Sarine's clouded eyes vanished to be replaced by a lingering look of cool excitement, as what he intended snapped into place. Lacking wings in this body often made her dislike it- but borrowed wings, even temporarily.. She smiled and tossed her head a bit unconsciously as she sidled slightly closer to him, "Heights? Afraid?" Sarine grinned, then, but thinking that most people would be afraid of at least something about this unpredictable man. Not that he could hurt her if he did, but, as any good ground dweller - "Promise youre not going to drop me on the way?" she asked him in a carefully controlled voice, her face slightly pained, as that thought 'occurred' to her.

[the big yellow one is the sun..!]

Sliding behind the female, Kayao hooked his arms around her wiast and squeezed Sarine tightly as his wings began to beat against the ground. Lifting the two slowly he chuckled to himself as he grumbled lightly, their speed growing quickly as the ground shrunk behind them. Looking over the town as he held Sarine tight, the two of them gliding a few hundred feet over the rooftops making their way to the castle. The harpy seemed to deviate from a straight path often as he looked around the streets below, easily distracted by the night life. "Fly often?" He asked with a grin looking down to the other. "It's a shame most people aren't made for it.. you'd be supprised how insignificant stress triggers become when you can literally be hundreds of feet from a situation in seconds." Speaking rather loudly against the winds, he smiled to himself watching the lanterns glowing about slumbering empire.

Sarine tensed as he lifted off, but facing away from him, he couldnt see her eyes glow. "Fly? Oh sure, every other Tuesday with me mum." Sarine quipped back at him, her tone speaking amusement. She was quiet as they flew over the city, observing. Unintentionally, he was giving her a great mental map of the city in ways a footsoldier would never know, as he pointed out.. "Most people never have a chance to," she responded to him, her voice pitched easily over the wind. "Those who arent born with wings are restricted to the airships, if their country is lucky enough, and rich enough, to have them for civilian use."

Chuckling softly Kayao peered down at the girl, grinning to himself as he beat his wings. His path had long sense steered away from the castle, and they were slowly making their way back to where they hat first encountered each other. Scanning the rooftops he searched for their original meeting place, though his eyes failed him at the moment as he had to be extra cautions with his passenger. He gripped the other as he tilted his head, his body immediately switching direction as he aimed himself at the outskirts of the market. Kicking a leg up and wrapping it around Sarine's legs for a moment to keep her bottom half from nearly snapping off from his sharp turn. Not that he wished to insult his new friend, but he figured the outskirts would have the lowest threat level for the time of night. Stretching his wings out, letting them fall slowly, he snaked an arm under her legs and pulling them up so he was holding her bridal style. His feet kicked off roof after roof as he made nearly fifty yard leaps, moving down buildings before they were above the open grounds of the market place. His wings shot out nearly stopping them as his feet hit the ground, sliding to a stop soon enough. Setting her down rather quickly, he smiled faintly before peeking over his shoulder to the castle in the distance. The guard tower's torches had gone from a white flame to a red flame, signaling the guard to return for the remainder of the night. "Well, it's been a real treat, but I need to be getting back now." Speaking as he looked over the castle before returning his gaze to Sarine. "I trust you will be able to make it to safety from here. Have to mind the street rats, though.. scrappy little things they are."

Sarine hopped out of his arms almost before he set her down, her face flushed from the wind, and she couldnt quite erase the crooked grin decorating her face. "Thanks very much for the tour.. I'm sure I'll be alright." A glimmer passed through her eyes, almost as if she wanted to run into said street rats. And some part of her did- being airborne had invigorated the currently earth-bound wraith, and she was in no mood to go back to her bed. Still, perhaps that was best. Her eyes flickered over the castle and towers behind Kayao, and the woman smiled faintly again. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." she said as she turned, departing his presence and heading up into the empty street markets that would lead her back to her inn.

* * * *

On the other side of the city, bedraggled and soaked after a housewife had disposed of her washbasin at an inopportune moment from a window; a tall man found himself dripping unhappily in the darkened streets. Uttering only a long-suffering sigh, he pulled his much-worn cloak ineffectively tighter around him, and set off to once again search out and apprehend his wayward best friend and Queen from whatever misadventure she was on now. He was headed towards the castle, for it was no use to search for her in the streets. And if she was indeed still in this city, he knew she would turn up there, for Kitiara could not resist the pull of the courts.

