Bird of a Wing - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

'I don't know if this is a good or bad thing,' Tai'ray admitted over the link as Nel'os broadcasted his talk with Ryraso to his mates. 'He's scared to lose the people he loves by making the wrong decision but what decision could he be making which could end in such disastrous consequences?'
'Given Isst is also someone Ryraso loves and he is on the other side?' Dyn'ad mused, thinking about how important Isst was to Ryraso. Ten years living with the k'nairi hadn't changed that and four years of serving on the same warship had only made that stronger. The two men were as close as friends could be.'He's caught between us and the Namya.'
"I guess we can only watch things pan out and trust that things will work out," Nel'os said both through the link to his mates and also out loud in a reassuring tone to Ryraso. "We can't predict the future Ry, but we can try our best to affect it and make it the best we can. What do you want to happen?" he asked softly, trying to work out if Ryraso knew what he wanted.
"I don't know," Ryraso answered truthfully, his eyes watching his foster sons sadly. He was going to be the cause of pain for one of them either path he took. Emotional for Aw'endo, emotional and physical for Eyeri. Nel'os frowned but wrapped an arm around Ryraso and gave him a quick but tight hug. Ryraso resting his head on Nel'os shoulder and relaxing for a moment before steeling himself up again. "How is the flood defence work going?" he asked changing the topic and shifting away from Nel'os while refusing to look Nel'os in the eyes.
Nel'os gave him a sideways look at the topic change but let it happen, rubbing Ryraso's back gently. "They are probably going to need my help," he admitted. "Can I get your word that you will stay here?"
"And miss the chance to escape?" Ryraso said dryly, giving Nel'os a look of 'what do you think?' Even if he had pretended that he was ok with staying put, the link would have sung with the truth of the matter.
"Ryraso," Nel'os sighed tiredly, not sure if he should leave Ryraso and Eyeri on their own or not. "You know if Tai'ray catches a whiff of you trying to escape, he will come and catch you before you can go OR run far. He is paying very close attention to your end of the link," he warned, really not wanting Ryraso to attempt anything.
"I know," Ryraso shrugged, with an air of willingness to take the chance.
Nel'os gritted his teeth but nodded. He knew he couldn't argue Ryraso out of this, not without Ryraso getting defensive and ruining the relatively warm friendship they had at the moment. "Fine, can you at least promise you won't do anything stupid?" Nel'os pleaded, taking Ryraso's hands and looking him in the eyes.
Neither man missed the fact that the two boys were watching them, Aw'endo translating for Eyeri. They had slipped into k'nairi without noticing and Eyeri wanted to know what was going on above his head.
"I promise I won't do anything stupid," Ryraso said truthfully, meeting Nel'os' eyes easily.
"Good!" Nel'os declared before leaning over to give Ryraso a kiss on the lips. It wasn't deep or passionate but it was claiming in Nel'os' own way. "I love you Ry," he murmured after, kissing Ryraso's forehead. Frozen in surprise, Ryraso just nodded mutely, his cheeks slightly red. Nel'os grinned at the rare expression on Ryraso's face and bumped their foreheads together before ruffling both Aw'endo's and Eyeri's hair. "Behave younglings," he commented before leaving the hut to go help his mates.
The boys and Ryraso were silent for a moment, the only sounds being the wild winds outside of the hut and the rain bouncing on the roof. With the adult k'nairi gone, the sounds of the storm had returned. "Ryraso?" Eyeri offered gently. "Want to join in on our game?"
"Yes, please," Ryraso nodded, taking advantage of the distraction and moving over to the boys and letting them deal him in. It would be a while until Ryraso could even attempt anything anyway.
A while later, Aw'endo grimaced as he lost at the card game again. He threw his cards down and sighed, leaning back and looking over at Ryraso intently. "Dad, are you planning to try to escape soon?" he asked softly in k'nairi. Aw'endo wasn't really happy about the situation but he knew Ryraso had a good reason for wanting to leave. Or rather help Eyeri leave. He still didn't want them to go.
"I hope so," Ryraso nodded, speaking in human almost painfully aware of Eyeri's unease when they all spoke k'nairi around him. It was bad enough for Eyeri when they were talking about the link but out loud in the foreign language just made Eyeri shrink in on himself and look scared and timid. Ryraso reshuffled the cards calmly. "I love you, Aw'en. You know that don't you?" he commented softly.
