Three months ago.
All he could sense from his bond with Tfaneld was anguish and horrified sadness. He had no idea where Tfaneld had gone and thought to ask Seryti. His Bond Bird had been oddly silent since they had returned to Chirro.
:Seryti, do you know if anyone has seen Tfaneld?: he asked her.
:Hujilo has seen him in the deep grove, beyond the temple.: she replied after a few seconds pause, her mind voice tinged with curiosity.
:Thank him for me.:
:All ready done.: she replied, cutting the link between them.
Smeyit hurriedly pulled on his winter coat and snow boats. Knowing that Tfaneld probably forgot his coat he grabbed a thick, warm on from near the door and rushed into the snow.
He weaved his way through the old pine forest behind the temple and wondered faintly about where Tfaneld could be. A sobbing sound in the distance alerted him to his lover's location. Picking up the pace, he nearly ran through the trees.
He stumbled into a close by clearing and saw Tfaneld. The red headed Ystävä puiden was kneeling on the ground, his hair falling into his face. Everything seemed normal except for the fact that there were dark red wings growing out of Tfaneld's back and that he was sobbing in the snow without a shirt.
Smeyit noticed scars crisscrossing across Tfaneld's body. He had seen those scars before, he was sure. On his wrist was an arrangement of scars which looked like someone had wrapped barbed wire around Tfaneld's wrists and lower arms, pulling the wire down his arms only after he had got it tight enough to draw a significant amount of blood. But most disturbing were the ones right above these, one single wide scar on each arm, starting just above Tfaneld's wrist and traveling up the entire length of his arm was a large scar, it seemed to have been a dagger wound.
"Tfan?" Smeyit's voice traveled softly across the clearing. Tfaneld stopped sobbing and tension showed in his still form.
"Smeyit, please leave. I don't want to hurt you." Tfaneld said turning to face him. Tfaneld's red hair was two inches longer than it had been earlier in the morning, his eyes were harder than Smeyit had ever seen. Madness flickered like a candle-flame in those cold eyes, madness that threatened to overthrow the Ystävä puiden's control.
"Tfan. I will not leave until you tell me what's wrong." Smeyit said. Tfaneld dropped to his knees once more and shook his head. the Ystävä puiden barely had control of himself, Smeyit could see that. Walking towards him Smeyit dropped to the ground near him and reached out. A knife lay somewhat behind the Ystävä puiden, and Smeyit realized what Tfaneld had come here to do.
"No!" Tfan shouted as he lurched back. His hands pushing Smeyit away. "Rakas, please. Don't touch me! I'm a monster. I shouldn't be here." the Ystävä puiden cried. He dragged himself across the clearing and tears resumed their solitary march down his cheeks.
Smeyit stood up and walked to where Tfaneld was huddled. Taking him by the shoulders he spoke seriously, "Tfan, I love you no matter what. I doesn't matter to me if you have wings, understand? I love YOU, Tfaneld, and I will always love you. So hand me that knife and I will cut those beautiful wings from your back if that's what it takes to convince you you're not a monster, monsters can't love or be loved Tfaneld, and you can do both." Smeyit said, holding his hand out for the large butcher knife. Tfaneld looked up at him, his emerald eyes shining with tears, and did something unexpected. His wings unfurled from their position between his shoulder blades and spread to their fullest, then ever so lightly they came down to cradle Smeyit in their red warmth. Smeyit gasped at the softness of the feathers and felt his eyes widen in surprise and tried to mumble something through his shock fogged mind.
Smeyit woke a little while later to find Tfaneld sleeping against his chest, his hand curled in Smeyit's hair. Tfan's face showed no signs of the heart wrenching sobs of just a few hours ago. His wings were furled tightly against his back. Smeyit stroked his fingers over the red feathers, marveling at their softness. Tfaneld smiled and opened his eyes. Then he seemed to remember why they were out here and all the warmth flooded from his face.
Standing up, Tfaneld walked over and picked up the knife. Walking back to Smeyit, he held it out. Smeyit just looked at it as if it were some kind of poison snake, that would bite him if he held out his hand.
"Smeyit, please?" Tfaneld said, looking at him with pleading eyes. Smeyit looked up at him, eyes wide as the moon. His hands shook as Smeyit accepted the knife. Tfaneld knelt on the snow covered ground, his wings unfurled wide. Smeyit closed his eyes to calm down, he didn't want to hurt Tfaneld, and he would if his hands kept shaking.