- -

The lone figure on the lawn outside the lesser guard's barracks moved rhythmically through the patterns of his daily exercise, a weighted stave held alternately in one or both hands. Lithe, skilled, even graceful were all adjectives one could put to his actions. And it was by far one of the only times a person could describe him as such.

He smiled to himself as he heard the kitchen maids tittering, though taking care not to let it show. They still thought he didnt know, silly mites. But it wasnt for them he was there, feet soaked in dew, arms by now screaming to stop. It was in the mornings, before any respectable person should be awake, that the entertainment for the evening was inspected and the few chosen were brought inside. He knew her by now, if anyone did. And she would be with them.. Or, then again, she might simply barge in. He gave one last look at the main gate, still firmly closed shut as at last the sun stuck its crown blearily over the horizon.

He sighed, a most favorite expression, then went on and bounded into the stables, leaning his stave up against the wall. He was pleased for the most part with his advancement. From hungry beggar (a most favorite role) that the cook took pity on, to assistant potato peeler, to senior potato peeler.. And then, much to his delight, the Head Stableman rescued him from the motherly oversights of the cook. Happily ensconced now as a junior stablehand, he watched the comings and goings of the court, was ignored by and was pleased to ignore the guards, and was a major hit with the maidens (a most favorite pastime).

He didnt give the late performers any mind, for she would come or not today, and he would know one way or the other by the evening. So thinking, he gave a cheery wink to a milk maid as he passed, flustering the poor girl so much she quickly hid behind her cow. He wouldnt mind a new position, really, was his next thought as he eyed the massive stallion snorting impatiently in his box. It was all well and good until this part. These animals were huge. And THIS horse.. Well, his feet still stung from the last stomping.

Five months, twenty-six days and 9 hours after arriving in the city, Aubrey Shetan Chiosul was again in much the same state as he had been upon that night. Wet, dusty, peeved - and his feet hurt. He was now glaring daggers at the monster who had crushed his toes, tipped his water barrel on him, and generally made a muck of the man in charge of his grooming. "One more wrong move and I'm selling you to the meat market- head guard's steed or no!" he gritted through clenched teeth at the stallion, who just snorted at him as he approached with the saddle.

After having been promoted not too long ago, the harpy was on a leisurely stroll about the grounds. With his new position, everyday work such as patrolling the city and making sure things stayed on schedule were nothing less then below him. He had finished his only work for the day, which was assigning posts and dealing with his fleet's payments, making his way through the palace's private market for the blue blooded. Wings folded neatly behind him as he was headed toward the stables, as watching the horses being taken for their daily routines to keep them in shape was one of his favored pastimes. Especially when it came to his steed, did he enjoy watching stablemen after stablemen attempt to command the beast.

Heading for his preferred corner and perch, he hopped onto the tall fence that bordered the pasture in which the horses were taken for their exercise. Siting himself on the long plank of wood he allowed his wings to droop lazily though he kept them from touching the dusty ground behind him. He could hear a rather noticeable ruckus being made in the stable, as he brushed a hand along the wall next to him. Kayao's wings had been lifting from the ground to his back before relaxing and hanging down again, a simple repetitive habit of the harpy's that helped keep his wings from cramping up when they were folded behind him for extended periods of time. While the harpy wasn't that much of a rarity outside castle grounds, it was still considered quite rude of the winged members to let their wings appear larger then formally acceptable. He grinned to himself as he heard the male in the stable, shaking his head lightly as he chuckled.

In all honesty it was really unfair. He hated the beasts- and more often than not they returned the favor. But he knew their tricks, from Kit's forays in Moonshadow's realms.. He shook his head of that displeasing thought, and eyed the stallion, who was doing his own size-up of the two-legged in front of him.

In one quick lunge, Aubrey slithered around the stallion, narowly avoiding a snap of his teeth. He tossed the saddle over his back and grabbed the girth, pulling it tight. Aub took a step back and surveyed the horse, then abruptly gave him a sharp jab in the ribs with his elbow. The stallion, surprised, blew out the breath he'd been holding, turning his head as much as the cross-ties would allow to lay his ears back at Aubrey. The man, for his part, had quickly tightened the girth further, and now stood looking at the horse with his arms folded, grinning. "Thats the oldest trick in the book." He informed the peeved animal, who stamped and tossed his mane as if he had had no intention of turning his next rider upside-down in a too-loose saddle. Grabbing the reins, Aub unhooked the crossties and tugged the restless horse down the aisle.

