Ashton glanced around the clearing, the enchantments seeking the ingrate had been going off. The pair was no doubt trying to throw the priests of their trail. The pair had to move fast, if memory held, in less than four days the ceremony would begin. No matter where she fled, the snake would be able to find her.
Caius inched closer, his Little Snack had been neglecting him since her arrival. He needed a way to ingratiate himself, to slip into their group without intruding. He needed a way… slowly he encircled the lonely bird in his tails, offering warmth.
Ashton smiled as he scratched the large fox's nose. The fox's insecurity was thrumming like a discordant note in an orchestra. "Relax now big Fox, relax and you'll see, hopes for the future, and what could never be."
Kaveri slithered back into Azarius's pouch, if the female was done playing, escape was best. Unlike the birds, he had to remain hidden. The one coming… Kaveri shuddered as he coiled up. He must go unnoticed. At least until the anger subsided. He could taste it on the wind. Anger, hurt, betrayal, determination… all too much for him.
"Nix! Nix! I return in triumph! Look at my spoils! They dared not resist! A greater negotiator surely does not exist!" Beloved called as she flew back into the clearing, easily landing on Nix's shoulder. Her small escorts… were not so well coordinated. Most crashing into Nix's back, or the fox's face.
Ashton quickly caught the falling golems. "Learning to walk, learning to fly, all will soon come, all in due time." Ashton promised as he rubbed his face along Beloved's body, "Was there ever a doubt? Does anyone dare, to keep what you want, for them a small prayer."
Beloved hopped onto Nix's head, proudly showing off. "I did not scare them! They were happy to trade! All too eager to give, after I gave!"
"Oh? What did you barter, what did you gain? To be so happy, more than you thought you'd obtain?" Ashton teased as the small golems started to hop and chirp, all showing off small gems, spoils of their own trades it would seem.
"I wanted his story! The dragon he slew! A savage battle to impress even Ru! I offered a crystal, of little import, but he offered much more, offered his life's song!" Beloved bragged happily.
Ashton was suitably impressed, "A gem for life's song, better negotiator there is none. I wouldn't dare, I would be humbled, perhaps even gods would also crumble."
Caius narrowed his eyes, a new term. Life's song… aiya! He needed to speak bird! "Oh great Beloved, a tip I hope from you, what is a life's song, what does it do?" Caius wasn't really good at on the fly rhyming, at least his message came across.
"Gasp! Don't you know? We are songbirds, songs are like gold! Songs of battle, songs of love, no matter the song, they come from the heart! To give up a song is all the emotion to impart." Beloved explained as she nodded solemnly.
"To take a song, is to take one's heart, but he gifted a copy, so all his life she now knows." Ashton supplemented as he leaned over the giant fox face. Soon the golems were all nodding, chirping, hopping in agreement.
Caius's heart jolted… then… that goblin king had given her a copy of every memory he'd ever had… what kind of gem would warrant such a sacrifice. "Oh pretty birdie, won't you tell me, why kind of crystal, a life's song worth be?"
Beloved started to preen again, "Words are so cheep! How can they convey! The worth of the gem that I! Beloved made!" with a wave of her wing a rift opened.
Caius watched as half a dozen mana crystals fell from the ring of fire. There was an immediate uproar from his kin, the small birds, and every mage within sight.
Dustin and Lia immediately went to their princess's sides. "Highness, that crystal…" Dustin couldn't move his gaze from the glittering gems, recklessly fallen in the dirt. Even knowing princess Noelle was waiting for more information… he just couldn't look away.
"Those crystals are stronger than sixth tier." Lia added, barely able to look over princess Rowena.
Noelle smiled as she shook her head, "Do not covet what is not yours. Those are worth… a kings ransom. Make sure no one gets tempted to take a closer look." She would also be willing to give her life's song for such a gem.
Lucera almost fell over herself leaving Zane's tent. When she saw the gems she had to stifle a scream when one of the black birds started to eat them! Throwing her hands over her mouth, she shakily walked to Jantje's side. "What… what are they doing?"
Beloved looked up, tilting her head in confusion as the foxes started to belly crawl toward them, whimpering with every step. "Why are they crying, why so upset? These are just cast offs, fallen from nests."
Ashton buried his face in the fox's fur to muffle his laugh. After his body stopped shaking from his suppressed laughs he stood up, the golems had each eaten half a crystal. Now they were on their backs, wings spread as they chirped helplessly.
Ashton covered his mouth as he used his foot to nudge the small golems out of the way. "You all over ate, now you must pay, bloated like turkeys, ready on celebration day." The golems started to chirp in alarm, wriggling in an attempt to get back on their feet. Unfortunately, their stomachs were so round they couldn't even lift their heads to see their belts.
Beloved leapt down, pecking at Hito until she lifted him by his cloak. She set him on his feet, only for him to fall forward. Hito started to chirp sadly, calling for help.
Ashton bent down to start picking up his silly golems. "Such silly birds, from where did you learn, so stuff yourselves so full?"
Beloved opened another rift to pull two more mana crystals, these were intentionally created. Unlike the eighth tier crystals that formed from the rocks used to hold her nest. These naturally formed from her fallen feathers when left alone. Beloved changed so she had opposable thumbs.
Lucera almost fell to her knees… unlike the other almost transparent blue crystals, the ones Lady Beloved had white edges. No larger than her fingers… they held more mana than all her palace's wards, enchantments, and spells combined. She couldn't even fathom what tier those mana crystals were.
