Sebastian was exhausted. So, Duke Hammer had been fighting the church for twenty years already… before he'd even regained his noble status. Now, many pieces of the puzzle had come together. Somehow, Crown Prince Alphonse had struck a barter with Lord Nix. Gained the Ruby Tear to gift to the then crown prince Lucian…
If Lucian hadn't hidden the gift away, more than just his immediate council would have been freed of the curse. Duke Hammer refused to say what exactly he'd found that led him to look for something that could break curses… but the mercenaries he kept in confidence were sure it was the key to saving the empire. Or at least, would be of significant assistance.
Sebastian watched the… female bird. Truth be told, all of them were starting to have their own characteristics. Kokono seemed especially fond of Duke Hammer… why was the question. Duke Hammer was the one who'd first thought of stealing Lord Reece's heart…
Randal ignored the others as the assassin Novak was escorting his mother, wife, and daughter to be interrogated. To think, even after all his precautions… he was still being played the fool. He closed his eyes, now… he had to wait.
Jakub was watching Bodin, ever since the wagon appeared all three had been… emotional. Of all three, Bodin was the most volatile, but not because of the women. Bodin was calling out to… Duke Hammer.
Novak saw Jakub's silent signal, with a nod he confirmed he would see what his men could find.
Kokono was weaving one of the big snake's colorful feathers into her nest. Finally, her temporary nest was complete! Having finished her mission, she settled in for a nap. She opened one eye to watch the assassin, with a chirp of discontentment, she turned her back on the human.
Haven stirred as he felt the birds start to shift. Lowering the nest to the ground, he ignored the aggrieved foxes. Giving the still sleepy Nix a clay pot of water to boil, he finished up the last minute touches of their pre-lunch snack.
Ashton was half hugging, half leaning on the pot in his lap. "Chirp?" He asked as the pot was slowly tugged from beneath his cheek.
"If you sleep much longer, you won't have much of the day left." Haven reminded as he poured the boiling water into the different mugs. Both bigger birds blinked up at him blearily, then seemed to remember they had plotting to do.
Randal sipped on his tea, he couldn't help constantly looking into the cup… dragon bone being mixed into spices to help keep everyone under control. He was immune… didn't mean he wanted wriggling masses of taint in his body.
Randal watched as Ashton and the female continued their plotting. As eager as he was to find a solution that didn't involve him killing off the current imperial family, a few more minutes was no doubt in his best interest.
The mage sighed, "Twenty years… wasted, I ken see why ye donna wanna help em. Still, a shame, do ye think the birds did it on purpose?"
The ranger shrugged, "Does it make ah difference now? Tis probably fer the best. At least now we ken tis possible."
The mage glanced at the plotting birds… hiding behind the snake tail… as long as they were happy. "Perhaps, we kenna ken till we try."
"They be up ta somethen." The mountain man said nodding to the pair who'd sidled up to the half human snake.
Haven raised a brow as he glanced down at the two birds, one on each side, sticking to him like leaves on sap. "Yessss?" He asked.
Ashton pursed his lips, "Oh, what a nice sky, what fluffy clouds, perhaps seen better, with the human eye?"
Beloved nodded, "Yes, the human eye doesn't see as much, so more interpretation is then up to us."
Haven rolled his neck as he tasted the air. The last time he'd taken on… his human appearance… several hundred years ago. Still, their wide, hopefully eyes were hard to resist. All ten of the smaller ones were peeking from behind their wings as they pretended to point at different passing clouds.
Beloved tried not to grin as she felt her big snake's body started to shrink, the feathers receding.
Ashton had to admit, like many of the gods, Haven's physique was enviable. Even with them standing, they only reached his waste. The warm shades of his hair only framed his sharp features as he glanced down at them, then, quirking a brow, Haven looked up.
Haven stared past the crystalline leaves to the clouds above. As a snake, he saw things through heat. Human vision was… very different.
Ashton shared a glance with Beloved. At the same time they both used a finger to pull the robe sash forward before looking down.
Beloved blinked before she flushed, then released the sash. Nix's reaction was a heartbeat behind as they shared a wide eyed stare.
Haven's smirked, allowing them another moment before he looked at the flustered birds. "Are we… compatible?" He deliberately asked.
Beloved bit her bottom lip, then slowly covered her face as she squatted down. "Big snake you're so big… I am not sure… we two will… fit."
Ashton let out a small cough as he glanced around, "Well… ahem, perhaps… with a feather… we can fix?"
Haven chuckled as he knelt to scoop his Beloved up. How interesting she looked like this, the heat flushing her cheeks visible to even the human eye. Slowly he lowered his head to whisper for her ears only. "I am well practiced."
Beloved squawked as she buried herself against Haven's neck.
Haven inhaled her scent, embarrassment, excitement, hesitation, apprehension… no fear. At least not enough for her to pull away. He could count on one hand how many of his brides looked forward to warming his bed.
Haven straightened up, he knew better than to rush. Females needed coaxing, reassurance. Even females with the power to slay gods. He glanced over the pondering Nix… so the feather would show use for mating. That was significant information.
Randal was staring at his empty cup of tea. Well, that had…. Been completely unexpected. They'd really just… pulled his clothes open to look… If he wasn't trying to survive… he may have burst out choking… or laughing… Luckily, both the mage and priest had cast sound dispersal the moment they'd seen the two move.
The mountain man had stabbed himself in the thigh to keep from making a sound. He would not… he wasn't even sure. At least the pain confirmed he wasn't dreaming.
Noelle was staring dumbstruck… all of them were… Tania looked petrified, an especially ridiculously look as her mouth was hanging open.
Concubine Ofelia had covered her daughter's eyes as she turned away. Well, that had been… unexpected to say the least. Judging from their majesties expressions… they hadn't expected such boldness either.
Haven settled his shy Beloved on his forearm, "Perhaps now is a good time to see how you plan to make use of my feather."
Ashton blinked, "Oh, that would make sense, that's a good idea, but before we use, a place without eyes more ideal."
Haven raised a brow as Beloved peeked at him. "One of the palace's?"
Ashton glanced around pensively, "Hmm, no, here will do, if in a palace, leave only ruin."
Haven's eyes constricted, taking on a more serpentine shape. "Oh? That is… surprising."
Ashton patted Haven's hip, "It is not a danger, at least not to her, but watching the palace, so many eyes do strain." Then his own eyes turned silver, "I am rather petty, because all those who suspect, well, none now do live. Any with even a piece of the puzzle, well, not even souls do remain."
Haven watched as Nix's eyes took on their bestial form. So, this was the secret for which so many were slain. A secret known only to three.
Ashton grinned, "Come now wind god, join the now three, this secret we'll share, but without hesitation kill to keep."
Randal flinched as a tornado surrounded the trio… the black clad warriors were standing guard around it. Cloaks whipping in the wind… As black flames shot out around the tornado, a golden dome fell from the sky.
The ranger stumbled as the ground shook, as he looked closer, that dome… turned into a rotating sphere… "I donna think that be any of our business, yeah?"
Jakub stared, two beast gods… and a monarch working together to keep a secret… A secret that put gods on edge… a secret that made Alaina send one of her offspring to die.
Novak didn't like the gleam he saw in Jakub's eye. "Some secrets are better off not knowing. Not to mention, it has nothing to do with saving your daughter."
Jakub took a deep breath; he couldn't voice his suspicions here. Not in the light of day, or where the breeze touched. They kept calling Beloved a creation… after seeing the dark clad warriors… their appearance was changing. They were growing. For all to see.