He was brought to an adbrupt halt as the stallion found something "tasty" - Aub's hair. The resulting inarticulate yell brought forth a distinctly mocking whinny from behind him. Aubrey whirled on the stallion (his hair now sticking out at odd angles), pulling the reins until the stallion was forced to lower it's head to Aub's eye level. He just looked at the horse for a moment, silent. And amazingly, the 18 hand, 1400 lbs Warhorse quieted, the only movement a steady swish of his tail. Aubrey did not like Transfixing things. Aubrey also did not like his carefully washed hair being turned into a spiky mess of horse slobber. The moment of silence lasted the space of a heartbeat and broke with the black horse half rearing, snorting wildly as it pranced in place.

But it did not come down on Aubrey's toes this time, did it? Aubrey allowed himself another grin (although the lopsided feature made him look daft at the moment, rather than his usual dashing). And spinning on his heel, Aub towed the horse forward. The contrary stallion took every opportunity to run his knees into Aubrey's lower back; but it made no passes at his hair, either.

Keeping one pace ahead of the bony joints of the stallion, Aubrey swung jauntily around a corner, whistling, still damp in places, and with one quarter of a mohawk. He did not envy the boy who would ride the warhorse in his practice jousts just now. But somehow, this didnt bother him one whit.

Kayao's eyes had been fixed on the end of the stable, wondering how long it would take for the new stableman to bring the horse out. Though if it took a while, it wouldn't be of any surprise to the harpy as the stallion rarely complied with anyone aside himself. As he watched Aubrey round the corner, with the beast on his heels constantly thrusting it's knees at the man's back, he arched a brow as the boy was rather well at keeping out of the horses reach. Kayao's eyes fell onto the stableman's hair, looking over the unkempt looking bit for a while, before his attention was brought back to the rest of the man. Watching the event of Aub pulling the beast's head down, and seeing the animal calm caused a look of brief confusion on the harpy's face.

Hopping from the fence as his wings pulled up to fold at his hips, he walked toward the man and horse. Approaching slowly, letting a hand run over the stallion's side as it let out a soft grunt of content from the harpy's touch. Even though he tried, he couldn't keep his eyes off Aubrey's hair, a faint grin holding the corners of his lips. "Popular style with your people?" He asked with a laugh as he turned his eyes to Aub's, his heterochromatic eyes scanning over every freckle in the man's irises.

Aubrey stopped as the harpy approached, recognizing him as the warhorse's master. "Popular style with your horse." Aubrey retorted instantly, hazel eyes meeting Kayao's mismatched ones without hesitation. He assessed the other man quickly, then added, "I thought I might do his mane that way, seeing as he likes it so much." Another lopsided grin accompanied this, as he willing handed the reins to Kayao, assuming he was here to ride.

Letting out a burst of laughter, he looked up at the horse while running a hand over it's mane. "As if the poor thing wasn't so out of place as it is, that might make him more.. unruly." Looking back to the man's extended hand, he arched a brow before smiling to Aub for a moment with a slight shake of his head. "As much as I do enjoy my time with this fine beast, it seems that you are far more fit for controlling him then the previous rider." He said as he ran a hand along the warhorse's neck, rubbing over it's snout with his other hand. "Not to mention, I've never seen him calm so quickly for anyone aside myself." Speaking softly as he looked into the stallion's eyes, before smiling back to Aubrey giving the man his full attention. "So it looks like you just earned yourself a promotion."

Aub's head jerked around as he returned his gaze to Kayao. The description 'horrified' would not have been far off the mark. This was not the next sort of promotion he was hoping for. "Scuse me, Sir," he said, hastily tacking on the 'Sir', "But I'm not a very good rider. Surely the training boys have much better luck with that." A half truth- for his dislike of riding had nothing to do with his skills at it.

"If you could keep him so calm when not on his back, I have no doubts that you wont end up like the others." Kayao spoke as he watched the other's expression. Hiding a slight smile as he ran a hand along the horse's side, patting the warhorse a few times before he walked around the horse fully checking it's grooming. "Besides, you're young. Even if Piruz managed to throw you, I am sure your spine wouldn't shatter as easily as the previous riders." Chuckling softly as he said this, he smiled to Aubrey before patting his shoulder. "I think, you'd be better off doing this for a while." He said as he began to make his way back to the fence. "I am quite sure if you can master Piruz, you will have no problems taking charge of the stables." Smirking to himself as he hopped back up onto the fence, he lay his hands out in front of himself signalling Aub to display his skills with the horse.

