Bird of a Nest - Chapter 9: Chapter 9
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Pain filled him as he woke. From the wings around him and how he was being carried, he was on the back of a k'nairi. He buried his face in the shoulder of k'nairi and closed his eyes, confused by what he had dreamed. Why? Why had those memories suddenly been unearthed? Both his father and Umin were long dead now. His father never got the chance to return to Navat. He had planned too but he died the week before he was due to come. A horse kicked him in the head. Barely a week later, Umin had passed too.
The advice given by his father rang through his mind. Words which had been very good advice but why had he remembered them now. Why had he remembered that strange pendant his father had always worn? His father had a connection to the k'nairi and one the priests had never fully explained. Just what had it been?
Did it matter anymore? Really no and yet it was clearly working its way up from his subconscious. The pendant. He couldn't remember it properly but now he thought about it, it did remind him of the symbol of the Goddess. The Goddess who had stated his father had belonged to her in ways he did not know. Had his father been a priest of the k'nairi Goddess before leaving? Which brought up the question, why had he left? He stayed in the valley because he fell in love, but why had he left in the first place?
"Umin," Ryraso murmured. His heart aching familiarly at the memory of his mentor as much as his father. Umin and his relationship had started of strained. The other healer apprentices had been jealous of who had chosen him as an apprentice. The other healers had been confused for all of five seconds before Umin explained who he was. He was just annoyed that he was forced into it. It seemed by being his father's son, Umin had rights over him that no one, not the healers, Umin or his father would explain.
"Who's Umin?" A voice asked softly.
"Tai," Ryraso smiled, holding tighter and pressed his face against Tai'ray's hair. His back screamed at him, as were the back of his thighs. His punishment was over. Now things could progress. Or rather they could the moment he healed up. "Umin was my mentor," he reminded softly. Tai'ray knew that of course. They had spoken about Umin and Ryraso's year as a student of the healer's circles many times in the past. "Just dreamt of my first meeting with him, he yawned. "I still need to go to his grave."
"Oh yes," Tai'ray hummed. "Dyn'ad mentioned you wanted to go pay your respects. Sadly things have been too hectic. Hopefully, once you are healed up a bit we can sneak you out," he said softly. Ryraso smiled and nodded, clinging to Tai'ray tighter as they continued to move. His eyes closed, trying to picture the pendant clearer. It had been so long but it felt important somehow. A thread of a mystery he had never solved and perhaps never would.
There were another few moments before they entered a familiar smelling room, Tai'ray walking in silence. It was almost peaceful and if it wasn't for the dull pain on his back, it would have been almost nice. Ryraso barely had time to open his eyes before they were moving through another doorway. "We're at your room," Tai'ray offered almost dimly.
There were instead. It was dark, the window vines closed and Tai'ray hadn't bothered to turn on the glowing lights. There was a murmur of life outside but inside the room was quiet. It wasn't where Ryraso was expecting to be taken.
"Oh," Ryraso murmured feeling surprised as he was lowered to the bed. He was placed on his front, best Tai'ray could from the angle he was at. He let out a whimper as the skin where he was injured tightened painfully from the stretch. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to contain the pain as his body trembled with it. It had gone from a dull ache to fire in seconds. He was aware of Tai'ray putting pillows along one side of him, creating a barrier of some kind. It felt actually quite reassuring. Sheets were gently placed on top of him and then Tai'ray moved away.
"Wait!" Ryraso called, his voice hoarse, reaching out blindly to find Tai'ray's hand. "Where are you going, aren't..." he trailed off suddenly uncertain how to finish that sentence. He had assumed he would be in the nest that night, surrounded by the Royal triad or possibly in the centre of the consort common room surrounded by everyone. He suddenly felt alone. Was he being left here? Did he even have the right to ask Tai'ray to stay?
A hand caught his and lips pressed against the back of his head. "I'm here," Tai'ray breathed but something was off. Ryraso could tell. He shifted, turning to look at Tai'ray as the man complained and told him not to move. Tai'ray's eyes met his own. The warnings died off. For a brief moment, they just looked at each other, the only light coming from where the common room was slightly open. Aw'endo and Eyeri were saying their goodnights to the others but they wouldn't come in here. Not at this moment.
"Well, you have me," Ryraso smiled softly, his neck already starting to hurt at the awkward angle. He pushed upwards, biting his lip as pain shot up and down his back again. Tears rolled down his face and he reached over to grip at Tai'ray's robes, the man looking almost paralysed at that moment. "What do you wish of me, my lord?" Ryraso whispered.
