Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

"And this," Nel'os declared as he opened two large double doors. "Is where you will be staying for the foreseeable future," he said cheerfully. Tai'ray and Dyn'ad were stuck doing official duties so Nel'os had taken the chance to escape and show Ryraso and Eyeri their new rooms.
The doors opened into a large common room with a large fire pit in the centre of the room and large windows opening to an impressive view of the city. Vines were growing around the window frames and flowers sprouted from them. In front of the fire pit was a nest of pillows and blankets, though Eyeri got the idea that they were more for casual conversations than as possible sleeping nest. There were many doors around the room, Eyeri moved forward and opened one to find a decent sized bedroom. It was decorated in a rich red colour and detailed in gold.
"Are all the doors bedrooms?" Eyeri asked, counting ten doors in the room. One was clearly Aw'endo's room as Aw'endo walked straight in and dumped his bag of clothes down.
"Most of them," Nel'os nodded cheerfully, ruffling his hair. "This is the consort wing. Or at least the last remaining one. This was the favourite's wing. The past Winglord enjoyed sleeping with many people. Plus they didn't just make lovers consorts. The consort position has also long been used as a way to protect people in the past," he explained.
"This was one of the wings?" Eyeri said sounding surprised as Ryraso opened the different rooms and looked at the bedrooms. "How many wings were there? The Winglord was only one person wasn't he?"
"Yes, but they were nobles and it wasn't unusual for each noble clan to offer a tribute to the Winglord. Which meant big harems. I didn't like the idea so the tributes were allowed to either return to their clans or make their own lives. We still have a few living in the other wings but in general they are used for other purposes now," Nel'os explained. "Plus, the mates of the Winglord were allowed their own lovers and one of the former Winglords let his bonded have a wing each."
"That is a lot of sex," Eyeri said in disbelief.
"Welcome to Navat," Ryraso said dryly. "The nobles think different to the normal k'nairi. I am very grateful that you three went down a more normal route. Though I suspect Nel'os wouldn't mind his own wing of lovers," he said half teasingly, kissing Nel'os' cheek.
"Hey!" Nel'os pouted.
"Oh please," Aw'endo snorted. "You'd love that," he said as Eyeri hid his laughter at Nel'os' reaction. Ryraso too was smirking at the look on Nel'os' face. The man was a noble through and through, and while his mates put up with it, that did not mean they weren't going to tease him about it.
"Hush you," Nel'os scolded lightly. "Which bedroom would you like Ry?" Nel'os asked curiously, trying to change the subject."Eyeri, you should choose one too," he added, wrapping an arm around Eyeri's shoulders for a brief hug.
Eyeri nodded slowly and pulled away to look at the rooms. He barely glanced in most of them but instead looked more slowly at the ones either side of Aw'endo's room. Ryraso leant against Nel'os as he watched his son pick a room. Clearly waiting for Eyeri to pick a room before selecting one for himself.
"I'm not going to sleep with random people while we're courting you," Nel'os promised softly, his cheeks a little red.
"Good. Don't strain yourself too much though," Ryraso nudged with a grin on his face. Trying not to show how relieved he was by that. He hasn't really processed the idea of Nel'os sleeping with others while courting him. Ryraso honestly wasn't sure he could be as ok with Nel'os sleeping around as Tai'ray and Dyn'ad were. It made his stomach twist a little. Actually, the idea that they were going to try and have sex with him made his stomach twist uncomfortably too now he thought about it. He mentally froze. He was nervous about them trying to get him into bed?
"It's hardly an issue," Nel'os muttered, cuddling into Ryraso. "I'm a noble, and mated to two people. I can restrain myself," he pouted, misreading why Ryraso was nervous.
"I'm sure," Ryraso kissed Nel'os on the cheek and patted his chest. "Eyeri, you decided?" he asked, changing the subject, his heart beating a little faster.
"Can I have the blue one?" Eyeri asked shyly. It was the smallest, Ryraso noticed. It did have the nicest view though, with a window seat that looked out onto the gardens. It was also decorated with white patterns.