Caius stared at the mana crystal in her hands… she created them. Then they should be mana stones, not mana crystals… but… they didn't have the artificial discordances that came with the stones.
"Psst, Nix, they all seem so shocked, they seem so surprised, don't they know what happens in the nests of you and I?" Beloved asked leaning on Nix.
Ashton picked out a similar crystal. "Beloved you are special, and I just benefit, who creates crystals by leaving eggs near it?" Ashton asked feigning regret. Soon he was stuffing one crystal in each of the bird's small pouches. Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
Beloved covered her face, eyes going wide, then she looked perplexed, "But these are not great, really not so grand, more like a pinch, when needing a desert of sand," Beloved wasn't mocking them, but one crystal didn't even contain enough mana to last a single day. She only kept making them because they were pretty. Pretty crystal instruments suited Nix more than flimsy wooden copies.
Ashton smiled, quickly pecking Beloved on her furrowed brows. "They are not beasts, they cannot make, to find any of worth, in the depths of mines to attain."
Beloved shuddered, "Oh, oh no not me, so deep underground, I'd rather not seek."
Ashton nodded along, "To that I agree."
Devlin had burst out of the hunting palace like his loins were on fire… hearing she could so causally make mana crystals… crystals that had to be… eighth tier… possibly higher. Not to mention, she considered them of little value… They could barter for a few, one of those crystals could easily power the entire capital city for… a year!
Beloved slowly turned her wide eyes on all the humans, foxes, and snake watching her like she was a tasty treat. Slowly, slowly she moved behind Nix. "Don't get ideas! With you I won't trade! You haven't defeated dragons, no greater beast have you slain!" Beloved announced peeking over Nix's shoulder.
Sebastian's lips quirked, if that was her being fierce… he wasn't sure who she thought she was intimidating. She even held up a fist, shaking it at some of the nearly salivating mages.
Ashton raised a brow seeing no one take her seriously, "I would not dare, I'd look away, to cross my Beloved, even fools would escape."
Beloved puffed out her chest, hands on hips as she nodded. "I am so scary! I am so fierce! I may not be a fighter! But I can make even stronger beasts retreat!"
Ashton nodded along.
Noelle bit her lip to hide most of her smile, that was as good a cue as any. "Lord Nix, Lady Beloved, should we… go hunt something for your entertainment? Or should we stay in the clearing to enjoy your lovely songs?"
Rowena was watching Lucera and Zane, despite their longing for the crystals, both looked haggard. She'd have to see if she could learn what happened with the Goblins.
Beloved clapped happily, "OH! The hunting of beasts! What a grand idea! How to win, how to be the elite?" Then she paused looking at Nix confused, "Nix you do not hunt, care not for blood… if they mean to please you, would it not be better to take up a drum?"
Everyone stilled, turning their attention to Lord Nix as he awkwardly coughed.
"Hunting is okay, it's not like I will participate. It is just a game, to earn rewards, keep the young happy, testing my control." Ashton said glancing up at the clouds. Besides… it was one way to get most of the people out of the camp. He was not a monkey in a zoo. Better to give the children something to do.
Beloved cupped her chin in her hand, then grinned. All the little birds raised their heads just enough to stare at Nix, then started chirping indignantly. Hito even managed to point a wing at Nix's face.
Ashton pretended to not notice, "Eh? Am I so biased? Does my favor so lean? Where is your proof, just a few preferences indeed." Ashton stated righteously.
Beloved burst into laughter as she scooped up her outraged little siblings. "Nix is so silly, says not what he means! Better to find flowers! Better to brew tea!" Three of her siblings were like angry pufferfish.
Noelle hesitated, "We would of course be happy to find flowers for tea if you with Lord Nix."
Beloved giggled, "Hunting is fun, we should still see, what there is to hunt, at least while we're here!" Beloved announced darting to leave her small siblings in Nix's nest. Lest they get lost, better they rest.
"The first rule of hunting, don't startle your prey. What would we do, if they all ran away?" Ashton asked half teasing as Beloved sang loud enough for all to hear.
Noelle gave a quick curtsey, "Then we will prepare to set off." Their horses and gear were prepared in case the birds wanted alone time, but it would seem they would be joining everyone in the forest today.
Caius glanced as yet another Ingao warrior came with an activated ward. Perhaps this was giving the bride a chance to meet with the birdies. How cunning his Little Snack was.
Beloved stared at Nix, squinting her eyes, "Nix… do you… hunt berries?" A golden ring of fire appeared over her and Nix. Before anyone could react a palm sized walnut hit them both on the foreheads.
"Ru is so mean! Can't take a joke! Just because we don't hunt, doesn't mean we don't know!" Beloved and Nix cried piteously as the rift closed.
Caius almost choked. As it was, he was coughing into a tail as he turned away.
Ashton glanced at the walnut he'd caught… he did like walnuts. He crushed the shell so he could pick out the meat. "Well, I consider that a win. Free food is the best, now if only it would fill our empty nest." Ashton glanced at his nest half hopefully… when no more walnuts appeared he just sighed.
Beloved also sighed looking at the empty nest, "Ru is so stingy, just a single walnut, you'd think he was starving, guess we'll give him some."
Noelle's lips twitched… if Ru was the Bird Beast god… that walnut was no doubt a precious treasure. At least now she knew they should hunt something fitting for an eagle.