Bird of a Flock (Bow 2)

Chapter 11

Aw'endo's room was a mess. Eyeri couldn't help but feel his fingers itching to clean and tidy but that wouldn't be right. It was Aw'endo's room. Aw'endo was not his master, thankfully. Aw'endo was his brother and despite their different status', brothers didn't like it when one acted like a slave. Still years of being taught to keep a house tidy and clean, followed by being trained by Ryraso to keep a clinic in good order meant all he wanted to do at that moment was tidy.

"I'm running out of clothes your size," Aw'endo mused. "Most I threw out once I outgrew them," he admitted sheepishly as he rumbled through some drawers.

"I won't be this size forever," Eyeri murmured as he picked up some of the clothes which had been thrown away and discarded, unable to hold all his instincts in. He folded them neatly and put them to the side.

"No. All of your brothers are taller," Aw'endo mused. "Still, I hope you don't grow quite as tall as them," he teased, with a wink. "Here," he added, passing some pants and a plain shirt over. "These should fit you," he commented cheerfully as he began to strip off and pull his own clothes on.

"Just because you're not tall, doesn't mean I can't be," Eyeri chuckled, changing himself. "But, I doubt I'll be as tall as the others..." he added almost as an afterthought, the dark edges of his nightmare still weighing in his mind. Five years of being fed the bare minimum to survive, even with three years of having his weight monitored there was going to be some side effects. "I'm later than them to my growth spurt," he explained as Aw'endo looked at him vaguely confused at that statement.

"Ah," Aw'endo nodded, accepting the answer easily. "Come on. Matron will be annoyed if we muck about much longer," he chuckled, straightening up his outfit. It didn't look like a Prince's outfit to Eyeri's eyes, but then, they had spoken of training. Even a prince didn't train in his best clothes.

Eyeri nodded and followed him out, laughing as Aw'endo almost tripped over nothing. Aw'endo glared and punched his shoulder, Eyeri punching back lightly and ruffling Aw'endo's fluffy hair. Aw'endo scowled for a moment before a mischievous look appeared in his eyes. Eyeri blinked twice before dodging as his brother tried to grab him in a headlock. Three years of living with older brothers and warriors who liked to tease the weakest of their flock had trained Eyeri well in avoiding such moves.

"Catch me if you can," Eyeri chuckled, dodging again, hiding behind Ryraso as he walked out of his room.

"Stop that now," Ryraso smiled warmly, wrapping an arm around Eyeri's shoulders and kissing his cheek. Clearly amused by his son's behaviour. "K'nairi like to chase, it's never a good idea to taunt them into one unless you're planning to get caught," he warned with his own mischievous twinkle in his eyes. A memory, Eyeri assumed. Still, he groaned mockingly at the image. The implication there still not one he was entirely comfortable picturing in his own mind.

"Ry!" Aw'endo moaned at the implication himself before receiving his own kiss on the cheek. Ryraso pushing him ahead, while gripping a firm grip on Eyeri. Eyeri held himself back from complaining. Ryraso was worried about him, with good reason.

"Lead the way Aw'en," Ryraso chuckled, his hands running through Eyeri's hair and combing it better into place. Eyeri moaning in complaint at the action and trying to get Ryraso to let go of him. "We need to get you a comb," he mused as they walked, ignoring the looks of the passing k'nairi as they descended into the public levels and into the dining hall.

Eyeri couldn't ignore the looks so easily. The guards were clearly well trained to be neutral but even their eyes seemed to be following them. The servants and nobles alike were outright gawking at them. Eyeri found himself pressing closer to his father despite only moments before being irritated by Ryraso holding on to him. He didn't like this at all.