"I know," Aw'endo nodded, having bathed in the sensation a few times now that Ryraso was back in the link. Bathes in it, wrapped it around him like a blanket and poked at it looking for any signs of cracks. Ryraso hadn't been impressed. Having someone check your emotions so deeply was not pleasant if they were not a mate. The link acknowledged Ryraso as Aw'endo's caregiver though and let Aw'endo be able to do such a thing. "Still don't want you to go," he muttered with a pout on his face.
"I know darling, but Eyeri doesn't belong here," Ryraso said, continuing to use the human tongue. Eyeri grimaced. Aw'endo's continued use of k'nairi was making Eyeri shift nervously having no idea what was going on. He tried to move away from the k'nairi but Aw'endo's wing curled around Eyeri possessively. The teenager grumbling but letting it as he curled back into a ball. Apparently deciding to get some more sleep if they weren't going to play cards.
Aw'endo looked at Ryraso almost challengingly. "He belongs with you and you belong here," Aw'endo said in a tone which dared Ryraso to argue.
"Yes. I do belong here but I'm not his bloodkin. His brothers are. He belongs with them," Ryraso growled finally switching to k'nairi. "I cannot separate them over this."
"The war will separate them anyway," Aw'endo pointed out darkly. "Inai was already sending him away. Eyeri won't be safe with his brothers. He will be here," the youngling said firmly, his eyes almost begging Ryraso not to go.
"Except the Winglord is planning to press hot irons to Eyeri's back to mark his territory," Ryraso said in a forcefully calm tone, not wanting to fight with Aw'endo over this.
"You know it isn't a slave thing," Aw'endo argued, having no real idea what Eyeri had gone through but he had heard fragments from the adults talking.
"He doesn't believe that," Ryraso said finally. "Aw'endo, you can help me get Eyeri out of here, help your guardians stop me or sit watching without getting involved but you're not going to get me not to try," he said seriously.
Aw'endo looked at him with an almost hurt expression, his wings fluffed out defensively. The youngling made a hiss and stood up, walking over to the nest. Aw'endo buried himself in the blankets with an air of annoyance. Ryraso watched him bemused while Eyeri watched his foster brother confused before moving over to hug Ryraso. He didn't know quite what the argument had been about but knew he was somehow involved.
Ryraso nuzzled the boy before feeling something slip in his pocket. Ryraso blinked twice before looking at Eyeri who had a strange twinkle in his eyes. Ryraso glanced over at Aw'endo who was refusing to look at him and quickly had a look in his pocket.
It was a seal one Aw'endo had been wearing, the one Eyeri had taken off on Tai'ray's orders. Ryraso blinked twice as he realised what must have happened. Tai'ray hadn't checked what had happened to the seal so Eyeri had kept it. This was what Ryraso needed to escape again. Ryraso beamed at his son and kissing his forehead proudly. Eyeri grinned mischievously up at himself and moved over to tease Aw'endo out of the nest of blankets, while Ryraso came up with a new plan, careful to shield his thoughts. He would need to move fast now.
"Right, we can go," Eyeri commented, reappearing by his side.
Ryraso frowned and looked over at Aw'endo who was fast asleep. "What the hell did you do to him?" Ryraso asked, not angry but clearly surprised and confused.
"I drugged his drink earlier. Took longer than I thought it would take effect. I was wondering if I had used the wrong dose or the drug didn't work on k'nairi," Eyeri commented lightly. "I figured if we were going to get out of here, you wouldn't be able to come up with anything solid without the Royals figuring it out," Eyeri said almost bashfully.
"You," Ryraso breathed, before putting the cuff on and reaching over to pull Eyeri into a tight hug. "You are brilliant," he grinned. Eyeri smiled at him with a blush on his face. "Come on, hopefully, they are too busy to notice but we have to move fast. The river will be overflowing so we have to stick on this side but we can move south at least," Ryraso commented, pulling out his outside clothes, Eyeri doing the same thing.
Eyeri paused as he picked up his bag. "Aw'endo will forgive you right?"
"Aw'endo? Not easily but I'd be more concerned with yourself Eyeri. If Tai'ray catches us and Aw'endo works out you drugged him, he won't be happy," Ryraso commented, moving over to the youngling and making sure he was tucked in safely. He kissed Aw'endo on his forehead and tucked some stray hair behind his ear. "Stay safe, baby," he murmured in k'nairi.
"I'll live," Eyeri commented. "They all treat me like I'm ten anyway. I mean sometimes I like it when I have nightmares and stuff. Other times I want to stab someone," he grimaced with a very teenager look on his face. "I'm not a baby!" he sulked.
Ryraso forced himself not to smile at the face. "Come on. Let's get moving."