The Eagle And The Nightingales

She and T'fyrr sat beside Harperus turn and turn about; sometimes they practiced their music, softly, but without the addition of the magic. Their only connection to the world outside the suite was Nob. She worried, briefly, about the Mintaks she had left. Presumably someone from Freehold would send for the twins_

But in case Tyladen didn't think of it, she finally sent Nob down to the Bronze Gate with a note for them, letting them know what had happened and that she would not be coming out today. If they were thorough, they would probably wait to see if this was a ruse, and when she didn't show up, return to Freehold on their own. Tyladen could confirm her note to them then. At any rate, they would have passed a fairly pleasant morning and afternoon in congenial surroundings paid for by Tyladen.

There were other things she would like to see him pay for, but she was unlikely to see that happen in her lifetime.

Damned Deliambrens, interfering in our lives and playing at games with us, never thinking there might be any real danger involved_after all, we're all backward barbarians, and how could we be a danger to anyone....

Then the two of them watched over their friend with care and concern, thinking no more of the outside world, until the outside world intruded on them, in the form of the King's Physician.

He did not deign to explain himself to them, nor did he pay any particular attention to them. He simply breezed past the guards and into Harperus' bedchamber, ignoring them both. While this was rude, it was not entirely unexpected, at least to Nightingale. While T'fyrr theoretically outranked a mere physician, it was only in theory, and there wasn't much T'fyrr could do if this man chose to ignore his rank and even his presence just because he was not human.

But the moment he ceased doing a simple physical examination and opened up the bag of instruments he brought, he found T'fyrr's talons clamped around his wrist.

He had reached out so quickly that Nightingale did not even see him move, only that his talons were suddenly locked around the physicians wrist.

He told me once that a Haspur can kill a deer with his hands, and a buffalo with his feet. I hope this physician cooperates. He will find it difficult to practice medicine with a broken wrist.

'What do you think you are doing?' the Haspur snarled, his beak parted in threat.

Startled, the human glanced around for help from the guards. But the guards were not disposed to interfere, at least not yet. T'fyrr hadn't done anything contrary to their orders, and Nightingale doubted that they had any idea just how much pressure those hand-claws could exert.

And if they did, they still might not interfere.

The man made an abortive move to free his wrist and discovered just how strong a Haspur's grip was. Nightingale stayed out of the way and in the background. The less she drew attention to herself, the better. Too many people already had her marked as it was; she didn't need to add the physician to the list.

Finally the man decided that answering was better than standing there with his wrist in the grip of a giant predator_although he tried to look as important as possible. That was a bit difficult, given that he was also wincing from the pain of T'fyrr's grip.

'I am going to wake him,' the physician said arrogantly.

Oh, truly? Then he is more of a fool than I took him for! Nightingale thought in surprise. If Harperus' trance had not been self-induced, it would have been very serious indeed. It might have been dangerous to Harperus to wake him_and it might have been impossible.

And even though the trance was self-induced, and therefore it was unlikely the physician could break down the wall of Harperus' will, trying to wake him could easily interfere with the self-healing process.

'And just how much do you know about the Deliambrens?' T'fyrr all but purred, dangerously. 'Have you studied Deliambren head injuries? Have you ever had a Deliambren patient before?'

'Well, no, but_' the man stuttered, surprised into telling the truth. He had probably never had anyone challenge his expertise before.

'Have you ever had any nonhuman as a patient?' T'fyrr persisted, his eyes narrowing, his voice dropping another half-octave so that the purr became a growl. 'Have you even studied nonhuman injuries?'

The man blanched and tried to bluff. 'No, but that hardly matters whe_ouch!' T'fyrr had tightened his talons on the man's wrist. Nightingale winced. Surely the bones were grinding together by now.