Aubrey listened helplessly as the man talked. Young? I'll show you young, you wretched bird. Aubrey grouched mentally, keeping his tongue in his teeth to ward off any un-stable boy like comments. "As you say, Sir." he mumbled as the harpy walked off to the fencing. Aub flicked his eyes around the ring, noticing that the other horses being exercised had surreptitiously been guided out of the ring. Their riders were now perched around the ring in clumps, much like Kayao was. Aub caught the flash of coin as it changed hands. Great. He thought dismally, Theyre betting how long til he tramples me into the dust. He looked askance at the horse, who merely snorted at him. "Well then lets ruin their bets, huh?" he murmured softly to Piruz, a smoldering look in his hazel eyes.

Aubrey shunned the mounting block, leaping into the saddle from the ground before the horse even realized what he was trying. This was a feat in itself, for the 18 hand high warhorse was no child's pony. From the moment Aubrey settled into the saddle, the onlookers were forgotten and ignored. Aubrey was not the only one concentrating. Piruz had laid his ears flat, unsure of himself. The training boys were skittish, easily thrown and frightened- and he, like all warhorses, was trained to only respond to one master. But there was a man on his back now that felt like a master, a man who had bested all his stable tricks without a touch of the lash. Grateful as he was for that kindness, he was still a warhorse- and there was his true master, on the railing.

Piruz half reared, and almost instantly charged forward to come to a sudden halt, the motion meant to crack the human's nose against his neck. But no such impact came, and the reins still held tight, telling him to turn to the right. Piruz swung left, his hooves pounding the sand as he raced around the track, then bucked, his powerful hindquarters trying to toss the man over his head, where Piruz could proceed to stomp on him, this impudent two-legged. But the weight stayed in the saddle- and there came that insistent tug to the right. Piruz let out a ear-piercing scream, the whinny of a stallion fighting. He whipped himself around in tight circles, dizzying the man who rode him, and tried again, rearing up and then bucking repeatedly. Still the man stayed, pulling his head to the right. Pirez was breathing hard, now, his eyes showing white as they roved the ring. Then suddenly he leapt forward again, the sand whipping behind him as he churned it up. The fence, the fence. He felt the tugging on his reins to stop, but had taken the bit in his teeth and was stopping for noone. This would get that pest off his back. Wood splintered as Piruz turned his body sideways at the last moment, smashing Aubrey's leg into the fencing. He bucked then, sure the human would go flying.

As the dust settled, horse and rider became clear next to the warped fence. Piruz's legs were splayed, his head down, exhausted. But Aubrey, head down, teeth gritted against the pain, still sat firmly in the saddle. There was a stunned hush around the ring as the rider lifted his head. Glaring defiance at all and sundry, Aubrey sat panting, then tugged to the right. Piruz moved right.

Keeping his eyes locked on the pair, the harpy watched as Aubrey attempted to give Piruz an order. The warhorse's response was nothing less then what Kayao had expected. With every outburst from the beast, he kept his eyes on Aub with interest as he never once even broke the same expression of concentration. Running a hand along the underside of his chin as he rest his head in a hand, his wings returning to their regular exercise of drooping before pulling back up to the harpy's waist. Turning his head slightly as Piruz made a break for the fence Kayao had set a hand on the railing, expecting the horse's next move and supporting himself as to not be knocked down by the shock wave that would result from the war horse slamming the rider's leg into the post.

Arching a brow as the dirt cleared from the air, a small grin crept onto his face as he watched Aubrey, still unbroken in his task, and the horse finally followed the order it was given. In the back of Kayao's head he gave himself a small pat on the back and made a mental note to get Piruz's new caretaker the best healer the empire had at it's disposal. He would indeed need Aubrey at his very best if he were to continue and become the honorable, and second master of the harpy's battle companion.

