Bird of a Nest - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

"That sucks," Ang'as grimaced as he listened to Nel'os talk. "Tai'ray doesn't often deny you your lovers but I guess Cai'ress just took things too far?" he said hesitantly, clearly not understanding why Tai'ray had turned around and exiled the young submissive from the court. Everyone knew Cai'ress wouldn't have left willingly. His clan was old fashioned to a T. He had been sent away.
"Just what could he have done?" Nel'os frowned, curled up on his chair. Ang'as was a friend, occasionally a lover but more often a sympathetic ear.
Ang'as was one of the remaining consorts of the former Winglord. He had lived what Nel'os had been saved from.  Chosen by the man to be his lover and forced to wait on him for almost ten years of his life before Tai'ray had become to new Winglord. Forced to serve and not given the dignity of being the man's bonded but rather a plaything. Nel'os was only a few years younger than Ang'as and the two had been friendly in their youth. When Tai'ray had taken over, Nel'os had reconnected with the man.
White-winged, yellow-eyed and thick luxurious blond locks that flowed down over his shoulder, there was no denying that Ang'as was of noble blood. The main differences between Ang'as and Nel'os were their facial features. The former winglord had certainly had a type.
"It is possible Tai'ray just doesn't like him? Not sure why. Cai'ress always carried himself well for a prospective mate or consort. Very well behaved," Ang'as said approvingly.  "I don't think he had a single lover other than you and Dyn'ad. Me, I was a slut who slept with everyone I was allowed too," he said with a rather bitter undertone to his words. He had slept with one person while being courted by the Winglord. Unfortunately, the man in question had been a servant and the Winglord had not liked that.
Nel'os gave him a grim smile, reaching forward to pat Ang'as on the knee. That lie was one that had followed Ang'as since the former Winglord had declared it. Even the new Winglord hadn't shaken that rumour or reputation.  "I don't think it would have been something like that. Tai'ray doesn't really care about that kind of thing as long as you're truthful about it," Nel'os murmured. "You having issues again?"
"Fifty years is still not long enough to shake the idea that I'm an easy lay," Ang'as exhaling, rubbing the back of his neck. "High Guardian Ny'orm was flirting with me. Nothing serious but friendly. Gar'skel took it upon himself to put me back in my place."
"Gar'skel is a bitch," Nel'os said bluntly. "And Ny'orm's nice but he's almost in his third century. You deserve someone younger. You deserve someone who will actually love you and not treat you like eye candy."
"Gar'skel is a bitch, but he is very much in love with his man. I'm too old now for that. Only people who have love matches in court fell in love when they were younglings," Ang'as gave half a smile. "Or manage to find a nest of a similar age. How many of those are in court? Unless you think Tai'ray would be interested in me?" he winked, shifting into a more seductive pose, fluttering his eyes and letting his long legs extend.
"You're welcome to try, Honey," Nel'os chuckled, not rising to that. Ang'as wasn't serious, most likely. Regardless Tai'ray could barely see around Ryraso right now, Ang'as was going to need a sledgehammer to get his attention. "There are plenty of nests in court that are around our age and everyone is here at the moment with the branding of Ryraso so soon. If you want a High Guardian, there is Honuf't. He's handsome. His Ser'ad is a sweetheart and their third is also known as a good man. Or you could slum it with a General. Or if you fancy ladies instead, the current ambassador to the female conclave is only a few decades older than us."
"Lady Est'as would castrate me if I dared tried anything with her," Ang'as said seriously though he smiled at the idea of such a thing.  "Honuf't is the High Guardian of Wolfond. I have no intention of going somewhere so far north. Maybe I should have taken Gar'kin up on his offer and joined his nest."
Nel'os snorted. Gar'kin was also a former consort, only he had been like Dyn'ad. Strong and forced to submit to show the Winglord's power rather than to be eye candy. The man now worked as the groundskeeper. He was good at this job and much happier, like most of the former Winglord's victims. "You gardening, that would be something I'd pay to see," he mused. He laughed as Ang'as threw a cushion at him, pouting. "Bit of dirt under the fingernails never hurt anyone," he teased.
"Indeed," Gar'kin's voice floated in the room. Ang'as flushed bright red and glared solidly at Nel'os who was trying not to laugh as the man walked in with an amused expression on his face. The man wandered over, still wearing his gardening gear and bowed to Nel'os before pressing a kiss to Ang'as forehead quickly, before Ang'as could move away. "I'd rank it next to seeing him try to flirt with Lady Est'as," he said conspiratorially to Nel'os.
"You could have made yourself known," Ang'as grumbled, but he leant forward and poured another cup of tea for the man.
"I did, didn't I?" Gar'kin shrugged, not fussed. He sat on a window ledge bathing in the sunlight. Tanned and muscles from his working the gardens, Gar'kin looked like he should be a warrior. Technically he was apart of the home guard, but as a former consort, he was rarely given shifts. His wings were a  healthy-looking grey which was only a shade different from his hair. It was easy to see why someone would accept him as a consort. "Not my fault you're gossiping," he teased.
"What brings you to the upper floors?" Nel'os said his voice full of amusement. Gar'kin had been given a suite near the gardens and rarely ventured far from them. Noble blood or not, Gar'kin was not particularly interested in the court.