"Of course sweetheart," Nel'os grinned, moving away to give some orders to one of the servants who were waiting outside the doors of the wing. "We will have to take you to a tailor soon to get you some new clothes," he mused as he returned. "What about you Ryraso? Do you want a room or do you want to just skip the formality and just move straight into the Royal nest room with us?" he asked fluttering his eyes.
"I'll take the red room," Ryraso said dryly, his stomach twisting painfully suddenly. "You're not getting me that quickly," he stated, grabbing his bag from the floor and quickly walking into the room opposite Aw'endo's bedroom. Calmly he put his bag down in the room and began unpacking.
"Ry," Nel'os moaned softly, following him in. "You know I was just teasing," he said apologetically.
"I know, Nel," Ryraso reassured, really not wanting to talk or even really think about the issue yet. Why was he nervous? He found them attractive. He had slept with them before when they were just friends. The only thing which had changed was now they wanted to keep him. Now it wouldn't just be for fun, it would be to claim him.
"Then what's the matter?" Nel'os asked, moving behind Ryraso and hugging him. Rocking him back and forth slowly. "You feel off," he hummed, nuzzling Ryraso.
"Just nervous, Nel," Ryraso promised, rocking with him, willing his heartbeat to slow down. "I'll be fine after a few days," he promised, turning around and kissing Nel'os on the lips, wrapping his arms around Nel'os' neck. "I just have to get used to being here again," Ryraso murmured with a smile.
Nel'os hummed, wrapping his arms around Ryraso's waist and hugging him back. "You will," Nel'os promised. "But I think you're deflecting. You weren't scared until I joked about you just joining our nest."
"Nel..." Ryraso murmured, not wanting to admit to Nel'os why his stomach had twisted.
"Hey, it's okay," Nel'os murmured, kissing Ryraso on the lips lightly. "We weren't lying when we said nothing was going to happen until you are ready for it. And yes, I know that might be a while. We have to get the punishment done first anyway. I was just teasing. I swear."
"I know," Ryraso smiled softly.
"Nel'os?" Eyeri called from the common room, interrupting whatever Nel'os was about to say next. Nel'os pulled a face and let go of Ryraso reluctantly.
"Yes Eyeri?" he called as he walked out of the room, Ryraso following behind curious what Eyeri wanted. "Is something the matter?"
"Why is this room locked?" Eyeri asked, pointing to a door. It was the eleventh door and had been behind a curtain.
Aw'endo looked at Nel'os with a helpless look."It is not a good room," Aw'endo commented, tugging a confused Eyeri away. "Tell him Nel," Aw'endo looked over at the consort. "It's nothing he needs to know about right?"
"Nel'os?" Eyeri said sounding extremely confused.
"I'm surprised you guys kept that room," Ryraso frowned, knowing what it was and what it was used for. "Unless..." he said darkly, glaring at Nel'os fiercely.
"It is not for you, nor has it ever been," Nel'os quickly said, knowing where Ryraso's mind was going. "The elders wouldn't let us remove it. Probably because of you but I think more because it has been used for hostages too in the past," he tried to reason. "The others in the other wings have been dismantled, I promise."
"Hostages? Dismantled? Just what is in that room?" Eyeri said frowning deeply.
"It is the cage room," Tai'ray's voice echoed in the room as he entered. Ryraso and Nel'os winced. Ryraso resisted the urge to move over and hug Eyeri at the look in Eyeri's eyes. Some things Eyeri had to face on his own and this concept was one of them.
"Cage room?" Eyeri asked, his voice uncertain.
"Yes," confirmed Tai'ray moving over to him and putting his hands on his shoulders as Eyeri looked at the door like a monster was about to jump out, making the boy jump. He looked up at the Winglord, who gave him a small smile. "It's where misbehaving consorts go," the Winglord explained. "Inside there is a golden cage where they stay until they are ready to be trusted."
"Misbehaving consorts..." Eyeri said softly. Of course, there was a cage, he mused darkly. There was always a cage. He just hadn't thought that the one in Navat would be literal.
