Deep in the Preserve - Early Saturday Morning

[tricksy_spy]

Nawat had been on the island for almost a day and a half, and while they'd spent the entire time together, they hadn't talked about much beyond the island, the flockings of crows, and small bits of home - the men and women they'd both served with, Dove, the implications of the lack of rebellion in the past few years

Comments

[hesacrowman]

"You're thinking so loudly you're scaring the birds," Nawat commented finally.

[tricksy_spy]

"Yes, you look terrified," she teased, her heart lighter just at the ability to tease him.

[hesacrowman]

He shook his head, his braids flying about him. "The other birds," he replied. "The ones in bird shapes." Nawat reached for her hand and drew her to a tiny clearing, just big enough for them both to sit down. "Shall we talk then?"

[tricksy_spy]

"I was liking just being with you," Aly admitted. She hated herself a little for shying away and sat on the ground, arranging herself to lean against his shoulder. "What brought you here, Nawat? I - am unimaginably happy that the Black God allowed it, but it is not something I've ever heard of before."

[hesacrowman]

"I do not know how it happened, but I imagine the Trickster God had something to do with it. Perhaps he traded some sparklies for the favor," Nawat said thoughtfully. "I wanted to see you again. Before you join those of the Black God years and years from now." He glanced over at her. "You were my mate. You allowed me to preen you and hatched our egg. How could I not?"

[tricksy_spy]

"Because I got you killed!" Aly finally let a burst of worry and pain show through in her voice. "You should hate me or be angry at me or something. I should never have sent you and your flock out there."

[hesacrowman]

He turned, frowning a little as his hand reached up to touch her cheek. "It was good information that sent us. Would you have ignored Lord Daikui's attempted rebellion just to keep my flock safe?"

[tricksy_spy]

"It wasn't good information," she argued, leaning into the so-familiar touch. "I found out after. They'd made my pack and been feeding him false information. They set up an ambush."

[hesacrowman]

"We all knew the risks," Nawat said. "You're Gods-touched not perfect." He shrugged as he brushed his fingers up into her hair, unconsciously preening her.

[tricksy_spy]

Aly made a face, wondering if it was really this easy. It couldn't be. There was just too much.

"It's my job to know the risks better than anyone else," she replied. "It's what the God brought me to the Isles for; it's what Dove trusts me to do. If nothing else, my spy should have been well-trained enough to know he'd been made, but-" She knew when that man had been trained too. While Aly was dealing with a newborn and obviously paying less attention to her job than she should have.

[hesacrowman]

"Aly, let it go," he said, his voice carrying like the soldier he was. "I knew I would die for the twice-royal queen the moment I took the Trickster's bet. I wish I had another twenty years with you and Lianna, but - we mated. We had a nestling. There's nothing I can complain about."

[tricksy_spy]

She smiled just a little to hear that note in his voice that had first told her Nawat was a man now and not fully a crow. She hadn't wanted to use her Sight on Nawat - it never was the best idea to use it on those you loved, but she knew he was telling the truth, and some part of her heart let go of the heavy burden it had carried for so long.

[hesacrowman]

"Maybe that is why I came," he said thoughtfully, studying her carefully.

[tricksy_spy]

"What? To tell me I'm an idiot?" Aly asked, the teasing note back in her voice.

[hesacrowman]

"It was needed," Nawat said wryly, glancing away to disguise some bit of the smirk in his eyes.

[tricksy_spy]

She chuckled as she shifted to lean more fully against him, feeling like she was 17 again. "I wish Lianna were here. Maybe it would be too hard for her, but - she could have known her Da. Even for a day or two."