Aubrey guided Piruz to the corral's gates, then swung his undamaged leg over the saddle. He scowled so ferociously at the stableboy who came up to assist him that the kid backed off, nervously blending back into the crowd of stablehands who were half applauding and still half stunned. Piruz, for his part, had grudgingly accepted this strange man as a sort of stand-in for Kayao. Aubrey sucked in his breath as he hit the ground, his right leg refusing to take his weight. Another boy came forward as Aubrey stumbled, again Aubrey refused his help, throwing an arm instead around Piruz's neck. Still pointedly ignoring those who'd betted on failure, man and stallion left the ring.

Aubrey spared a glance for the harpy alone, wondering silently to himself if he'd passed that man's test- for it had been nothing less, and he knew it. Aubrey continued then, limping along as Piruz supported most of his weight. "Carrots," he murmured quietly out of the side of his mouth, "Carrots and sugar cubes if you just dont drop me on my ass right now." Piruz nickered softly, lipping at the man's shirt. "After we get back to your stall you big bully." Piruz seemed satisfied by this, and the odd pair disappeared into the stable.

Once out of immediate sight, Aubrey leaned much more heavily on the warhorse, and his expression cleared, pain becoming the dominant emotion. Why couldnt Kitiara ever pick a good ol' abyssal city? One where he could be himself? Because that was never the point, he reminded himself with a sigh. There was something here she wanted, as usual, and it probably had to do with a book. Aub gave a weak chuckle, shrugging. It was never boring, tracking her around the kingdoms at least. Aubrey halted next to Piruz's stall, considering a moment. Awkwardly half-hopping around the animal, he removed the bridle, slipping Piruz's halter on so he could hook a crosstie to him, preventing any sudden escape plans. That done, Aub sank down on a tack chest, exhausted. He had no intention of stabling Piruz without cleaning him off, though- the horse's flanks were flecked with sweat and he was covered in dust.

But.. in a moment. Aub fished a fairly squashed apple from his pocket, nabbed that morning out of the kitchens. He offered the tidbit to Piruz, who stood happily munching his treat while Aub leaned back against the stable wall, turning his attention to his leg. Well, it was broken, no doubt about that. He moved it carefully, hissing in pain as he lightly ran his hand over the mangled limb, finding the second break. Well, no help for it, he'd have to find a healer somewhere - and fast, too, before his body's natural healing process took over and he was left to explain it.

After watching the crowd clear, Kayao hopped from the fence, walking over to the damaged posts and running a hand along them. Looking up at the castle, he could see a guard watching him. Patting the wood plank, the man in the tower nodded and turned from the window. Knowing someone was on their way to repair the fence, he casually strolled over to the stable's gate and waltzed in. As he approached Piruz's stall, he peeked his head around the corner and looked at Aubrey. Smiling faintly as he rest his head against the wall, eyeing the man's leg as the other self diagnosed. "A surgeon is on their way, he should be here shortly." He said as he walked into the stall, leaning over to examine Aub's leg himself, poking at it. He could feel the breaks without doing more then grazing the skin, hoping his new friend wasn't too tender at the moment. "I'll also call for a few men to do the rest of your work for the day.." Speaking as he straightened out. "And have you assigned lesser quarters in the castle." Offering a hand and arm for the other to lean on. "And I do hope you take me up on an offer, while I am guilty of putting your well being through a large risk, it's never enjoyable. Whatever your poison, I'm sure I can get a good dose to help.. repress this certain event."

Aubrey lifted his head to blink at the other man, studiously looking over his shoulder as the man poked his leg. That hurt, blast it. He smiled weakly at the news of a surgeon coming. Good good.. Other men? Aubrey's eyes tracked to the stallion, whuffling around his hooves for any missed bits of apple. Funny, but the damn horse smashing his leg seemed to have affected his brain, because he could have sworn the horse had snickered at that comment. Aubrey looked back to Kayao, banishing evil horses and their unlucky riders from his mind as he took the others hand to lever himself up. "Well, sir," he tone rather wry, "If its all the same to you, I'd like to know what you intend on promoting me to this time." His eyes crinkled at the edges, the by-now familiar grin appearing a moment later.

