Bird of a Wing - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

The pain was piercing, spreading from the back of his neck to his forehead. Which is when it became clear the pain wasn't physical, it was mental. The seal on his wrist burned painfully and Ryraso gripped it tightly, gritting his teeth trying not to scream.
He felt as Aw'endo hugged close to him and felt as a hand was pushed to his mouth to keep him silent. He bit back a scream as another wave of pure pain washed over him. He felt as the seal broke off his wrist. The innocent click of the clasp breaking somehow echoing in his ears as screams poured into his head, hundreds of people screaming. His grip changed from his wrist to his head, clutching at his hair to try to ground himself from the mental pain.
The seal was broken. He was back in the link, along with hundreds and thousands of minds who had been hiding for so long from Tai'ray. They were all back and it hurt.
"Hush," a voice washed through his mind in a soothing tone. Tai'ray calming the flock, his voice strange. Ryraso had rarely heard it like this before. He was Tai'ray's friend, now his enemy, not his flock. Through the haze of confusion, it finally clicked what was going on. Tai'ray was forcing open all the blocked links.
His mind whispered with Winglord lore, learnt out of interest for the powers that Tai'ray gained as the centre of the link. Out of interest of the powers Inai gained as High Priest. The leaders of races always had exceptional powers. What Tai'ray was doing right now was a painful process for everyone involved. Tai'ray and his mates would be feeling the pain as acutely as the rest of them felt it. It was also an ability which required a lot of power in its own right. Something Tai'ray tried not to use too often and hence rarely did. In many ways, it showed how powerful Tai'ray was. Not to break the block on one bond but hundreds at the same time? That was a power which would no doubt leave the Winglord vulnerable for days and yet he sounded fine in the link.
"Stop please," Ryraso begged, his voice joining many others wanting the pain to stop. Some were begging, others threatening. Some were even trying to resist the pull, trying to raise blocks, but for each that tried, the pain only increased. Tai'ray's presence found his and wrapped around it, not painfully or even forcefully. Just like a hug, the hot breath on his shoulder suddenly smelling of Tai'ray and not of Aw'endo who was actually there.
"Stop fighting," Tai'ray cooed to the link, "I just need to talk to you all, now stop!" There was a forcefulness to the last two words that only made the people fight more. "Honestly, why do you all bother? You will return someday, everyone always does," Tai'ray whispered in Ryraso's ear, letting him know that only he could hear it.
"Tai," Ryraso breathed feeling Tai'ray's hurt, but Tai'ray was already focusing on the link again.
"Keep fighting and it will only hurt everyone more," he warned darkly. "I can't protect them from your stubbornness."
A wave of calm moving over the sobbing presences, almost like Tai'ray was petting them making them heard to the ones fighting, hurting them. It got the message across. None of them no matter how stubborn would keep harming the weaker presences who were in the link. Not while they could feel their pain. After a moment, the pain faded as everyone, reluctantly, stopped fighting and the traitors of the k'nairi were all re-linked to Tai'ray.
Tai'ray's presence smiled, a warmth spreading through them all. A sharp contrast to the new emotion which dominated the link, fear. Fear of being controlled by Tai'ray and D'mar, fear of being forced to go against their values, against their friends and family because of a connection made long ago. Then there was the fear of the punishment to come; everyone knew the punishment for a caw.
"Hush," Tai'ray murmured softly, spreading his presence wide and wrapping himself around the more scared in the link. Trying to reassure them that he wasn't a monster, that he wasn't going to hurt them as angry as he was. "I'm not going to hurt you for abandoning your kin. At least," he corrected, "not past the decided punishment. There will be no whipping, no extended grounding. Just the front up punishment," Tai'ray promised, the knowledge of the punishment flowing though the link.
Ryraso blinked slowly as it washed over him. It was considerably nicer, kinder and less painful than the former punishment. There was pain. A burning mark on their backs, marking them for ever more as runaways and trapping them on k'nairi lands. The brand remained, as did the collar but not the whip skinning their skin from them.
"The catch?" whispered many of the voices.
