Bird of a Nest - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Goodnight," Zaro murmured, patting Ryraso's shoulder as he passed. He was distinctly not looking at Ryraso and that didn't settle right in Ryraso's stomach. Zaro was someone he had kept an eye on while on the warship. He was young, not Eyeri young but young. He didn't want the young man to feel like he was alone and had no allies here. Ryraso caught Zaro's arm and stopped him. Looking the young man in the eyes, Zaro didn't fight the close hold, but his dark eyes were wary.
"I am your friend, Zaro," Ryraso promised, seriously. "I'm here if you need help. You're not on your own here."
"That is kind of you to say," Zaro said stiffly, but his shoulders lowered slightly. There did seem to be some reassurance gained, even in Zaro didn't quite believe Ryraso yet. Five days was a long time to be left alone in this place.
"Sleep well," Ryraso offered, knowing there was nothing he could do at that moment to fix that and let Zaro go. Zaro lingered a moment before heading back towards the palace. Ryraso watched him go with more guilt building inside of him. He had forgotten to check on Zaro once he was 'safe' from Fiant but that didn't make the man safe from the new circumstances he found himself in. He would have to make a better effort to hun the boy down more.
"He's right, you know? You can't keep everyone safe," a female voice said boldly behind him.
"Lady Es'tat," he acknowledged, turning around to face the female ambassador.
He had been introduced to her at some point but had yet to speak much to the woman. Her predecessor had been old but Lasy Es'tat was in her prime. She was alone but carrying a fairly impressive looking weapon on her hip. She had a pear figure with her hips and thighs thick while her chest was small. Her hair was black, long with the side shaved while the rest was tied up in a ponytail.
"Healer Ryraso," she said dryly, sitting on the now vacated ledge. "Forgive me for jumping you like this but the Winglady would like to meet you and your courters are unlikely to allow for such a thing," she said firmly, getting straight to the point.
"Has relations soured?" Ryraso frowned. The balance between the Winglord and Winglady was always a touch delicate. Ryraso didn't pretend to understand why the k'nairi had separated themselves so much from each other but it was the way they were. Still, no one had mentioned any issues and there were hatchlings about. That was usually the first sign of troubles, when the ladies refused to give their eggs to be fertilised.
"I was referring to how possessive they are being, relations are stable currently," Lady Es'tat reassured with a smirk as Ryraso flushed slightly. It was true they had been reluctant to let him out to walk even with the guards about. They didn't like having him out of sight. Ryraso, on the other hand, needed some breathing space.
"That's... good to hear. I was never really sure about how the Winglady felt about the war," he commented lightly enough, a clear invitation for her to offer information but she only shrugged. She reached over and plucked a flower from a bush and studied it closely, not seemingly in a rush to ask any more questions. "Is there something that you wanted to tell me?" Ryraso checked cautiously. Lasy Est'at was not someone he wished to offend given her status. Like Regent Un'tat and Pol'ar, she was unlikely to be leaving the court inner circle any time soon.
"Only that she wishes to see you and would appreciate it if you asked the Winglord," Lady Est'at explained. "They are far more likely to accept you wishing to go than our lady asking them too. She's curious about your new sons too but by no means do they have to go. Probably a good thing in the rumours on the grapevine are true," she mused.
Given she had not expanded on how the Winglady felt about the war, Ryraso felt no need to confirm the rumours or not. He did slump slightly at the reminder his sons were stressed at the moment. Just what had reached the vine was uncertain and plenty had happened but such an observation to be made. Between the brand, Awen'do almost being stabbed, Fetmar being stabbed and Pol'ar decision to determine Eyeri's fate, his children had a lot going on."Got a plausible reason why I would wish such a thing?" she asked softly.
"You're a clever man, I'm sure you can think up of something," Lady Est'at smiled politely, twiddling the flower in her hands. "Tell me, Healer, what will you do if you are unable to heal?" she asked almost challengingly but not actually looking at him, her eyes fixed on the flower.
Ryraso's forced himself not to glare at the woman but instead smile. "If it comes to that..." he drifted off. "We'll see," he said rather ambiguously. His gut was to fight. His gut was that he wouldn't last long without the thing that made him, him. But how to do so was not something he wished to explore just yet.
Her eyes rose to meet his. "We would take you, if it comes to that. The Goddess blessed you. You are always welcome in our borders," Lady Est'at intoned seriously, a thin smile on her face. "Your apprentice too. Your apprentice's brother would have to remain here, but Awen'do would be welcome until his Navdia. I know you would not want that for an extended period of time but the Windlord does spend much of his time elsewhere. Until the war ends, its an option the Windlady wished you to know you have."
"That is comforting," Ryraso said almost hesitantly, not sure how to react to such an offer. He knew k'nairi culture here in Navat and to a certain extent to the rural locations but the female conclave was not part of his knowledge. How it would be to accept such an offer, both the way he would live and what it would be political, was uncertain. "Please tell our Lady that I appreciate the option."
"But?" Lady Est'at hummed, lifting her eyebrows.
