Bird of a Flock (Bow 2)

Chapter 54

Eyeri sat on the roof, next to Aw'endo, watching the sun go down. The wind blowing about them as the light finally started to dim and the sky lit up with stars instead. It had not been a pleasant evening. Aw'endo was curled, his wings still shaking with grief and Eyeri rubbed his back under the k'nairi's wings. They weren't completely on their own. Some of the guards were about, keeping an eye on the two of them. Eyeri was kind of reassured by their presence. If he fell, someone would catch him.

Nel'os and Dyn'ad had a lover. A lover who Aw'endo had liked and trusted. A lover who Tai'ray did not like and now had banished from court for reasons unknown. Eyeri had tried to talk to Ryraso but the man had only shushed him with sad eyes. No one was giving him any clues leaving Eyeri to try to cheer Aw'endo up.

"I'm here," Eyeri commented gently, not liking the silence anymore. "Fetmar's here too. You're not alone now. Even without Cai'ress, you have friends. Better yet, you have brothers."

Aw'endo looked up, his yellow eyes peeking out from behind dark locks of hair. Eyeri was pretty in the dying light. His blonde hair soft and fluffy and his eyes almost sparking as the sunlight reflected off them. He reached out and grabbed Eyeri's hand, tangling their fingers together and holding it tightly. The human boy blushed at the action but let Aw'endo do so. "I know," Aw'endo said simply. "Doesn't change the fact Cai'ress is gone now. I think it's my fault. Tai'ray didn't like that he had been talking to me." Aw'endo looked away from Eyeri and at the people who were flying in the distance. "I seem to cause everyone I care about problems."

"I'm sure it's not that bad. Plus I've caused my own fair share of problems for people I care about. I think that's just part of existing," Eyeri mused. "Best you can do is try to minimise the damage dealt and hope that the good you bring is worth the trouble. And I always cause a lot of trouble."

Finding nothing to say to that, Aw'endo stayed quiet. Gripping on to Eyeri's warm hand as he watched the k'nairi fly around them. An ache in his chest. Today he had got his closest ally banned from court. He had also got his prime bully exiled. Or rather Fetmar had. Others were still there and there was no telling if they would be friendlier to him now or if someone worse would come along. 

"No wonder Ryraso had no problem with returning to Navat," Eyeri whispered, making Aw'endo jolt having not expected them. "No wonder he yearned to return here."

"Um?" Aw'endo looked at the younger boy, though older in mentality. "He seemed to fight enough to me. Why do you think he wanted to return?" he asked, slightly confused.

"It feels like home," Eyeri murmured, his free hand clutching his chest. A warmth filling it, despite everything that had happened in the previous days. In the heart of Namya and now part of the link even if it was still blooming in his mind, he was able to feel more than a normal human, or even k'nairi could feel. Already he had accidentally discovered mates among the guards and manipulated the magic that ran through the rooms without truly understanding what the magic was. 

His soul was tainted from its experiences but strong. His heart was still warm with compassion. A strange mix and one which suited the priests of the link. High Priest Ton'eath was looking forward to seeing what happened when the true capabilities unlocked inside of him. Not that he would ever give up being a healer. Not that the priesthood would allow a human in their ranks anyway but Ton'eath had looked at him very strangely. Po'lar had even reminded the priest that Eyeri was already promised to the healer's circle.