Smeyit heard Tfaneld stifled a cry of pain as the knife cut through the first wing, and nearly fainted as the second wing came off. Once they were disconnected from Tfaneld's back they dissolved in ash. Blood ran in thick streams down Tfaneld's back before disappearing as ash.
Smeyit helped Tfaneld up and gently pulled the spare shirt he had brought over his head, then he wrapped him in the thick snow coat. Tfaneld leaned against his shoulder and allowed Smeyit to walk him back to Smeyit's quarters, which were closer than Tfaneld's own.
Once they had reached Smeyit's quarters, Tfaneld gratefully fell into the large bed. Smeyit waited until he had succumbed to sleep before leaving for his Guardian's Meeting. When he returned to his room Tfaneld was still fast asleep, Smeyit snuck under the covers and fell into the quiet embrace of sleep.
Tfaneld woke to find that he was in Smeyit's rooms. Asleep on the bed next to him, still fully clothed, was Smeyit. He looked exhausted and as if he hadn't been sleeping for long. Tfaneld checked the time of day from the window, it was too late to even try and save his classes, but he felt quite contented to stay in bed with Smeyit all day. First though, he needed to get some food in him.
Smeyit woke to find that it was nearly sunset, Tfaneld had left a scrawled note about food and that he'd be back a few minutes after sunset. Smeyit got out of bed and cleaned himself up before putting on clean Whites. He sat down in the large chair and waited until Tfaneld came back.
:Smeyit! On the Field!: Seryti mind-spoke to him.
The Field was the way Tfaneld made his way to Smeyit's room, it was easier not to bother anyone when he snuck across at night. Smeyit sensed the urgency and ran out to the field.
Tfaneld's red hair and Scarlets stood out like a candle in a very dark room. A shadow like figure with blinding white hair stood in front of him. Tfaneld was hunched over, the tension in his shoulders made it look like he was afraid. A soft hum floated into the back of Smeyit's head as the white haired figure created a gate. Tfaneld was using his Gift to make sure that Smeyit didn't feel the pain brought on by gating. The white haired figure grabbed Tfaneld and pulled him towards the Gate. I love you, Smeyit. Tfaneld tried feebly to send down the link, a blur of emotions and words.
I love you.
Smeyit stood next to Tedirs as her and Jerun were crowned Royal Consorts. Three years had gone by since Tfaneld had been Taken from the Palace grounds. Smeyit had lost much of the weight he had just been gaining back when Tfaneld had entered his life.
The only thing that had stopped him from suiciding as the fact that Seryti, Fertiyl, Niuol and his daughter, Tedirs needed him. It would be too much for Seryti if he died, she wouldn't be able to live without him. Niuol had died, just as everyone had known he would, then Tedirs's mother, Xasde had died too. She had just wasted away till nothing had been left but skin and bones.
Smeyit left shortly after the coronation.
It was Tfaneld's birthday, the worst day of the year.
He sunk down onto his bed and struggled against the tears he knew would come. Tfaneld wasn't dead, his presence was always in the back of his head. Every now and then, music would float down the connection between them, filling Smeyit with anguish, but taking away all his aches and pains.
Something bad was happening, Tfaneld had never used his Gift inside his thoughts before, who ever had taken him was doing something that caused him physical pain. Smeyit could sense it under the tones of the soothing music. He looked up as a scarlet Fire-bird landed at his window, a rose clutched in his talons, the rose was a deep emerald, the color of Tfaneld's eyes. Every year on Tfaneld's birthday, this very Firebird would show up and give him the emerald roses. Tfaneld was making sure Smeyit knew he hadn't forgotten about him. The first time, a note saying that if the bird did not arrive at midnight on his birthday, he would be dead, was what Smeyit had received. Every year Smeyit would fear that the bird might not come, but always it did, always it came to give him Tfaneld's gifts. This year, the bird had arrived with a second gift, a note was tied to the bird's leg. Undoing it, Smeyit read it silently:
Smeyit, Rakas,
They have placed multiple women and children in the cell adjoining mine. I think they wait to see how I react to them being tied down on beds. All they receive is me sitting in the corner, eating and sleeping. Sometimes, when I can not find the Strength to do either, I think of you scolding me for being so competent. If I had been anywhere else, it might have made me laugh.