Lifting nearly all of the man's weight with ease, he began to slowly move to the end of the stables. As the two of them walked out, three men walked past them into the stables with rather malicious glances. Simply smiling to them as they grunted their hellos, he looked up to the castle after they had passed. Arching a brow as the other spoke, he let out a soft chuckle. "Flattery will get you everywhere. Though I don't think you seem to fully understand the gravity of my title." Speaking as he helped the man to the castle's door, leading Aubrey in as the guards posted at the doors opened the doors to let them in, closing them behind the two men leaving them alone in the main foyer. Helping the other sit, he looked around for a moment before looking down to the other. "To put it simple, I have more pull around here then more then half the blue bloods in charge." Stretching his wings for a moment, expanding them to their full thirteen foot span before folding neatly at his waist. "Besides, most other's who took such a blow from Piruz were nothing less then.. dead weight for me to drag off the field. I'm curious to see how you'd handle an immortal.."

Though rare in human kingdoms, it happened sometimes as now, that Aub would meet an individual he genuinely liked. Without batting an eyelash, Aubrey continued his small coverups, though he always would wish to meet this man as his equal, rather than his groom. "You'd be right there, Sir, I'm not a native here- and I havent bothered much with all the fancy names." Though Aubrey, unlike Kit, had known the native tongue before arriving (courtesy of a traveling shaman once), this was true. Aub couldnt resist languages, but he spoke all of them with a very hard to place accent, almost lyrical at times. And he tended to care not a single whit for chains of command.

As he eased himself into the chair Aubrey kept his gaze steady on Kayao, only a thin crease in his brow showing discomfort at the moment. What immortal? I am NOT fighting- hold on, arent they all extinct anyways? Aubrey's eyes reflected nothing of these particular thoughts, glossing over it as if he hadnt noticed. "I might not like riding, but my whole.. family.. are great horsefolk. I used to help break in the unruly ones."

The harpy's ear twitched from the other's words, as he crouched down in front of the other. Elbows resting on his knees, he looked up at the other as his head cocked to the side. He was never very comfortable in most forms of seating that he had encountered in his life, as they leave very little room for extra limbs. "Seeing as we haven't been formally introduced, I suppose we should get it out of the way." He said as he smiled to Aubrey, his smile seemed like that of an innocent looking up to an idol. "I am Kayao, Forerunner of the Airborne Battalion representing the Persian Royal Guard. Though I do insist upon friends to refer to me as simply Kayao, or for those with a lazy tongue, Kay." Shifting lightly, his wings crossed behind him forming something of a feathered chair to support most of the harpy's weight. "However, 'bird', or any other form of the word, does not suit me very well, and I tend to take it as an invitation to display my.. talons." He seemed to chew on his tongue when bird was spit from his mouth. With a laugh he motioned to the guards over his forearms, which unknown to Aubrey, housed a foot long double sided blade respectfully. "What do you wish to be called, and where is it you are from? I've never seen anyone built to take such a blow in stride." He questioned as he watched the other.

Aubrey listened carefully, his own thoughts whirring as he did. How much to tell? Kit wasnt here yet- this game was his own still. He grinned at Kayao's dislike of being called bird.. How about i call you sparrow? Although this made him want to say it more. He often got in trouble with his own 'family' for this. He simply laughed at most of life (and most of the people in it), where those around him tried to bring lifes twists under their control. It made him a great leader of his own kind, but also a frustrating one. You wouldnt believe me if I told you who I was... Aub thought with a tinge of amusement.

"Just simply Aubrey suits me fine." He responded after a beat of silence, "I come from lands to the north- cold lands with none of this simpering about in silks." The last comment was rueful, his eyes following a dissapearing skirt at the far end of the hall. What he didnt add, was that when he came from was simply eons ago. He was older even than his little wraith queen, and that was saying something. With age came power for him and his kin, and he had quite a bit of both.

Aubrey's brow knitted as his leg twinged. He hoped whoever Kayao had sent got here soon- there was only so much time before he couldnt stop his own healing. (The fact that he could delay it at all was impressive.)

Kayao listened quietly, as the other spoke. Never having been to the north, or anywhere that experienced snow, it was very intriguing. He wanted to ask questions about the cold, if this man had even ever been in snow, but knew that such were the actions of a child and it was a discussion best saved for a place that he wasn't being held to a standard. Noticing Aubrey's eyes trailing for a moment, his ear twitched as he quickly picked up on the other's sights. "Very well, Aubrey, I am sure you will find a comfort in the warmth and heat waves alike. I am normally at my best when all other's are nearly fainting from heat exhaustion." Chuckling as he spoke, he stood and rest his hands on his hips as he heard a door nearby opening. Turning his head as we watched a woman pass through, headed for Aubrey and Kayao the harpy arched a brow. Smiling to the female, he waved slightly without raising his hand above his chest to the girl. "This is Afareen, she's a healer exclusive to the royal family." Speaking as he put some space between the two of them, seeming to take the form and posture he would while in the Persian court.