"I can't leave Fetmar alone just yet, even if that comes to pass. If he's in a safe position, possibly," Ryraso mused. "I do appreciate the offer and I will try to see if I can go see our Lady soon."
"Excellent," Lady Est'at beamed before her expression turned soft. "It also brings me back to the first point I made, and indeed young Mr Zaro. You can't protect everyone Healer Ryraso. You shouldn't feel too guilty about having let Mr Zaro be on his own or get into the situation that he is now in."
"So the vine has noticed?" Ryraso sighed, wondering if there was even anything he could do for damage control at the moment. Zaro had fallen into bed with a mated guard after barely hours of knowing him. That was going to get him labelled as an easy lay at the very least. The question was whether he'd get labelled as a homewrecker or as a bed warmer. A homewrecker would curse him to the same fate as Ang'as. A bed warmer would make him very popular for all the wrong reasons.
"The vine. The nobles. The servants. The guards," Lady Est'at smiled weakly. "Until the guard's motivation for sleeping with him is known, true judgement won't be placed I suspect. The guards seem to think that there is nothing wrong with the fact they are sleeping together. Everyone else is just wondering how he is in bed," Lady Est'at shrugged. "He has a nice ass, you have to admit."
"I should have made sure someone was looking out for him," Ryraso groaned, rubbing his forehead with the palm of his hand. There was nothing he would be able to do other than give Zaro protection if someone tried to force the issue.
"He's an adult," Lady Est'at pointed out.
"He just had his heart broken, got captured by his enemy and when he first slept with the man, thought he was going to Fiant. If anything the guard took advantage of a very vulnerable person," Ryraso scowled, not bothering to hide that. If Lady Est'at had been listening in, she would have heard enough to be able to make that conclusion on her own. "If we would not in the palace, the guard would be ..." he trailed off. "Commoners would not be deciding if Zaro was easy and if that was a good or bad thing."
"What's done is done," Lady Est'at chuckled, slipping off the ledge and walking over to Ryraso to pat him on the back. She was actually a good head taller than him stood up like this. "If there is a hint the guard is taking advantage, I'll make sure the vine takes Zaro's side. He is an outsider after all. Let the man have some fun while he can. He looked sad when you confronted him."
"Don't suppose you can help with Ang'as situation too?" Ryraso asked idly, crossing his arms. It was true. Maybe it wasn't his place to tell Zaro off for sleeping with someone but it wasn't like Zaro was happy now either.
"That is beyond anyone's ability," Lady Est'at chuckled sadly. "I can keep my girls from hurting him though. Now, I'm sure your mates would like you home and in their nest. Especially if you haven't had your own tumble yet. It sounds like it's been long enough and your excuses for not have now run out."
"Not really the best reason to do so," Ryraso glared at her.
"Is there a reason you don't want to?" Lady Est'at asked, her eyes curious. "You DO love them right?"
"Frankly Lady Est'at, that is none of your business," Tai'ray's voice said as he appeared from the sky, landing next to them and pulling Ryraso not too subtly away from the female k'nairi. Lady Est'at unable to hide a smile as he did so. Ryraso went where he pulled, leaning into Tai'ray's hold with his own smile on his lips. He shouldn't find Tai'ray being possessive endearing and yet he felt oddly warmed by how Tai'ray pulled him close.
"Very true, Winglord," Lady Est'at acknowledged, bowing in the presence of Tai'ray. "Forgive my curiosity. Unless you wish something of me, I shall leave the two of you alone."
"I have no need of you tonight. Goodnight, Lady Est'at," Tai'ray dismissed the woman, politely but with a distinct air of disapproval. Ryraso looked up at the man but couldn't read his expression. Lady Est'at had promised to help look after Zaro's reputation but that didn't necessarily make her someone Ryraso could trust.
"Goodnight Windlord, Healer Ryraso," She chuckled before walking away, not permitted to fly in the palace grounds like Tai'ray or the royals.  As she walked away, Tai'ray grip on Ryraso tightened slightly and he pulled him closer, kissing the side of his head.
"Don't have to, you know. Have sex with us. Not until you want to," Tai'ray murmured over the link. "I don't care what the others think. Though I will ask that you don't have sex with anyone else until you have with us,"
"I can do that," Ryraso promised. "And I know. I trust you." He leant up and kissed Tai'ray on the lips, letting the kiss turn deep. Tai'ray's arms wrapped around Ryraso and for a few moments, all of Ryraso's worries melted away. As they parted, Ryraso rested his head on Tai'ray's shoulder and enjoyed the peace of the embrace.
"Let's head back," Tai'ray murmured finally, kissing Ryraso's cheek.
"Um," Ryraso nodded. "Say, Tai. Do you think you could get a few hours off tomorrow? It'd be nice to actually spend some time together," he said almost hesitantly. Tai'ray was busy, very busy but he had insisted he wanted to be courted. A date seemed like a simple wish, right? Tai'ray winced and looked at Ryraso. Ryraso's shoulder's slumped as he could practically hear the negative answer.
"I'll talk to Regent Un'tat about it."