A man named Canaan is my only friend here, and still, he does what the man who took me says, he hurts me because of that man. Though I wouldn't exactly call him a man. Canaan is julikos, I can tell he is in love with the man who took me. He speaks of the man with love in his eyes, he says the man saved him from the streets, and he has never left him since. The man has a single child, a boy named Kastracsh, who is the same age as me. Kastracsh is a twisted man, though not as bad as his father. He is also julikos, I can tell that he was hurt a lot when he was young by the man he calls Father. The longing in his eyes every time he hears me speak of you tells me that he has never experienced true love. It hurts to look at the scars which trace his arms and neck. When ever I am allowed to take a bath in the large bathing room, he is there, staring at the scars that run up and down his body. These are the scars of the whip and cane, scars from beatings with daggers and the hilts of swords. Canaan did this to him, he says, on his Father's orders. He loves his father after all the pain he has endured because of him. He does, never, approach me other to talk. It is as if he is afraid to love. The soldiers call me Lord, though it seems they think they have given me a room of cushions and gold rather than a stone dungeon.
Smeyit, I need you. They will kill me here. Please.
Follow Devan, she is the Firebird I have sent you. She will take you to me. Smeyit, love, you can not take Seryti. Kastracsh will sense her and tell his oh-so-loving Father you are approaching.
Hurry.
Tfaneld.
The letter had traces of sarcasm and hatred planted throughout it, like weed in an orchid patch. Tfaneld had never shown to him that he would even consider having those traits.
Though Tfaneld hadn't described Kastracsh, Smeyit could picture him easily enough.
A boy in his late teens, long black hair flowing to his waist, with eyes of brown, deep but inhuman. A triangular face, with soft, but pointed features. He would have a lanky body, much like a mix between Smeyit and Tfaneld, but his would have more pronunciation, for he would have been trained harder than anyone Smeyit had ever known. He would be tall, probably a hand or two above Tfaneld. His expression would be that of a lost child, alone and afraid, but his mind would be concealed, hidden deep beneath the lies his father had told him to twist him into a killing machine.
A soft peck jolted him out of thought. Devan sat waiting. Quickly he built a barrier to keep the sleeping Seryti from his thoughts. He changed into black riding gear and jumped onto his horse. Fritter was a very fast and strong horse. He could with stand days or weeks of riding non stop at full tilt. He was not a very showy horse, otherwise Smeyit would have picked his sister, Killju.
Smeyit was soon out of the city, galloping at full speed south, following a scarlet Fire-bird.
Within the week, he reached the edge of Veljet Hawk Territory. A few lengths in and he was met by Fretaik and Kadis, the Veljet Hawk adepts. He stopped Fritter and allowed him to drink from the nearby stream which, Fretaik assured him, was safe.
"What are you doing, here so far, without your Lady Bird from Chairo?" Fretaik asked, his hands resting on his hips. Both of the Adepts had their white hair in braids, though Kadis had two feathers and Fretaik only one.
"I am on a mission, Seryti could not come." Smeyit replied as he watched Fritter graze nearby. Devan landed on his shoulder and cooed a bit, reminding him of his job.
"A Scarlet Fire-bird? Where could you have ever found one, so far south from its northern forest home?" Fretaik flipped his hair and huffed when all he got from the question was a blank look. "How is Tfaneld?" Smeyit flinched, backing away.
"Devan is Tfaneld's. She is helping me find him, he was taken from Palace grounds three years ago." Smeyit said, stroking Devan's left wing with his fingertips.
"So the Ystävä puiden has a fire-bird? Amazing. We shan't let you be later than you are. Go find your Ystävä puiden." Kadis intervened, helping Smeyit to mount Fritter before both he and Fretaik disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
A few hours later they arrived at a stone castle. Tying Fritter in a nearby meadow, Smeyit looked it over. At the top, the white haired man was holding Tfaneld's arm behind his back. Tfaneld was still in his Scarlets, and his red hair was being blown by the wind. Tfaneld shook his head, the man twisted his grip on Tfaneld's arm and pulled up on it. A man of about twenty nine walked on to where they were, Tfaneld cowered against the side of the building trying his best to get away from him.
"Canaan, take Tfaneld back to the dungeon, make him cooperate." The white haired man said, shaking his head.
"Yes Samual." Canaan said as he grabbed Tfaneld by the arm, Tfaneld shuddered and didn't try to get away anymore. A boy of about Tfaneld's age pushed Canaan away from Tfaneld.
"Father, I'll see Tfaneld to his dungeon. Canaan won't know what to do with him once he collapses on the floor." the boy said. Tfaneld leaned against him as if it was a welcome relief to put his weight somewhere other than his own two feet. The boy didn't even wait for his father to respond before he took Tfaneld inside the Stone castle's top room. Tfaneld walked stiffly, as if his legs wouldn't work properly, or he was in great pain.
