Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

(We could skip to Pratik returning to Ash? Or we could flip back to Aleth/Tarr? I don’t particularly have more to add for Pratik rn tbh, I feel like he’s fairly well introduced)

No preference! We could do a thing where every time we skip (unless necessary) we alternate plotlines)

Sounds perfect!! I'm gonna be busy the rest of the afternoon so if you wanna go back to Tarr feel free I have no more plans for Aleth before they meet up again

(Alrighty! I'll write that up once I dry off from walking my dog in the rain)

Tarr awoke early the morning Loquitur and the Barrasters were to arrive and went about his usual routine: waking up Lyra, having a quick bite to eat before breakfast, exercising, then checking over his hounds in the kennel. He kept an eye out for either of Aleth's servants; he was sure they would be watching him, trying to gather information about him. He would be glad when he was no longer hosting that trio. Aleth annoyed and unsettled him, and he didn't like that Lyra had spoken to the small man. The big, dark man, however, angered Tarr the most. It was an unspoken requirement that his servants were smaller than he was, and Tadaaki broke that rule. Tarr had no doubt the man could snap him like a twig, and only made him more inclined to smack him around.
Of course, that wasn't possible. Tarr was supposed to be hospitable to Aleth, and beating up his servants was the opposite way to do that.

Lyra awoke when Tarr shook her. She had the servants draw her a bath later and dressed herself, then curled up in her soft armchair next to the bed with a book. Today she was going to see her father for the first time since her wedding day, and then she would tell him everything that had happened and he would take her home with him.
That was what she told herself over and over again as she stared at the text in the book. He would have to take her away; he couldn't leave her with Tarr. He and Uncle Gaius didn't tolerate the sort of person Tarr was--why should he leave her with this monster?

Aleth looked Ky over carefully. She was put-together as carefully as he expected. He had her lift her arms to prove that her binder wouldn't be visible through the tunic she chose, then nodded, satisfied.

"Alright, Loquitur and Barraster are arriving today," Aleth said, even though he knew they both already knew that.

"Yes, sir," Ky answered.

"I want you at my side at all moments," Aleth said crisply.

This was going to be one of the more challenging things Aleth had to do as of late. He usually ensured he wasn't this wildly outnumbered. But, there was very little he could do about that just then. It was nearly certain that they'd miss some bits of body language with how many people were going to be present, but -- he hoped -- between both his and Ky's keen eyes, that they'd be able to catch all the important nonverbal communication in the room. That was the only valuable part of meetings anyway. He didn't care what people said he wanted to know what they meant.

"Yes, sir," Ky repeated.

"Get your things." Aleth nodded towards the desk. Ky shuffled past him and he looked at Tadaaki. Tadaaki wore simpler clothes than Ky or Aleth but was still obviously well taken care of. "Make friends with Loquitur's coachman."

"Yes, sir," Tadaaki rumbled.

Ky appeared at Aleth's shoulder with a folder of parchments and several sharpened pencils. He looked at her for a long moment, then sighed and nodded. "Let's go then."

Aleth reviewed the names of each of the people they'd be interacting with in his brain again and again and again as he walked down to the main entrance of the house, Ky and Tadaaki half a step behind him.

Showtime.

By the time Tarr finished his routine, breakfast had been prepared. A raven had arrived earlier stating that Lord Loquitur would be arriving alongside the Ladies Barraster within the next three hours.
Tarr, feeling sour, trudged into the dining hall to find the meal laid out and his wife already seated at the table. She hadn't started eating yet, but there was food on her plate. Tarr joined her at the head of the table and heaped some fish onto his own dish, then sat down and waited for his guests.
"Leave the talking to me," he grunted to Lyra. "Your father will be busy, so don't bother him." Lyra swallowed a protest and nodded.
"Yes, sir," she murmured. Tarr, sick of waiting, picked up his fork and began to eat.

Ky was never really sure whether to feel jealous of, or sorry for, Tadaaki. On one hand, she knew that he got sent away to dine in much worse accommodations and with lower quality food. On the other, he didn't have to deal with Tarr.

Oh well.

