Sebastian had to blink, then bit his lip to keep his solemn expression. Ten palm sized black chicks were waddling after the larger white pheasant. Two had apparently given up, having bitten her tail feathers to be dragged along. Lord Reece was humming along at the cacophony of chirps. As Sebastian continued to approach, he realized… Lord Reece was also chirping…
Calix trotted after his grandfather, lips twitching as he kept a straight face. "You should have seen them earlier… we thought they were discussing the secrets of the realm with how serious Lord Reece looked… surrounded by hopping chicks, all chirping."
Sebastian couldn't help but cough at the thought. Really, there was solemn business to attend to, yet he just wanted to sit with a cup of tea and watch the herd? What was a group of birds called again? After a moment he asked Calix.
"Uhh, I believe they are called a flock?" A flock of Lord Reece's kin… it seemed especially fitting at the moment.
Sebastian didn't want to interrupt the jovial flock, but… inviting a predator's people may not go over well. Sebastian eyed the female, he imagined that if anyone had wayward thoughts toward her… well he did not want draw Lord Reece's ire. "My lord…" Sebastian called softly. The entire flock turned to him, as if surprised by his sudden appearance. The smallest of the birds had not spotted in time, crashing into another so they both tumbled. Sebastian caught a glimpse of a belt under their little hood… why would they need belts…
Ashton half turned to face Sebastian, "Ah, I'm guessing from your expression, you have an awkward request."
Sebastian sighed, "Yes my Lord, his majesty intends to invite the priests of Ophion… as they worship a snake… we were not sure if they were welcome in the immediate area."
Ashton tilted his head, "I am not so… territorial. So long as they come in peace."
Sebastian hesitated… something about Lord Reece's narrowing eyes gave him pause. Peace… dragons were not exactly peaceful creatures by nature. Considering how the empire had become a warring nation, how would those who worshiped a snake be?
Ashton quickly caught the feathers now obscuring his vision. Beloved had half leapt, half flown at his face. "Beloved?"
"They cannot know! They cannot suspect! How else will we lure our target?" Beloved half whispered behind her wing as she eyed the male.
Ashton covered his mouth with his hand to whisper back, "Dragons are silly, they think they know all, mention the opposite, in the trap they will fall."
Beloved blinked as she turned to face the human male suspiciously, "But not all are dragons, at least one must be smart, or is the whole deaf of wisdom impart?"
Ashton made a show of looking over her wing before answering, "It's a little bit pride, a little bit greed, might maketh right is what they believe."
Sebastian's lips were struggling to not twitch… so, all was according to their plan. "I understand my lord, Nix's lady, if there is anything you desire, please let me know." If he didn't leave now, he'd burst into laughter. That small bird face was so expressive, as if she were shocked he'd heard them. The small black chicks started to hop around Lord Reece's feet, chirping furiously.
"That is a good egg, he will not tell, havoc from the dragons he's sure to quell." Ashton stated with a nod as Sebastian bowed, then left. "Now back to matter, the matter at hand… we still must flush out the details of our great plan." Ashton walked to his nest as the chirping continued.
Zane's ears pricked at the continuous… song? Conversation? It was hard to tell. The chirping was more accompaniment to his ears.
"He's coming! So soon to arrive! We must prepare! We must plot!" Beloved agreed glancing to the west. The winds had picked up since she'd arrived. "Do we protect? Or let them get squashed?"
"I kind of like them, like lemon in tea." Ashton responded following her gaze. Over the Hunting grounds were clear skies, but even from here he could see dark clouds swallowing the capital of Smyrna.
"As long as you like them, matters not to me, then we should round them all up, ensure they stay close, if they wander to far, left without even a corpse." Beloved shrugged causing her feathers to become disarrayed. Without pause Nix started to carefully fix her feathers.
"There is time to corral them, time to entice, rather than them, your desires Beloved?" Ashton asked, he'd see all that warranted protection receive it. Snake… he hadn't really considered any but now that one was practically offering himself up… wouldn't hurt to take a peek.
"What of the ingrates? What do they desire? How deep must we fish, to free from the mire? I mean, I know what we want, I know our goals, but do we even need them? They are only thorns without rose." Beloved complained snuggling into Nix's arms.
"We need a temptation, a tasty bait, how else to entice, such a big pretty snake?" Ashton soothed. The breeze knocked two of the golems over as they were hopping into the nest. Ashton glanced up with a small smile.
