Bird of a Nest - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Ryraso dreamed.
It wasn't a lucid dream but he was aware it was not real. Watching from above as he looked down at his hometown. The sun was shining down on the cornfields and he could hear the sounds of his nephews playing in the backyard as a much younger version of himself packed a bag. His father filled the doorway, only now Ryraso read his body language different. When he had been younger, he had read his father as disappointed but now. Now he saw something else. Sadness. Sadness that his youngest was leaving and worry about the place he was leaving to.
His relationship with father had not been the best but he had been loved by his father. He just didn't know how to show it to his weakest son who had chosen to sleep with men and go into a woman's field. Ryraso had no doubts his father loved him. He suspected his father had resigned himself to this fate when Ryraso had first shown healing talent. Navat was the best place to go. In hindsight, Ryraso wondered if the goddess had given him healing abilities to bring his blood back to Navat in the first place.
"You are really doing this then?" his father commented, watching in the doorway. His clothes were well worn and stained with the mud and blood of the farm.  His feet were bare to keep the mud on his boots out of the house and he was holding a hat in his hats.  "You're really going to Navat?"
"Let me guess, you don't approve of living with another race?" Ryraso said sarcastically, not looking back at his father. He wasn't even really packing anymore, just refusing to look at him. Ryraso couldn't remember why anymore. Must have fought about something.
"No," his father shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "Believe it or not, Ryraso, I have lived in Navat myself," he revealed. The younger Ryraso froze and turned to look at his father in shock. Ryraso smiled sadly. The moment his father had bothered to tell him that he hadn't lived in the valley his entire life. It had shaken his entire world and it was one of the first moments in his life where Ryraso started seeing the world differently. Everyone had secrets, even his farmer father had secrets.
"Dad," the younger Ryraso murmured. "You never said."
"I spent many years there once, a long time ago now," the man said wistfully. "I try not to think about it too much. I made a commitment to be here and not in the past," he explained gently,  tugged on his pendant, lightly. Ryraso frowned, looking at the pendant only dimly remembering what was on it now. His father had never taken it off. "It doesn't surprise me that one of my children would feel the call to go," he added softly.
"Why did you leave?" he demanded, brows furrowed. Ryraso remembered being angry at this revelation. Anger that his father had hidden this for so long after fighting so hard not to let him leave the valley. After lecturing him about the dangers of leaving the valley.
"Of course. I never wanted this. Not until I met your mother," his father smiled sadly, wearing a look he had often had when referring to Ryraso's mother. He had never fallen in love again after her and as Ryraso learned in Navat, still was harbouring a love long lost before his mother too. He paused and a serious look covered his face. "Ry, you are my youngest. You have the eyes of your grandmother and her and mine's temper to match. It will serve you well in the coming months. The k'nairi can be hard creatures to deal with. They are not human, remember that. Most understand the taste of blood better than the crack of a word. There are exceptions, but don't be afraid of them, Ryraso. Being afraid gives them power and if you wish to gain their respect. You  must not falter ever."
"I understand, Dad," the young Ryraso said tightly, having no idea at all. Not at all. Not appreciating the advice at his age.
"I doubt you do," his father chuckled, the sad smile on his face turning into a fond one. "You may fall in love there, Ry. Maybe not with a person but with Navat itself. I... Maybe when your brothers are settled more I will get the chance to go back." Ryraso's chest hurt at those words, the look in his eyes. He had wanted to go back. The same as Ryraso had wanted to during the war. Wanting but unable due to circumstances.
"Why not before?" Ryraso asked curiously, "There is nothing forbidden about family visiting?"
"Because I could barely make myself leave last time and I doubt they would allow it again. They like to hold on to what they see as theirs," His father's eyes were strange as he looked as Ryraso. A decision seemed to be made in his father's mind and he strode into the room. "Here," he passed the young Ryraso two things wrapped up tightly. Before taking off his bracelet and putting it on Ryraso. "When you get to Navat, ask to find someone. Priest Umin, if he's still a priest. Give him this," he pointed to the first box. "He'll understand."
"And this?" Ryraso asked, pointing to the second box. His eyes glued to the bracelet now on his arm. Ryraso remembered feeling so confused. Only moments before he hadn't known his father had ever been Navat and now he was given a strange quest to fulfil.
"Your coming of age present, when you are ready, open it," his father stated.
"Dad?" Ryraso frowned, feeling so confused.
"I love you, Ryraso," His father did something he hadn't done since Ryraso had been taller than the man's knee, he pressed Ryraso close and kissed him on the head. Murmuring words in a language Ryraso had never known at the time. But now. Now he knew them and it was strange to hear them again and understand them. "May the link keep you safe and the Goddess bless your steps, my beloved son."
Ceremonial words, given to any grown hatchling leaving the nest. Important words to be given and ones which made Ryraso feel oddly numb. He closed his eyes and felt as the world around him changed. His father had known those words were traditional. He had felt the need to tell them to him just as he was leaving.
