eyeri had no idea what it had been and didn't really care at that moment. Looking back over at the ruins, he watched in horror as the wall collapsed more, burying Fetmar deeper.
"No," Eyeri whispered. "Fetmar!" he yelled, jumping off Dyn'ad and running over to the pile of rubble. Dyn'ad too dazed to stop him, it seemed. He started pulling chunks of rock and wood out, trying to find his brother. The new layer wasn't too deep and finally, an arm flopped out of the mound of rubble. Eyeri checked its pulse, relieved to see it was strong, but the arm was still limp. Fetmar was out cold.
Once he had an arm it was easy to pull his brother out. For the most part, the collapsed structure appeared to have been made from dry stone wall, meaning there was no concrete to hold it together. Eyeri just had to move the stones and branches. Only, not all of the stones were reasonably sized. "Shit," Eyeri cursed as he realised there was a large rock trapping Fetmar's leg. Whether it was just pinning the leg or had crushed it, Eyeri couldn't tell.  There was a bit of blood but not dangerously so.
"Eyeri!" A dark voice growled, making the young man freeze. Eyeri slowly twisted so he could see who was behind him. Dyn'ad was standing over him now, glaring darkly down, his faceexpressed almost pure anger. Eyeri was in deep trouble.
Whimpering, Eyeri tightened his grip on his brother with one hand. His other reaching for a rock, or something he could throw. Anything which he could use as a makeshift weapon to protect his older brother. He couldn't let Dyn'ad hurt him. Even if it did put him in more danger.
Dyn'ad's eyes narrowed. He had watched as the boy pulled his rescuer out the rubble and had been shaken back into reality as he heard the youngling curse. Something Dyn'ad could never normally stand for but given the circumstances, there were far worse things to be worrying over. Like the fact, Eyeri was preparing to fight him. Or at least attempt to, there were no doubts as to who would be winning that fight. He loomed over Eyeri, his frown deepening as he saw the protective way Eyeri was crouched around his would-be saviour. The fact he reached for a weapon or something as danger stood near. It only hurt slightly that he was the danger. Then realization hit.
"I'd put that down now, if I were you," Dyn'ad warned, looking at the rock in Eyeri's hand before looking at the brother. Dyn'ad looked in between the two young men. The age gap was a fairly big one but the family resemblance was clear as day. Eyeri was the spitting image of his brother only younger. They had the same shade of hair. Eyeri's chin was softer and their noses were slightly different but it was plain to see that they were brothers.
"No," Eyeri said shakily, his grip tightening so his knuckles were white.
of Dyn'ad was almost proud. Eyeri was a fighter beneath all his eye fluttering and bowing. Still, everyone needed to know when to surrender. Reaching over, he slapped the boy on the top of the head as Eyeri tried to hit him with something. "Do you really think it's a good idea to get yourself in more trouble?" Dyn'ad growled warningly. He yanked Eyeri's wrist firmly and slapping the rock from Eyeri's hand. Eyeri shrunk back, his hair hiding his face as he went back into timid mode. Dyn'ad could feel his fluttering heartbeat from his hold on the boy's wrist. It dimmed his anger slightly. "Well?"
"I..." Eyeri stuttered, tears starting to leak down his cheeks. "Sorry," he whispered, clearly not meaning it but trying to placate Dyn'ad slightly. "Fetmar's hurt," he said almost like it was a decent excuse for his behaviour.
"I can see that," Dyn'ad said idly, letting go of Eyeri's wrist and crouching down next to the man.  Looking over the older brother, he was mildly pleased to see only minor cuts and bruises. Dyn'ad moved to the large rock and tried to check underneath. "I think it's just pinning him," mused Dyn'ad. "You'd better get ready in case it's not youngling."
Eyeri gulped and nodded, taking off his jacket and gathering it up. Dyn'ad slowly lifted the rock off the young man. Thankfully, the man's leg was still intact. As handy it would be for Fetmar to have a broken bone or two, having the bone shattered would be almost impossible to fix even with healers. Also seeing Eyeri's look of pure relief made Dyn'ad's heart feel a little lighter. He dropped the stone to the side with a loud crashing noise.
