Shady

“Then I’d love to see it.” Ky smiled shyly. “…you had to fight spiders coming here? Personally?”

“Oh, uh—“ “YOU CAME IN AFTER I TOLD EVERYONE—“ Tasia jumped up eagerly. “Tasia!” Tadaaki said sharply, frustrated. “ Stop .” She pouted. “But-but he gotsta know Papa!”

“Yeah!” Ky grinned, then caught herself and suddenly sobered. “I-I mean… yes ma’am… if that’s okay?”

Ky returned the wave awkwardly, realizing that didn’t actually help her make her decision. She had a feeling he was going to be irritating about this, but she was going ...

Ky’s eyes went wide and she stared at her with an expression between shock and admiration.

“Uh…” She glanced at Tomhas, trying to get a feel for what he wanted her to do.

“A hammer ?! Like—?” She made a gesture like she was holding an ordinary everyday hammer that was easily held in one hand.

“No preference here!” Aashi said with a grin and a shrug, striding towards the table as she glanced at Tadaaki to see if he had a preference, but he just ...

Ky grinned, matching her energy. Then realized that the armory probably involved the barracks and soldiers and sobered. But. Well. If she was with a noble then the soldiers wouldn’t ...

“I’m honestly not even really sure what the options are, ma’am.”

“Please!” Aashi hesitated. “Or… uh… I could move? Since you’ve got your kids and all that…”

Ky grinned at the idea, then hesitated, not at all sure what her emotions were doing. How dare she abuse the kindness of this kind woman? A noble? For shame.

“Yes ma’am.” Ky nodded, weirdly not sure whether she was relieved or disappointed at not getting lessons. “That’s probably best. I only got out of the sling on promises to ...

Tadaaki was sitting at the table watching Tasia play with the other kids, finally starting to release some of the embarrassment that came as he had to explain that no, ...

“Um… I mean… it only hurts a little now,” she said, rubbing her ribs despite herself. “He broke a couple but I think they’re more or less healed now… I ...