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Feyrahl, FurAffinity Edition

Not Without Recourse, Ch 2.5

The first week was definitely the most difficult, caring for the Orilis but Kenzie was able to tell that its health was improving greatly. Not long thereafter, she awoke one morning to see that the lizard had managed to escape its leather satchel and was perched on the top rail of her bed's foot board. It didn't seem particularly disturbed as she sat up, and even made a show of preening one of its talons-- it reminded her of a hawk with its mannerisms, but seemed to have an easier time of 'preening' with its wide snout and long, sinewy tongue.

Kenzie moved slowly about her room, going about her morning ritual while also keeping an eye on it; the Orilis occasionally glanced her way but seemed unbothered by her presence. The knock at her door caused it to fidget, wings unfurling and half-flapping several times, but it didn't seem particularly agitated, just surprised. The knock was accompanied by Cecil's voice. "Is all well, my Lady? You will be late to breakfast if you delay much longer."

Cecil's question was a pointed reminder of what she'd forgotten in her focus on her reptilian patient; Silas had brought the two of them and the little lizard back to the palace after they'd encountered the Orilis and had left the following morning-- he'd told her that they would share breakfast once he'd returned so he could check up on her progress in healing the injured animal. Since he'd returned the prior night it only made sense that breakfast would be planned for the morning. Grabbing her day coat, she made her way toward the door. "Coming, Cecil... just a mom--"

Her words were interrupted by the sound of flapping wings and, as she turned, Kenzie caught sight of the Orilis, right in time to see it fly out the window. She stared for several seconds then let out a long breath. Focusing once again on the door, she went to open it. She realized she must have worn a readable expression because Cecil noticed right away. "Is something wrong?"

She wasn't able to confirm that something was wrong, but she also couldn't admit that nothing was wrong. Kenzie instead reported on the event. "When I woke up the Orilis was doing better...and it just this moment, flew out of the window."

Cecil's ears rose up. "That is a good thing... right?"

The young woman nodded after a moment. "I would have liked to have had a chance to make sure that it was fully healed but, I suppose if it can fly then... well....... yes... yes, I suppose it is."

The Ferret offered her a subdued, encouraging smile. "I'm certain Sir Silas will be pleased to hear it."

Something about her bodyguard's uplifting expression was surprisingly effective; he did have a point. Holding her arm out to him she stepped out the door. "I suppose we should go meet the High Ranger for breakfast then and tell him the good news."

Kenzie had half-expected Cecil to recoil from her, considering his general dislike of having her seen with him in public, so she was honestly surprised when he put up no objection and took hold of her arm, securing her chamber door, and escorted her downstairs. She was further impressed when he took it upon himself to engage her in dialogue. "I hope you slept well... I know you have been worried about the Orilis and that it has cost you sleep time."

She laughed off his concern. "The worst of it was past a few days ago, but I suppose it's true-- I got up a few times every night to check on it, and make sure that it had a chance to eat and drink. Back where I come from, there aren't any flying lizards, so I had to use my knowledge of reptiles and birds."

It was one of the few times she'd talked about her world to anyone, and she was reminded of that fact when Cecil rotated his head, attention fully on her. "Oh? So you have birds, but no Orilises?"

Kenzie found herself walking a thin line; while she wouldn't mean any insult by talking about the animals from her own world, she realized that it could be taken that way if she were forced to explain that Humans were the only accepted 'people' and everything else was an animal. Rather than go into depth, she kept her answer simple. "Our reptiles are very different, yes. We don't raise Heglises to ride or Meilises to eat-- we have... different animals."

Cecil went back to looking forward. "That does indeed sound... unfamiliar."

She wasn't sure whether he could tell she was uncomfortable about that line of dialogue, or he was just not pushy when it came to specifics, but she was thankful that he let the topic drop. In Feyrahl, as far as she could tell, mammals were all 'people', while the other classes of animals like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds were not. It was a strange experience to see the tamed animals of her world walking around and talking and that their traditional roles on Earth replaced were with lizards. In retrospect, she realized that her world would probably seem just as alien.

Kenzie had seen the grand dining hall only once, so she wasn't the least bit surprised that Cecil wasn't taking her there, but she was surprised when they headed out to the courtyard rather than to the smaller dining room reserved for the castle's guests. She wasn't the least bit timid about asking about it. "Hey... Cecil? Where are we going?"