Carefully, Dyn'ad picked Fetmar up out of the rubble, much the same way he had carried Herymi the previous week. Eyeri followed closely after, a hand wrapped in Dyn'ad's shirt. "I'm not going to hurt him," Dyn'ad said tightly. Eyeri didn't say anything. Carefully Dyn'ad laid the brother out on the ground. Eyeri moving to put his jacket as a pillow. Eyeri held his brother's hand tightly. Dyn'ad let him, watching Eyeri carefully. The child was rightfully scared.
"Stay calm now, if you want to get through this in one piece," Dyn'ad warned softly as Tai'ray appeared in the sky, Ryraso on his back. Dyn'ad gently reached out and rubbed Eyeri's shoulder. Eyeri followed his eye line and paled, closing his eyes and clutching onto his brother.  He didn't shrug Dyn'ad's hand off his shoulder but Eyeri didn't seem to acknowledge the gesture either.
"Eyeri," Tai'ray growled as he arrived. Seeing the boy, anger filled Tai'ray again. Anger the boy would try and leave them after they had done so much to make the boy feel safe with them.
"Winglord," Eyeri breathed.
Ryraso dropped off Tai'ray's back and rushed to Eyeri's side in order to look over Fetmar. Ryraso's hands checking his pulse, while he monitored his breathing. Both were stable and steady. Shifting to look at Eyeri, he gently cupped his son's face and checked his vision. Eyeri met his eyes but almost immediately looked away again, his eyes watering. A hand reached over to grip Ryraso's hand tightly. Ryraso kissed Eyeri's forehead and hugged him for a moment.
"Come here youngling," Tai'ray ordered once Ryraso greeted his son, his eyes dark. The young man looked smaller than normal as he sat next to Ryraso, clutching his brother tightly. Eyeri shook his head, not looking up at Tai'ray. A flash of anger moved through him at the rudeness of the action. "Do not try me Eyeri. Come here. Now!" he demanded, stretching his talons out.
"Eyeri," Ryraso murmured softly. "I'll look after Fetmar. Be good now," he pleaded gently, patting Eyeri's hand.
Eyeri slowly let go of his brother's clothes. Gulping Eyeri was visibly trembling as he stood. Dyn'ad pushed Eyeri's back slightly as he hesitated before the first step. He stumbled forwards slightly before moving over to the Winglord slowly. Slowly he took Tai'ray's hand. Tai'ray eyed him up carefully, before turning him around and checking his back as well. Talons brushed some dust off his back, before turning him back around and forcing the boy to look up at him in the eyes.
"Well? Do you have anything to say?" Tai'ray demanded, his wings spread threateningly, the look in his face one of anger.
Eyeri looked ill he was so pale. The youngling opened his mouth but nothing came out. He had never seen the Winglord so angry. In the end, he shut his mouth again and shook his head.
Tai'ray's eyes narrowed, studying Eyeri closely. "Very well," Tai'ray said tightly, not impressed with Eyeri apparently becoming mute. He knew Eyeri had more backbone than this which meant the boy was being rude on purpose. "I seem to remember what I said would happen to you if you tried to run," he said coldly, holding Eyeri's hand tightly to stop him from moving away.
Eyeri turned from white to green, his eyes widening in fear. He tried to take a step back but Tai'ray's grip didn't let him go far. "Please no," Eyeri whispered, shaking his head wildly. Tai'ray had warned him of two things if he tried to escape, neither of them good. A whipping and being put in the cage in the consort rooms.
"This is not up for debate," Tai'ray said firmly, his talons grabbing Eyeri's wrist and yanking him forward. He dragged the pleading young boy to the edge of the platou. Eyeri repeating those two words over and over sounding more and more panicked as they got closer to the edge. Tugging at his arm desperately but Tai'ray was not letting go of him now.
Dyn'ad had to place a hand on Ryraso's wrist to stop the human jumping up and attempting to help the distressed boy. Barely able to stop himself from helping Eyeri too. While Dyn'ad was furious at the boy for running, that didn't change the fact Eyeri was a scared vulnerable child who was begging for help.
Eyeri screamed as Tai'ray took off. The sound cutting into the heart of everyone around.
"Dyn'ad," Ryraso said looking at him pleadingly, practically begging the man to give him some reassurance that Eyeri wasn't about to be harmed. The sound dimming as Tai'ray flew back towards the palace.
"Tai won't harm our little one. He knows the boy is scared. The fact it was his brother who came to get him helps his case," Dyn'ad reassured, helping Ryraso tend to the injured brother. "Bloodkin is important," he murmured, hands moving over Fetmar's arms, studying the strange gloves which were on him. He knew the human couldn't fly by magic, which left technology. The boots and gloves were clearly Namya alchemy but how to get them off was anyone's guess.
