Aaron wanted to pull the injured Amin aside, but the two younger priests held his arms. Aaron wasn't sure if that was to keep him from falling… or to keep him from escaping. "High Priest, this way please." Aaron directed toward the only building, unfortunately all three turned their heads, then knelt down, dragging Amin to kneel as well.
Amin stifled a groan as the movements had no doubt reopened his wounds. The moment he'd left the capital he'd been besieged by more than a dozen mages. He'd fled, prioritizing the delivery of the ruby over answers. The priests had no doubt deliberately waited until he was too weak from injuries before stepping in. A single moment was all it took for all his assailants to be cut to ribbons, then he was escorted back to the hunting grounds. They had not spoken to him once other than to confirm he still had the ruby.
Beloved perched on branch behind the group. Their feathers were longer than her body, of all colors. As the three in masks knelt Beloved gave a small chirp. They didn't move, so she hesitantly glided down, still their only movement was the wind ruffling the feathers on their masks.
Ashton stepped through a rift to stand behind his Beloved, then after they shared a look, they started to circle the four kneeling men. They went in opposite directions, chirping out their observations as blood started to pool beneath Amin.
The High priest awaited their judgement, the birds may not be territorial… but the eldest of the three most certainly was. The golden one was the boogeyman of the Ophion, often used to threaten young ones into compliance or be eaten. So far, the chirping appeared curious, welcoming even.
Aaron wanted to rush things along so he could have Amin tended to… Amin's cloak was stuck to his body, but whatever was happening… well he didn't know what was happening.
Beloved eventually hopped up onto the head of the man with the largest feathers in his mask. The bold features of the mask were of half man, half snake. The exaggerated features highlighted by even brighter colors. Beloved used her beak to tug at one of the feathers… but the source had been removed. Sad.
Ashton used his fingers to feel the feathers, they were no longer soft… perhaps treated to retain their colors. Eventually his curiosity was sated, he stood off to the side as Beloved heaved a great, disappointed sigh, then flew to perch on his shoulder.
"Nix they are old, Nix I can't see, the feathers are pretty… but is he?" Beloved asked behind her wing as the four men stood up but kept their heads down as they followed the male inside.
"I cannot be sure, I do not recall, if we have met, I was not appalled." Ashton murmured thoughtfully.
"Then let us follow, let us see, just how pretty this big snake be!" Beloved opened her wings so they both fell through the rift she'd opened.
The head priest ignored the anxious servants, there was nothing they could do for the man. As it stood, only through their god's grace did the man not succumb. The only reason they brought the man along was to assess how… benevolent these birds truly were.
Leonard raced to meet the group as soon as he heard Amin was with them, "Amin!" He called seeing his longtime friend. While there wasn't a trail of blood, there were droplets marking the path.
The head priest held up a hand, then nodded for the first man, Aaron, to continue leading the way.
Aaron grabbed Leonard by the arm, "Not now, Marquis, he lives, that can change at any moment." He hissed when Leonard tried to pull his arm away. They had not seen what these men could do.
Leonard gritted his teeth with a nod, then followed. Amin's labored breathing was both reassuring, and taring at his patience.
The head priest glanced around, an infirmary of sorts. At least the dragonkin was here.
"My Lord, I know this is highly irregular, but please allow us to tend to Mage Amin, we have refreshments in another room for our negotiations." Katherine offered with a polite bow. She could feel the sacred mana rolling off all three. Most noticeably, the two holding Mage Amin were cycling their mana through him… no doubt keeping him alive. Even from a distance she could see Amin wasn't so much as holding onto life, but being held.
The head priest turned his head to the female, a priestess, though not blessed. After a quick chant, his words were translated into common speak. "None of your mages can heal him, he is cursed. For the ruby we brought him."
Kathrine stepped aside as the two priests holding Amin stepped forward, lifting him onto a cot. Impressive considering they didn't once let go, they were strong. More than physically, to keep up such consistent mana flow through Amin was a testament to their concentration. Katherine stepped forward, cutting away cloth to expose the ghastly wounds.
Leonard stepped closer to the foot of the cot, Amin had been struck by at least four arrows, evidence by the broken shafts still protruding from his body. Two on the left shoulder, one in the right thigh, one in his stomach. It was hard to tell if there were holes where arrows had been pulled out due to the charred flesh.
Katherine gritted her teeth, he'd been hit at least four times from the front with various fire spells. That was fixable… her first concern was this curse. Amin certainly looked it, every blood vessel was not only protruding, pulsing with each labored heartbeat, the veins were dark purple. Katherine pulled Amin's eyelid up, completely bloodshot, purple veins as well.