The Ferret led her toward the footpath that went to the landscaped back acres behind the palace. "Sir Silas requested breakfast with you in the garden."

Considering Silas' 'eccentricities' the breakfast location made perfect sense to Kenzie, and she let Cecil lead her to a raised stone pad surrounded by flowering shrubs. Situated on the deck was a small, intricately wrought iron table with four padded chairs; Silas was occupying one but he stood as the two approached. "Cecil... so good to see you. And you as well, my Dear. Good morning to you both."

The Human woman inclined her head in what she understood to be courtly in nature. "Thank you, Sir Silas."

Cecil led Kenzie to her chair and, pulling it out for her, waited for her to take a seat before pushing it in and stepping back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Ferret offer a respectful bow before taking a step back. The Fox stared at him for several seconds. Although his words sounded reproachful, he spoke them with a smirk. "I had enough prepared for three, Cecil... please don't be difficult."

Kenzie smirked despite herself, and gestured to the chair to her right, tapping on its back. "Come on, Cecil, you can sit right h--" Her request was interrupted in a flurry of flapping and membranous wings; an Orilis alighted on her arm as if she were a tree branch. Although she was only just starting to tell the difference between the individual members of any given reptilian species, she recognized her patient right away. She wasn't the only one.

Sitting up a little straighter, Silas quirked an eyebrow and leaned forward in his seat. "Well, well, well... what have we here?"

Remaining completely still, Kenzie glanced toward the Orilis. "She flew out of my window this morning... I figured she'd be half way back to the forest by now."

Silas tented his fingers in front of himself on the table. "Orilis are not easy to tame, my Dear, but, once they are used to civilization it is not uncommon for them to prefer it over to the wild."

A voice spoke up from behind Kenzie, catching her by surprise. It was deep, smooth, and held more than a hint of chiding sardonicism. "Quite the opposite of a certain Fox we all know, it would seem."

Cecil stood quickly and stepped to the side, bowing reflexively. "Baron Gregor."

The Manticore was just the same as Kenzie remembered him, his dark fur seemed to absorb the sunlight. He held his wings up and back, creating an eerie-looking parasol for himself to hide his face from the light, yet his surreal, red, pupilless eyes seemed to gleam regardless. Unlike when she visited him in his tower, the Baron was well-dressed in a black robe darker than his fur, into which carefully stitched silver and gold thread created fine filigree along the seams and around the cuffs and collar.

Kenzie noticed that Silas wasn't very surprised to see the Mystic, and his greeting further reinforced that fact. "Fashionably late this morning?"

Gregor circled the table like a buzzard... or perhaps a shark. He took a seat on the side opposite from the Human; despite speaking to Silas, he seemed focused on her. "Time is but a construct of the mind. Breakfast is now and I am here, thus I could not be truly considered late."

As a rather strange non sequitur, the Fox responded with "Lady Fuller has managed to heal a wounded Orilis and it seems disinclined to leave."

The Manticore raised a furry eyebrow as he adjusted the angle of his wings to further hide his face from the sun. "That is a good sign in the eyes of some. An Orilis can be seen as a powerful portent."

Having recovered from the surprise of the court Mystic joining them, Kenzie sat up a little straighter, regaining her composure. "How so?"

Silas motioned to the flying lizard, which was preening its wing membrane. "Orilises are often associated with magic. Among legends and lore, they are common companions for wizards, sorcerers, and mystics."

Baron Gregor chuckled-- despite it sounding a little sinister, Kenzie was sure that it must have been good-natured based on his follow-up quip. "Most stories say that, because an Orilis is one of the few creatures who would put up with the egocentric and elitist airs put on by most Mystics."

Although Kenzie had few interactions with the Mystic, the few times she had, Gregor had always caught her by surprise or drew on the unexpected. Realizing she had few opportunities and, based on what Silas said about wild Orilises taming easily, she took her shot to return the favor and pull one over on the Manticore. "Perhaps you should consider having this one adopt you, Baron Gregor."

Kenzie was gratified to see Gregor's red eyes wide opened and his usually-subdued mane puff out in surprise but, as quickly as the expression arose, it disappeared. A moment later, apparently already recovered, he responded with a humble bow of his head and a simple "You are too kind, Lady MacKenzie. I am honored to accept your generous gift."