Bird of a Nest - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

It was rather obvious when Cai'ress woke up. Possibly no one knew the exact moment, but it was clear the moment he was aware his wings were gone. The screech was not a sound that would leave the ears of those nearby any time soon. The medic wrestled the panicking k'nairi down and drugged him again. The panicked screaming fading into moans before his went limp and collapsed onto them.
"How did he wake up!" Pol'ar roared at the two men as they gently put the wingless man back into bed.
The two looked at each other helplessly. "We gave him the dose on time," one offered.
Pol'ar snatched the patient notes and looked over them. "Half dose?" he growled, looking back at the one responsible. "The man is recovering from having his wings removed. Why the hell did you think it appropriate to give him a half dose of anaesthesia?"
The man kept his wings high, not quite disrespectable but standing up for himself. "He's in danger of being overdosed with how much he had received over the past week. The half-dose should have been accurate for his body weight and height." He looked down at Cai'ress frowning. "He shouldn't have woken up like that."
"He's been on blockers. He needs the higher dosage," Pol'ar challenged but looked at the graph again and winced. The man wasn't wrong. Cai'ress had far more anaesthesia than they would typically allow anyone, wings removed or not. If they continued giving him drugs at this level, they ran the risk of putting him into a coma. There was a chance he wouldn't wake up if that happened. Feeling his forehead aching again, he rubbed his brow.
"Sir?"
"Reduce to three quarters for now and keep a closer eye on him in case he wakes up again. I'll inform the Royals we need to wake him up sooner than planned," Pol'ar ordered, not liking the look of concern on his underlings' faces. It had been almost a week and a half since the heal, but they were still worrying after him.
"Yes, sir,"
Pol'ar rolled his shoulders and headed to the training grounds. Ton'enth appeared at his elbow. As the man tried to take his elbow, Pol'ar slapped him over the head with his wing. "Don't try, brat."
"Head Healer Pol'ar, you are still recovering," Ton'enth tried to scold, in a tone of superiority which made Pol'ar want to drag the man over his knee. Ton'enth was still a hundred years too young to be talking to him like that. "You should start letting others take some of your duties."
"I'm well enough to walk by myself," Pol'ar growled, not in the mood to deal with slimy High Priest. "What do you want?"
"Just to talk," Ton'eath shrugged. "I want to know your plans about Eyeri's education and when you will give Ryraso a placement."
"Neither are your business."
"I disagree. Especially on Ryraso. He is Goddess-blessed, and we both know his family history when it comes to the Goddess," Ton'enth tried to push.
"With him being the Winglord's chosen and soon to be bonded, the placement needs to be somewhere suiting his social status while also well-timed with no longer being needed at home with the Royals."
Pol'ar paused, glaring at the man. "Ryraso will work when he is ready to work. Not because the Royals are no longer here."
"But it would be an excellent time to give him something to do when they are no longer here. If he's working now, they won't be able to court him properly. He wants to be courted, that is reasonable, but if there is no time, it won't happen. Then only the Goddess knows when he will stop being a stubborn youngling and bond with them properly."
"For people who did not want him to be here, you are now putting a lot of energy into making it happen," Pol'ar shook his head, trying to walk faster but Ton'enth kept up before outright stopping him in the corridor.
"Pol'ar! Once his Grandmother bonded, she settled down. His father too, from my understanding. Ryraso knew his father as an upstanding citizen in his village. When Ryraso is bonded, he'll behave," Ton'enth argued. "We need to work together here. You and I both know he is doesn't think about anything beyond whatever he is focused on before he acts. The Royals can't take a scandal like the one his Grandmother caused. Not after their current mess."
"Meiri's mistakes are her own. Lorzen's as well. Ryraso is not them. He's never even meet his Grandmother. You can not blame him for what happened before he was born," Pol'ar said as calmly as he could without screaming at the man.
"Blood does not lie," The sage tone in Ton'enth's voice was almost ridiculous.
"You are not in your second century yet. Don't try talking proverbs to me," Pol'ar warned, pushing passed him again. "There are far more important things to worry about at the moment then when Ryraso will bond with the Royals."
"The pool has a fair bit of money behind it."
"You are joking, right?" he glared at Ton'enth who shrugged.
"Partly. This is important Pol'ar. The nation is waiting and watching. They have been back, what? A month now. No one was expecting him to bond the moment he arrived, especially with the brand but an announcement at least."
"One month is nothing," Pol'ar shook his head. "It took a week to destroy Cai'ress. I've seen it done in less before. Things change Ton'enth, and none of the Royals are concerned with when Ryraso bonds with them. They have far more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. The nation is not entitled to their relationship. No," He cut Ton'enth off before he could protest. "There are far more important things to deal with right now."
"Fine," Ton'enth hissed through his teeth. "What about Eyeri?"
"What about Eyeri?"
"He's a healer and link sensitive," Ton'enth challenged. "Anyone else would be receiving lessons from the priesthood. Matron said you were the one planning Eyeri's schedule. Are you going to put him into the lessons he needs."