"Canaan, deal with Kastracsh later. He is only looking after his friend after all. Don't forget you have a session with Tfaneld tonight." The white haired man said as he left the tower. Devan cooed in his ear before flying off into a window at the bottom of the Castle, those must be where the dungeons are. Canaan watched as she flew low and disappeared before walking down the stairs on the side of the tower.
Tfaneld winced as Kastracsh lowered him down into the chair which. other than the still unused bed, was the only piece of furniture in his dungeon.
"Are you okay Tfaneld?" Kastracsh asked, taking his place on the ground besides the chair.
"I am fine. Thank you." Tfaneld said, letting his hand slowly pass over Kastracsh's which was laying on the chair. Kastracsh let out a whimper and jerked his hand away. Kastracsh looked down, and stood.
"I have to go Tfaneld, I'll be back around nightfall brother." he said as he nearly ran away. Tfaneld heard Kastracsh's footsteps stop in the hallway, the sound of cloth against stone met him moments before the sounds of sobbing did. The footsteps started again as everything went silent. Canaan's soft voice floated into the dungeon, a strangled no followed it. Kastracsh's footsteps picked up speed and were soon out of hearing.
Canaan appeared with a whip wrapped around his wrist. The whip fell moments before the handful of thrown glass did, and kept falling, pounding the bits of glass deep within Tfaneld's skin. Canaan smiled and closed the door, Tfaneld whimpered but couldn't move for fear of the glass piercing something important, like his neck. A tune weaved itself around his mind, blocking out the pain, only too late to do anything but stop it from reaching Smeyit by way of their bond.
Smeyit jolted awake as Tfaneld's scream pierced his mind. The insistent tune of The Oak and the Man floated down the bond connecting them. He stood up to find the white haired man, Samual, standing before him with soldiers. A burst of pain on the back of his head was the last thing he felt before falling into the arms of five soldiers.
Kastracsh stood in the corner, watching , waiting for the Mage to wake up. He flipped his waist-length black hair back over his shoulder and walked over to touch him, slowly extending his hand, he laid a fingertip on to the man's soft cheek, but pulled it away. This was Smeyit, his brother's lover. He sent out a Mind-Probe and gently woke Smeyit. Smeyit sat up. Putting a finger over his lips, Kastracsh,signaled for him to be silent. He had to help his brother, and Smeyit was his brother's only chance.
" I am Kastracsh, Tfaneld's twin brother. Our Father, the man named Samual, is outside the door. Please, you must help Tfaneld." Kastracsh said before standing, Samual entered the room and Kastracsh jumped away from Smeyit, and exited the room.
Smeyit didn't understand why Kastracsh had left, but then he realized. Helping him would only get him hurt by his father's minion, Canaan. Smeyit looked around to find Samual standing above him. So this was Tfaneld's father. Smeyit could see the family resemblance.
"Hello. I am Samual, Tfaneld and Kastracsh's father. I'm sorry for my soldiers rudeness in the way they brought you up here. I hope you are not hurt." Samual said as he pulled Smeyit off the couch and into a standing position. A surge of Mage energy made both of them look down, something had just happened below the castle floors, in the dungeons. Kastracsh ran in.
"Father, Canaan has just been found dead, Tfaneld is on his way," Kastracsh said before moving out of the way. Tfaneld walked through the door. No wonder Kastracsh was smiling, he and Tfaneld had thought of this plan. He exited the room as Samual pushed Smeyit aside hard enough to make him hit his head on the wall, a sickening crack followed. Smeyit saw stars, and slid down the wall until he was kneeling next to it, blood trickling into his eyes. Tfaneld was bleeding from all over. Fresh whip wounds showed from underneath his Scarlets, and bits of glass sparkled in the flesh of his neck as the sunlight shone on them.
"Father." Tfaneld said. Smeyit's eyes were blinded by the surge of Mage energies flowing over Tfaneld's skin. Wings appeared from where the Mage energies flowed from Tfaneld's back, soon he was a shining figure of blinding scarlet light, Samual took a step backwards.
"You killed Canaan? How could you?" Samual said as Tfaneld raised his right hand. A point formed in the light, a sharp point which flew and flashed through Samual's chest. Samual collapsed as blood bloomed in the area over his heart, staining his golden robes. The light faded from Tfaneld as he fell forwards on both knees, Smeyit tried to stand but found Kastracsh holding him down. With a shake of his head, Kastracsh called for Devan. The Fire-bird perched on the back of the couch, a warm glow surrounded them and all of a sudden they were near the Healer's Palace. Blackness swarmed over Smeyit's vision and he tumbled to the ground Fritter was being taken to the stables as a Healer ran forward with two stretchers,