Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

Aleth brushed aside the first question. He tended not to share any valuable information about himself unless truly pressed for it.

"We eat many fruits and vegetables," Aleth answered. Well, now, anyway. He didn't eat much of anything when he was a child. "I've found great luck with my garden. But I also keep a small flock of fowl and enjoy eggs and poultry on occasion. I, unfortunately, don't branch out to red meats often, but it's such a delight when I'm able to partake."

Ky politely waited with her hands in her lap, carefully balancing her gazes between the Lord and Lady of the estate, making sure she didn't stare at either -- but still paying close attention to them.

The servants began to cut the meat and circle the table serving and offering as they went.
"Fowl is fine," Tarr said dismissively. "It's more a woman's meat, though. Red meat is what you want if you want to stay strong. It's tough, juicy." He picked up a slab of meat he'd been given and tore into it eagerly, ignoring the dates and dried asparagus he's also been served. Lyra picked up her silverware and began to eat delicately, keeping her gaze well away from her husband, whose beard was greasy with juices now.

Aleth refused the impulse to purse his lips at Tarr's response, or to shoot back that Aleth had better things to do with his time than wander around the woods hoping he'd stumble upon something to kill.

He served himself, glancing over at Ky in silence. She kept her face impassive, but it was clear that he was as alert as he expected of her. He turned his head back to Tarr. "Of course. Is boar among your favorite meats, then?"

"Nearly as good as elk. It's hardy, certainly." He tugged a bit of gristle out of his teeth. "The best thing I've come across is the cow they breed down in the Southern Realm. You can sink your teeth right into it."
Lyra glanced at her husband, then tentatively looked to Ky.
"How are you finding Fangholm, sir?" she asked. Her voice was a shrill, clear soprano, though she kept it barely above a whisper.

"I'll have to make sure I try that the next time my business takes me down that way," Aleth answered, deciding to keep Tarr rambling as much as he could, in hopes that Ky would actually learn something valuable from Lyra. "Do you travel that way frequently?"



Ky forced herself to stay impassive, posture relaxed but professional. There was a lot of nonverbal communicating going on in the room, and it was taking much of her attention to keep track of it all. Down to Tarr's disgusting dining habits.

And then Lady Tarr spoke to her. Ky took a deep breath. She didn't particularly want to have Tarr looming over her when she tried to speak to Lyra -- who knew what might bruise his fragile ego -- but this was her opportunity.

"The Tarr estate is the most beautiful one that I've had the pleasure to behold," she answered respectfully, also keeping her voice soft. "I'm sure you both must be very proud of it. And your hospitality is unmatched, my lady."

"Rarely. My merchants go down there to move and collect cargo, but I can't abide the heat. It's no wonder the Southerners wander around half naked," he scoffed. "I prefer layers, myself. More protection that way."

Lyra gave a tiny nod. "It is quite imposing, isn't it? I nearly fainted when I first arrived. My father's Keep isn't nearly as big as this one." She bit into a piece of dried fruit and chewed daintily.

"There does tend to be more security in being well-clothed, doesn't there?" Aleth agreed, even though he didn't agree at all. He'd rather wander around completely naked than spend another hour out in this damnable cold. But, he couldn't very well his host's country, could he?



Ky glanced at Lord Tarr. She couldn't disagree with his sentiments any more vehemently than she did in that moment. Her binder was uncomfortable enough to have to keep on -- she didn't want to be bundled up and have to waddle around to stay warm. But, she wasn't a part of that conversation. And thankfully, Lady Tarr was giving her a far less controversial topic to discuss.

"Oh?" Ky asked encouragingly. "What's it like back at your father's home?"

"Noisy." Lyra wrinkled her nose; the first proper expression she'd shown. "I have many siblings, and my parents like to talk and sing. But it's beautiful there. Bright."

"Exactly. It's no wonder they can't defend themselves from slavers, dressed like that." Tarr shrugged. "But then, that just means profit. I've made plenty of money in the South, more so than the East. That damnable war makes it hard to do anything over there."

"Oh, I've found quite a lot prosperity in the East," Aleth answered with a smirk. "Peace isn't as profitable when you're in my line of work."



"Do you like to sing?" Ky asked, giving her an encouraging smile. It was taking far less work to get Lyra to open up than she'd expected, which was nice.

"Our careers are quite different," Tarr pointed out, chewing on another morsel. "You deal in information." Speaking of information, he realized he'd been a bit talkative with this man so far. Talking was dangerous in such a time as this. On the other hand, Tarr was confident he could throttle Aleth if he ever suspected the man was going to sell something about him. It was simple.

"No," Lyra replied simply. "I'm no good at it."

"They are." Aleth inclined his head. Aleth's career was actually useful, and interesting, and required skill. Tarr just growled at people and mistreated his wife and slaves. "Luckily, that's what makes our skills so complementary to one another.



"You don't have to be good at something to enjoy it," Ky answered gently, adding playfully. "I'm fairly certain a musician would sob if he heard my singing voice, but I still quite like to do it."

Lyra gave her a wan smile in return. "I like to hear my father sing, that's all."

"Indeed." Without warning, Tarr slammed his fist down on the table, shaking the sturdy wooden structure. Lyra paled, and the entire room went quiet. Then, settling himself, Tarr picked up his food and started eating again, glaring at the wall opposite him. Lyra, trembling, fixed her gaze back on her food quickly, saying no more.

It took every speck of self-control that Ky had to keep her expression neutral. She looked down at her plate until she was certain that there were no hints of anger in her eyes, even though her rage still burned hot. There were few things in life she hated more than men who bullied those who were less powerful than they were.

Particularly when the girl looked substantially younger than Ky was herself. Ky had been forced to grow up swiftly at a young age. Which made her all the more adamant that others shouldn't have their childhoods stripped of them.

Aleth let an uncomfortable silence pass, waiting for Tarr to recover from his outburst. He wasn't quite sure what it was about Lyra's words that had set him off. Was his ego threatened by Loquitur? Or the fact that Lyra clearly held her father in admiration, where she seemed to merely tolerate Tarr.

"Well, I for one am quite looking forward to learning more about your career," he answered brightly, as if nothing had happened. "I'm always so intrigued by the roles other men hold in this world."

"You keep your mouth shut," Tarr growled. "You'll have nothing from me. I know your tricks, word-peddler." He looked up at a slave standing near the doorway. "Music!" he snapped, and the slave hurried away. "We have fine musicians here," Tarr informed Aleth, still baring his teeth. "They'll play any instrument. Name one."
Laura's fingernails were digging into her palms; she touched nothing on her plate now.

Ky watched in silence as Tarr's temper tantrum continued. She, of course, wasn't going to speak, no matter how much her heart longed to whisk Lyra away to comfort her. He was nothing but a bully. He needed to die. And she almost wanted Aleth to make it happen.

Ky glanced at Aleth, wondering how he was going to respond to Tarr's disrespect. Aleth kept his gaze impassive, brushing aside his comments. "I'm quite fond of lyres, myself."