Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

A few hours later and they were all in the grand hall. And by all, it felt like all of Navat. Hundreds of k'nairi were milling about, networking, associating and also flirting. Some subtly, most openly and the room was filled with underhanded deals slowly being formed between the noble clans. Not to mention several were trying to entice the royal triad while they were actually in Navat.
Eyeri could only watch in interest as Nel'os was in his element, wings shifting with a mostly hidden language that he had only just learned about but was not able to understand any more than k'nairi tongue itself. Nel'os was surrounded by a flock of noble submissives, fluttering their eyes at him hopefully. Dyn'ad meanwhile was dealing with the generals and warriors while Tai'ray was surrounded by the noble dominants. Ryraso had Aw'endo close by his side but Eyeri had managed to slip out of his grip.
As fascinating as the room was to watch, it was also overwhelming. Eyeri caught Herymi's eye before ducking out onto a currently empty balcony. The breeze of fresh air was welcome as his head span and he leant on a stone wall. The cool air was refreshing against his overheated skin and he shifted, pushing himself up so he was actually sitting on the wall, and leant against the wall of the palace, trying to hide from anyone hoping to get a moment alone with him. He wasn't hidden from view but a passing glance out onto the balcony wouldn't reveal him.
Eyeri had been patted and stroked enough times to last a lifetime in the boiling hot room. Apparently being the adoptive son gave everyone rights to try to molest him. Aw'endo was just as uncomfortable as he was, which gave Eyeri some comfort. Ryraso seemed to take it somewhat in his stride, a pleasant smile on his lips though Eyeri could tell something had upset him during the day.
The buzz of the room continued onto the balcony but it was considerably duller and Eyeri found himself concentrating on breathing. It wasn't late, it was rather quite early. The sun was just beginning to set.
"Eyeri?" Herymi's voice called, as the man stepped out onto the balcony. The man was dressed in similar robes to him but the colours were different and there was a dagger on his hip. His bodyguard tattoos were also clearly on display, it seemed even during this event Herymi was being put to work.
"Here," Eyeri breathed.
Herymi looked over him and nodded, shifting to sit further along the wall. "Not sure you should wander outside alone during one of these events," Herymi warned.
"They won't miss me for five minutes," Eyeri mused, closing his eyes again feeling a slight headache form in his temples. "I'm hardly going anywhere." Not with his brother still locked up somewhere in the palace where no one would say. The Winglord had admitted to threatening to send his brother to Fiant if he wasn't respectful. It was unnerving knowing his brother was locked with that fate hanging over his head if he didn't let his pride go.
"I suppose not," Herymi said with a touch of sympathy in his voice. "However I was more concerned with the nobles," he said darkly.
"I doubt anything would happen," Eyeri half smiled, his eyes darting to the side where a guard was mostly hidden. People were watching over him, even if they couldn't be seen. Tai'ray was worried someone was going to try something. Worried enough to put some guards on him. Though that was also because the Winglord was not stupid enough to let him escape so close to branding. Fetmar stuck here or not, panic did funny things to people.
"Guards can only do so much," Herymi commented, his eyes followed Eyeri's to where a guard was stationed. "The person being protected must do their share, though I'll admit, the atmosphere in there is terrible. I don't blame you for needing to escape a moment."
Eyeri said nothing in return, and Herymi didn't force anything. The two sitting in silence as the noise from the other room leaked out, an overwhelming mix of sounds that meant nothing to Eyeri yet.
"Hello, little one," an unfamiliar voice greeted. Eyeri jumped as a voice entered his quiet thoughts, groaning as he banged his head against the stone behind him, "Careful," the voice added amused.
"Hello?" Eyeri said cautiously, looking up at the strange k'nairi he hadn't met before, rubbing where he had banged his head with one hand. Little one appeared to be a pet name for anyone who wasn't old enough to go through Navda. A lot of k'nairi had called him that now and not all of them nicely.
"I'm not noble little one, rather military. I'm an ally of sorts with your brothers," the k'nairi said almost reassuringly "My name's Yerir'o," he greeted, offering a hand to shake.
Eyeri blinked twice before a wide beam of excitement spread across his face, a look of pleasure at the reaction passing over Yerir'o's face too. Herymi smiled, and shifted so he was comfortable again, not quite willing to leave the two on their own but now understanding why the general had approached.