Next time Ryraso opened his eyes, the dream had moved to him first meeting Umin. Umin who was no longer a priest, but a healer. A well-known healer who never took on human charges. Ryraso remembered being hesitated to approach him but his father's final words to him rang through his ears. To never falter and the k'nairi would respect him for that. He walked into the office, head held high, though the k'nairi ignored him at first.
"Healer Umin?" Ryraso asked politely. When he was ignored he resisted the urge to scowl. He knew why Umin was ignoring him. The man was assuming Ryraso was this year's daring apprentice who decided to ask him to be his mentor. Only he had no desire to try to be the exception to the rule. He did want to finish the task set to them so he could write home and let his father know it was done. After a few moments, Ryraso decided to take a different route.  "Priest Umin?" He tried bravely.
The k'nairi's eyes flashed at him. Dangerous eyes. Ones which had killed if people believed the many rumours that went around about the man.  He put down his paper and leant back in his seat, eyes taking in Ryraso and making his younger self shiver.
"Not many brave enough to call me that boy and somehow I doubt you would know why?" Umin challenged, his voice distinctly disapproving but also rather smooth given he was speaking in human. Most of the k'nairi's accents were broken. They only spoke human for things that needed to be clear. The rest of the time it was in k'nairi and the humans were expected to learn.
"No, I have no idea. Nor do I frankly care. I was only asked to pass something on to you by my father. Being ignored because of an assumption that I'm going ask you to be my mentor is counteractive to that," Ryrsao challenged back, his hips tilted slightly. He wasn't going to be scared off by the man. He strode forward and put the box on the man's desk on the paperwork he had been doing. He stayed there for a moment, meeting Umin's eyes as he was bent over slightly. "Now I have completed my task," he said with the air of someone finishing a conversation. He bowed his head slightly in respect before pulling away.
Umin's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him from moving. He tugged his sleeve up and stared at the bracelet his father had given him. The claws holding him were firm and he could feel the sharpness of the talons but they were not hurting him. Ryraso just held still, watching the man's face for any clue. "That. That is mine," Umin commented frowning deeply, "I gave it to someone once, how did you get it?"
"My father," Ryraso commented. "He gave it to me."
"Your father, huh? So you're his son," Umin said rather uselessly, his eyes looked over Ryraso properly as if seeing him for the first time. "You have Mafith's eyes," he commented softly. The first of many times Ryraso would be told that little fact. He had his grandmother's eyes. It was also the gentlest Ryraso had heard a k'nairi speak yet.
"Father told me once," Ryraso said uncomfortably, not knowing what was going on.  Time had not fully revealed the answer to that mystery.
"You chose the route of a healer?" Umin stated, letting go of Ryraso's wrist and leaning back. "Why?" he asked.
"Someone has to heal the sick," Ryraso shrugged, not about to give the long essay he had written to get onto the programme. "I was sick a lot as a child. I always helped the local healer out. As I got older I got more interested in the practices. Much to my father's dismay. Mother encouraged it though."
"You, you're not a virgin," Umin murmured.
"Bit personal for a first meeting. I barely know you," Ryraso retorted dryly. "If there is nothing else," he nodded before turning to leave. Umin clicked his fingers and the doors closed. Ryraso frowned at the sight. He was still getting used to the amount of magic in Navat. It appeared in strange contexts. The k'nairi stood up and walked around to him, Ryraso taking a step back as he got closer, uncertain of the man's intentions.
"You may leave when I say you can," Umin growled, his eyes turning dangerous again for a moment. "Why did you come here?" he demanded, gripping Ryraso's arm again and pulling him close.
"To Navat? Because it's the best place to learn to be a healer," Ryraso replied seriously. "If you are going to do something, go all the way. Don't settle for second best. So here I am."
"Agreed," Umin grinned viciously, "You found a mentor yet?"
"Not yet, we only started a few days ago. The ceremony is next week," Ryraso shrugged. He had a few hopeful people. Most mentors took on a couple of people at a time and as much as he would like someone who did one on ones, he had neither the money nor connects to do so.
"I'll take you on," Umin declared firmly.
"I can find my own path, thank you," Ryraso smiled tensely, not wanting to be given the chance because of who he was. His father clearly had some connection to this man and he didn't want to be one of the apprentices who was given everything on a silver plate because of it. Even if they had been warned connects wouldn't be enough and everyone needed to work very hard in order to get a pass. "I don't need my father's help."
"Tough youngling. Sometimes you don't get a choice and no one will deny my claim on you, little one," Umin commented before saying something in k'nairi. Again Ryraso listened with the ears of someone who understood the language now. "Your fate and soul are in my hands. He sent you to me and I will not let you fail. I will not let his son fail." Ryraso pulled out of his grip, not understanding his words and frankly a little scared by how the man was acting. Looking back now, Ryraso understood he had been allowed to do so.
"We'll see," Ryraso challenged.