Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

Ky rushed into Aleth's room without knocking. Aleth looked up -- confused at first -- then his brow darkened in an instant. She shut the door behind herself as Aleth stood and swiftly walked towards her.

"I'm sorry!" she looked at him desperately.

"What did you do?" he snarled. He was going to kill her. There was nothing that flustered Ky this badly, except for himself. She'd fucked up badly if she was coming to him in this state.

"Loquitur was on the stairs and--"

"FUCK!" Aleth said, louder than he'd meant to.

"He told me about Ash, and then said that he knew that I was just going to tell you, and that you flatter too much and he doesn't like it, and I accidentally cringed and he--"

"Fuck!" He repeated, slamming his hands into her shoulders. She stumbled backward, head and back slamming into the door so loudly it rattled. She cringed as her shoulder smarted again. He scrubbed his face. Beating Ky wasn't going to fix this. He'd get to that later, for now -- "Sit. And tell me exactly what you fucking told him."

Tomhas had chosen this room to hear what Aleth was like in private. There were certain advantages to spying on your spies. However, he hadn't expected this decision to be bringing up such unpleasant memories. Tomhas groaned softly and got to his feet, slumping down against the wall and pressing his ear to the cool stone to listen. Why did he punish himself like this?

Ky hadn't been this upset in a long time. She was usually pretty good at separating her emotions from the rest of herself. She was becoming as reptilian as Aleth, able to smile and flatter no matter how angry or sad or hurt that she was. But this was different. She'd never screwed up this badly before.

"He said that he's sending you to spy on Ash and that Ash has a lot of books and that all Ashes are scholars and like to read including Loquitur and that Ash doesn't like guests and is going to either force you to stay in the barracks or under armed guard and that that's because of Michael and then he said that he knew I was going to tell you all of this because everything he does is calculated and that's why his father is dead and he isn't." Ky realized she was completely and totally out of breath. She gasped for air. "And then he said he doesn't like flattery and told me that you do too much and I shouldn't do it."

"Fuck," Aleth repeated, tugging on his hair. "And what did you fucking tell him?"

"Nothing!"

Aleth turned on her, giving her a dangerous glare.

"I was just answering him like I -- I was trying to compliment him, like you taught me, but he didn't like it, and then he scared me and I flinched and he knows about my shoulder and I didn't mean to let him know and I didn't tell him anything I don't know how he figured it out."

Aleth didn't like tears. She knew better than to cry. But she felt them welling in her eyes anyway, terrified for what was to come.

Of course. Of course he shouldn't have acknowledged it. He'd told Lyra just a few minutes ago that that was why he didn't get involved in this sort of thing. Even a little pity could land someone a broken jaw, or worse. Tomhas still remembered what had happened when he'd tried to stop Gaius's father from thrashing their sister; it had only gotten worse for everyone involved and Sera had her hands full the rest of the day.
He had to remember not to involve himself in things that didn't concern him. Gaius would take care of it like he always did....maybe.

"This is why you don't fucking flinch," Aleth snarled. "I thought I fucking taught you that lesson well enough but apparently you're still too fucking stupid to learn it. Guess we'll just have to revisit that won't we?"

Ky couldn't breathe. He'd cut her so many times when he was teaching her that lesson. She'd thought she'd mastered it. What was it about Loquitur that had flustered her so badly. "Yes, sir."

Aleth was furious. But, he knew the meeting was coming up, and he couldn't very well explain why his promised scribe was absent. Even though she clearly couldn't be trusted around Loquitur.

"Get yourself put together," he snapped. "Stop your fucking blubbering."

"Yes, sir." She rubbed her face furiously, desperately wishing with everything within her that she could flip the switch and remove it.

"I need you at that fucking meeting, and that is the only thing between you and the thrashing of your fucking life," Aleth spat. Ky's terror froze her in place. "We will be revisiting this later."

"Yes, sir," she squeaked.

"Go to your room. You had better be ready by the time we have the meeting and I swear on your worthless life that I will fucking flay you if you fuck up again, you hear me?"

She nodded vigorously.

"Now get out of my fucking face before I kill you."

"Yes, sir!" She turned and ripped the door open then sprinted down the hall to the room she was sharing with Tadaaki.

(Time for me to sleep! I'll be on a camping trip for the next few days til Sunday so I'm gonna be less active)

Tomhas sat against the wall for a few minutes longer, running his hands repeatedly through his hair. What exactly was he going to do to the poor child? What sort of monster had he hired?
He rose unsteadily after a time and found that he was shaking badly. Tomhas closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths; he needed to compose himself before the meeting. Then straight afterward he would speak with Constance about what he'd heard. This couldn't be the person he was going to send out. Though part of him prayed Gaius would find out and make it a slow, painful death like he had done to that soldier. Cripple Aleth and leave him limbless and tongueless in the streets, flopping about like a dying fish.
Tomhas shook the thought away, feeling ill. He wouldn't think like that. He mustn't. That was Gaius's way of thinking: vengeful and thoughtless, never considering the reputation that gave him or thinking of the people that might be affected by causing such pain. That was what had gotten them into this war in the first place, and Tomhas would be damned if he turned into his brother.

