Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

Gaius's sleep was restless, as it usually was. He woke up once in the middle of the night from a dream in which Michael had chased him into his little alcove behind the stairs, but when he turned to kick out in defense it was Tomhas's face he saw. Sara had been deep in slumber so he hadn't woken her, curling back under the covers and taking deep breaths until he could force himself back to sleep.
The next morning he awoke aching and bleary-eyed to a bed that was twice as full as it had been when he went to sleep.
"We had a nightmare," Marcella whispered as he stirred beside her, and Mattathias's head popped into view.
"Mum isn't awake yet," he added. "Will you tell us a story?" Gaius rubbed his eyes and sat up, still half-asleep as he regarded the twins.
"If you like," he yawned. "What would you like to hear about?"
"Tell us about when you and Uncle Tomhas snuck out to capture an Iron-spider," Mattathias said eagerly. Marcella wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
"No, tell us about Ljos and Myrka!" Mattathias's green eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he nodded quickly. Gaius leaned back against the headboard, exhaling warm air into the cool room.
"Ljos and Myrka, hm? You've heard that one so many times."
"Let's hear it again!" Marcella urged.

(oops, sorry! totally missed the notif for this >.<)

Pratik was stiff when he woke the next morning. He hadn't moved the entire night and woke still staring straight at the ceiling. No one had come into his cell during the night, so that was something. And, this was technically a room and not a proper cell, so that was something else. Even though the air was still frigid and his nose hurt.

He sat up and tightened the dagger again, then sat up and slid his coat back on. Then he crossed his legs and pulled the blanket across his lap, then patiently waited for someone to come fetch him.

He assumed Lord Ash was going to take some time to think through the information he'd brought to him before he decided what to do with Pratik. But it was anyone's guess whether he'd see the lord again, or if he'd have one of his cronies come to pay Pratik and kick him outside of the keep again. It didn't particularly matter either way.

Sure, he'd be pissy if he'd come all the way through this godsforsaken cold just for Ash to turn him away. But at the very least he'd made a fair wage for his troubles, and he could make a bee line to Loquitur to make the same offer to him. Ash was sorely mistaken if he thought Pratik wouldn't -- or couldn't -- find his secrets to sell to Loquitur just the same as he'd done for him. He was an asset, and he didn't care whose asset he'd be, as long as he was paid well for his efforts.

He leaned his head back and waited patiently to see what was to come.

Gaius's children gathered around him as he began to speak in a slow, soft voice he reserved only for storytelling. The story of the gods Ljos and Myrka was a favorite of theirs, and Gaius had loved it just as much when he was a boy and his nursemaid told it to him. It was the tale of the beginning of light and dark: Ljos and Myrka had once been two gods so in love that they were merged together into one brilliant being. But one day a jealous breeze came along and wreaked havoc on their domain, blowing apart houses and freezing livestock where they stood. Ljos and Myrka were hard-pressed to fix all that happened, and they found themselves dividing to help where they could. The breeze took advantage of this and stole Myrka away, locking her in a cave miles and miles below the ground. Ljos looked everywhere for her, taking the form of a brown bear to search all of Jordheim, but she could not find Myrka. The world went blind for a hundred years with the radiance of Ljos's pain until at last Froenig, the god of justice, came to the jealous breeze and asked it to free Myrka.
"You may have Myrka," the breeze hissed. Gaius always did a breathy whisper for the voice of the breeze that caused Mattathias and Marcella to squirm with terrified elation. "You may have her, provided she never become one with Ljos again. She is mine to have and to hold, for I have married her beneath the ground and marriage is a binding contract." Froenig could not argue with this, and he returned to Ljos with the news. Ljos was devastated. She could not exist without her love for much longer, for she was fading with each day, leaving the world gray and empty of light.
But Myrka was a crafty god, and she had found a crack leading up to the surface. In the light of day she could not show herself as more than a shadow, but at night or in places where the sun could not reach she would rise in the form of darkness.
"Ljos and Myrka cannot exist without each other," Gaius finished. "Light and dark are inseparable. But they can risk only the briefest of touches before the jealous breeze comes winding and howling back to keep his bride with him." He slid out of bed. "And now, I must tend to some business." Mattathias and Marcella began to whine protests, and Sara stirred. Both went still, cheeks coloring with embarrassment.
"Don't go," Marcella whispered. "It's still early!"
"The earlier I'm up, the more I get done," Gaius replied, taking up his cane and limping to the wardrobe. "Back to your rooms, little ones. Your mother needs her rest. Regulus will wake her up in a moment." The toddler was still asleep in the nursery, but Gaius had no doubt he would begin wailing as soon as the light from the window hit the cradle. The moment his children had departed, he began to dress and prepare for the day. It was time to speak at length with his visitor.

Pratik was glad that he was easily entertained. He'd spent many a long hour waiting in silence for his moment to strike -- and even more locked away in dungeons, back when he hadn't been particularly good at what he did.

