Bird of a Flock (Bow 2)

Chapter 14

"Was that really necessary?" Ryraso grumbled as he was dragged into the high healer's clinic by his elbow. The considerably older k'nairi had basically kidnapped him from the corridor with a grip that did not go with the man's age. Like Guardian Fl'ex, Po'lar was in his third century and starting to tire. Not so much though that he couldn't pull a human where he wanted him to be.

"With how High Priest Ton'enth was looking at you, yes," the head healer said firmly. "I am the one who has rights to you, not that brat," he commented with an air of importance. The man had been the official head of the healer's guild for longer than Tai'ray had been alive. At least two of his three centuries had been served in the palace and the man was a mess of contradictions, a mix of old ideas and new. That being said, he liked using humans as healers and had supported Ryraso many times during his tenure.

"The High Priest always looks at me angrily but I see your point. I am not looking forward to whatever conversation he has decided we need to have," Ryraso admitted, rubbing where the healer's talons had dug into his skin once he was released. He was going to have to get some arm guards to wear again.

"Indeed. Do you still drink Jasmine tea?" Po'lar said politely while herding Ryraso into his office, ignoring several medics who were staring at him. He shut the door calmly and patted Ryraso's shoulder. "I left some brewing for your arrival."

"Yes, please. That would be lovely," Ryraso nodded with a slight smile, slightly warmed by the fact the man remembered. The link could reveal many things about a person depending on how well you could use it but minor nuances were harder to read. Unless it was a like or a dislike that was so firmly in your character that everyone knew, the link would not reveal such things.

"While your journey was not willing, was it a least pleasant?" Po'lar asked as he poured two cups. "Sit down," he added, glancing over at Ryraso who was still standing up.

"For the most, part" Ryraso nodded, slowly sinking into a soft chair. He almost moaned at the sensation. The warship had been more functional than comfortable and Navat was still very much a palace. "We travelled fast which is never the most comfortable of experiences," he hummed, shifting into the plush chair, enjoying the feeling.

"Not the way the Royals travel," Po'lar laughed, passed the cup of tea carefully and sitting in a chair next to Ryraso instead of behind his desk. He exhaled and took a deep sip of the tea, looking at it idly for a moment. Ryraso waited patiently for Po'lar to gather his thoughts. "The order felt what you did in Tayawge," he admitted softly. Healing wings was no small task. "How are you feeling after that?"

"Better now," Ryraso nodded. "I had a cold when I woke up the next day but it passes quickly. I," Ryraso paused, trying to think of the correct words to use. The significance of what he had done was not lost on him. The spell he had used was only supposed to stop further damage and relieve the pain. It shouldn't have healed the man's wings so they were whole again. Yet, it had and Ryraso wasn't sure how to feel about that. "I have been nervous at the idea of attempting more healing spells," Ryraso finally admitted. It wasn't unheard of for someone's ability to do magic to disappear after such things.

"You're worried you will be like Kalia," Po'lar nodded. "I would be too except you are special in ways Kalia was not," he said matter-of-factly.