Bird of a Flock (Bow 2)

Chapter 35

There had been no spark of realisation, no vision of the goddess but somehow, Ryraso felt more prepared for the battles he was about to face now that he had prayed to the Goddess. The mark on his arm was not burning so he could only assume she agreed with what he was planning to do. He left the room with Dyn'ad on his heels, the k'nairi vaguely grumbling at the fact Ryraso had made him pray.

"Stop grumbling," Ryraso scolded. "We need the Goddess on our side," Ryraso pointed out calmly, patting Dyn'ad's arm as Dyn'ad hooked their arms together. Ryraso let him take the dominant role in the gesture and ignored the hopeful looks their way from the passer-by's. People were really invested in Ryraso accepting his place.

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Dyn'ad commented, leading Ryraso back to the consort quarters calmly. Glaring at anyone who tried to come closer who was clearly just waiting for a chance to get a claw into Ryraso. The nobles were hungry and it had Dyn'ad's feathers puffing slightly. The nobles were the last thing any of them needed to deal with at the moment.

Smiling, Ryraso let Dyn'ad move him as he wanted, eyes still watching though he made no interest in the ones who were desperate to talk to him. "Few people enjoy it, but that's not the point of it," he said softly.

"When did you become religious?" Dyn'ad asked, slightly rising an eyebrow.

"When someone put their mark on me and threatened to harm everyone I care about if I don't play along," Ryraso said calmly.

"She..." Dyn'ad trailed off and exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry. We never meant for this to happen," he said honestly, picking Ryraso up and jumping up to the next level. A guard was there to help humans but Ryraso was his mate. Dyn'ad wanted to help him, not a stranger. It was his right and in many ways his privileged to be able to help in such a way. Ryraso accepted the help quietly and looked down at the drop once they were at the top of the ledge.

"You are going to have to put a few more ladders in place if you aren't going to restore the stairs," Ryraso said idly, clearly not willing to discuss that topic. "Even a few rope ones. You have two humans living up here now."

"There will always be guards," Dyn'ad shrugged.

"Not the same as being able to do it ourselves," Ryraso stated calmly, leading the way. Dyn'ad quickly caught up and took his arm again. Ryraso smirked and pressed close to Dyn'ad. "The staircases were beautiful. It is a shame you had them destroyed," he sighed, thinking back to the stone cases which had been entwined with gold and vines. The stone pillars carved with the myths of old and the occasional more modern story. Ryraso idly wondered what had happened to them or whether they had simply been demolished.

"Safety is more important than beauty," Dyn'ad said firmly. "Ryraso, what are you about to do?" He asked cautiously before they entered the consort rooms.

Ryraso looked up at Dyn'ad and lifted three fingers. "Stop Zaro and Fetmar from being sent to Fiant. Stop Tai'ray from isolating Eyeri overnight. Stop Tai'ray from branding Eyeri or any other people who don't deserve it. One of those three," he said determinedly before entering the room before Dyn'ad could really react to the statement. 

"Ry!" Dyn'ad called after him, quickly catching up again. "This is really the time?"

"If not now, when?" Ryraso demanded. Dyn'ad hesitated not having an answer for that statement and Ryraso nodded firmly. "Where is he?" he asked seriously. 

"Nel'os is with Eyeri," Dyn'ad muttered.

"Good for him. I'll make sure to give him a thank you kiss tomorrow. Where is Tai'ray," Ryraso asked again. Relief filled him at the news the Royals hadn't left Eyeri on his own in the cage, even if he knew it wasn't likely Tai'ray's idea to have Nel'os keep Eyeri company. Nel'os was the heart of the triad, he was the one who would understand the most how Eyeri would be feeling right now and why it was a terrible idea to isolate him. Still, Ryraso forced himself to stay focused on the argument he needed to have with Tai'ray.