The woman, dressed in robes trimmed with golden silk, smiled to Aubrey as she approached the two. Kneeling in front of Aubrey, she ran a hand over the wounded leg. Trailing her hands lightly, she could feel the two broken areas. "من استخوانهارابه سوی خطآرام خواهم کرد." Kayao nodded slightly, as he took another step back before speaking to Afareen. "اویک بست احتیاج خواهدداشت?" The woman shook her head, before smiling and winking to the harpy. "آن خردمندنیست که کسی ازمهارتم شک دارد." Kayao wore an expression close to both shame and sickness, before nodding once more. "خیلی خوب بهترینتان راانجام می دهد." Afareen held Aubrey's leg in place before quickly jutting her other hand against the bone. Pushing the broken bone into alignment, she said something in a hushed voice. Any pain that might have been felt was eased, along with the reduction of swelling. While the healers of the empire were said to be gifted, it was never believed until one was treated by such a healer. Of course, the chances of a commoner, or someone outside the royal family would never be graced with such an opportunity.. they were left to their fate.

"I like the heat alright," Aubrey smiled slightly before adding wryly, "Its your intense sun I'm finding hard on the eyes." Aubrey's easy-going tangent came to a quiet halt as the lady entered. Aub arched an eyebrow at Kayao's instant increase of formality, looking back at the approaching woman with a bit more interest. Enough status to make even the harpy straighten up! Aub laughed to himself inwardly, and his eyes crinkled slightly as they did when he found something amusing. He watched their exchange quietly.

They both used a slightly altered form of the land's common tongue, and Aubrey guessed it was the variant spoken by Royalty and their court. He had trouble with a few of the words, but on the whole followed their conversation easily. As the woman kneeled at his feet Aub's hands balled themselves into fists on the arms of the chair he was sitting in. And as she bent to her task, his eyes fixated on a point above her shoulder.

While there was pain, Aub's face stayed carefully blank, looking off to the right. As she uttered soft words though, he looked back at them both, the relief palpable in his voice and posture, which had instantly slumped back into the chair. His bones knit under her touch- and if she was paying attention, she would have found it unusual that his wounds hadnt fought healing at all, almost as if they were trying to on their own."That feels a lot better, I thank you." Aub said to Afareen, looking down at her, wondering if she had known what she healed.

Afareen smiled up to Aubrey and bowed slightly, before turning on her heel and walking away from the two of them. They had actually disrupted her from a current job, but Kayao's requests usually took the same priority as the Emperors. The harpy smiled to the woman as she left, nodding his head to her before looking back to Aubrey. "She's very good with broken limbs, not so much with people." He said as he stretched his wings, grinning at the other's relaxation. "I've had to call on her many times, in my first few years, she was fixing up multiple breaks on myself at least four to five times a week." Chuckling softly as he rubbed the back of his head, his ears twitching as more and more footsteps could be heard. It was nearing nightfall and he placed his hands on his hips as it slowly dawned on him that it was growing close to the time of the nightly court gathering.

Looking about the room, which was beginning to fill slowly with people coming and going, some staying as they mingled with friends or superiors. Never being fond of crowds, Kayao's wings shuddered and his feathers became messy and flared out slightly. Seeing one of few men above himself, Kayao motioned for Aubrey to follow him. "Ah, shall we show you to your new living quarters?" He smiled as he held an arm towards the east corridor, inching his way towards the exit as he seemed to stick out rather violently among the growing congregation. Not that he wished to rush his new friend onto his feet after only just being healed, but he would rather get Aubrey and himself in a secluded room before the harpy had to spend a number of hours doing what would easily be called 'verbal paperwork' over Aub's advancements with his superior.

Aubrey's eyebrows lifted at Kayao, but he didnt comment as he stood to his feet. Gingerly he hopped onto his right leg, and grinned widely when it gave no trouble. Aub followed Kayao out, watching many people out of the corners of his eyes as they exited the hall. "I have to live in the palace?" there was a definite odd note to the way he phrased that, as if it was more of a chore than a privilege. He moved at an easy loping pace as he followed Kayao through the halls, marking the turns on a mental map.