"You, actually Royal Bonded. I was wondering I am required to attend tomorrow evening. I know Tia and Mo are planning too. Tai'hon is looking for a new sponsor. I think she's dragging Mo'sit out so he sees more than younglings for once. Mo'sit's been locking himself away in the library again,"  Gar'kin said calmly, adding the gossip for Ang'as's benefit. Tai'hon and Mo'sit were the final two former consorts. Tai'hon typically entertained herself by being the mistress of whoever was high enough in court and wanted her. Mo'sit spent his days teaching the noble children their letters and numbers.
"I'm surprised Lady Est'as hasn't convinced Tai'hon to go back to the conclave. She's tried with some of the servant girls," Ang'as mused.
"You are invited but by no means required to come, Gar'kin" Nel'os smiled sadly. The date had been set. Ryraso would be branded tomorrow. Be branded and then whipped for fighting against coming home. He had told Ryraso barely an hour ago. Ryraso had simply nodded before asking to be alone. Nel'os' chest hurt. "And Tai'hon enjoys herself far too much here to go back," he added.
"Yet, she is not condemned as a slut," Ang'as grimaced, walking to Gar'kin and passing him a cup of tea. The cup looked almost too fragile in his large hands, but he smiled gratefully and took a sip, while wrapping an arm around Ang'as' waist.
"Only slutty if it's with the servants, not bonded and if you're catching. Other nobles, its normal behaviour," Nel'os said dryly, if not disapprovingly of the sentiment. It seemed rather unfair that Tai'hon when from lover to lover with barely a blink of the nobles eyes and Ang'as was treated with disdain over a rumour from over fifty years ago. Ang'as hadn't been celibate, as Nel'os knew well, but he hadn't been like Tai'hon.
"You're not and you know that," Gar'kin said firmly, pulling Ang'as tight for one brief moment. Gar'kin was rather sweet on Ang'as having been housed with him during their times as consorts. There was no romantic love and Ang'as would struggle with some of Gar'kin's bondeds but they would have suited each other nicely if Ang'as has said yes.
Ang'as flushed but didn't pull from the hug. "Maybe I can find someone new. Everyone is here as you say," he acknowledged, leaning on Gar'kin. "Or at least someone to have fun with. Ril'shy is free at the moment. His suitor broke it off when he realised how married to his job Ril'shy is. Noble blood, even if he is a working man now," he commented.
"You could always just come to my nest," Gar'kin reminded, nuzzling Ang'as. Ang'as smiled softly at the gesture. "You're still very much welcome and I wouldn't force you to garden. Much."
"Welcome by you, yes. By Kal'bur, no. And given you have already bonded to the man, he takes priority," Ang'as said darkly. "Another one who put me in my place," he added, rolling his eyes at Nel'os. Nel'os grimaced. Ang'as had far too many people telling him he wasn't worthy of their partners.
"He what?" Gar'kin said frowning deeply.
"Nothing important Gar'kin," Ang'as said patting Gar'kin on the chest and moving away from him, only for Gar'kin not to release him.
"Ang," Gar'kin said warningly, wanting an answer, his dominant voice coming into his tone.
"It's no more than any of the other submissive around nest heads I talk to have done, Gar'kin. Just made it perfectly clear that I'm not welcome in your nest and shouldn't flirt with you with that hope," Ang'as calmly explained.
"You are welcome," Gar'kin sniffed unhappily at the idea that one of his bonded has been so rude to Ang'as. The nobles were a given but his bondeds weren't from the upper ranks. From people who lived in the palace certainly, but not from the noble clans.
"Thank you, but not today," Ang'as said softly, kissing Gar'kin's cheek and managing to extract himself. "Please take no offence but I haven't lost hope just yet. Anywhere, as pleasant as today has been, I have an appointment with Ril'shy. I'll see you tomorrow, Nel'os. Gar'kin," he bowed to them both before fleeing from the room. And it was fleeing, there was no doubt about it. Ang'as didn't like being reminded by Gar'kin, himself that he was welcome in his nest. Or rather he did but for the wrong reasons.
Gar'kin deflated as the man left the room. Nel'os gave him a soft look. "You're not going to get him into your nest like that," Nel'os pointed out. "Especially if your bondeds don't want him. He's played that role before. Still is, in a strange way."
"I didn't realise the others had told him he wasn't welcome," Gar'kin frowned deeply, at the idea. He put the cup he had been drinking from down and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "I'll have to deal with that," he murmured.
Nel'os's lips twitched at the comment. As the family head, he would be able to 'deal' with it. The head could force his bonded to give a potential bonded a chance, the bonded couldn't. As prove with him and trying to get Cai'ress into the bond. Only Dyn'ad could have forced it but wouldn't. Nel'os grimaced at the thought, forcing it away. There were very good reasons why Dyn'ad wouldn't force it and it would be selfish of him to wish otherwise. Yet...
"You do realise, if you are serious about him, you have got to make it clear instead of just offering when he's complaining about his lack of suitors," Nel'os pointed out, choosing to distract himself from that thought thread. "Assuming it isn't just out of pity."
"It's not out of pity," Gar'kin breathed before looking up at Nel'os. "Maybe if tomorrow proves there is no one, I'll make a more serious move. I guess, I just didn't want to trap him in a relationship in a different social class to what he wanted."
"Kind but he is always welcome in the noble social class, as are you, as former consorts. What he wants is someone to love him. Like all of us do," Nel'os sighed.