It was no secret most people wished to return, few openly but it was a secret desire shared by many. Tai'ray's presence was warm with pleasure at seeing this. As much as they wanted to return, such an offer from the k'nairi people must come at a cost.
"You don't run," the link whispered. The society which was the k'nairi declaring as one. Tai'ray pressing closer to Ryraso tenderly. Ryraso blinked. A deal had been made it seemed, but what was the cost? Ryraso wondered, what was the cost Tai'ray had paid to protect those who had runaway from them.
"Explain, please Tai'ray, just what they mean," Ryraso asked, not fighting against the heavy presence.
The presence let go of him for a moment before returning. Fingers tangling together as Tai'ray addressed the link.
"In light of recent events, it has become clear I have become lax in protecting my people," Ryraso winced at the words, knowing he had shouted them at Tai'ray mere hours beforehand. "Which includes all of you! Whether you consider yourself k'nairi or not. The war is growing more dangerous now. I will no longer tolerate wanderers," Tai'ray paused, letting the words sink in for a moment. Every ear listening to his words with a mixture of interest, horror and dislike.
"You expect us to return," A voice scoffed. "You are still D'mar."
"We are k'nairi first," Tai'ray snarled before calming himself. "I realise asking people to willingly come back is foolish and not likely to happen. However, those of you who are willing to do so will be excused from the worst of the punishments. Branding will still happen, but the rest," an image of the original punishment flicking through all of their minds unwillingly, "of it won't. For the rest of you, I simply ask you do not run or fight when you are caught,"
"You're hunting us down?" A voice murmured. "That's..."
"Needed. I can't count on you being safe on the other side of the war. So the troops will be on strict orders to capture any caw and bring you home," Tai'ray said, the word home humming with intent. "Come willingly when you are found, or at least without a fight and you get the basic punishment. Try to fight or worse, run away from us and you get more. The decision is yours," Tai'ray spoke firmly, his grip on the minds iron hard, but truthful.
There was a mixture of emotion at that, from a sense of relief from some to defiance from others. Some would happily return home, even to a lesser a punishment. Others would fight until the bitter end to remain free of the D'mar.
"That deal apply to everyone?" murmured a different voice, one Ryraso knew from reputation.
Cetol, a k'nairi scientist who now worked for the Namya. Cetol was a submissive k'nairi, who was extremely clever. In theory, he shouldn't have been able to betray the Winglord and yet he had. He was the first submissive who had willingly betrayed the k'nairi. Cetol had been the one to give the Namya information on k'nairi alchemy before fleeing to the Namya's side. Which was a little more serious than simply leaving and fighting on the other side.
The deal was logical for people like Ryraso who had the right to be on the other side of the war. Who had suffered because of the D'mar. But for the caw who had actually caused harm to the k'nairi?
Tai'ray's presence unwrapped from the fearful only to engulf Cetol. Cetol hissed painfully, but Tai'ray didn't seem to be hurting him. Ryraso wondered just what Cetol had suffered through that had made him strong enough to break from the flock. There was more to this k'nairi's story than anyone knew.
"Depends on the situation," Tai'ray murmured darkly, knowing Cetol wasn't the only one who had seriously betrayed the k'nairi in the group he was talking to. "Those who betrayed us by leaving usually had a reason to but you and the others who betrayed us by harming us? That's a different story. If you regret your actions, I see no problem in allowing you the same deal. Run however and it won't matter. That understood?" Several presences shuddered but agreed to the terms. "Cetol?"
"I understand," Cetol whimpered quietly. There was an image of feathers fluttering to the floor. Cetol was expecting to lose his wings over his involvement.
"How about those who follow orders? If Inai catches a whiff of this, he will try and remove anyone with k'nairi links to safe places" Ryraso asked, trying to distract Tai'ray from the man who had basically declared he did not regret.
"Or those of us with family now?" Someone else asked.