A snort of laughter escaped Tai'ray and arms wrapped around Ryraso gently, lowering him back to the bed as Tai'ray lay down behind him. There was a kiss, passion mixed with salty and bitter tears. Ryraso found himself wanting more. Gripping onto Tai'ray's robes, Ryraso tried to move closer but his attempts were stopped by Tai'ray. Ryraso felt his heartache again and tried not to sob, leaning against the man and holding on tightly, scared he'd disappear if he let go for too long.
"You really shouldn't move, you will hurt yourself," Tai'ray scolded softly, amusement still in his voice. Sad amusement but there.
"I don't care," Ryraso grumbled, blinking the wetness from his eyes and looking away. This was it wasn't it? The moment Tai'ray suddenly lost interest after everything that had happened and they had been through. He was marked now. Marked and had no way to escape. Tai'ray had finally won him.
"Ry," Tai'ray murmured, from his tone of voice clearly sensing Ryraso was upset and not making jokes as he had first assumed. "I care," he offered, before finally sitting on the bed next to him. Ryraso turned his head to look the other way. A hesitate hand started stroking through his hair and there were another few moments of mostly silence as they were surrounded by noises outside of the room. It was comforting really to hear other people. They were safe in their dark little oasis from the world at that moment but not from themselves.
The hand stopped moving "I'll leave you soon I promise," Tai'ray promised quietly, the words making Ryraso feel deeply confused. Tai'ray thought he wanted to be alone? "I'm sorry, I whipped you," Tai'ray whispered, gently pulling his fingers from Ryraso's hair.
"Don't apologise. You had to do it," Ryraso growled, not happy now. "I don't care about that," he practically spat out, suddenly feeling very foolish and not understanding why. "And unless you have the desire not to have me in your nest for the foreseeable future, you're not going anywhere," he warned. He was not about to be abandoned now, nor let Tai'ray think he didn't want him because of what had happened.
"I..." Tai'ray trailed off and Ryraso felt as Tai'ray moment of realisation hit him. Tai'ray slid straight back down and pulled his love as close as possible without jostling his injuries. Ryraso buried his face into Tai'ray's side, tears still rolling, unable to truly stop them. "I'll stay," Tai'ray promised, sounding slightly choked up. He pressed another kiss to Ryraso's lips, Ryraso kissing back fiercely, his hand moving up to grip the back of Tai'ray's hair.
"You'd better," Ryraso growled, though it came out weaker than he had intended. After all, his throat was still hoarse from screaming in pain. Tai'ray's arm curled around his back possessively. "You wanted me. You got me. You aren't leaving me now."
"Ry," Tai'ray peppered Ryraso's face with kisses, kissing away tears and staying pressed up against the man's side "I love you."
"I love you too," Ryraso murmured. Tai'ray froze for a moment before grinning, his heart soaring as Ryraso finally said it to him. He'd felt it. He'd heard Ryraso say it to the others but this was the first time the words were all his. Tai'ray held the man as tightly as he could and kissing his head again, cradling it in his arms. Ryraso face went red with embarrassment and he hid it for a moment but Tai'ray only laughed and pressed more kisses to Ryraso.
"I'm never letting you go," Tai'ray whispered, pressing their heads together, "My stubborn little healer."
Ryraso snorted but snuggled close. "Mine," he murmured into the warmth. Closing his eyes, pleased now Tai'ray wasn't going to leave him on his own that night. It was time for him to rest. "Now, is there a reason Dyn'ad and Nel'os aren't with us?" he asked seriously, slightly disconcerted by the fact only Tai'ray was there.
"Dyn'ad... He's tucking in the boys. I think he's got caught in their web, might be a while,. They did well but now they are out of the limelight, the effects of watching you and Fetmar take your punishments are starting to show," Tai'ray murmured. "Yerir'o is sleeping in Fetmar's room with him tonight and the boys are sharing Aw'endo's bed. Nel," Tai'ray frowned as he realised what his first bonded was doing. "Is moping about Cai'ress. and worrying about Ang'as. Scared we don't want him here tonight as you have bigger problems than his dramas in life."
"Then I suggest you tell him to get his pretty little teleporter ass, here," Ryraso said dryly. "My back is hurting and I want my men here to make it better," he sniffed, trying to push off some of the vulnerable feelings he was enduring and return to the strong man he knew he was. Nel'os was not about to get away with moping because he lost a lover when Ryraso's back and thighs had been whipped open. Or rather he could do it between people who loved him dearly and very much wanted him around.
