Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

Well, that was unexpected. He’d hoped Ash would give him more leniency once he proved himself, but moving into the keep was more than he’d expected this soon. They would no doubt be keeping tabs on his every breath, but it was nice to be where it was warm and unguarded.

“Thank you.” Pratik pushed himself to his feet as well. This felt like a test. And he knew better than to stay with a Lord’s family in the absence of the lord. Besides, he didn’t want to field any more uncomfortable questions from the children. “I appreciate your hospitality.”

"I wouldn't call it hospitality." Gaius smiled coldly. "I'll see you later," he said to his family, dipping his head politely. Then he turned and limped out the door. A maid detached herself from the wall and stepped forward, bobbing a curtsy.
"Sir," she said to Pratik.
Gaius disliked affection in the presence of others. He knew it confused his children and concerned his wife and Sera, but he preferred to maintain an air of cool detachment when he had visitors, and showing anything but that toward his family beyond a certain extent was a risk. They had to remain safe, and they were safer if it looked like he only cared for them a little.

Pratik eyed him uneasily. He wasn’t quite sure if that was Ash’s way of driving home that literally none of them wanted him there. Or if there was some nasty surprise waiting for him. But he bowed to the women, “ma’ams” then he bowed a bit to the older children, “young Ashes.”

Then he turned towards the maid.

"If you'll follow me this way." The maid led him out another door.

Pratik followed her out of the room, quickly catching up. “How long have you been working for Lord Ash?”

"I've been a part of this household for nearly thirty years," the woman replied briskly. "I knew Lord Ash when he was a tiny thing." She was moving quite fast for a woman of her age--she looked to be around sixty or so, but her gait was long and businesslike. "I knew his brothers an sister, too."

“Oh yeah?” Pratik asked, genuinely curious. This was even better than he could have hoped.

She nodded, glancing at him over her shoulder. "The Ashes are a secretive family, my boy. If you want to know more you're talking to the wrong person."

“Oh, of course. I expect you to keep their confidence,” Pratik answered, even though he had been hoping she’d be a gossip. But, then, Ash seemed too calculated to let any of his chatty servants anywhere near Pratik. For now. “I’m simply trying to get a feel for who I am working for, and I’ve found the happiness of employees tends to tell much about a man.”

"I'm quite pleased with my job," she said warily. "I'm due to retire in a few months; Lord Ash has set up a fine homestead for me and my two daughters. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone unhappy with how they're treated."

“That sounds most kind.” Pratik felt a bit of the tension in his shoulders ease. He wasn’t particularly opposed to working for terrible men as long as they paid well, but it was hard to stomach watching cruelty. “I’m glad to hear it.”

"Mm." The woman nodded slightly. She was quite short and rather round, and her gray hair was done in a neat braid basket. She looked to be of Natai ancestry, though there was a thinness in her nose that suggested Northern blood as well.

Pratik hesitated a moment, thinking of what he wanted to say next. He doubted a maid that went back that many years was going to tell him anything at all, and there was no point in letting her run back to Ash and tell him that he’d pressured her. “I assume I’m to be locked in?”

"Naturally." She smiled slightly. "Not even visiting Lords have unlocked doors at night. It's a policy here, you see."

Now /that/ was interesting.

“Oh really?” Pratik asked. “Even Lord Bledroe?”