"It doesn't matter," Tai'ray murmured calmly, "Being ordered away is not running and I do not expect you to disobey any orders unless it is going AWOL to return. I do expect you all to keep your mouths shut, however. As for families, I am not cruel. They will be welcome in Navat and will not receive any punishment, though if old enough, they will be branded," he warned, this line was obviously for the non-k'nairi. "From now on, anyone who becomes close to someone considered k'nairi will wear our mark."
"But..." A horrified feeling spread through the rooms.
"Your families will be safe," Tai'ray growled, "It is a small cost. Would you rather we separate you?" Horror ran through the caw, along with begs not to. "Hush," he sighed growing tired. The link fell silent though the feeling of horror did not fade, "I will not do that," he murmured.
Relief poured through the link, sparking an almost fond amusement from Tai'ray. It was obvious that while no one wanted to abandon the side they were on, nor the lives they had gained, most did want to return. Only a few of the 'traitors' would put up a fight when being dragged home.
"I hope to see you by my side again soon. All of you. Remember, those who make their way back without being caught will be spared most of the punishment. For now, rest easy. You will be home soon enough," Tai'ray promised, and with those parting words, Tai'ray broke the connection. The seals falling back into place like they had never been gone.
Ryraso sagged, his hands still gripping his head as silence filled his mind. For a moment it was almost hard to breathe. When the process happened unexpectedly, it was almost painful. Aw'endo shifted slightly, whimpering as Ryraso stayed still.
"Ryraso?" Aw'endo murmured, nuzzling against the man.
"I'm...I'm fine" Ryraso whispered, moving his hands so they were back around the young k'nairi, hugging him close. His mind was in turmoil as it sorted through everything which had been said, trying to work out what was going to happen next. He hadn't expected Tai'ray to do that.
In some ways, it was nice that the Winglord had actually listened to him, but the way he was going to go about ensuring everyone was safe... It was going to force people to choose between their pasts and present. Even if people wanted to return to the forest, the reasons why they had left were still there and Tai'ray was not going to change sides. Still Tai'ray had been kind, for him. He hadn't asked for people to return, only to not fight when they were returned.
As for the incentive to return, Ryraso doubted many would listen, if any. The majority of those considered 'traitors' were stubborn, strong, dominant types but there were a few like Cetol, who were more submissive. Even they were stubborn, however.
"This is a mess" Ryraso murmured, mostly to himself. Feeling cold and slightly lonely now that the buzz which was the link was gone. It was strange, he had lived more of his life without it than with it, but that brief connection had reminded him of what he had lost painfully.
Thinking over the words, he could only shudder at the way Tai'ray had talked about branding. Marking someone as k'nairi using a brand had a different viewpoint to the k'nairi than humans. For humans the brand was the sign of slavery, for the k'nairi it was a sign a person had struggled too much. The symbolism was different which was why Tai'ray thought nothing of marking people who were not in the link themselves but family. It wasn't out of anger.
Every person in the link could tell Tai'ray was more angry at the people who were k'nairi born than weren't born k'nairi. The punishment for being a traitor for a human k'nairi was branding. Nothing had changed there. He had only promised not to make it worse. He hadn't, on the other hand, offered anything alternative to those with wings. Their punishment remained. Tai'ray was not willing to forgive anyone for leaving, not completely, not yet.
"Ryraso?" Aw'endo whispered, his wings trembling slightly. "Tai'ray wants me to pass a message on..." he admitted.
Ryraso narrowed his eyes, musing Tai'ray must have used the last of his power to talk to his adoptive son. "Go ahead," Ryraso said gently, stroking Aw'endo's back.
"Tai'ray wants me to warn you, he's coming for us personally. He... He wants to brand you personally," Aw'endo said, his voice scared.
Ryraso kissed Aw'endo's forehead, not liking the scared tone coming from the boy. Nor entirely sure if that statement was true from how Tai'ray's presence had wrapped around him. Tai'ray had tried to make the punishment kinder but he was at the mercy of the link. He was the centre, the one who read it, not the one who controlled it. Ryraso honestly wasn't sure what he felt about that.
"Tell Tai'ray, I look forward to seeing him," Ryraso breathed before falling asleep, all energy to fight the darkness gone.