"Yes, Sir," Tai'ray beamed, nuzzling Ryraso again, sending the order to Nel'os. There was his healer.
The advice given by his father rang through his mind. Words which had been very good advice but why had he remembered them now. Why had he remembered that strange pendant his father had always worn? His father had a connection to the k'nairi and one the priests had never fully explained. Just what had it been?
Did it matter anymore? Really no and yet it was clearly working its way up from his subconscious. The pendant. He couldn't remember it properly but now he thought about it, it did remind him of the symbol of the Goddess. The Goddess who had stated his father had belonged to her in ways he did not know. Had his father been a priest of the k'nairi Goddess before leaving? Which brought up the question, why had he left? He stayed in the valley because he fell in love, but why had he left in the first place?
"Umin," Ryraso murmured. His heart aching familiarly at the memory of his mentor as much as his father. Umin and his relationship had started of strained. The other healer apprentices had been jealous of who had chosen him as an apprentice. The other healers had been confused for all of five seconds before Umin explained who he was. He was just annoyed that he was forced into it. It seemed by being his father's son, Umin had rights over him that no one, not the healers, Umin or his father would explain.
"Who's Umin?" A voice asked softly.
"Tai," Ryraso smiled, holding tighter and pressed his face against Tai'ray's hair. His back screamed at him, as were the back of his thighs. His punishment was over. Now things could progress. Or rather they could the moment he healed up. "Umin was my mentor," he reminded softly. Tai'ray knew that of course. They had spoken about Umin and Ryraso's year as a student of the healer's circles many times in the past. "Just dreamt of my first meeting with him, he yawned. "I still need to go to his grave."
"Oh yes," Tai'ray hummed. "Dyn'ad mentioned you wanted to go pay your respects. Sadly things have been too hectic. Hopefully, once you are healed up a bit we can sneak you out," he said softly. Ryraso smiled and nodded, clinging to Tai'ray tighter as they continued to move. His eyes closed, trying to picture the pendant clearer. It had been so long but it felt important somehow. A thread of a mystery he had never solved and perhaps never would.
There were another few moments before they entered a familiar smelling room, Tai'ray walking in silence. It was almost peaceful and if it wasn't for the dull pain on his back, it would have been almost nice. Ryraso barely had time to open his eyes before they were moving through another doorway. "We're at your room," Tai'ray offered almost dimly.
There were instead. It was dark, the window vines closed and Tai'ray hadn't bothered to turn on the glowing lights. There was a murmur of life outside but inside the room was quiet. It wasn't where Ryraso was expecting to be taken.
"Oh," Ryraso murmured feeling surprised as he was lowered to the bed. He was placed on his front, best Tai'ray could from the angle he was at. He let out a whimper as the skin where he was injured tightened painfully from the stretch. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to contain the pain as his body trembled with it. It had gone from a dull ache to fire in seconds. He was aware of Tai'ray putting pillows along one side of him, creating a barrier of some kind. It felt actually quite reassuring. Sheets were gently placed on top of him and then Tai'ray moved away.
"Wait!" Ryraso called, his voice hoarse, reaching out blindly to find Tai'ray's hand. "Where are you going, aren't..." he trailed off suddenly uncertain how to finish that sentence. He had assumed he would be in the nest that night, surrounded by the Royal triad or possibly in the centre of the consort common room surrounded by everyone. He suddenly felt alone. Was he being left here? Did he even have the right to ask Tai'ray to stay?
A hand caught his and lips pressed against the back of his head. "I'm here," Tai'ray breathed but something was off. Ryraso could tell. He shifted, turning to look at Tai'ray as the man complained and told him not to move. Tai'ray's eyes met his own. The warnings died off. For a brief moment, they just looked at each other, the only light coming from where the common room was slightly open. Aw'endo and Eyeri were saying their goodnights to the others but they wouldn't come in here. Not at this moment.
"Well, you have me," Ryraso smiled softly, his neck already starting to hurt at the awkward angle. He pushed upwards, biting his lip as pain shot up and down his back again. Tears rolled down his face and he reached over to grip at Tai'ray's robes, the man looking almost paralysed at that moment. "What do you wish of me, my lord?" Ryraso whispered.
A snort of laughter escaped Tai'ray and arms wrapped around Ryraso gently, lowering him back to the bed as Tai'ray lay down behind him. There was a kiss, passion mixed with salty and bitter tears. Ryraso found himself wanting more. Gripping onto Tai'ray's robes, Ryraso tried to move closer but his attempts were stopped by Tai'ray. Ryraso felt his heartache again and tried not to sob, leaning against the man and holding on tightly, scared he'd disappear if he let go for too long.