"Nice to finally meet you! My brothers spoke often of you," Eyeri said shaking the hand, looking truly excited to meet the man.
"It's nice to meet you too, Eyeri. And I hope there were a few good things," Yerir'o smiled warmly at the youngster.
"I'd be lying if I said only good or only bad. The general gist is they like you," Eyeri chuckled, his eyes taking in Yerir'o's face before he blinked again in vague surprise. "You have green eyes?" Eyeri frowned, tilting his head confused. All k'nairi he had met so far had an array of yellow to orange eyes, with the obvious exception of Tai'ray with his magically blue eyes.
Yerir'o let out a laugh truly amused by this. "I'm technically a halfling... How much do you know about halflings?" he asked, seeing Eyeri's blank face at the term.
"Very little," Eyeri admitted. "To be honest, I don't even know how you have babies in the first place. I know males can't give birth but I've only met like two women."
"The male to female ratio is very skewed," Yerir'o acknowledged. "The basics are k'nairi women lay eggs. The ones they don't need, they give to the hatchery, where a nest can adopt one and fertilise it. Even if a human is in the ceremony, the hatchling will have no human traits. But k'nairi can also be created and born the same way as humans. They are called halfling," Yerir'o explained. "There are two types of Halflings. For me, my mother was k'nairi and my father was human. This combination meant I was born from an egg and therefore have wings so I mostly pass as full k'nairi. My eye colour follows my fathers, however."
"Oh," Eyeri said, tilting his head, his eyes full of curiosity. Eyeri had lit up in a different way this time as Yerir'o explained how hatchling where made. The way people light up when they are doing something they enjoy. Eyeri was very much like his brother Oira, someone who enjoyed learning. Herymi was enjoying seeing the boy look so alive. "What happens if the mother is human and father is k'nairi?"
"Then they grow in the human mother's womb where there isn't enough space for wings, so they are born wingless. Often, though, they have k'nairi eyes and magic. A few of the Eagles are halflings like this. They are lucky ones who have flight regardless. Others aren't so lucky," Yerir'o said calmly, taking a seat next to Eyeri.
"Halflings still suffer from sky hunger," Eyeri muttered, understanding the implication and seriousness of that.
Yerir'o nodded. "But less of that. Human eye colours do occasionally pop up, especially if there is a human close in the blood line," he smiled.
"Okay, thank you for the explanation," Eyeri thanked Yerir'o politely, a slight touch of formality to the words.
"No problem, youngling" Yerir'o chuckled, ruffling Eyeri's hair slightly. "Now shouldn't you be elsewhere?" he asked, his eyes darting over to Herymi who just wriggled his fingers in greeting. Even if Herymi had been officially apart of the guard, Yerir'o was considerably above his station and Herymi had no real right to interact with him unless he thought Yerir'o was a danger to Eyeri.
"I needed some air," Eyeri admitted, swinging his legs. "My own fault, but I'm being crowded in."
"Fetmar's fault as well," Yerir'o commented dryly. "I would say he should know better, but we both know he would literally do anything to keep you safe. Unless it risked another one of your brothers." Eyeri smiled softly, a look on his face that Yerir'o knew very well. "I have to say Eyeri, out of all your brothers, you look like Fetmar the most."
Eyeri blushed. "People often say that. I don't see it," he admitted, "Fetmar's strong. I'm just a weak kid."
"I don't know," Yerir'o commented, "Oira isn't exactly strong either. But he is different from the two of you. As for being a kid, you'll grow up soon enough. Enjoy being young, things get a lot more complicated when you're older."
"My life has always been complicated," Eyeri said darkly.
Despite the dark undertone, Yerir'o laughed, "True enough kid."
Herymi shifted as a message came through the link. "I'm sorry General, I will have to interrupt here. Eyeri, it's time to go back in. The Winglord wants you," he said standing up.
Eyeri's eyes fell to the floor and he gulped nervously. He looked at Yerir'o and nodded slightly before slipping off the wall and reaching out to take Herymi's hand. "It was nice to meet you," Eyeri smiled.
"Stay strong kid," Yerir'o replied with a polite nod.
