Ashton walked along Haven's spine, silently marking suitable feathers. It would take time to find the best. Time they could use to also fix some of the ruffled, damaged, dry feathers.
Beloved glanced around, then rested her hands on a particularly frazzled feather. Her hands glowed for a moment, white fire dancing along the feather. Soon, it elongated, straightened, all the barbs filled out. Beloved patted the now sparkling feather before she continued her search.
Sebastian was thankful when they reached the palace grounds. There was something to be said about walking on flat ground. He glanced at the ten small birds, Lord Reece, and Lady Beloved all managing to remain perched on the snake god no matter how he moved. There were already dozens of markers over his feathers… Sebastian was mildly curious if the birds would create a new nest from the snake god's feathers.
As Haven coiled around the nest he noticed something distract Beloved. She popped out of the nest looking around. After blowing him a kiss she changed into a bird to fly off.
Beloved glided until she landed on her favored human's shoulder. "You did all that I asked, that and more, you may not understand, but the help I will not ignore. Now I've come to uphold, my end of our deal, point out all the beings you wish to be healed."
Sebastian glanced to the still mounted Monroe hesitantly. "Lady Beloved… if you are not adverse, please heal young master Monroe." He wasn't asking just because he pitied the boy. For some reason, of everyone present, she had picked Monroe Darnings to make her barter with. Lady Beloved's pointed glance had been a hint, he would grasp it like a life saving grace.
Jaxon pulled his horse to a halt. He met Duke Carlos's somber expression, then glanced to Beloved… she was looking at them… haughtily. If bird faces could make such an expression.
Monroe felt a sudden chill, like a predator was eyeing him for its next meal. Slowly he glanced past Duke Carlos to the giant snake. The snake which was eyeing him contemplatively. Monroe couldn't suppress his shiver as the purple orange eyes narrowed on him. He tried to make a sound, to deny the offer, but he couldn't even blink. He was… petrified as sweat started to gather along his back.
Beloved rolled her eyes, "A deal is a deal, for the favored I'll heal. But make no mistake, I do this just once, anymore harm, and he'd prove he's a dunce." She shook out her feathers, dropping few flames on her favored human before flying toward the dragonkin. To her surprise, she was interrupted, quickly changing course as I giant snake tail came out of nowhere!
Ashton stepped through a rift just in time to deflect the giant snake tail that would have swept more than half the humans into their next lives. Using his toes he lifted the feathered body up, and over the clearing as he flipped over. His hands barely touched the ground, the movement as if he were merely doing a back handspring in place.
Haven hissed letting his tail land on the far side of the humans as he drew himself up. Before he could further show his displeasure Beloved landed on his face, eyes wide as she flattened herself along his nose.
"Haven are you upset? Was it something I did? Oh! If someone upset you I will forbid!" Beloved promised dropping kisses on the colorful feathers.
Haven coiled his body around the remaining birds, even gathering Nix up as he glared at the kneeling humans. "You are mine." He declared opening his wings to block out the sun. Beloved perched so she could look up at him almost… confused.
"Of course I am yours, and that makes you mine, who dares to claim otherwise?" Beloved asked offended as she looked over her shoulder.
Ashton fell from a rift to sit on the edge of Haven's nose. "Who dares to claim, who dares to nay say? Point them out big snake, they won't liv another day."
Neolani had barely been able to remain standing. The overwhelming pressure had forced almost everyone on their knees. Still, she forced herself to look up. In the shade of the snake god, with his back to the sun… Ashton's left eye… was black with silver irises… He was looking down at them like… they were ants… so far below his attention…
Haven watched as all twelve birds puffed up their feathers in challenge, then returned his gaze to the favored human. Next, he eyed the dragonkin that held her oath… he did not suffer competition.
Beloved jolted as she turned to hug the giant snake, this time with her human form. "Oh Big snake it's not like that! My heart will not waver, despite how pleasant, a human could never!"
Ashton covered his mouth as he looked off into the distance, hiding his smile, "Ah, now it makes sense, now I can see, claiming a favored, can lead to misunderstandings."
Haven narrowed his eyes, had they… read his mind? Soon all the birds were chirping at him in comfort. He slowly eased his coils, "Doing you a favor, is their greatest honor. They should be grateful you helped at all." Haven hissed laying his head in the center of his coils.
