After Tai'ray had returned to the D'mar's current base after raiding the warship, he hadn't waited around to listen to Loror. Instead, he had stormed off to his rooms which a snarl of anger to anyone who dared glance in his way. The k'nairi's temper clearly on thin ice, his mates waited long enough to bow to the warlord and be dismissed before chasing after their mate.
Loror growled unhappily but let the men go, knowing now was not the time to talk to his frustrating commander. Many called Loror mad for letting Tai'ray get away with his attitude but Loror saw no use in provoking a man when he was raw. At least, not when said man's reaction was likely to be counterproductive to his own cause. If Tai'ray in disgrace would help Loror, he might have, but at the moment it would not. Tai'ray was already humiliated from having failed to recover his desired mate and adoptive son.
"Sakmi," Loror called, summoning his spymaster.
As any loyal minion should, Sakmi appeared from the shadows silently, clearly having been expecting to be needed. Black hair and a tanned complexion, but still considerably lighter than Ravn, the man's best spy, who was next to him. Ravn was a Fini though and also very young. Sakmi had five teenage boys and one teenage girl under his command who did most of his spying for him. There were, of course, adult spies and assassins under Sakmi's control but the children were better at general spying as the Namya would never hurt a child.
"I'll be going now, my lord," Ravn said stiffly, bowing before leaving the base, disappearing from sight immediately.
"Punch has already tailed the force. The boys will watch the Namya camp for now," Sakmi commented, showing his men had already been on the ball.
Loror nodded, his eyes still focused on the spot where Ravn had disappeared into the night. "Other than Taidra, were any of the Namya on the list injured to our knowledge?" he asked, turning away to walk towards his own rooms, Sakmi following in his wake. His men moved out the way for them, some of the k'nairi bowing as they did so. There was a look in their eyes Loror didn't know how to name. The birds were getting tired of fighting, Loror noted with an annoyed feeling. It wasn't just them either.
"Ignoring Isst, nothing serious. The twins as normal got some bumps from Nel'os and Dyn'ad but everyone else seems accounted for," Sakmi commented. "Ryraso's young apprentice is patching Isst up. He will survive."
"Tai'ray's going to be annoyed I didn't tell him about the boy," Loror mused as he stepped into his room. "Still, that is good. Hopefully, we will be able to capture them soon," he groaned as he sat on a big chair. "So Sakmi? Any suggestions on how to deal with our lovesick commander?" he asked, gratefully taking a glass of moonshine Sakmi had poured. From the smell, it was the strong stuff as well.
Sakmi shrugged wordless, sipping his own glass. The burn was powerful in his throat but it was needed. Dealing with k'nairi problems was always a headache for him.
Loror exhaled, tapping his fingers against the glass as he thought over the situation. This wasn't going to be as simple as forbidding Tai'ray to take Ryraso, or even just letting Tai'ray have the man. Tai'ray was going to need time to deal with the human. "I wish he had told me about this scheme of his to take back the caw," Loror said darkly. "It's a lovely idea and one which will help our cause but it will also distract the k'nairi as much as Ryraso is going to distract Tai'ray."
"Ryraso wants nothing to do with the Winglord," Sakmi pointed out.
"Since when has that affected how the Winglord feels about the healer? That man was entranced seven years ago when I first met them since only the gods know when," Loror grumbled. He had hoped when the Namya healer had joined the main squad Tai'ray would grow to hate and resent him. This had not been in the plans. "This is going to take some planning," he sighed in resignation, feeling a headache of his own beginning to throb behind his ears.
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The next morning Tai'ray awoke to a loud banging on his door. He groaned and buried close to Dyn'ad, his mate hugging back sleepily and kissing his shoulder. He was not in a mood to deal with the world that morning.
"Tai'ray!" a stiff voice said angrily from the doorway to his nest.
Tai'ray moaned lightly but sat up and glared at the man who had let himself into the room. He could count on his hands the number of people who were either stupid or brave enough to call him by his name, his mates not included. Everyone else called him Winglord. Even the Namya's twins called him by title.
"Yes Sakmi?" he yawned darkly, combing a hand through his hair.