"Eyeri is not a healer yet," Pol'ar breathed, counting in his mind. He hadn't noticed Eyeri being particularly sensitive, but Ton'enth would be the one to see it first. "I'll put it on the list." He was unable to keep the tiredness from his voice. He had almost finished that plan, now he needed to talk to the tutors again about times. The priests tended to only work at weird times of the day to everyone else.
Ton'enth nodded, "Thank you!" he smiled, eyes sparkling with triumph, but his eyebrows were set seriously. This was a crucial matter to the High Priest. "I will leave you alone to your duties. Please, talk to Ryraso about his plans with being courted and bonding. He trusts you more than me."
"I can't think why?" Pol'ar intoned.
Ton'enth gave him a dark look which Pol'ar returned. Both waiting for the other to make a move. Pol'ar could feel Ton'enth wanting to ask to go with him, or possibly for Pol'ar to offer but that was not happening. Ton'enth's wings lowered as he was unable to give up his ego and say the words.
"Pol'ar, they do need to make a plan and soon. Something for the people to know instead of relying on the grapevine. Which isn't great at the moment," Ton'enth's voice was on the edge of pleading but not quite there.
"I'll tell them, but nothing is going to happen for a while yet."
The man pulled a face but walked away, wings shifting to a proud stance again. Pol'ar forced his feathers to stay in place while he wanted to them to ruffled them. Ton'enth desperately wanted to get into the Royal circle, but Ryraso was reluctant to let him close. Ryraso had continued to go to morning prayers but otherwise did not want to be friends with Ton'enth. Pol'ar knew his own friendship with Ryraso and the Royals was shaky at best. He did not want to be Ton'enth's go-between man. In this case, the brat has some valid points, however.
Cai'ness was more important right now, however.
The training grounds were busy as ever. Captain Par'nast was accepting requests to remain or go home for the upcoming season. He moved through the area, noting the guards of nobles blood who were dodging him. He caught one and ordered them to the clinic within before the end of the day.
The man flushed and nodded sheepishly before Pol'ar let go of him and hunted down the Royals.
They were a little away from the rest, a gaggle of younglings with the adults sitting comfortably on the ground. Eyeri was throwing daggers at a target as Zaro instructed him. Aw'endo was practising his stances with Fetmar, a highborn mimicking them. The rest of the gaggle were relaxing on the ground, chatting amongst themselves. Ryraso sat with Dyn'ad's arm slung over his shoulders with a happy smile on his face as he watched Eyeri.
The smile left as he noticed Pol'ar approaching. Pol'ar waved him over not keeping the palace younglings to know everything. Even if the collection that seemed to be around weren't particularly troublesome ones. The two adults wandered over, Zaro and Fetmar making hand movements at them. They'd keep an eye on the younglings.
Eyeri looked over at him questioningly. Pol'ar offered his hand in invitation, but Eyeri shook his head. He threw his next dagger, the thing landing neatly in the centre of the target. Still from how Zaro scolded him, it was clear something was wrong with the technique.
"Playing games with him?"
Pol'ar shrugged. "I'm not sure at the moment. He may be able to sense I'm unhappy. Ton'enth ambushed me on my way here. He wants me to talk to you about a few things."
Ryraso grimaced at Pol'ar disapproving tone. "My apologies."
"Not your problem. Ton'enth needs to learn how to do these things for himself," Pol'ar shook his head. "And while he has a point, that's not my pressing concern. Cai'ress woke up."
"Is he still awake?" Dyn'ad held Ryraso in place before he could rush to the room. Ryraso grunted but stayed in place, leaning against Dyn'ad.
"Of course not," Pol'ar sniffed. "The poor man had a typical reaction to waking him up without wings, and we put him under again. The problem is we won't be able to keep him under for much longer."
"Why not," Dyn'ad looked between them. "I thought the Wingless are kept under for a few weeks. It's been what? A week since the operation?"
"If that, "Ryraso murmured to Dyn'ad slightly. Dyn'ad wrapped his arms around his love as Ryraso looked for comfort. This close, he could feel the unease and concern filling Ryraso. "This because of the blockers, isn't it?"
"Of course."
"Because we have to give Cai'ress higher doses to keep him asleep, if we continue to do so, his body will adapt and send him into a coma," Ryraso explained to Dyn'ad his tone soft despite the feelings of fury that bubbled behind the words. Dyn'ad kissed his cheek and rocked them slightly.
"Ideally we let him wake up naturally once the current does wear off," Pol'ar explained. "I know you may prefer to keep him asleep, however,"
"We'll let him wake up after the current does," Dyn'ad nodded, not missing how Ryraso stiffened in surprise at that announcement. Tai'ray and Nel'os were surprised too, listening through their bond.
"Excellent, but are you sure?" Pol'ar lifted an eyebrow.
"He's suffered enough by our hands. If waking up now is the best thing for him, then its what happens," Dyn'ad squeezed Ryraso lightly and sent waves of love to his other mates. "When will he wake up again?"
"Sometime this evening."
"Then we better prepare for it."