Ryraso shifted to move over, the resolve to let Eyeri accept this on his own breaking as he saw the look on Eyeri's face. This was not going to help with convincing Eyeri the k'nairi didn't see him as a slave. Nel'os caught his arm before he could move far and shook his head. Ryraso shot him a dark look. Aw'endo watched from the side, looking worried.
'I have this,' Tai'ray promised mentally as he wrapped his arm around Eyeri's shoulder and rocked him slightly. "It hasn't been used in a long time, little one. While I am forced to keep it in good shape, I don't plan on using it anytime soon. Provided of course you don't try and escape again," Tai'ray teased, flicking the boy's nose.
Eyeri pulled a face at the childish action but nodded slowly in understanding. "I've got nowhere to go anyway" he shrugged, his voice oddly hollow.
Ryraso shared a desperate look with Nel'os who winced in understanding. "Hey sport, everything will be fine," Nel'os promised. "What do you think of the palace so far?" he asked.
"It's impressive. Looks like it will be hard for me to explore at the moment though," Eyeri commented, his tone still empty. On their journey there, several guards had given Eyeri or Ryraso lifts to get to doorways where there were no stairs.
"Yes, I noticed the palace has changed a lot since the last time I was here," Ryraso commented lightly. Some of the higher walkways which had been removed, stairs as well. Where once there had been ways for humans to get around, put in as Navat slowly opened up to the humans, they were gone. No doubt to trap the humans inside the palace. Most of the walkways left were easily removable. Not to mention the guards which were everywhere. Where once the palace was a free place to move about, even for humans, it was now watched closely. He hadn't missed how many of the windows were blocked by trees now, caging in those who were inside.
"Yes. Some changes were needed," Tai'ray nodded slowly, fully aware that Ryraso knew what the palace had once been. A lot of the changes were obviously to trap the humans who would be residing inside it, including Ryraso. "We are technically at war," he offered.
"Technically," Ryraso agreed darkly. "You are also allied with humans."
"You think I can trust the D'mar grunts in the palace?" Tai'ray asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Most of the high ups have magic so it wouldn't affect them anyway."
"So it's just inside the palace that there have been restrictions put in place?" Ryraso asked, tilting his head. Neither of them looked directly at him. "I thought so," Ryraso sighed sadly. He knew why the changes had been made and it was nothing to do with the D'mar. It had been done to make the humans more dependant on the k'nairi.
"Well, it's been a long week," Tai-ray commented before things could go any darker and ruffled Eyeri's hair, hugging the boy close for the moment. "I think it's time we all had a bath," he said calmly.
"Now that sounds good," Nel'os grinned. "I haven't had a decent bath in ages," he groaned, stretching out.
"We were at a hot spring two days ago," Ryraso pointed out, moving back into the room, Nel'os followed him.
"Not the point!" Nel'os argued.
"Da?" Aw'endo asked softly looking at Tai'ray.
"Go get your stuff, and some for Eyeri too," Tai'ray waved at his adopted son. Aw'endo nodded and moved away, sensing Tai'ray wanted a word with Eyeri on his own. Tai'ray pulled Eyeri into one of the rooms and sat him down on the bed, sitting next to him calmly.
"Wing... Tai'ray?" Eyeri asked, changing from his title to his name as Tai'ray lifted an eyebrow at him.
"I am serious Eyeri. I won't put you in there unless you do something serious like try to run away. It's not a punishment you need worry about otherwise," Tai'ray promised. "It isn't there to scare you."
Eyeri looked at him and nodded. "I know," he murmured.
"Then cheer up," he said slapping Eyeri's back. "You'll love baths," Tai'ray promised. "Best part of coming home. The water is heated from inside the mountain and just wait until you see the place!"
"Bathing in a group. Brillant. Excuse me while I contain my joy," Eyeri said sarcastically, rubbing his arms, clearly nervous about his scars.
"No one cares about your scars," Tai'ray promised, rubbing Eyeri's back. "There is a private bath for the Royals so it will just be us six and no strangers. It will be fun. I promise."
"It's just the six of us?" Eyeri said softly. Tai'ray nodded with a gentle smile. "Ok then. I'll go," Eyeri murmured.
"Good boy," Tai'ray grinned.