(Night!! Hope you have fun <33)

Ky ran to her room and shut the door behind her. She was trembling violently. She sank down on the edge of her cot and choked on a silent sob. She didn't want to risk Aleth -- or anyone else -- hearing her. So, she pressed her hand against her mouth and sobbed silently, wishing the gods would just kill her then and save Aleth the trouble.

Aleth wouldn't actually kill her. That was too much to hope for. But she didn't know what he planned on, either. When she'd first come to stay with him, and didn't yet know not to disobey him, he'd made many of his 'training lessons' come in the form of grotesque "art" on her abdomen. She still had the scars in the shape of flowers and leaves, stretching from her hips up to her ribs.

He'd probably extend the upward... or downward. Either would be more painful than her abdomen had been. But, then, she bled a lot. It annoyed him. So maybe he'd keep the cutting to a minimum. What else might he do? Burn her? Just keep hitting? Maybe he'd just crack her rib again -- that had hurt for weeks, especially since she had to wear this binder all the time when they were on the road.

The door swung open. Ky sprang to her feet.

It was Tadaaki. His face softened immediately and he shut the door behind him, then walked towards her, arms open. "Oh, Little One..."

She fell against his hard chest and choked on another sob, letting his tunic absorb her tears for a minute before she managed to get them under control. Tadaaki was the one person on this entire planet who understood what she went through.

"What happened?" he asked gently.

"Loquitur figured out he hurt my shoulder," Ky answered miserably. She didn't need to tell him details -- they made sure of that. Anything she told Tadaaki would go straight back to Aleth and vice versa. So, they had an unspoken agreement to only share the vaguest of generalities -- things Aleth likely already knew.

Tadaaki cringed.

"Has he...?"

Ky shook her head miserably, voice barely more than a whisper. "Not yet. I have to be at the meeting."

Tadaaki took a deep breath and looked at her sympathetically, then nodded his head. "Then we need to get you ready for it, so it's not worse."

He walked to the window and pulled it slightly open, grabbing a fistful of snow before letting it close again. Ky took some of the snow and scrubbed her face. The chill was startling enough it helped ground her senses. Get herself more under control.

It didn't take much time after that for her to calm down. She was still absolutely miserable -- and terrified -- but she forced herself to detach her emotions from her body again. The only thing that mattered for now was being calm and charming and ready to be the perfect scribe.

They chatted a bit, carefully avoiding the topic of Aleth or Loquitur, until Ky's countenance had returned to normal. Her heart was heavy, but all signs of the tears were gone by the time it was time for the meeting.

(Also, I think I'mma switch her to 15 instead of 17. She's better at faking by the time she's 17 so I think 15 will fit better c: )

(Wow she Lyra are real close and age now huh)

The same slave as always knocked on Aleth's door two hours later to guide him to the meeting.

Tomhas came down to the war room freshly washed and dressed, still shaken but hiding it very well. He had discussed the situation with Constance and Arianna and had eventually been talked into keeping him.
"It's like you say," Constance had pointed out. "If we send him to Gaius and Gaius figures out what sort of man he is, then we won't have to worry about him anymore. We can just find someone else who isn't quite as horrid and certainly doesn't cost fifty thousand clappers."
Tomhas had nodded ruefully, slightly placated, and gone with them to the meeting with a heavy heart.

Aleth didn’t know what to do. He prowled for a while, pacing and thinking about how he could possibly save face with Loquitur... of course, who was to say he was a man who minded at all? Tarr struck him as the sort of man who would sit back and laugh while he watched Aleth beat her. Maybe Loquitur was too. It was hard to say, since he hadn’t been there to witness Loquitur’s reaction and Ky had been flustered to properly explain. Maybe Loquitur simply laughed when he noticed her shoulder. Who knew?

He strode down to her bedroom when the servant came to fetch him. Ky had put herself together perfectly. There was absolutely no indication that she’d had a complete meltdown — her face was washed and eyes no longer bloodshot. He looked her over for a brief moment then thrust her folder into her arms and strode down the hall without a word.

Ky felt fear bubbling up in her again, but pushed it down. Aleth wouldn’t hurt her when there were witnesses. Never in front of witnesses. And she needed to put on a perfect show so that later would only be horrific instead of even worse. She forced herself to flip to a cheerful persona as they approached the room where they were supposed to meet, expression pleasant as she followed Aleth in.

Loquitur was already in the room by the time they got there. She forced a bright smile and bowed to him respectfully. It was hardly like it was his fault. He’d somehow cut through her act without a moment of hesitation, but he’d at least been trying to be helpful when he suggested the snow. It was hard to be cheerful with the heaviness in her heart, but at least Loquitur wasn’t one of the people adding to it. They’d see how she did if she had to smile at Tarr.