"You really shouldn't move, you will hurt yourself," Tai'ray scolded softly, amusement still in his voice. Sad amusement but there.
"I don't care," Ryraso grumbled, blinking the wetness from his eyes and looking away. This was it wasn't it? The moment Tai'ray suddenly lost interest after everything that had happened and they had been through. He was marked now. Marked and had no way to escape. Tai'ray had finally won him.
"Ry," Tai'ray murmured, from his tone of voice clearly sensing Ryraso was upset and not making jokes as he had first assumed. "I care," he offered, before finally sitting on the bed next to him. Ryraso turned his head to look the other way. A hesitate hand started stroking through his hair and there were another few moments of mostly silence as they were surrounded by noises outside of the room. It was comforting really to hear other people. They were safe in their dark little oasis from the world at that moment but not from themselves.
The hand stopped moving "I'll leave you soon I promise," Tai'ray promised quietly, the words making Ryraso feel deeply confused. Tai'ray thought he wanted to be alone? "I'm sorry, I whipped you," Tai'ray whispered, gently pulling his fingers from Ryraso's hair.
"Don't apologise. You had to do it," Ryraso growled, not happy now. "I don't care about that," he practically spat out, suddenly feeling very foolish and not understanding why. "And unless you have the desire not to have me in your nest for the foreseeable future, you're not going anywhere," he warned. He was not about to be abandoned now, nor let Tai'ray think he didn't want him because of what had happened.
"I..." Tai'ray trailed off and Ryraso felt as Tai'ray moment of realisation hit him. Tai'ray slid straight back down and pulled his love as close as possible without jostling his injuries. Ryraso buried his face into Tai'ray's side, tears still rolling, unable to truly stop them. "I'll stay," Tai'ray promised, sounding slightly choked up. He pressed another kiss to Ryraso's lips, Ryraso kissing back fiercely, his hand moving up to grip the back of Tai'ray's hair.
"You'd better," Ryraso growled, though it came out weaker than he had intended. After all, his throat was still hoarse from screaming in pain. Tai'ray's arm curled around his back possessively. "You wanted me. You got me. You aren't leaving me now."
"Ry," Tai'ray peppered Ryraso's face with kisses, kissing away tears and staying pressed up against the man's side "I love you."
"I love you too," Ryraso murmured. Tai'ray froze for a moment before grinning, his heart soaring as Ryraso finally said it to him. He'd felt it. He'd heard Ryraso say it to the others but this was the first time the words were all his. Tai'ray held the man as tightly as he could and kissing his head again, cradling it in his arms. Ryraso face went red with embarrassment and he hid it for a moment but Tai'ray only laughed and pressed more kisses to Ryraso.
"I'm never letting you go," Tai'ray whispered, pressing their heads together, "My stubborn little healer."
Ryraso snorted but snuggled close. "Mine," he murmured into the warmth. Closing his eyes, pleased now Tai'ray wasn't going to leave him on his own that night. It was time for him to rest. "Now, is there a reason Dyn'ad and Nel'os aren't with us?" he asked seriously, slightly disconcerted by the fact only Tai'ray was there.
"Dyn'ad... He's tucking in the boys. I think he's got caught in their web, might be a while,. They did well but now they are out of the limelight, the effects of watching you and Fetmar take your punishments are starting to show," Tai'ray murmured. "Yerir'o is sleeping in Fetmar's room with him tonight and the boys are sharing Aw'endo's bed. Nel," Tai'ray frowned as he realised what his first bonded was doing. "Is moping about Cai'ress. and worrying about Ang'as. Scared we don't want him here tonight as you have bigger problems than his dramas in life."
"Then I suggest you tell him to get his pretty little teleporter ass, here," Ryraso said dryly. "My back is hurting and I want my men here to make it better," he sniffed, trying to push off some of the vulnerable feelings he was enduring and return to the strong man he knew he was. Nel'os was not about to get away with moping because he lost a lover when Ryraso's back and thighs had been whipped open. Or rather he could do it between people who loved him dearly and very much wanted him around.
"Yes, Sir," Tai'ray beamed, nuzzling Ryraso again, sending the order to Nel'os. There was his healer.
End of Bird of a Nest Chapter 9. Continue reading Chapter 10 or return to Bird of a Nest book page.