"The boots appear to be fused to Fetmar's trousers," frowned Ryraso, tugging at them, trying to get them off. He was trying not to think about Eyeri at the moment. All he could do at the moment was trust Tai'ray wouldn't hurt him. In the meantime, he was going to follow through with his promise to look after Fetmar.
"The gloves also seem fused to Fetmar's skin. You don't think he ..." Dyn'ad trailed off.
"No!" Ryraso said firmly. "Fetmar would not dare," he said darkly, knowing what Dyn'ad was insinuating. Illegal implantation still did occur occasionally. It was illegal now because there were no safeguards. There were really not enough people left who understood the technology either.
Fetmar groaned as fingers pressed against his ribs, coming to slowly. "Eyeri!" he yelled sitting up, only to be forced back down, his arms pinned above his head. He grunted in pain and was about to struggle, when he realised who was by him. "Ry," he breathed, looking up at him in horror. "No!"
"Eyeri has been caught and is being taken back to the palace to be locked up by Tai'ray himself," Ryraso said, forcing his voice to remain calm. "You aren't in any state to fight him and you would fail miserably if you tried, so stay still. Is anywhere hurting?" he asked, rubbing over Fetmar's ribs again to check they weren't actually hurt or injured after that reaction.
"How come he can call you Ry?" Dyn'ad grumbled.
Fetmar deflated, looking miserable, trying to shift slightly. Dyn'ad held him down in place and Fetmar looked about to complain but a grumble from Dyn'ad stopped him. Sighing, he thought for a moment."My leg kills," Fetmar finally replied. Normally he would have lied to save face, but he knew better than to lie to Ryraso. The second he got up and started limping the healer would have ripped him a new one and pinned him back down. "Can I have my arms back?" he asked, looking up at Dyn'ad warily.
"The wall did collapse on him. There was a particularly big rock trapping his leg," Dyn'ad offered to Ryraso. "And only if you tell me how to get those flying boots and gloves off you?" he bargained with Fetmar.
"I would also like to know how they work," Ryraso added wryly, waiting for the information so he could check Fetmar's leg.
"The boots and gloves are infused with a prototype anti-gravity generator. Mostly tech with a dash of magic. Can't tell you much more than that. Wiljam's the designer though. Should be able to take them off just like normal boots..." Fetmar trailed off, frowning.
"Doesn't look like it," Dyn'ad said dryly, letting go of Fetmar's arms.
Fetmar sat up slowly and looked down at his boots. He groaned at what he saw. The almost welded looking line between his boot and his trousers. "Ah, that's not good. The nanites have infused with my clothes. Again," he grumbled, "They will disengage in a bit... Hopefully."
"Again?" Ryraso said darkly, glaring at Fetmar fiercly. "This has happened before and you still used them?"
"Hopefully?" Dyn'ad blinked, shock clear on his face.
"You know Wiljam's work. Amazing but bloody unpredictable," Fetmar grumbled, looking over his hands. Dyn'ad placed one hand on Fet'mar's shoulders, not trusting the man not to try something. Fetmar shivered. Dyn'ad's grip was stronger than he was used to.
"Then why did you trust it?" Ryraso growled hitting Fetmar over the head. Dyn'ad was smiling, slightly amused by the action. It was reassuring to see Ryraso still had his old habits.
"Oira was working on it as well," Fetmar defended, rubbing his head.
"Remind me, who is Oira?" Dyn'ad asked, seeing Ryraso back off the issue at that name.
"Eyeri's scientist brother" Ryraso explained. Dyn'ad nodding in understanding.
"Fetmar!" An angry voice yelled.
"Oh, shit," Fetmar groaned as Yerir'o appeared out of nowhere, looking very angry. "Sorry about this," he commented before Fetmar flipped and jumped in the air. Managing only to yank himself out of Dyn'ad's grip by sheer surprise. Dyn'ad was about to chase after him but Yerir'o beat him to it.
"Oh no you don't," Yerir'o growled, flying after him as fast as could. "When I get my talons on you boy!" he yelled.
Ryraso and Dyn'ad just watched as the General Commander chased after the youngest human commander. Dyn'ad sighed and grabbed Ryraso's arm, picking him up and carrying him after the two. He got the feeling someone was going to need medical attention after this.