His mates groaning either side of him, annoyed at being disturbed themselves. None of them had been happy last night after losing Ryraso and as a consequence hadn't gotten much sleep. Losing Ryraso had angered Tai'ray and upset Nel'os. Dyn'ad had spent the better part of the night comforting and reassuring them while dealing with his own demons about how he had dealt with Kelenn. His confrontation hadn't gone well and chances were the twins wouldn't be the most friendly to them from now on. As added salt to the wounds from losing Ryraso, Aw'endo had refused to come home too.
"Loror wishes to speak to you," Sakmi commented seriously, walking into the room and opening a trunk to find Tai'ray some clean clothes.
"I'll be down in half an hour," growled Tai'ray.
"You have five minutes," Sakmi said firmly, slamming the trunk shut and placing the clothes on top of it. "We do not have time today to deal with your moping."
Tai'ray hissed at him, his wings spreading wide at the insult but the man did not even flinch. He was used to Tai'ray's dramatics and was not afraid of the Winglord. After all, Tai'ray would never harm Sakmi for fear of Loror's wrath. Though Sakmi knew, if he ever fell out of Loror's good books, he was going to make a very fast and strategic retreat somewhere Tai'ray would not find him. Ever.
"You have no right to order me around Sakmi!" Tai'ray hissed, his claws drawn ready to attack.
"These are Lord Loror's orders, not mine, Tai'ray," Sakmi answered smoothly, adding insult to the injury was making it clear he had no respect for the Winglord's position. Loror was the only one who gained the title 'Lord' from him. Not that he didn't have respect for Tai'ray. Quite the opposite, but it was just so fun to ruffle his feathers. "Now get dressed and let's go."
"Get out," Tai'ray growled, rolling out of bed and moving to the clothes reluctantly.
"I am to accompany you to the throne room," Sakmi commented.
"That bastard really doesn't trust me, does he?" Tai'ray grumbled, knowing that was a wise move on Loror's behalf. Tai'ray would never flee from a summoning but he might turn up a little late. Or considerably late depending on his mood.
"Wonder why," Dyn'ad and Nel'os said in unison with a teasing edge to their tone. Tai'ray scowled at them but continued to get dressed in the clothes Sakmi had got out for him. His mates just smirked.
Sakmi stood there in silence as Tai'ray got dressed, mumbling and cursing all the way. He didn't even bat an eye as Nel'os rolled out of the bed sheets naked and wandered over to the bathroom. Sakmi was... strangely used to the K'nairi. Like all D'mar, he had a charm which prevented him from becoming part of the link, but he had little doubts that without it, one would form easily. He understood them too much. Which is why he wasn't offended by Tai'ray threatening him. Nor by the leering look Dyn'ad was currently giving him.
"So Sakmi. Have fun last night?" Dyn'ad asked as Tai'ray got dressed, gaining the Winglord's attention. He knew that tone. That was a tone of voice which offered gossip, gossip and possible blackmail to use against Dyn'ad.
"My private life is none of your concern," Sakmi said curtly, "But yes, once I was finally dismissed from Loror's rooms, I managed to meet up with him and have a good time, thank you." The k'nairi could smell sex on people and lying about it was one good way to end up with them using it as ammunition for the rest of your days.
"Ha!" Dyn'ad grinned broadly. "Finally sleep with him then?"
"Him? Who's him?" Tai'ray asked curious, straightening his robes, finally dressed.
"No one who is of any concern to you," Sakmi said calmly, giving Dyn'ad a look.
Dyn'ad smiled back innocently but winked. He knew who Sakmi was crushing on but he wasn't going to tell his mate that, pushing him away as he poked through the link. Sakmi's secrets were his own. If Dyn'ad couldn't keep Sakmi's secrets, the man wasn't likely to keep theirs and as much as Tai'ray disliked Sakmi at times, they did need the man on their side. Or at least not likely to try and backstab them at every given moment.
Tai'ray grumbled in annoyance but didn't say anything. He knew better than to try and get anything out of Sakmi. As for Dyn'ad... Still, if it was no one of any concern to him, whoever Sakmi was into was human. Not necessarily D'mar, only not K'nairi.