It left him with the ability to enjoy his own company. Or, at least, tolerate it without being too annoyed that he was left without anything to do. He closed his eyes, head still leaning against the wall, and imagined the warmth of the South on his face when he reclined on the beaches and listened to the waves crashing against the shore.

Several minutes later, the door of the cell opened and Captain Bay entered. He was a tall, square man with sharply cut brown hair and a neat goatee, and his eyes were a cold, flat black. He regarded Pratik in silence for a moment before stepping to the side. "Lord Ash will see you now," he said. "You'll take breakfast together in the same room as before." Two guards were with him, and they looked far more competent than the ones from last night.

Pratik opened his eyes as he heard the key in the lock, and lifted his head to look at the man who strode in. He was the same one following Ash around last night -- and then sent to fetch him today. Must be one of Ash's favorite dogs. He'd need to learn the man's name at some point.

Pratik lithely unfolded his legs and stood up, setting the blanket off to the side as he did so. There were only two guards today, but their quality had improved dramatically. Good. It meant Ash wasn't enough of a fool to underestimate him.

He calmly walked between them, down the hall, back to the room he'd been jostled into the night before.

Gaius was already there, a platter of food in front of him. A sharp-faced woman with piercing green eyes and dark hair pulled into a tight bun was sitting beside him. Her eyes narrowed as Pratik entered, but she said nothing.
"Welcome," Gaius said with a curt smile. His cane rested across his lap, held by his damaged hand. "Please, come eat." The fish had been caught yesterday and preserved; it was fresh and done up with sweet seasoning. A bowl of berries was on either side of it and three plates with matching sets of silverware were in front of the corresponding chairs.

"Thank you." Pratik smiled as he sat, taking in as much of the setup as he could.

It intrigued him that Ash had a woman with him. Admirable, really. Women were often treated as little more than dogs, even though, he found, they tended to be the more rational and useful people that he interacted with. He often mused that they were able to have more intelligence since they were unburdened with the massive egos that filled mens' heads.

He thought about addressing her, but then realized he wasn't quite sure if he was Ash's wife or not -- even though he couldn't imagine who else she might be -- but he wasn't willing to come across as ignorant if she happened to be someone else.

So, instead, he looked to Ash. "Did you sleep well, your lordship?"

Not my lord. Pratik didn't have a lord. He served himself and that was enough, he couldn't be bothered to pretend to have allegiance to any men who acted like he owned him.

"Well enough." Gaius cut himself a slice of fish and added a few berries, then poured gravy over the assembly. "I trust you did as well?" He expected not; the cells here weren't famous for being comfortable. Beside him, Sera was watching Pratik carefully. Sometimes Gaius wondered why he didn't turn everything over to her; she had the head for politics and morals far better than his own.

"Yes, thank you," Pratik answered.

Well enough, anyway. He couldn't remember the last time he truly slept well. He always felt on edge -- and made sure he could wake up at the drop of a pin. Because he'd had plenty of experience with needing to keep himself from being stabbed half a second after he heard a footstep approaching.

He politely waited to serve himself. "It was an appreciated break from the weather."

Gaius nodded in agreement as Sera served herself. She gave him a light nudge under the table, and he picked up his fork. "I can imagine. I've spent more than my fair share of nights under the stars here, and I can't say it was pleasant. Nearly got frostbite a few times." Gaius cut himself a tiny sliver from his slice of fish and ate it. Immediately he had the urge to spit it back out, but he showed no sign of discomfort, chewing it carefully into nonexistence.

"Alas, the things we must do for our jobs sometimes." Pratik smiled and gladly served himself then tore into the fish, grateful for a second warm meal so shortly after his first. He'd of course made fires as he stopped for rests, but his jerky was almost non-existent at this point, and the rabbits he found to kill were few and far between. And unseasoned. The berries were a luxury, and it took all his self-control not to be greedy with them.

He smiled at the woman. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance? I'm Pratik Chrenko."

"Sera," she replied simply, not returning the smile.
"I've decided to take you up on your further offer," Gaius said conversationally. "If only to keep you away from my brother. You said five thousand clappers was your rate?" He knew Sera had no intention of talking to Pratik, and he preferred it that way. She was his secret-keeper, same as Sara was. The less they spoke to Pratik, the better. Another nudge and he ate another sliver of fish, swallowing painfully.

Pratik eyed her a moment longer, still not quite sure if she was the lady of the keep or not. He knew Ash's wife was named Sara, but something still felt a bit off. And, his mentor always said: You know what happens when you assume things? It makes an ass outta you 'n me

"My offer of entering into your service?" Pratik clarified. "Or my offer of giving your Reeve a fighting chance?"

Surely, the man didn't think Pratik's long-term cost was a measly 5,000... did he? Pratik took another bite, relishing the sweetness of the berries.

"Both. I'm prepared to offer you twenty thousand for your service and discretion for the duration of the war. Another ten thousand for every unfabricated threat you directly assist in resolving." Much, much more than his work was worth, Gaius expected. But it was better to be penniless and safe than rich and dead.