She followed Aleth into the dining hall like the obedient puppy that she was and sat down. Ready to get to work.

Aleth's gaze flicked around the room, noting -- without much surprise -- that Tarr had started eating already. He forced a smile and said brightly, "Good morning, my lord!" He inclined his head towards Lyra, though he wasn't sure if she saw. "Lady."

Lyra dipped her head imperceptibly.
"I trust you slept well," Tarr said around a mouthful of fish. "The Tapestry Room is well known for having an excellent mattress." He glanced suspiciously at Ky, then back at Aleth. "Help yourself to the meal. Lord Loquitur and the Ladies Barraster will be joining us within the next two hours." He stood by his inference that Aleth would get along with Loquitur, but he wasn't sure Loquitur would get along with Aleth. The man was soft, amiable, and was unwilling to bring him in in the first place. It wouldn't surprise Tarr if Loquitur was quieter than normal at this meeting. Tarr certainly would be. No sense in giving out free information.

"Indeed," Aleth answered, taking a seat. "You've been quite hospitable and I very much appreciate my accommodations."

He began serving himself as Ky settled in the seat next to him, further away from Tarr. Thankfully.

Aleth pushed one of the platters of food towards Ky when he finished serving himself, then looked at Tarr. "Are there any matters left you wish to discuss with me before they arrive?"

"None." Tarr swallowed and picked up a slice of fruit. "We've established a price to agree upon and that much can be taken up with Loquitur if he doesn't like it. If he does then we move on to the real business: describing what it is we want you to do at Lord Ash's and how to get you there without giving it away." It was simple enough to Tarr; Aleth would announce himself as wanting to assist Ash just the same as he was doing to them, but he would really be a double agent. There would likely be much more discussion about that, though. All three of his allies thought far slower than he did.

"Excellent." Aleth inclined his head and set to his food.

He was growing weary of Tarr. He hoped that by "you'll like Loquitur" Tarr meant "Loquitur is actually a reasonable human" -- but, it was hard to say. It was entirely possible that Loquitur's ego was even more massive than Tarr's was, since he was clearly the one in power here.

He glanced at Lyra, still wishing he could get more out of the girl. It was a pity that she seemed to be the sort of person that clammed up in the face of abuse, rather than blabbing about her heartache. He hoped Tarr would be less careful to keep Lyra on a short leash when the others were present. Maybe then he could get Ky to go talk to her.

He looked back at Tarr. "I'm quite looking forward to meeting them. I think our meeting will be profitable."

"As do I." Tarr smiled. "We'll have our meeting in the war room. Lyra, you'll go to the library til we're done. Understood?" Lyra nodded again.
"Lady Anneke won't be joining us, by the way." Tarr ate the fruit and went back to his fish. "It would appear she is with child and can't travel safely." Lyra's head shot up.
"Mother's having another baby?" she asked eagerly, then shrank away as Tarr's burning eyes turned on her.
"I just said so, didn't I?" he growled. "Don't be redundant!"

Ky wanted to punch him.

The overwhelming satisfaction she'd gotten from beating up an official's son the last time was almost worth the discipline Aleth had meted out for it. She was sure that Aleth's discipline would be far more severe if she hit Tarr so it wouldn't be worth it... or would it?

Ky looked down at his plate and pretended the blackberry was Tarr's head, then stabbed it with her fork.

Aleth watched the interaction noting, with some disappointment, that he needed Ky to be present with him in the meeting, otherwise this would be the perfect opportunity to get the girls together. He could always try to send Tadaaki, but Aleth figured he'd be more likely to intimidate her than anything.

"Congratulations to the happy couple." Aleth picked up his cup and smiled slightly. "I'm sure they must be very excited."

"No idea," Tarr said gruffly, not taking his eyes off his wife. "The news came in a letter. Seems we'll need your recorder after all since, as you say, slaves can't be trusted with such things." He could always use the apothecary, but Alexander Dalia was an unnerving man, and Tarr tried to stay as far away from him as possible. His eyes were always shifting, and his hands always seemed to be busy. He was a restless person, not someone to be trusted at all.