Beloved dropped several kisses on the shrinking head, "Oh that is different! A tip for a good deed. I want to encourage the self help they need." Beloved announced as she crossed her arms, "That human I favor is because in his heart there is Nix. Of all the humans here, his appreciation the purest. He accepts what he's given, doesn't demand more, doesn't covet more power, doesn't scheme for war."
Ashton turned with a wry smile, "His heart is at peace, come hell or high water, is it so queer to protect such a fire?"
Haven was not a being of fire… still that did make some sense. "The dragonkin does not have such a fire."
Beloved huffed so hard her hair flew in all directions, "That kin is the smallest, for him there is hope, beat in some sense, he might overcome their great slope."
Neolani felt like she'd been slapped, an imperial duke had purer faith than her?! Nonsense! Everything she'd done! All the training, gathering forces, mending the tribe's relationship with the gryphons! It had all been to help Ashton! She bit her lip as she lowered her head. Her faith was pure.
Sebastian's heart was beating harder than was probably healthy. He remained kneeling as he listened to the conversation… if Lord Reece… Sebastian shook the thought away. It was clear Lord Reece took his oaths seriously. The real problem wasn't the snake god… he subtly glanced at the still standing Regina. Even with her head bowed, hair covering her face, her rage was palpable.
Haven settled into the nest, silently acquiescing for the healing of the favored human, and the kin. He had not been around so many beings in a long time… thousands of years. He was incredibly territorial. Well before he'd been a god, or monarch, or even had reason. He did not suffer others to challenge what was his.
Haven watched as Beloved landed on the dragonkin, they'd fallen from the horse, the older cradling the cripple as they lay sprawled under his power. Beloved did not appear to care for them… Haven glanced at the remaining birds in his coils, most were now examining his feathers. Fixing them into place, marking them for healing, or marking them for further comparison. Their care was… strange, but far from unwelcome. Birds, creatures of the greatest conundrum.
Jaxon held his breath as white flames dropped from Lady Beloved's feathers. Monkey appeared to also be holding his breath, at least until he started to writhe, his face flushing from strain.
Beloved sighed, then sent the young dragonkin into an illusion to wait out the healing. At the same time, she revoked her offer. She narrowed her eyes as the kin fell limp. She did not want even the appearance that this dragonkin might have a place in her song. She would be leaving soon… leaving Nix behind with these dragonkin… if they had no hope, they might do something unfortunate. This way, so long as the small dragonkin lived, he would be a possible back up plan if the strongest dragonkin failed to see the light.
Ashton smiled as Beloved returned to the nest of coils. With Monroe purified, healed, and freed from his oath, he should no longer be a concern for the big snake. Now… to convince this great snake god to give up his best feather… willingly. Ashton leapt up, combing through the hundreds of thousands of feathers their search to find the best was not yet at an end.
Sebastian stood up, all his aches and pains were gone. Not just from his knee, his back, shoulders, all felt like he was forty years younger. Discreetly glancing at his wrist, he noticed an old scar was gone. He wanted to offer his thanks… but the birds were all busy. Sebastian thought they might be grooming the snake god's feathers. Their birdsong echoing delightedly with each new find.
Alexei stood so he blocked the view of his enraged Regina. "Regina, she's goading you." He whispered, it was obvious the female did not care for them. Taking the sliced fruits they prepared for Ashton, carrying him away. Drawing his attention when he or Neolani wanted to speak. Lord Caius may have been blunter with his distaste, but Beloved simply wanted to separate Ashton from them.
Neolani released her clenched fist. Her nails had left crescent moon indents in her flesh. Why. Why? Why?! Why was every beast they came across dismissing her? What had she done wrong? If they were going to keep making barbed comments, they might as well come out and just tell her to her face!
Alexei stiffened, even with his back turned, he could feel the oppressive weight of the snake's gaze. He knew better than to turn his back on a predator… being around Ashton had given him an inflated sense of security.
Neolani looked past Alexei to the snake's patronizing glance. Even knowing Ashton claimed them, the snake would have wiped them out without a second thought. Just to kill Sebastian and Monroe… they hadn't even been a consideration. No… perhaps, killing them would have pleased Beloved. A single flick of his tail and all of Ashton's reasons to remain in the empire could have been removed.