"I guess that makes sense, I see what you mean… but those ingrates are so infur.i.ating! I'd rather not see!" To steal from a benefactor… savior, protector… bah! Hope they get eaten!
"A few minnets to tempt, a few more to entice, once we've shown off our songs, the ingrates can get lost." Ashton consoled as the small golem birds started to chirp in agreement.
Zane shared glances around the table… ingrate… was a rather specific description. As no one seemed to know what they were referring to they would have to wait and see.
Sebastian enjoyed the moment of tranquility as he sipped his tea. The continuous bird song was not unpleasant, truly they were entertainment that soothed the soul. Since his Majesty and company did not want him to meddle, he would await their summons.
Zane wasn't sure how to feel about the sudden shift. Young Song, or Nix, wasn't less human with the female's arrival… he even appeared more approachable, less calculative. Despite their continuous chirping… there was something off. Something about that female made him anxious…
Rommel ate a pastry as he examined the Inago, their tension wasn't obvious… but they were watching the female as if she were an unexpected threat… so they were not aware of all. Perhaps not even aware Young Song had been the phoenix of legend…
Lucera stiffened when the female glanced up, then disappeared without warning. "Zane!" She hissed under her breath as half the black chick tumbled into the nest, yet didn't look surprised.
Zane flinched as he whipped his head around at Princess Hazel's sudden gasp. On her head… was the female bird, leaning over to stare into the princess's eyes.
Mage Payton didn't flinch as the feathers settled like a veil over her highness, the female was chirping in delight. Lady Glimmora had hidden herself away in Princess Hazel's skirt once again.
Priest Howe clutched his chest as he gasped. The sudden appearance mid-sentence had nearly had him falling out of his chair. Howe sent an inquiring glance to Payton only to be ignored… fine then! Better remember this moment next time you need a priest!
"Nix! Nix I found a young sprout! Oh we should keep her! Raise her far from the droughts!" Beloved called as she watched the young flower. "You are so young, not yet ready to bloom, should we fetch a pot? Should we plant you?" Beloved asked curiously rubbing the young flower's cheek. So soft!
Payton choked on the idea… planting a human… what madness was this?
Ashton stepped through a rift to stand beside the princess. "Ah, yes this young flower, oh so delicate, so young with such power. I don't think she's to be planted, not sure soil is best… besides… where would we pot her, when we so readily roam?"
Beloved glanced up, but curled her body around the young flower's head, "But… if we do not keep her, if she is all alone, how will we find her? To see in full bloom when grown?"
Nix leaned so he was face to face with Beloved, "Ah, but if we keep her, we may stifle her growth, to grow such a flower, there is much more to know. Perhaps we can visit, bring gifts from far lands, maybe be invited to see when petals flourish so grand."
Beloved rested her head on the young flower, "I guess that makes sense, flowers are rare, in 500 years, this is the first heir. Will you invite us little flower? May we come and see? We promise gifts! From the sky, even the sea."
Hazel didn't dare move for fear of dislodging her precarious burden, she also wasn't sure if she should respond with a song… Not to mention, Lady Glimmora's vines were tightening the longer the birds were so close. "Umm, of, of course?" She asked hesitantly.
Beloved tilted her head as she leaned over, the flower's eyes were covered by her head fur. Beloved huffed at the fur until it moved enough to see one large eye. "You don't sound so certain, is it not you we should ask? Perhaps a bigger flower of generations last?"
"Beloved it may be a secret, the flower so few, the more people know, the more danger too." Ashton reminded glancing at the mage. Though he exposed the flower… he had no intention of letting the others covet them.
"Oh, no need to worry, no need for concern, Nix is protecting, only the silly would dare yearn." Beloved promised leaning over again to look into the large brown eye.
Payton gave a short cough to draw the bird's attention, "You are of course always welcome, we just… are not sure when Princess Hazel will bloom. Is there a way we can… send word?"
Beloved blinked, "She can already call Nix, he can already hear, if the young flowers calls out, immediately near."
Payton shuddered at the proclamation… protection… or surveillance? Two sides of the same coin. When the female disappeared Payton glanced around, three men adorned with a colorful feather masks were being escorted toward the hunting lodge… the lost mage among them.
Howe narrowed his eyes, the beast mana radiating from the trio made his skin crawl… like a predator eyeing him from the dark. Perhaps the rumors weren't false…