Leonard gasped, Amin groaned as black blood started dripping from his eyes. "What is happening to him? Is that poison?"
Jaxon turned to the head priest, "Are you saying, you want the ruby teer, in return for bringing Amin to us alive?" Those teers reminded him of the ones the female had wept the night before… if there was a connection…
The high priest took a moment to understand the words, he was fluent in Ancient Smyrnaean, but not common speak. He chortled, "I would not dare claim it. We want to speak with the," He wasn't sure how to address the sacred beings spying on them. "The beast kings." That should be an appropriate title…
Jaxon glanced over Amin, "Can you heal him?" Priorities now that they knew the ruby was safe, for now. The giant mask shook, feathers swaying in all directions.
"Heal the body? Yes, but the soul is tainted. The body would still perish before dawn." They could keep the curse from spreading, for a while at least. But only so long as they kept direct contact. Hardly a realistic solution.
Leonard wanted to collapse… but his mind raced, "Is there a way to remove the curse? Then heal him?" Amin had three beautiful grandchildren… the idea of returning home, looking into their eyes, and telling them he'd sent Amin out to die…
The high priest shrugged, "The ruby purified enough of the curse for it not to be instantly fatal. His contact with it is why he lives. That is why we brought him, a… show of good faith." Truly, the ruby was a wonder to behold, even they had brief thoughts of simply taking it… but that wretched girl… they needed to know if the beast kings would help her.
"The ruby, the teer, the gift of that year, no wonder he lives, no wonder he's bait! Silly dragons do not understand good faith."
Leonard turned to Jaxon… everyone had turned to face the duke who looked just as perplexed as he covered his mouth. "Your… Grace?"
"I-" Jaxon started to say. Before he could finish all three Ophion priests had dropped to their knees again.
"Now I remember, how could I forget? The one who gifted the ruby, is the one we should beg!"
Leonard had watched Jaxon's mouth… that had certainly been his voice… but he wasn't the one who'd spoken… Leonard glanced around the room… In the far-off corner was a ring of white fire… large enough for two faces to peer into the room.
Ashton lay beside Beloved in their nest, laying on their stomachs with their heads propped in their hands as they kicked their feet. "Oh, they found us, now they can see, that we were all watching, no mystery."
Beloved covered her mouth, "I was so convincing! Sounded exactly the same! What exactly gave me away?"
Ashton glanced down at everyone, "Hmm, perhaps the song, as gentle as rain?"
Beloved puffed out her cheeks indignantly, "When I want them smart, they are all dumb, but when the opposite is wanted smarts they have some!"
Sebastian glanced over the nest as he continued to sip on his tea. Sebastian couldn't see what was going on… but he could imagine after hearing Lord Reece and the female. His lips quirked in mild amusement. Then he sighed, Mage Amin had been in dire straits… it would be a pity if he died.
Leonard stared at the girl, the words repeating in his head… beg the person who gave them the ruby? Alphonse was dead… his gaze shifted to Ashton… Ashton, by his own account had created the ruby… could Ashton heal Amin?
Jaxon was staring at the girl… if he hadn't been sure he wasn't the one speaking… she had sounded exactly like him. Even spells or enchantments to disguise someone's voice had audible distortions… he shuddered.
Lucian started up at the corner, here Amin was dying… yet they had not a care in the world.
"Should we go down? Go take a look? They seem rather expectant, let us cast out the hook." Ashton teased as he looked past the group to Amin. Amin was a smart man, it would have taken a lot of effort to injure him so severely.
Beloved changed back to her feathered form before hopping through the rift, "Hmm, he is dying, not much time left to save, what do you offer, for his life will you trade?" Beloved asked circling around the room.
Ashton widened the rift enough to slip through, landing on the ground as he rolled his neck. "The barter must be grand, for the effort is great, not for the healing, but to defy his fate." Ashton added as the imperials instinctually moved closer together.
Leonard clenched his jaw, "What do you want?" There was little he wouldn't give for Amin, he couldn't be rash, once again, Ashton held all the cards.
"Hmm, what do we want, what can they give? They are all dirty, so tainted. I want not their lives, they cannot sing, in their great hoards, Nix do you want anything?" Beloved asked as she landed on the cot near the human's feet.
"They don't understand, the curse he is under, blessing of the dragon, this is the left over." Ashton explained as he hopped up to sit on the edge of the cot. It would seem the keepers of the dragon heart were getting desperate. They had weaponized the damned souls… unlike how he passively absorbed the negative emotions, they have found a way to forcibly inject the most deranged souls into Amin.