Tomhas found it harder to fake his usual grin than usual, but he managed it.
"To business, then," he said as Tarr filed in after them. The generals had joined them as well. General Utrid and General Norton of House Tarr, General Wai of House Loquitur, and in place of the Barrasters' generals, Ewan Barraster. Tomhas strode to the head of the map table, where there were already pins and markers indicating troops and places of interest.
"First things first," he said once the room had fallen silent. "Master Klev will be sent to my brother to be our eyes and ears. I have a few ideas as to how we get him in, but I'd like to hear from everyone else first."
"We just send him in as a new servant," Tarr replied immediately. "Ash likes to have a well-staffed home, right? If we off one of his important servants and place Klev as a new opportunity, he'll hire him." There was a pause.
"Anyone else?" Tomhas said finally, suppressing a sigh. "Come on."
"We provide him with accurate information of little strategic importance," Arianna suggested. "Make it out to be a big deal and come in with a massive price that makes it seem juicy. Let him be haggled down to a reasonable sum and then act as if he's feeding Gaius information about us while in reality he's gathering info for us."

Aleth cast an annoyed glance at Tarr. The boy had no amount of sense at all, if he thought Ash would fall for a ploy that obvious. Arianna’s suggestion was closer to what Aleth had though as well. He looked at Loquitur. “I’ve heard rumors that Ash is rather paranoid and isn’t likely to let us have free reign when we get to Serpents Keep, which will of course make gathering and sending information more difficult. Do you have any ideas for how we can get past that hurdle with your brother?”

Loquitur had given it some thought, of course. It was difficult; Gaius had never shaken that fear of unlocked doors, and so he had locked down the entire Keep.
"You would have to make yourself as unthreatening as possible," he replied. "Gaius sees everything as a threat, of course, but it would be wise to assume a persona that's practically helpless. Someone at odds with society, cast out and hurt. He'd be more inclined to be hospitable."
"I could give him a few more whacks with my sword," Tarr chuckled. "Send him to Gaius like that and he couldn't refuse."
"Jokes are for outside war meetings, Ithicus," Tomhas said impatiently. "Unless you're me. Which you're not. That's a valid suggestion, though."

Aleth bit back a sigh.

It was a good plan. Ash wasn't going to let a diplomat loose in his home. It would give him the perfect cover to be able to gather more information, even if it'd be harder to get it disseminated. Especially since he wouldn't be able to show up with obscene amounts of information.

And, it would be particularly distasteful to have to cower like a servant. He was used to shameless flattery, and even dealing with insults -- as from Tarr -- in order to get the money and status he craved. But this would no doubt mean mindless labor and long days. Being treated like he treated his own servants. And no one wanted that.

If I can survive my bastard of a father I can handle Ash's abuse.

"How would that work with me bringing servants of my own?" Aleth asked at last. He didn't have better ideas.

"Well, you wouldn't be a servant yourself," Tomhas mused. "Gaius might--might take you in as an employee if you act like you need it, but more likely he'll treat you as a guest. Your servants could pose as mere companions--perhaps you three are escaped slaves searching for a generous noble to help you get home. Something like that. Gaius will fall for it more easily than he would fall for some wheedling yes-man, for sure. There would have to be some changes made to your appearance, if you're comfortable with that..." Tomhas wouldn't mind letting Tarr give Aleth a solid beating, but slaves often carried more permanent markings. "This is going to be tough, if we go with this plan. Tough on you and tough on your servants. Do any of you have many scars?"

Aleth felt a prick of indignation. He didn't wheedle.

"Am I comfortable taking a thrashing?" Aleth asked dryly.

It was actually a fair question. Was he comfortable with that? He might, might consider letting Tarr beat him again, but he sure as hell wasn't going to take a flogging or any other thing that would leave him with scars.

Ky's heart lurched and her eyes flicked from Loquitur to Aleth and then back again. She locked eyes with Loquitur for the briefest moment, then flicked her eyes over to the Ladies Barraster instead to try to gauge what they thought of this plan.

Ky had many, many scars. So did Tadaaki. All of them inflicted by Aleth, of course. But was Aleth going to say that? Could he say it? The mere thought of having to prove her scars to a nobleman filled her with anxiety, and she didn't know how she was going to manage it with her binder on, since it stretched down her entire abdomen.

"Ky and Tadaaki both have many scars," Aleth said at last, deciding to share that much. It's not like he had to admit they'd come from him. He hadn't given Ky the new designs that she deserved for her indiscretion earlier. Yet. "I will not subject myself to anything that would scar me. He's not going to buy it if they're fresh cuts, anyway."

Ky glanced back at Aleth. Was he really considering taking a beating?

"But certain... discomforts are inevitable in this line of work, I suppose." It took all of Aleth's will power not to look as pissy as he felt. He glanced at Tarr. "And I expect it would please his lordship." He looked back at Loquitur. "So, fine."