Herymi squeezed gently his hand and led him back into the room. The grip was tight and Eyeri wasn't sure if it was him gripping tightly or Herymi. Either way, it was reassuring and at the moment, Eyeri needed someone who wasn't family to count on. Someone safe. Herymi had proven himself as so over the past few weeks. The bodyguard led Eyeri straight to Tai-ray, who pulled the boy into his lap, wrapping his arms around Eyeri's waist. Ryraso was now leaning against the throne, sitting on the pillows which made up Dyn'ad's seat of honour. Half in the man's lap as he spoke to various friends. Herymi bowed and disappeared back into the crowds.
"Enjoy meeting General Yerir'o?" Tai'ray asked, having sensed Yerir'o's pleasure at having the little one pleased to meet him.
"It was nice to meet the k'nairi my brothers have talked about," Eyeri shrugged, "They always said if I was ever captured, get a message to him with my name. Seemed to think I would be safe."
"He had you on his own personal wanted list," Dyn'ad teased, ruffling the boy's hair. "The Zamen brother he hadn't actually met in person yet."
"I wish they had explained just how close they were to him," Ryraso commented darkly.
"We never were sure how you would react. After all the k'nairi have always been a bit of a 'don't ask' topic with you," Eyeri admitted, before Ryraso could deny it Eyeri continued. "Remember how you reacted when Kelenn played that prank on Nel'os?" Eyeri pointed out gently.
Nel'os shuddered as he appeared next to him at the memory, scowling briefly at the memory before smiling darkly. Kelenn may have gotten the drop on him but he had gotten the twin back well and truly. "To be fair, that was an idiotic thing to do," Nel'os commented disapprovingly, "Kelenn is very lucky we like him."
Both Dyn'ad and Tai'ray grimaced at those words. They hadn't forgotten the fact they had threatened the twins with a rather harsh fate next time they met them. The twins were unlikely to be friendly to them next time they met.
"And then when Taidra asked about their weaknesses. And Wiljam when he asked what their science was like. You never liked speaking about the k'nairi. Even the k'nairi caw only came to you because you were the only healer on the ship and they didn't trust me," Eyeri pointed out, much to Ryraso's embarrassment. "Otherwise they avoided you."
"How come they didn't trust you?" Nel'os asked curiously.
"I'm meek, small and young. Most people look at me and assume I can't do anything," Eyeri shrugged. "I know I can," he quickly pointed out as he saw the look on all of his ... the people around him's faces. "But that's what people think. It comes in handy occasionally," he smiled cheekily, curling up and fluttering his eyes innocently.
"I bet," Tai'ray grumbled, poking Eyeri in the ribs. Tai'ray was perfectly aware of how the human boy had simply walked out of the palace. Eyeri hid his grin and tried to wriggle out of Tai'ray's lap only to be pulled back in closer. "You aren't going anywhere," Tai'ray said dryly, kissing Eyeri's hair. "Back to Ryraso, were you ashamed of us or something?" he asked not liking the sound of what Eyeri was implying.
"Not ashamed," Ryarso reassured, choosing not to mention that no one had known just how long he had lived in Navat and he hadn't enlightened them on purpose. "I just didn't want to be turned into the 'go-to guy' on everything k'nairi."
"Right," Tai'ray murmured, looking searching the bond for any lies, but found none. It wasn't the complete truth but he hadn't been ashamed of being caw.
"My lord," Regent Unt'at appeared by his side, bowing low. "It is ready," he declared.
"Then it is time," Tai'ay said, projecting his voice and gaining the attention of all present. Eyeri went stiff in his arms, and Tai'ray held him closer. The boy gripped his arm tightly, afraid and nervous. Unt'at faded away to the side as Tai'ray stood, placing Eyeri on the ground. "It is time for Eyeri Zamen, to become part of the k'nairi," he declared, making sure Eyeri was standing next to him.
The room broke out into applause, showing their approval at that statement. Eyeri stood next to Tai'ray holding his waist. He didn't want this. A tear rolled down his face, but Tai'ray rubbed it away, before resting a hand on the boy's shoulder, keeping him close. Tai'ray knew this was going to be hard. He could only hope he was doing the right thing.